Everlasting Love

Chapter 3

I first met Joni at a volleyball practice the second day she arrived in Orlando. I was the left hitter, on the top team, with the rest of the line-up already picked for the season. Joni already had a huge growth spurt and had a spike that could make any backrow specialist shake. So, naturally she took my spot and I was moved to right side hitter. As a 7th grader, I was devastated and thought my dreams of being an Olympic volleyball player was ruined. Here I am as a senior still playing right side, and Joni is playing left side and she does not miss an opportunity to rub that day, in 7th grade, in my face.

With this thought in my head, I walked right up to them with plastered, fake smile spread across my face.

"Hi Adam, Joni," I greeted them coolly. As I was going to walk right by after my superficial greeting, Adam called my name.

"Ashley, you look good in that dress," Adam replied with not so subtly checking out my butt.

I gave him a soft smile, while Joni gave me the worst look she could muster up. Max then popped up next to Kyra and I with three drinks in his hands.

"Drink up ladies, this is going to be one fun night," Max cheered.

I drank my first shot smoothly and my second and third. After Kyra and I's third we headed to the group of teenagers dancing. Well sort of dancing, it was more like a grind fest. Kyra and I were swaying our hips with the music and letting our voices belt out the lyrics of whatever overly played pop song was on.

Kyra and I have always agreed that the best part of a party was the dancing. You can socialize in school, drink on your own time, but dancing with a ton of people at once was not something you could do every day. I threw my hands in the air as I felt the music take over my body.

Next thing I knew, I felt hands grasp my waist and pulled me back in an almost protective manner. I didn't not even have time to turn around before Kyra laid into the man behind me.

"You have some nerve their mister. Get your hands off—off of her right now before Joni comes over here to start World War III," Kyra yells.

I turned around to see his brown eyes staring confusingly at Kyra before his eyes focused back on me. 

"I don't see why Joni would care. We broke up," Adam stated.

Kyra was right. Joni was just messing with me, again. The nerve of her. Maybe it was the alcohol talking, but I wanted to fight this girl. Well maybe not fight, but definitely explain my strong disliking I have for her.

As I was still in my own world thinking of ways to get back to Joni, I was brought back to the real world with Adam whispering in my ear.

"Want to grab a drink with me," Adam asked me.

His breath was hot against my now cool skin. He smelled like mint with a hint of cigarettes. It worked well for him.

"Yes, I could use another drink," I replied.

The smirk on his lips made my stomach flutter. This was my chance to let him know my true feelings. Maybe it was the alcohol talking, but I was going to make my move.

Once we reached the drink table he mixed me on and made himself one. I could not help, but notice his ease around the booze, but I didn't comment.

"So, I wanted to talk to you tonight," Adam started.

This is it. He is going to confess his love for me and that he should have never been with Joni. My smile could not be contained.

"Hyatt has the hots for you. I told him I would let you know," Adam finished.

Even in my drunken state, I knew those words were the exact opposite of the ones I wanted to hear. I felt like I needed a drink and a gallon of ice cream.

"Oh, um that's sweet, but I am not interested in him like that," I said.

His smirk did not falter from his face and I could not tell if that was because he thought I was lying or because of my answer. He gave me a nod and took a swig of his drink.

I waited for him to say something, anything, but it didn't come. He just looked at me as if he was reading each and every one of my deepest darkest secrets in every crevasse in my brain. I could not help but look down at my hand as his deep eyes bore into my head.

"Let's dance," he said smoothly as he put his drink down and reached for my hand.

My eyes quickly focused on his and waited for his hand to grab mine, almost as if he was acting in slow motion. When his hand grasped mine I let out a small sigh of content. He led me through the dance floor until he was near the speakers where the beat pulsed through my veins.

He turned me around, so we were dancing like the other teenagers around us. I was pulled closer to his waist as his hands rested on my hips. We started to dance in rhythm to the beat. I felt like I was floating, whether it was the alcohol talking or the fact Adam is so close, I wanted to finally tell him how I feel. I started to turn around, but he tightened his grip on my hips and pull be closer to his body. I could feel how much he was enjoying our dancing, but I was not going to let my new-found confidence go to waste.

I pried his fingers off my hips and he huffed before letting me turn all the way around. He looked at me with a hint of annoyance his eyes. I could not help, but feel like I let him down. I tried to lighten the mood by giving him a small smile which he returned by his usual smirk.

As I leaned up to talk to him a wave a nausea hit me. Oh my gosh, how much alcohol did I drink tonight? Almost as if the universe was trying to punish me I let out the contents of my stomach all over his shoes.

I waited for him to voice his disgust or storm off. I did not even realize I had my eyes squeezed shut until he brought his fingers to the bottom of my chin and lifted my head up. I looked at him as my heart pounded in my chest. I wish the ground would sallow me whole so I would not have to hear what he was about to say.

To my surprise he did not say anything instead he grabbed my hand for the second time that night and led me off the dance floor. As we reached a door by the kitchen he opened it and led me inside. Maybe he wanted to yell at me in private, at least that would save me some embarrassment.

Instead he grabbed a towel from the rack and wet it as he started to wipe my mouth off. After he made sure I was comfortable he began to wipe off his shoes. I stared at him trying to figure out how he was feeling because he still hadn't spoken to me.

I then felt another wave of a nausea hit and I leaned over the toilet and to much of my dismay Adam was still present in the bathroom. After I stopped, he began to rub my back as he handed me a water he grabbed from the kitchen. I happily grabbed the water and let the cool liquid run down my throat.

He finally spoke, "Well I have to say you are the first girl to ever throw up on me.

My face got even redder, which I did not think was possible as I offered an apology, "I am so sorry. I can usually keep my alcohol in really well. I can't believe I did that. You can leave if you want--"

He then cut me off "It's fine Ashley, these shoes were getting old anyways. I can take you home if you want."

I took his outstretched hand as he helped me up and replied with a thank you.

As we excited the bathroom, I thought everyone would be waiting outside to laugh at me and my unfortunate event, but instead nobody even seemed to notice our departure. We made our way to his brand new car and the music faded away as we got further from the house.

Adam did not even have to ask the directions to my house. I was surprised after all these years he remember where I lived. As he pulled up the driveway, he looked over at me.

I smiled and thanked him again and he responded with something that made my heart flutter, "Anytime sparky."