I'm in Heaven

Chapter 8

The beat of the music pumped loudly in my chest as I swayed to the rhythm. Blake stood in front of me, jumping up and down and looking like he was having so much fun. The smile would not leave my face, and my cheeks were starting to ache from the constant stretch.

"Isn't this great?" Blake shouted from over the music.

"Yeah! Do you want to-" before I could finish, Claire stumbled over to us and wrapped her arms around my neck.

"Do you think he loves me?" she slurred into my ear. I laughed and pulled her away from me so I could look at her. She was definitely drunk.

"Kevin? I don't know!"

"No, not him. He's mean. I meant his friend. He keeps telling me I should go with him, that I'm just what they need!" she giggles.

"Who's they?" Blake throws me a questioning look and shrug.

"His friends, they want to use me. They think I'm going to be great. Do you think it's because he loves me?" her eyelids start to droop and she sways unsteadily. Blake grasps her shoulders and holds her upright.

"No Claire, I don't think he loves you!" I say, feeling the worry bubble up my throat.

"Oh. Well he's hot. Maybe I could go with him anyway..." she trails off and she starts swaying again. If not for Blake she would've fallen over.

"Let's get her out of here!" I call to Blake who nods his head.

We push our way through the crowd and out the door. The night air is refreshing on my skin after being packed into that room with so many people. I'm slightly disappointed we didn't get to see the crowning of the King and Queen, but based off of Claire's swaying, she needed to get out.

"Who was she talking about?" Blake asks me as we make our way to the car, leading Claire by the hand.

"No idea. She said they wanted to take her, that she was just right or something."

Blake looked down and then out into the distance, not looking at me.

"Oh," was all he said. I was about to ask Blake what was wrong when he tossed me the keys to his car.

"I'll need you to drive, I'm going to be in the back with her," he said. I nodded and slid into the driver's seat, adjusting the rear-view mirror to see Blake and Claire. She was laying down with her head on his lap and he was smoothing her hair. It kind of knotted my stomach to see them like that, but I knew they were friends long before I ever showed up.

I started the short drive home, Claire too drunk to say anything, and Blake and I too tired to start a conversation. I pulled into Claire's driveway, under Blake's directions, and put the car into park. Blake kept silent as he pulled Claire out of the car and walked to the front door. He pulled a key out of his pocket and unlocked the door, carrying Claire inside.

It also made me jealous that Claire had given him a key to her house. I wanted to know how often he used it. Were they more than friends? Did he just have it because she got drunk a lot?

Blake appeared at the front door again, and he close and locked the door behind him. He slid back into the car without a word and I pulled out of the driveway. I was getting nervous, with him being so silent.

I pulled the car into his driveway and turned off the ignition. We both slid out and I walked behind the car, where he met me. I handed him his keys and sort of stood there awkwardly.

"Sorry that had to ruin your night," he said, sounding kind of distant.

"Your night too," was all I said.

"Night," he started to turn towards his house when I grabbed his arm.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, just go home."

"Really, you're just going to let your date escort herself home?"

"It's only across the street," he sounded so cold.

"Are you serious?"

"I guess I am."

"I can't believe you," I said, disgusted. I turned away and marched across the street, stopping at the foot of my driveway. I turned to see him standing in the same spot behind his car, hands in his pockets, watching me. As I was about to head up to my house, an arm shot out and grabbed me in a choke-hold. The last things I heard were:

"You're not your friend, but you'll do," came from the man who was nearly strangling me. And then:

"Kelsey!" came from Blake.

Then darkness.

************

Heeeeey I'm back!

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