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Chapter Six

I am going to pass out. I swear to God.

If you want to go to a party in Cali with four hot guys in a fucking awesome house and have the time of your life, go for it. I'm not stopping you. But just a helpful hint: do it when you're bright-eyed and bushy tailed, not hours after you arrive from halfway across the country and spend all day in a sun that is much hotter than that you're used to. Because while I should be outside in a pool drinking vodka and sprite and attempting to flirt with boys, I am instead hiding in a bathroom debating with myself if I am desperate enough to sprawl across the floor and go to sleep.

I look at myself in the big, water spotted mirror and run my hands down my face, pulling on my cheeks so that my eyes droop downwards. The bags under my eyes make me look like I've been shooting heroin for the past five years and I can barely keep them open. All I feel is my exhaustion and a weird feeling in my stomach that hasn't gone away since Calum scared the shit out of me a couple minutes earlier.

I run the faucet and splash my face with water, hoping that it will wake me up, but no.

The only thing it does is wash away my foundation, revealing the big purple bruise on my nose and cheek.

I close my eyes and throw my head back. "Why? Why? Why, why, why, why, why, why?" I whine loudly into the spacious bathroom.

I stood there for a minute before I feel myself start to doze off and topple into the wall. I threw out my hands to steady and right myself, shaking my head a little bit and rubbing my forehead. I couldn't go out there like this. I couldn't be weird and camp out in the bathroom all night, either. I pulled out my phone and text Britt, but she's probably in the pool and away from her bag. I sigh.

With a deep breath, I convinced myself to open the door and walk down the hallway. I passed by the room that Calum came out of earlier, music seeping out from under the closed door. I walked by quickly and out into the living room, dashing across the carpeted floor to the back door before anyone happens to mosey on through and catch me in my purple-faced glory.

Outside, people were chatting and dancing to the stereo, and I thank God or Buddha or whoever that it's dark outside. No one seemed to notice me slipping awkwardly in between their dancing bodies either, so that's a plus. The only problem is it's difficult for me to find Britt, Reagan, or Avery. The only sources of light were coming from string lights that are hanging around the edge of the house and a pair of flood lights that are focused on the pool.

I spotted Ashton talking to the other two boys from the beach and decided it's my best bet. They're standing in the darker area anyway.

When I walked up to them, Ashton brightened and nudged his friend. "Hey, Savvy. Lucas, this is Savanna or Savvy. Either one. She doesn't care." He smiled when I realized he was mimicking my earlier words. "Savvy, this is Luke. He's the tall and awkward one."

"Hello, Savanna slash Savvy." Luke nodded at me. "Correction, though. I'm the tall and ridiculously cool one."

Ashton nodded to his other friend. "And this blue-haired buffoon is named Michael. Say hello, Michael."

"Hello," He gave a wave and a small smile.

"Hey," I said much too loudly, looking down and sideways to make sure they don't get a good view of my face.

"Are you okay?" Ashton asked, raising an eyebrow at my awkward head position.

"Oh, yeah. Totally. Totally fine. Have you seen Britt or Reagan by any chance?" I answered quickly, pretending to scratch my nose which is a bad idea because it hurts like hell.

"Ow," I whined.

"Ow, what?" Ashton asked again, kind of worriedly. "Do you need anything? You seem worried."

I sighed. "I need to find Britt because I accidentally washed off my foundation and now you can see the bruise."

"There's a bruise? From the ball?" Luke asked, stretching his arms above his head and wrapping him behind his chair.

"Yeah."

"Well, shit." Ashton sighed. "Damn it, Calum. Where is he anyway? I haven't seen that kid all night."

"He's in his room." I answered, covering my nose with my hand.

All three look up at me at the same time, and I realized that sounded really weird and unexpected.

"I mean, I ran into him when I was going to the bathroom and he said sorry and everything. He also said that parties weren't his thing."

