Complication

Chapter Forty- Five

I stand by the open table covered in so many different alcoholic beverages I couldn't keep count. Red solo cups cluttered around them, some spilled off the table, some unused. I was just trying to look for a regular drink like soda and there seems to be neither of anything. Lucas is stalking some girls somewhere around here and I really want to go home but stupidly I came in Lucas's car.

"Want a drink?" A guy with short, jet black hair comes up beside me.

"Not any of this." I sigh, strongly considering waiting in the car.

"How about a dance?" He asks and I finally look up at him.

He was tall and skinny with eyes such a dark brown they almost looked black. The music blasting and some people crowded in the middle of the floor jumping up and down, fist bumping in there drunken mess. "No thanks" I say as nicely as I can. It's not him, I really just am not in the mood to dance, like ever.

"Come on" he pleads, "Pretty girl like you deserves a dance."

I take an involuntary step back and I feel a familiar arm around my back. "Hey babe, get the drinks ready?"

I hold in a smile. "Yeah, yeah I'm working on it."

I see the black haired guys face quiver at the sight on Lucas and I watch his eyes travel from Lucas to his arm around me before he nervously laughing and walking away.

"Thanks" I say moving away from him.

"No problem, that guy seemed like a douche bag."

"I guess its easy to detect if you are one." I joke.

"Hey" He points his finger at me, "I can go call him back over here if you want?" he turns to walk towards him.

"No no" I laugh, pulling him back.

"Thought so. Now" He claps his hands together. "You need to learn how to have fun, you look like the math nerd that just came to her first party."

"Oh yes! That's what I was going for! Do you think other people will get it? or is it too much?"

"Shut up" He shakes his head and pours Vodka into a cup and mixes it with what I think is cranberry juice. He holds the cup in front of my face and the smell burns my nose. "Sip it"

"No"

"Gina, you are going to at least sip it even if I have to shove it down your throat."

"I'm not drinking that." I push his arms away.

"Come on, this is like the definition of peer pressure and you're supposed to cave into it."

"Not sure that's how that works." I laugh.

"Come on. You need to loosen up. I promise I won't drink- I haven't all night. You've been under so much stress lately. You'll be safe. I'll be here."

He's right. I do need to loosen up, maybe this is what I need. And maybe after I just sip it he'll stop nagging me. I slowly reach for the cup and take a sip. Not prepared for the burning in my throat I spit it out, spraying it all over him.

"Why do people like this stuff?!" I half yell, gagging at the left over taste in my mouth.

Lucas looks down at the splatters of alcohol on his shirt. "Okay" He says. "Lets try this again." He hands me the cup. "Baby sips." He them mumbles, "I can't believe I have to teach someone how to drink." under his breath. "You can't chug the whole thing the first time."

I take a smaller sip, this time prepared and swallow it successfully.

"There you go!" He laughs "It only took you ten years."