I Dare You

Chapter 40

Smiling and mocking me, his brown eyes observed me. A deep breath was taken in before I found feeling in my legs to go walk over to where they were both sitting. My surroundings were blurred in my vision because my focus was set on the destination of Jennifer and Liam. I didn't really have a reason as serious as taking advantage of me to be mad at him. But I thought that maybe he was different and maybe he would've stood up to Keegan and Zayn. For the millionth time this year, I was proven wrong.

"Hey Addy. I was just talking to Liam," Jennifer pointed out as if I was blind and couldn't see what was happening in front of me.

"I see that," I said. "We need to leave Jennifer. So can you wrap up your talk please?"

Yes, I meant to sound rude, but not to Jennifer, to Liam. I hope he knows how upset I am about this and the fact that he had power to stop what was happening. Then I remembered how Louis asked Zayn if this is what they talked about. If Louis also knew about what was going to take place tonight I swear I will rip his head off with my teeth.

"Why?" She asked with a small pout. She definitely wasn't drunk, close to intoxicated, but she wasn't like Marcel. Just warm from the liquor.

"It's because of me." Liam spoke up. Of course, he chooses the wrong time to grow a pair and say something.

"What did you do now?" Jennifer asked.

"Nothing. I did nothing and now she's upset at me."

"Nothing? You think you did nothing? That I'm just upset because you were existing?" I was pushed over the boiling point and shouted my words, but I still didn't get any attention thanks to the loud music.

"Listen," he held his hand up. "I did nothing when I should've done something. I should've tried to stop them but I didn't know what to do. I was scared for you." His head dipped down to look at his shoes. And I wondered why people found shoes so interesting when they were in a situation they couldn't face with confidence. "It's all my fault. And I did nothing about it." Liam was feeling guilty about it, I could tell in his face. The piteous feeling in me wanted to hug him and say its okay. But there was a voice in my head begging for me to make up some stupid remark to make him feel bad. It was like having an angel me on my right shoulder and a devil me on my left. They are both arguing over what was the smarter, better decision, and I didn't know what to to say to him.

"Ready Jennifer?" I went with the little devil version of me, having my angel form lecture me about why that was wrong in so many ways. But the devil was wearing a cute outfit. I waited for Jen to stable herself when she stood up. Her hand reached for mine and I took it gladly. Liam stood up with words being muttered out of his mouth.

"Ya know, I thought you were different Addy. Why can't you understand that I did everything I could to stop Zayn from going to kill Louis after it was all over?" Shock hit me briefly then it disappeared. I didn't know what happened after I left because I was too busy getting aroused by Marcel.

"I was terrified." I said slowly. "I didn't know what was going to happen. I'm lucky Louis was there because if he wasn't, they could've hurt me and you would've sat back and watched."

Shaking his head at me, or himself, he walked away and I led Jennifer out of the party.

"Didn't you say he was cool?"

"Yeah. He WAS cool." I replied, not really wanting to talk about it. It was a relief to feel the cold air again.

"Where have you been?" Louis was pacing in the street, his hands rubbing together. Marcel was sitting down on the porch step playing with a dying dandelion.

"Louis! It's Addy and Jenny!" He shouted with excitement, springing up from his seat on the step.

"Actually it's Jen." She corrected. His face deflated, drowning all the excitement he just had. "But close enough." Jen was just trying to make him feel better. And it worked.

"Here Addison Grace. A dandelion. For my rose." His outstretched arm held the dandelion in front of me. It was brown and crisp, crumbling at the touch. But miraculously, it still had some white fluff growing at the top of it.

"Thank you, Marcel." It was a sweet gesture, I couldn't refuse. And he called me his rose. I was Marcel's rose. MARCEL'S. For some reason, I just couldn't process it.

"Aww," Jennifer cooed, nudging me with her elbow.

"Have you all finished? Cuz we need to leave before we all get our arses kicked."

"Wait, what? What did I miss?" I didn't really want to explain it all over again to a very confused Jennifer.

"I'll just tell you later, but Louis is right. We need to leave."

"Okay here's the plan," Louis began. "Jennifer go home. I'm sure Addy can fill you in with everything over text or something. I will drive myself, in case anyone follows me. I doubt it but, just in case. Addy take Marcel home. You can drive his car." It was obvious he was a little frantic to leave this place. I think he was truly afraid that they would come after him. We all agreed to the plan and Marcel drunkenly hugged him as a reward for his thought out plan. The anger he had for him earlier must've been dowsed by alcohol. I made a promise to Jennifer that I would tell her everything as soon as I got home. I could tell that her not knowing what was going on was killing her. After she drove away in her car, Louis walked me to Marcel's car that I would be driving. My phone buzzed and I slipped it out of my sweater pocket. I only had fifteen percent left of my battery. I closed the alert and realized how young the night was still. It was just half past ten when it seemed early in the morning.

"Okay here it is. Make sure he gets home."

"Thanks Louis. For everything." His only response was stuffing his hands in his jean pockets.

"Oh. I almost forgot. His family isn't home. They went to some fundraiser gala thing. So make sure he's okay. Okay?"

"Sure," I nodded. He left Marcel and me alone to follow instructions according to Louis' plan. "Okay, let's get you home Marcel."

"I'm tired," he complained.

"I know. Me too. You can sleep soon." I helped him lower into the car. When I felt that he was comfortable, I shut the door, walked to my side, and got in the car too.

"I'm cold," he now whined. My fingers rolled the knob between them to turn on the heat as soon as I started the car.

"Oh. Nice and hot. Just like you." He commented. I couldn't help but laugh at his ridiculous comment and he joined me, revealing those angelic dimples.

~~~~~~

"Here we are," I announced while I opened the door to his house. He was practically half asleep in my arms.

"I'm so tired," he reminded me. Like he did the entire ride here.

"I know, but you need to walk so you can go to bed." We slowly trudged up the stairs. Marcel created delays because he would get too tired to move so he would just lean on me. Then, he would remember how close his bed was and start walking again.

"It feel so good." It was nice to have his weight off of me. Sitting criss cross applesauce on the bed, he took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. This mAde him look like a giant baby.

"I'll get you some water," I decided. A bed and a drunk Marcel wasn't going to stop me from trying to diner him. I got slightly distracted I tried to get water for him. My legs moved swiftly under me as I made my way to the kitchen. The quiet in the house was scary, making me paranoid about what might be lurking in it. I filled a glass with water (praying that it was clean) and hopped and jogged back to Marcel! before he dozes off. "Try to drink some of this." He did as he was told, gulping down the water in record time.

"Okay. Now I got to bed." He went under the covers in his clothes, not caring to fake them off. "Don't leave me Addy. Stare here my rose and hold my hand." I thought about arguing with him about myself being tired and that I should getting home. Instead, I kneeled down beside his bed, which was quite low. And rested my head on the mattress.

"Take my hand," he whispered. I saw it dangling over the bed. I connected my hand with his, weaving our fingers together. "Thank you."

"You're welcome Marcel." This was another peaceful moment with Marcel that I wanted to enjoy forever. But slowly and steadily, my eyelids became heavy. Starting to feel like lifting weights. Soft snores were coming from the bed slightly above me. I knew he was safe, like Louis asked. So I let sleep engulf me in its warm hug.