Upon A Dream (Sequel to A Beauty and the Tragedy)

Chapter Eight: Starting Fires

Hey guys! Here is the chappy! Some violence, language, and drinking ahead so grab the popcorn and get that swiping finger ready! It's gonna be a long one! 

{-----}

"What if you and I just put up our middle finger to the sky? Let em know that we're still rock n roll?" Rock N Roll by Avril Lavigne

"Irina, grab the door for me please." Penelope said, darting past me in a crop top and miniskirt. 

I rolled my eyes and made a beeline down the hallway past a drunk senior who was picking at his teeth with a pen. 

Pushing my tank top back onto my shoulders, I glanced at the mirror in the hall. A flannel over a tank top and some old shorts I had pulled out of the laundry five minutes before this. I pulled open the door and jumped. Chris was in full make up, standing with the rest of the guys behind him. 

"Hey." he said, smiling slightly. 

"Hi, welcome to Penelope's party. Alcohol is in there." I said, opening the door wider and rolling my eyes. Chris walked in and each of the guys bumped my knuckles as they entered the crowded house. 

A Halsey song played on the speakers in the living room of the house as drunken college kids mingled. I hadn't wanted to be here, but Penelope insisted. 

I made another beeline straight to the fridge where a plethora of alcohol awaited consumption. If I was gonna have to suffer here, I was gonna get drunk. I grabbed a large cup from the top shelf (something that Alex had won at a NASCAR race a few months back), and poured a screwdriver into it.

I proceeded to empty the orange juice and then threw in some more vodka for good measure. Taking a sip of my concoction, I coughed a bit as it burned my throat. 

I walked back by the door and pulled it open to reveal the empty front walk. A flash of blonde hair caught my attention and I smiled as Lance appeared up the walk.

"Hey beautiful." he said through the screen door. I pushed open the door and wrapped my arms around him. 

"Hey, how was work?" "Work." he replied bitterly. He seized the cup from my grasp and took a huge sip. I ripped it from his hands and he eyed me. 

"I worked really hard on this." I said, looking into the yellow drink longingly. "I've gotta piss." Lance left me in the doorway. 

Shrugging, I joined the living room group who was playing an intense version of Just Dance. Wait a second, was that Chris? I eyed the giant that was kicking some drunk jock's ass at some upbeat song from the 90's. I stumbled into someone and glanced to see Ricky. 

"Hey, you okay?" he asked, not taking his eyes off of Chris. "Yeah...I didn't know Chris was so good at this...I mean he had the game but damn." I said as nonchalantly as possible as I watched his long, skinny legs move so fluidly. "Me either." Ricky said, chuckling. 

"Tell ya what...I'll play the winner." I said, taking a giant sip. The song ended and everyone cheered for Chris. He fist bumped the guy he was playing who looked like he was gonna pass out. I handed my cup to Ricky and fluffed my hair. 

"I play the winner." I said, glaring at Chris. He swallowed hard as I made a quick character change and waited for our song to load. I prayed to God it was something good and mean...but it was something much worse. 

I exhaled sharply as the song started. I hated this, but no way was I gonna let him take my high score. The song started and from then on it just got awkward. I pretended to watch the screen for the moves, though I had played this song so many times I could do it blindfolded.