C H A N G E

{6}

Author's Note: Ryan's name is now Mason. Just thought I should tell you all to save a bit of confusion. - Love Ruby. P.S I have changed it in all the other chapters.

{6}

My fingers grip a red solo cup that is disguising lemonade as beer. Everyone dances with so much energy their hands all over each other. Couples kissing and cuddling, friends laughing and chatting and loners like me standing in the corner people watching. I don't know one person in this place and thank god most of them are too drunk to know me. Although I probably look perfectly calm to anyone is this place, my heart feels like it might pop out of my chest. The anxiety is slowly crawling all over my body as I stand here for even longer sipping on this flat lemonade.

"Riley!" I break my gaze from the floor to Mason's inviting smile.
"Mason, Hey how are you." I courageously walk up to him.
"I'm good. Do you wanna get a real drink though? It's your first college party and I don't think lemonade is going to cut it." He jokes after taking a quick look at my cup.
"Okay. Just not anything too strong." I smile following him towards the kitchen.
"Here you go... This isn't very strong just beer." He hands me a full red solo cup. I take a sip and let the liquid courage take away my worries.

One drink, two drinks then three and soon enough I'm dancing to the upbeat music with Mason. My body almost moves effortlessly to beat with Mason laughing away. This right now, in my half drunken state is probably the happiest I have been in forever.
"You know you are a pretty good dancer." He complements as the music slows down.
"I know." I accidently blurt out without even thinking. Mason places his hands on my waist as we start dancing closer to the slower music. I find my head resting in the crook of his shoulder half way through the song. I just close my eyes and let Mason hold me as we sway to the beat. I have never felt so comfortable with person this fast before.
"Rye!" An all too familiar voice calls my name out. I look up to see his familiar hazel eyes, messy blonde hair and his toothy smile.
"Who's that he looks like he might wanna talk to you?" Mason looks up sees him there as well.
"Oh that's no one important."
"Riley!" He calls out again and suddenly something overcomes me, it's almost like a completely different girl possesses me for a minute. I lean into Mason, placing my lips upon his kissing him. He freezes for a second then he starts to move his lips in sync with mine. I pull away after what seems like an eternity.
"Whoa." He whispers, then cups my face and kisses me softly again.
"Do you wanna maybe get some shots?" I say breaking away from him.
"Are you sure? Maybe I should cut you off the alcohol. You're not exactly just a little tipsy."
"Well you're not exactly a little bit tipsy either."
"Okay one shot Riley." He says to me and we go off to find the tequila.

My head pounds, my stomach churns and my throat burns. I definitely drank far too much alcohol. I wipe the sleep out of my eyes and walk towards the kitchen. As I get closer and closer to the kitchen I can smell the fragrance of freshly brewed coffee and burnt toast.

"Morning."
"Mason?"
"I know you are probably wondering what the f*ck I'm doing in your kitchen. Well you were very drunk last night so I took you home and I made sure you got to bed. But when I was about to leave you started to vomit everywhere so I cleaned you up and stayed the night on your couch to make sure you were alright." He explains quickly.
"Thank you so much. But could you please not shout." I whisper my voice weak.
"Oh sorry. You must very hangover. Because you were very drunk. Here have some Advil." He lowers his voice to the same volume as mine handing me a cup of orange juice and a couple pills.

"Oh my god thank you Mason. I swear I could kiss you right now." He arches his eyebrow up cheekily at that comment.
"But I won't" I say admiring his cheeky smirk.
"Why not?" He asks biting his lip.
"We're friends aren't we? Wouldn't want to mess that up." I say as I walk off to my bedroom. Okay Riley, we want to make friends not boyfriends. Because boyfriends always leave, they always leave when it gets too hard.
"Oh, don't you remember." He speaks up breaking the silence I created by walking away.
"What?" I turn around.
"Last night you saw this guy he had like messy blond hair, really tall and brown eyes. Well anyway back to the story you basically made out with me." I stand there completely stunned.

Jakob, it's almost like his name washes a layer of anxiety over me. My breathe starts to quicken at the same pace the memories start flashing through my head. I keep telling myself to breathe but my body refuses to listen as my chest starts to tighten up.

Breathe, Riley. Breathe.

My head keeps repeating this, but my lungs won't listen they are continuously inflating and deflating at an alarming rate. My body shakes as I try to get my lungs and heart to start working properly again. I can almost feel myself losing control of my body as more thoughts of him start in invading my mind.

"Riley! Riley! Riley you need to breathe." Mason's voice erupts reminding me he is still next to me, even with him telling to breathe my body still refuses to co-operate.
"Listen to me Riley you need to breathe. You're starting to freak me out." His faces is full of fear as I continue to hyperventilate.
"Do I need to call someone? Riley? Riley?! Come on breathe slowly with me. Inhale exhale." His voice raises. My breathe starts to slow down, however my whole body shakes with anxiety.
"Distract me." I speak up, taking him by surprise. He freezes and his fearful face develops into a face full of confusion.
"Just distract me. Do anything to just take my mind off this." I manage to get out, a few seconds after those words escape my lips. Without any warning, he places his warm lips upon mine leaning in close. His warmth comes onto me as his hands rest gently on my hips.
"Riley?" He looks at me his wide eyes full of concern.
"Are you okay?" He adds as I sit there in complete silence.
"I don't know, could you please stay with me today?" I whisper.
"Of course."