Michael snorted. "That's a load of shit if I've ever heard one. Cal loves parties."

"Yeah, but he's been in a weird mood all week, and I think it made it worse when he hit you in the face. I think he felt bad. He'll be over it." Luke said, nodding at a group of girls that were walking by.

"But it's not a big deal," I insisted, once again.

"I think that's Britt over there," Ashton said suddenly, lifting up a bit and craning his head. "Yeah, that's her."

He raised his arm and waved it to get her attention then lowered back down in his chair. "She's coming. Can I see it?"

I blinked. "See what?"

"The bruise. Is it bad?"

I shrugged and lowered my hand, stepping into a spot with better lighting so they can see. Ashton cringed and Luke made a small hissing sound. Michael just laughs.

"Thanks," I react sarcastically, putting my hand back over my nose.

"Calum's got a good kick, that's for sure. You know he was offered to play football in Brazil representing Australia?" Ashton told me.

"No. I didn't know that. Wow." I shook my head.

"She's known us for like, five hours, Ash." Luke laughs.

"Yeah, he's real good. He gave it up to be in the band, though." Ash said, smacking Luke in the arm. "I didn't mean it like she knew the answer, smartass."

I nodded, before I stopped, processed the information and shook my head, eyes narrowing slightly as I looked at the three in front of me.

"Wait a minute, rewind. Band? What band?" I asked, leaning on the chair next to Michael. I was about to fall over and my brain was fuzzy. Maybe I didn't hear him right.

Luke looked at Ashton who looked at me and then at Michael and we were all just kind of looking at each other for a minute before Ashton looked up above me and I turned around to see Britt who was staring at our awkward staring thing going on and it was just a bunch of staring and I'm really uncomfortable with staring unless I'm the one doing the staring. It was just too much staring.

"Did I miss something?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Uh."

"Well."

"No."

"Makeup."

The four of us spoke simultaneously. Britt just kept staring at us like we were crazy.

I stood up. "I need makeup." I said, motioning to my face.

"Jesus," Britt grimaced, looking at my bruise. "Okay, I just need to grab my bag. What... what were you guys just talking about?"

I paused. "Calum, we were talking about Calum. Did you know Calum went to Brazil to represent Australia in football? I mean soccer?"

Britt lowered her eyebrows and stared at me. "No?"

"Yeah, well he did. Which explains my face. Which we should probably go be fixing, like, now." I said, pulling her arm and throwing an awkward wave over my shoulder to Ashton, Luke and Michael.

I pulled Britt along, my mind still turning over what Ashton called "the band." Maybe it's just a small thing that they do in their garage like every Saturday afternoon. Like, "performing in rundown bars" kind of a band. But with a house like this, it's clearly obvious they are pretty damn successful. Or maybe they're not even in a band. Maybe "band" is some weird Australian term for "four guys living in the same house," and I'm over thinking everything. I do that a lot, you know.

Britt grabbed her bag and I lead her through the sliding glass door and down the little hallway with the bathroom.

"I'm going to need something to cover those bags under your eyes, too." Britt informed me as I closed the door behind us.

"Yeah, whatever. Do whatever. Just fix me." I sighed and pulled down the toilet lid, sitting on it tiredly.

Britt pulled out her makeup bag and started getting to work. Once my face was adequately caked in too-thick makeup, she pulled out a tube of concealer and some kind of powder.

"Are you having fun?" She asked me as she smeared a line of concealer under my eye.

"Yeah, I guess. I'm exhausted."

She looked at me as she blended the makeup under my eye. "We just got here."

"I know."

"It's probably jet lag. Or car lag. Whatever."

Britt dusted the powder under my eyes and then started putting everything back in her makeup bag. I checked my reflection in the mirror to make sure nothing bad was visible and then I sighed. Britt looked at me for a moment before digging through her purse.

"Here," she said, grabbing my hand and dropping two small, white pills into my hand.

"What the fuck is this?" I ask.

