Addicted

Chapter Three

Hudson pulled me into the house. The room was thick with smoke. I choked on the thick, pungent cloud that hung in the air. I looked around, taking in my surroundings. Nearly everyone in the room was drunk. A few people weren't, but everyone still held one of those red plastic cups in their hand. Some people were stoned. Some were both drunk and stoned. A table was set up in the middle of the room, the red cups lined up on either end. Two people stood on either end of the table, and others sat on the couch or stood near the table surveying what I assumed was some kind of party game.

There were couples leaning in corners making out with each other. Most of them really needed to go find a room, as they were practically dry humping right in front of everyone. The remainder of the party guests stood around talking or danced to the music that was playing. I wondered why some of the girls here even left the house. They were dressed so scantily. I was so pissed at Hudson for dragging me here.

A boy with messy blonde hair approached us. He handed Hudson and I both a red cup. I peered into it. The liquid inside had a pinkish red tint to it. The smell was quite strong with just a hint of cherries. Hudson wasted no time in bringing the cup to her lips and taking a sip. I looked over at her and she looked back at me. With a raise of her eyebrows and a nod at my cup, she swallowed down another mouthful of her drink, attempting to get me to follow her lead, but I wasn't interested in doing that. I gave her a small headshake and she sighed, rolling her eyes.

The blonde boy's name, I learned, was Niall. Niall took Hudson's hand. I started to call after her but she only waved a few of the fingers on the hand that was holding the cup as he pulled her away. I was left standing alone in the middle of the room. I noticed that a few people were beginning to stare at me. I wondered if I looked as lost and out of place as I felt. To escape the gawking, I looked around and headed for the first doorway that I seen.

The room I walked into was the kitchen. There were more people in here, but less than there were in the living room. The island and counters were littered with the red cups and different kinds of alcohol  and mixed drinks. There were a few pitchers of the pinkish red stuff that was in the cup the Niall boy had handed to me. The few people that were in the room refilled their cups and exited the kitchen. Laughter and music flooded into the room but it was muffled as the kitchen door swung shut. I could still hear the party going in the next room, but the walls and the door separating me from it stifled the sounds.

I walked over to the sink and turned the faucet on to wash down the alcoholic drink in the cup I still held. The noise from the party in the next room leaked into the kitchen and then were muffled once again as someone entered right as I began pouring out the drink.

"Does the drink not suit you?" The person spoke, causing me to jump. The remainder of the red liquid sloshed out into the sink and washed down the drain. I shut the water off and turned to see who the voice belonged to. It was the guy from the wedding reception I had worked at. I should have recognized that deep British accent. A teasing smile graced his lips as he looked at me.

"Well, if it isn't my not-so-secret admirer!" He exclaimed. I scowled and turned back to the sink. Turning the knob, I stuck my cup under the faucet and rinsed it out. Once all traces of the drink were gone, I began filling my cup with water. When it was full, I shut off the water and leaned back against the counter. I brought the cup to my lips and took a drink. The boy watched me.

"Tap water? Don't you want something else?" He walked over to the island and began sifting through the different bottles. "We've got vodka, beer, cherry margarita." He said as he picked up a pitcher of the red liquid and sat it back down. I stayed silent and sipped my water while he told me the variety of drinks he had.

"You really don't want anything?" He asked.

"I have water" I finally spoke.

"But don't you want beer or something?" I raised an eyebrow. The kitchen door swung open, another person entering the room. The boy and I looked away from each other to the individual that had joined us. His hair was dyed white and stuck up in different directions with a fringe that lay to the side across his forehead. He had a black Def Leppard shirt with a red plaid cut off over top of it. A pair of tight black skinny jeans hugged his legs, and black shoes adorned his feet.