Broken

Chapter 20

"Are you having a good time?!" Danielle screams down my ear, dancing suggestively with the guy behind her.

"How much have you had to drink?" I ask, concerned for her well being.

"I don't know man, that punch is pretty strong." She laughs, turning away to face the sleazy guy behind her.

I sigh and decide to walk away. I haven't had one drink tonight and I don't intend to. Miranda told me that the party wasn't even supposed to begin until 9, it's 8:30 now and there's already 100 people here. I'm pretty sure everyone, excluding myself, is already drunk. There's no sign of Harry or any of his 'gang' yet. I didn't think they'd be early or even on time for that matter.

"Hey, Lara." Candice calls. She seems pretty sober. "How's it going?"

"Good I guess, everyone seems to be having a good time." I smile.

She laughs, pointing towards some crazy drunk guy dancing alone in the corner. "Somehow I didn't think you'd be one to get wasted."

"Yeah, I'm not really into that I guess." Not yet anyway.

"Dude, you seem really tense. Maybe you should get into it, just for tonight at least."

"You're encouraging me to get drunk?" I breathe, slight chuckles escaping my lips.

"Not drunk, less tense. Here have some of this." She walks over to the punch bowl and pours me a drink. I'm aware it's not just your basic, un-alcoholic fruit punch but I don't care. Candice is right, I do need to loosen up, downing the drink within seconds.

...

I find myself raving with the rest of the crowds to the banging music, alcohol pulsating through my veins. It must be at least 11 and there's still no sign of him. I don't care. I don't want him anyway.

I feel a soft pat on my back, turning around I notice it's Zayn.

"Lara, are you drunk?" He laughs, holding a large cup of the alcoholic punch in his firm hand.

"Well it's nice to see you too." I respond, reaching in for a hug.

I forget about the liquid that was once sitting in the red cup and it splashes over me, wetting my Santa outfit.

"Oh my god, Lara I'm so sorry."

"It's fine honestly, wait here. I'm just gonna change." I manage to slur out.

I didn't even notice him come in, he's most likely with Harry. Why wouldn't he be? Stop it Lara. You said you weren't gonna get distracted by him again. I begin climbing the stairs, occasionally tripping over the feet I once had control of. I couldn't even estimate how many drinks I've had, they just kept being handed to me. It's good stress relief. Drinking.

Either I've decided to just stop dead in my tracks during my incline to the stairs or I'm actually climbing Mount Everest because it seems to have taken forever to get to the top of the stairs. I reach the top. But my eyes can't differentiate which room is mine. All the doors look the same. The alcohol is definitely soaked well into my brain. I can hear someone laughing at me in the distance, watching me try to identify which room is mine.

Oh wait it's me. I'm laughing. It's like my subconscious has escaped my body and is now mocking my intoxicated self. She's a bitch.

I decide to just try all the doors, hoping I can tell which is mine when I see the contents. The first door is locked, I think that means it's Candice's. The door next to it is open, but the walls are covered in butterflies drawings. This is the definitely not mine. I turn the light off and shut the door, trying the next two doors to no avail. Okay. I'm pretty sure this ones mine.