"They'll give you energy."

"Britt, what the hell? Really? No." I tried giving them back to her, but she just rolled her eyes.

"I got them at Rite Aid, chill the fuck out. They're like that 5 Hour Energy shit in pill form."

"That stuff's horrible for you."

"Do you want to spend the night drooling on some random guy's shoulder, or do you want to have fun? Seriously, just take them."

She grabbed one of the little paper cups with Barney stamped all over them and filled it up with water from the faucet before handing it to me. I hesitated and sighed, but stuck the pills on my tongue anyway. I swallowed them down with the water and tossed the cup into the trash.

"You're not going to thank me?" Britt asked as we walked back down the hallway. I noticed that Calum's door was open and the light was off.

"For doing my makeup, yes, thank you." I replied, ignoring the eye roll I got.

Back outside, I finally caught sight of Reagan and Avery. They were sitting next to each other at the edge of the pool, their legs swinging in the water. I sat next to them, Avery turning towards me with a smile.

"Hey, Sav. Where have you been?" She asked me, eyes glazed.

"Inside with Britt." I could already feel those pills working.

"Did she give you those pills?" Reagan asked, slightly giddy.

"Uh, yeah." I said, giving her a strange look.

"We had some before we got here. I don't know if they're working yet, though." Avery slurred happily.

"Please tell me you haven't had any alcohol," I said wearily.

Ave shrugged. "Jus' a little. No biggie."

"Reagan?" I asked.

"The punch was really yummy, Savvy. Like, really yummy." Reagan tilted forward dazedly before Avery caught her and they burst into a fit of giggles.

"Fucking shit." I yelled, throwing my hands up.

People turned to look at me and I blushed, half from embarrassment and half from anger. Britt's so fucking stupid sometimes. Did she really give them those pills and then forget to tell them not to drink alcohol? These two are going to be in a coma by the time this party ends. I stand up, looking around to find her. She's talking to Ashton, leaning against the chair and giggling. Jesus Christ.

"Britt, what the fuck?" I hissed as I came up to her.

She blinked, looked at Ashton nervously, and then looked back at me. "What?" She asked innocently.

I glanced at Ashton before pulling her away. "You gave Reagan and Ave those pills."

"Yeah, so?"

"And you didn't warn them about what would happen if they had alcohol, too?"

"There's a warning?" Britt asked frantically.

I rolled my eyes up to the sky and breathed out my nose. "Yes. And now they're fucking plastered."

Britt craned her neck to see Reagan and Avery. "We need to get them away from the pool, then."

I turned around to see Reagan leaning over the side of the pool trying to reach her sunglasses that were much too far out of reach. Avery kept slapping her with her flip flop yelling "Use this, use this!"

I rubbed my temples and hurried over to them, grabbing Reagan and sitting her upright on the edge of the pool.

"Jesus, it's not an hour into this party and she's already fucking wasted." I heard someone say, along with a pitying click of the tongue.

Someone in the pool handed me Reagan's sunglasses and I offered an apologetic smile and a thank you. I helped Reagan up as Britt grabbed Avery, and I threw her arm over my shoulder so I could hold her up. Her head nodded forward and she's muttering something incoherently. She buried her face into my neck.

"Savvy, I want to go home. Take me home, please." She whined.

My heart ached a little bit and I helped her over to a chair before setting her down. "Just sit here for a little bit. We can't go home yet."

She nodded off a little bit. "I don't feel good."

"I know."

"My brain is fuzzy."

"I know."

"You have three heads."

"I know. Just relax a little bit."

"Okay," she murmured, her head dropping back and her eyes closing.

I sat by her, ignoring the strange looks from everyone around the pool. Maybe I should go drink the punch, then I'll have an excuse to pass out in a pool chair, too. But I just sit and watch Reagan as she snores slightly with her mouth wide open.

I put my head in my hands and try to ease the ever present pounding in my head.