Dark Paradise

Chapter 20: A Love Like Ours Is Hard To Find

  I can feel hands on me as they help steady my drunken body but my eyes are too heavy to lift to see who is holding on to me. I am vaguely aware of Maddie trying to pawn me off on someone else, that's just what she has always done, we get drunk and once she's ready to go fuck her next boy toy she finds someone to take me; with the promise that I will put out if they can get me to my house. Finally I get my eyes open enough to see Maddie arguing with Leigh but I'm so far gone that I can't make sense of what the hell they are fighting about. I look up at the person holding me up and realize even through my extreme drunken state, that  it's Chris from the party that lead me to meet Ashton. It's Chris who has his hands on me, it's Chris who is thinking, thanks to Maddie, that he will finally get me to himself and that very thought makes my head spin even more. He smirks down at me and that's the last blow to the control I have over the alcohol that is making my stomach turn with the help of Chris. Before I know it I feel the puke come up my throat and I hear Chris' yells of disgust before he pushes me hard away from him while still continuing to yell. I feel myself land on the pavement hard but the burn in my throat and the drunkenness minimizes the pain of the fall, but I know tomorrow I will be feeling the pain. I can hear the fighting getting louder but I don't care anymore, I just want to sleep. 

No, I just want Ashton. 

  "Peyton?" I hear a voice call out my name but I just want to give into the drunken slumber that is also calling my name. 

  "Come on Peyton" The same voice says as I feel a pair of smaller hands grabbing on to my body. 

  "Where is your phone sweetie?" The voice says again and I finally realize it's Leigh which makes me smile slightly because for once I won't have to fight off a prick looking for the easy lay Maddie promised. 

  "Pocket" I mumble to her as she begins to search around for  my phone. 

 "Who do I even call?" I hear her say which makes the voice in my head yell out Ashton's name which makes pain surge through my body even despite the alcohol.

 "Michael, or or Calum or even Luke" I tell her trying not to slur my words so she can understand me. 

  "Peyton...." She says her voice full of nervousness. 

  "Yeah?" I say moving my head to look at her. 

  "Michael, Calum and Luke.... like from the band 5 Seconds Of Summer?" She says looking at me with wide eyes. 

  "Yeahhhhh"  I drag the word out as her eyes grow even wider. 

  "Holy shit... how even.... WAIT YOU ARE DATING ASHTON?!" She says, her voice getting high. 

  "Was....." I whimper out as his name sends daggers into my skin.

  "No, this isn't Pey, umm wait no I mean it is but this isn't her talking. wow I mean... fuck okay this is Peyton's friend Leigh and she got really drunk and she's currently on the pavement just laying here and I don't know what to do" Leigh says to the person on the phone. 

  "I just talked to Luke fucking Hemmings" I hear her say with a small laugh which makes me giggle. 

  "You talked to Mr. Giant?" I ask her 

  "Yeah, they are gonna come get you, little drunk child" She says putting my phone back into my pocket.

  "Is that why you got so drunk?" She asks me after a while of silence.

 "Cause Ashton and I broke up? Yeah, that's why" I say as I look up at the stars in the sky and wonder why the pain isn't numb all the way. 

Because you care, you dumbass.