complicated

chapter 3

I've heard a lot about the parties that happen in Uptown. The best ones always occur in the private residences, because the houses are so far apart that there are almost no calls from cranky old neighbors about noise levels. Apparently they can get pretty wild, but then again all my stories come from Jess, and she thinks anything is wild if you get enough drinks in her.

But as we pulled up to the address that Luke's friend had sent us, I realized that Jess hadn't even done the parties justice. The house was laid out on multiple acres of land, with multiple jump houses and, from what I could hear, a pool in the back. People were spread out everywhere across the lawn, despite the early hour. The house itself seemed to be vibrating, deep bass beats spilling out of every window. 

"Holy shit!" Jess exclaimed from the front seat, Luke's' hand resting on the inside of her thigh. Calum, Chelsea and I were packed in the back seat. At some point during the ride, Calum had thrown his arm nonchalantly around Chels shoulders.

"This placed is packed and it's barely 9:30." I commented as Luke gave up on finding a parking spot and just pulled onto the lawn. Jess shot him a look.

"What?" he asked innocently. "I kind of know the host. I can park wherever I want."

We all hopped out of the car, Chelsea stumbling as her wedges hit the grass. Calum grabbed her elbow to steady her, causing her to blush for the thousandth time in the past hour. I swear to god, the sexual tension between those two was so high.

We approached the front door, Jess following Luke around as he said hi to a few of his friends while Chelsea and Calum warmed up to each other, their fingers brushing every few seconds. I walked alone, and to most people it would have appeared that I was just observing. In reality, I was checking out all the guys.

What Chelsea said before about me being a slut was partially true. I mean, I don't hook up with a guy every single night that I go out. I'm not like Jess, with her short-lived relationships that usually end with either her or the guy she's with cheating. I'm also not like Chelsea, who thrives off of steady, dependable, year long relationships with guys that would bore me to death. I'm not even somewhere in between. I don't date at all, never have. Basically, if I find a guy that I'm attracted to and he feels the same, we hook up a few times, until someone wants out. Usually, I'm that someone.

I scanned the yard, not disappointed in what I saw. There were a lot of pretty hot guys here, but I didn't want anyone just sitting outside and getting stoned. I liked the guys that really knew how to party.

We finally all got inside, and I wasn't disappointed with what the house held. The music was turned up all the way on an amazing speaker system, pounding so hard that it made me dizzy, just how I like it. The front door opened up into a huge living room, with multiple doors leading off to rooms containing god knows what. The house was packed, but the ceilings were so high that it didn't even seem overly crowded. 

I leaned over to yell in Chelseas ear. "I'm going to go get a drink!" She nodded absentmindedly as Calum pulled her off to dance. I shook my head. Crazy kids.

I pushed my way through the crowd, getting a few smiles from some decent looking guys, but all of them looked like they were wasted already. That's no fun. You have to start out at least a little bit sober.

After a few minutes of wandering around, I finally found the kitchen. I was surprisingly the only person in there, but that's how it always works. People get in, get their drinks, leave. I planned on doing the same. There was a bunch of hard liquor set out, so I quickly poured myself two shots to take just to give myself some sort of buzz.

Just as I was picking up the first one, a voice spoke up behind me.

"Planning on drinking those all by yourself?" I turned around quickly, facing whoever it was that spoke to me.

He was hot, to be blunt about it. His hair was a dark golden brown, swooped across his forehead in messy curls, topped with a ridiculous black hat. His arms were toned, and he had obviously just gotten done dancing because he had a sort of sheen of sweat covering him. His band tee and ripped jeans gave off a very laid-back vibe, but his hair gave away the fact that he probably actually spent time getting ready.

"Uh, yeah. Unless you want to share?" I ask him as he saunters over to the counter.

His eyebrows shoot up. "Well, if you insist." He leans over to grab the shot, his face getting way closer to mine than it should have. He seemed to pause for a minute, his eyes shooting from my eyes to my lips and back up again.

Lord help me.

He finally pulls back, shot in hand. I grab mine as well. 

"All right. One, two... three!" he says, and I gulp it down quickly, savoring the burn in my throat. As he swallows, his Adams apple bobs up. He slams his glass down, grinning. "Another?"

One more turns into three, and I'm beginning to feel that wonderful light feeling just as the boy comes close again. 

"I don't think I've seen you around before," he said, smirking. I noticed the dimple carved in his cheek and had an overwhelming urge to touch it. 

"It's my first Uptown party, actually." I tell him. His smirk turns into a smile.

"Well, let me show you how to do this party properly." And with that, he grabs my hand and pulls me back into the crowd of dancers.