Summer Spent with You

Chapter Five, Part One : Change In Pace

Ava's POV

"Nervous, Ava?" Parker asked as we made our way to the front porch steps. I could hear the music playing loudly, while the bass seemed to make the entire house shake.

"Of course not." I told him confidently, even though I was lying straight through my teeth.

"Liar." He called me out, as he plastered a satisfied smirk on his face.

"Remember, you aren't getting drunk." I gave him a stern look.

"I know.. Can't you stop being so uptight?" He asked with an eye roll. I narrowed my eyes at him.

"I'm not uptight." I defended, to which he once again rolled his eyes. He placed his hand on the small of my back and gently pushed me forward.

"Sure you aren't." He muttered as he opened the door, nudging me inside before him. I felt a few people glance my way, but then I figured out that they weren't even looking at me. They were staring at the gorgeous jerk begin me. So I gladly moved out of their way so they could have a better view.

A few people from school spoke to me as I made my way to the back of the house. I returned their greeting and tried to squeeze past them toward the kitchen. I felt an arm wrapped around my shoulder and looked up to the tall person, who was leaning on me with. smile.

"Ava Lake, do your brothers know you're here?" Thomas Eldridge asked.

"Umm.. yes?" I stated, it sounded more like a question than anything. I wasn't sure why Thomas was speaking to me. He had just graduated, so I knew him from school, but I had never spoken to him. He had been someone Andrew hung around, not someone I hung around.

"Aves, I think you could use a drink." He told me cheerfully, probably from all the alcohol in his system. By this point, we had made it to the kitchen.

"I'm not drinking tonight." I told him.

"Sure you are. You need to drink one of these." Thomas informed me as he placed a red solo cup into my hands. "Be a teenager, have a little fun." He told me with a wink as he exited the kitchen, leaving me holding the cup that smelled fruity. It actually smelt really good, I was almost tempted to try it.

However, before I could put it to my lips, the glass was ripped from my hands. Parker dumped it down the sink and turned to glare at me. He folded his arms over his chest and waited for me to explain. So I opened my mouth to offer him an excuse when he cut me off.

"Never do something stupid like that again Ava." He told me.

"What did I do?" I asked uneasily.

"You accepted a drink from someone. You never do that, do you not realize what they could slip into it while they're fixing it?" He asked and I hung my head in embarrassment. He was totally right. How could I have not thought of that?

"I'm sorry." I told him. "You're right, I wasn't thinking."

He let out a sigh and slightly shook his head. "Just stick with me for the rest of the night, please?"

"I'll try." I told him. I decided to not argue with him since he could have possibly saved me from being drugged.

"There is no trying. Your ass is suppose to be the babysitter, I'm not suppose to be looking after you."

"What kind of eighteen year old needs a babysitter?" I asked him.

"What kind of seventeen year old accepts drinks from strangers?" He shot back.

"Touché." I told him as we walked out the back door to where even more people were at. I stood there for a minute, observing their actions and honestly, I felt out of place. I wanted to go home.

"Not your idea of fun?" Parker asked me.

"I'm just not a party person, I guess." I replied with a shrug.

"Do you want to leave?" He asked nicely. I knew he wanted to stay though so I told him that I would suffer through it a little while longer so he could have some fun.

He surprised me though because he stuck by my side and tried to make it an enjoyable time for me. He danced with me and he only drank a few alcoholic beverages. It was a relief to know that I would not have to explain to Molly and Brandon why he was drunk. I was thankful that I would be taking a sober Parker home with me.

We decided to explore the house after a little while. I had a can of Dr. pepper in my hands and he had a beer in his, it was only his third or fourth of the night. So he was no where near drunk. We made it to the top floor and went out onto the side balcony that overlooked the lake.

"Thank you for not getting drunk tonight.. and for trying to make sure that I had a good time." I told him as I rested my arms on the railing.

"Don't mention it." He replied, then his eyes shifted over to me and he gave me an of look.

"What?" I asked him as I turned to face him.

"There is a way you can make it up to me." He told me as he stepped a little closer.

"And that would be?" I asked, tilting my head upward so I could look at him.

He didn't reply, instead he just moved closer. His hands lightly grazed over my waist, as they made their way to my back to draw me forward. His eyes shot down to my lips, which I unknowingly pressed together at that moment.

'Parker Stevens is going to kiss me." I thought, as I looked at his face once more. He seemed to be having an internal battle with himself about whether or not to do it.

"Parker.." I whispered softly, but the words I was about to speak died on my lips as he dipped his head and captured my lips with his own.