Intoxicated

One

Dear diary,

Bri is dragging me to a party tonight. She claims - for the eight day in a row - it's not right to be staying at home on a Friday night when you're a freshman in college. I gave in only because I was not ready to sit and listen  to round eight of her "live life, be free, spread your wings" speech and besides, what could happen in five minutes? I would smile, say hi to my classmates and then leave before people started puking and dry humping against a tree. Five minutes - maybe ten tops - but that was it.

When we got there, Sam - the designated driver for the night - parked right beside a black motorcycle and Bri and I stepped out. Her taking a good three minutes since she was wearing one of those body-con dresses that restricted your legs to the point where you couldn't run or in Bri's case, step out of a car in the usual ten seconds.

"I can't believe you dressed up so much for a bonfire." I said as she finally stepped onto her feet, heels hitting the ground in the familiar sound of high heels on concrete.

"I can't believe you didn't! How are you going to get any if you're dressed so plain?"

I looked down at my own outfit. Skinny blue jeans and dark blue satin tank top. I didn't think it was that plain and besides, I wasn't looking to "get any" - I was barely looking at all.

It was the annual bonfire. A symbol for igniting the new school year as well as hyping the student body for the upcoming football game.

Kind of dumb, really, having a bunch of drunk teenagers near an equally massive in size bonfire - if someone didn't end up with a second degree burn, I would be genuinely surprised.

"Let's go get some drinks, yeah?" Sam asked, earning a hoot of approval from Bri and a soured expression from me.

If parties weren't my thing, drinking - of course - was definitely not as well.

When we approached the nearest table, three red cups were handed to us by two tall fraternity brothers. I took mine just so Bri wouldn't lecture me about her favorite slogan and the importance of embracing, "YOLO".

"Let's go over to the frat guys?" Bri asked and Sam and I both rolled our eyes, earning a playful wink from her before she led the way over to a group of drunk guys that were shouting the lyrics of some trashy, mainstream hit.

As soon as she was in earshot of the group, she shouted a greeting before pulling one of the guys into a hug. Sam and I, stayed a few feet away from the scene.

There was a part of me that envied her ability to be so care free, to be so confident in her skin but I guess that's what happened when you looked like one of those models straight out of a magazine spread.

I could tell Sam was eyeing a brunette that was a little bit to the right of us and I nudged his arm.

"Go ahead." I said, nodding in her direction.

Sam's eyes widened in surprise, "and leave you alone?"

I rolled my eyes. Just because I hadn't gone to a party with them didn't mean I didn't know how to handle myself in situations like this.

"I'll be fine, go and talk to her before a frat guy gets to her!"

Sam gave me one of his crooked smiles before saying goodbye and reminding me to find him if I wanted to leave. I didn't mention my plan about calling an Uber to go back to the dorms, instead I nodded and wished him good luck with his pursuit.

With one last glance at Bri, who was currently grinding on the same guy she'd hugged earlier, I tossed my red cup in the nearest trash bin and looked for one of those temporary restrooms.

It took me a solid three minutes but I finally found some kind of indication that there was a toilet available and that guests were not just expected to do their business out in the open. At the corner of the bonfire, there were a couple of arrows and signs pointing towards the forest that read "to restrooms", I texted Bri and Sam that I was leaving before following those signs.

So far the plan was, use the restroom, order and Uber, get back to the dorm and change into a pair of sweats so I could continue watching Game of Thrones.

The further I followed the signs, the darker and quieter it got. I cursed quietly. I should have just skipped the entire restroom trip and just ordered the Uber instead.

I pointed my phone towards the path in front of me, so that the screen's light would help me avoid tripping on some tree root or a large stone.

I was just about ready to give up when I finally saw those green portable toilets. It didn't smell of anything yet since the party was just beginning so I quickened my pace.

Pee and go. Pee and go.

"Are you fucking kidding me right now?" A deep voice, somewhere off to her right made her blood turn cold and her feet halt.

"Dave, look, I don't want to play anymore-" Another voice, slightly higher pitched than the first but still a male.

A loud thud, followed by a grunt and I gasped, my hand coming to cover my mouth when the surprised sound slipped through my lips. Was someone getting into a fight?

"Dave, pl-"

I was crouched low. Hiding in only the darkness of the forest around me as my eyes searched the trees for the owners of the two voices.

"This is not just a game, you know that -"

"I won't snitch I swear but I just can't do this anymore."

"They won't let you go just like that, you owe them, we all do, Nate."

I didn't know why I wasn't running back towards the party. This was obviously a conversation that I wasn't meant to hear between two guys that didn't want to be seen but I couldn't help it. The more I heard the more I wanted to understand. What game? What did they owe?

"Please, I can't live like this anymore, just let me go."

Another thud and there was a painful cry. Startled by the sound, I lost balance, my shoes skidding against the dirt as I tried not to fall over.

"Shut the fuck up." The first guy said to the other and I knew that he'd heard me.

Fear spread through my nerves and I was finally, up on my feet and running away from whatever I had just heard. Screw my curiosity. I didn't want to end up as the cat who died because of it.

I'd almost made it back to the first sign.

I'd almost made it back to the party untouched.

But the second my eyes caught sight of the blazing bonfire, a body crashed into me and I was being tackled onto the ground.

"Get off of me!" I yelled only to have a cloth smothered across my face.

Whatever fight I could have presented to my attacker, I lost that chance when the chloroform hit my nose and filled my mouth.

There were dark spots in my vision, shadows that I could not make out but in the midst of it all, I did manage to catch a blurry image of the guy who'd knocked me over.

Strong brows and a chiseled jaw.

I wasn't sure but I think my last thought was "at least he's good looking".