You and Me

Chapter 20

It was a new environment that I wasn't accustomed to.

The air was dense and sultry, heat radiating off the many sweaty bodies that were huddled together , jumping, dancing and grinding. The bass thuded against my ribcage, vibrating throughout my body, as if persuading me to follow my instinct and move along with it.

Emma held my arm and gave me a reassuring squeeze, but I already felt myself getting lost in this mesmerizing void of music and spiked drinks. A few people caught my eye and smiled, as if they were rediscovering their long-lost friend, and the intimacy of it all made me feel a little claustrophobic.

Were all party's like this?

"Jesus," Em said in disbelief, "this thing is practically a rave."

"I wouldn't know the difference."

"Ok, calm down. I can feel how jumpy you are."

I looked at her and exhaled loudly, "that's not me your feeling, it's the music."

Smiling, she pulled me toward a doorway, pushing through a crowd of people and muttering a few "move" 's. We emerged in the kitchen and Emma walked towards a cooler that was overflowing with ice and beverages.

"What would you like, sweets?"

I rolled my eyes and closed the cooler for her. "I already told you, I'm not drinking."

"Yes you are. And so am I," Em insisted.

Pulling out two beers, she opened them and handed one to me.

"Are you sure about this?" I asked hesitantly.

"You've got nothing to worry about," she said with a smile, "just pace yourself and you'll be fine."

I nodded and held the drink up to my lips.

"—also," she added, "as a heads up, you might feel like you need to burp and pee a lot."

I laughed and crinkled my eyebrows, "nice to know."

Taking a sip of the cold beverage, I grimaced at the bitter taste and swallowed it forcefully.

"First time's the worst, Hun."

"Right...oh my god Em," I said with a evident surprise, "isn't that the guy from the café?"

We both stared intently at a boy with the same green eyes and brown hair we saw two days ago.

"Uh, yeah, I think it is."

I smiled and gave Em a playful shove. "Well then go, what're you waiting for?"

Emma dug her feet into the ground and managed to only slightly stumble. "Nope."

"Yes," I said giving her another shove.

"No, Cally."

I sighed and took another painful sip. "Why, Em? Did things not go well between you two?"

She shook her head and leaned against the kitchen counter "No they did."

"So?"

Em just looked at me like there was nothing else to say, keeping quiet and shrugging her shoulders.