When The Wolves Come Out

Chapter 23

I get ready for the party with Gemma and Lacey. They both insist on curling my hair into light waves and doing my makeup, so I let them. And to add to it, just for good measure, I wear the red dress that I wore on my double date with Harry a while ago. I remember Ethan saying it was too tight, but that made it more exciting.

"Oh my god, Ash! You look amazing!" Gemma says after I slip into the dress.

"Thank you. So do you! Luke will loooove it," I tease and Gemma blushes.

"Ready to go?" Lacey says, picking up her car keys. "The boys said they'll meet us there."

"Let's go."

We walk out of the house and drive to the party which is at a large house with music thumping out of it.

When we get inside, Gemma pulls us into the kitchen to make us drinks. I didn't want to get drunk tonight, but I still wanted to have fun so I gladly take the drink I was given.

After taking one sip, I notice a group of guys in the corner looking in our direction. I ignore them, joining in on the conversation with Gemma and Lacey. One of the guys from the group begins to walk over to us, locking his eyes with mine.

Suddenly, I feel an arm wrap around my waist and instantly know that it's Ethan.

"I told you a while ago that I didn't like that dress," he growls, tightening his grip on me.

"Sorry," I say, peering over at the guy that was no longer coming towards me.

"It's fine, Ash. You look hot, but I don't want guys looking at you like that one is." He nods his head at the guy and I notice a tiny flash of green in his eyes.

"That's not jealousy I see in your eyes, is it?" I ask.

"Ha, no." Ethan fakes a laugh and I know that I'm right.

After dancing, talking and drinking for a few hours we all decide to join in on a game of spin the bottle truth or dare. Everyone gathers in a circle and someone places an empty beer bottle in the middle.

"Okay," a guy with a beard says. "The rules are: you have to do it no matter what, no complaints, and what is said in the circle, stays in the circle. Got it?"

Everyone choruses a 'yes' and the game begins. The bottle gets spun and lands on Luke, who is dared to streak past the neighbours' houses. He does it in no time, getting back in the circle as though nothing happened.

The game goes on for a while and luckily the bottle doesn't land on me, but in points directly at Ethan.

"Truth or dare?" Beard Guy says.

"Dare," Ethan replies, rubbing his hands together anxiously.

"I dare you to drink 10 bottles of beer in a row."

Ethan scrunches up his face and I can tell he's having second thoughts, but then he agrees. Oh, God.

Someone passes him a box of beer bottles and he begins to chug them all down. The game carries on as he does this, and its obvious that he's beginning to feel the effects of the drinks.

"You don't have to finish those," I tell him.

"It's a dare, babe. Of course I have to finish them." He smirks, going onto his sixth bottle.

I groan, knowing that he'd feel the effects tomorrow. Looks like he might not have to wait that long, though, because he stands up, trying to steady himself. He sprints off to the upstairs bathroom and I follow him.

"Ethan! Wait up!" I call after him, chasing him up the stairs.

He turns into the bathroom and when I come in behind him, he's throwing up into the toilet. I rush to his side, rubbing his back.

"Can I have some water?" he croaks out.

"Okay."

I spit Grayson walking past and call to him to get a drink, not wanting to leave Ethan's side.

A minute later, Grayson comes in with a glass of water.

"Thanks, man." Ethan reaches out for the water, but Grayson doesn't give it to him.

"I didn't do it for you," he says, letting the glass fall to the floor. Ethan tries to catch it, but ends up getting smashed glass all in his hands.

"What the fuck, Grayson?" I say as Ethan groans in pain. "We need to get you to the doctor, now!"

I help Ethan up and lead him outside where I find a girl with bright orange hair.

"Excuse me," I say to her. "Do you have a car?"

"Yeah," she slurs, handing me the keys.

Drunk people would do anything.

I say a quick 'thank you' before getting into the girl's car with Ethan and driving to the hospital.

~~

A few hours later, Ethan comes out of surgery with a cast on his right hand. I give him a tight hug, yawning.

"Tired, Ash?" Ethan laughs, pulling me closer.

"No. I'm nocturnal, duh."

"Let's get home," he says, taking my hand in his uninjured one.

We get home at 4:00 a.m, and I feel like going straight to sleep. I fall onto mine and Ethan's bed, already dozing off.

"Hey, Ash," Ethan says, interrupting my sleep.

"What?" I mumble.

"I'm gonna have a massive hangover, y'know. Maybe we shouldn't be in the same bed tonight."

"I don't mind," I reply, not bothered to move.

"I think you will." He grabs my feet and tickles them until I'm kicking him hard so he stops. "I'll be in the guest bedroom, okay? Goodnight, Ash."

And before I can comprehend a reply, the bedroom door is shut quietly and I'm fast asleep.