Bloom

04

The doors slide open and ding as we step out. A rush of cool air hits us as cheers erupt along with a chorus of "happy birthday"s. I smile at everyone but stick by Alyssa's side. The loud electronic music radiates from behind us and the neon lights seem to flash and change to the beat. The roof is huge, almost 2000 people in attendance.

As I look out through the sea of people, my eyes hook onto the boy with the brown eyes and my heart stops beating. Suddenly a wave of nausea comes over me and I start running, shoving people out of the way as I search desperately for a trash can. I spot a blue can and race towards it before emptying all the food I consumed today. It wasn't much and I start dry heaving.

When I finally come up, I move away from the trash can as if it's on fire. I hurry to the other side of the roof. Oh my god. He's here. Reid is here. With another girl. How could he have gotten over me already? Did he really despise me that much? Am I that bad of a person? Oh god. I need a drink.

I move quickly in a frenzied-search for anyone that has alcohol. A table with kegs on it sits by the edge of the roof. How they got it up here is irrelevant, all that matters is that it's here when I need it. I fill a plastic cup to the brim and bring the foul smelling beverage to my lips. I gulp down half of the drink, ignoring the bitter taste running down my throat. I finish off the cup of cheap beer and refill it.

"Woah, girl can drink," a voice speaks from behind me causing me to jump. Some of my beer splashes over the side and I whine.

"What the fu- oh.. hi," I regain my composure and tuck a piece of hair behind my ear. A boy that looks a little older than I stands with his hands around multiple bottles of vodka.

"You know drinking it that fast can kill you," he smirks.

"Good," I turn back around and continue drinking out of the plastic cup as I look out over the city skyline.

"How about something a little stronger than that shitty drug store beer?" He suggests. I look over my shoulder at him, who is now pouring two cups of cherry vodka. He hands me one and I take it tentatively.

"What should we drink to?" He asks as he lifts his cup.

"Forgetting," I say simply, still thinking of the boy with the chocolate brown eyes and unbelievably perfect smile.

"Fuck these people, to forgetting all the bad memories," he grins. We hit our cups together and swallow the burning alcohol.

-

We sit in the mostly empty corner of the roof where the strung lights hang over bean bags and a firepit sits in the middle. Tyler has his arm around me and he keeps touching me. I don't like it but I can't seem to ask him to stop as his fingers continue tracing lines on my body, helping me forget everything about Reid.

Tyler had introduced himself after we took our ceremonius first drinks. We have been sitting for two hours in this corner and the alcohol racing in my system is refueled every time we see someone we hate. We had made a game, see someone you despise, drink in their honor.

Now Tyler is whispering in my ear about how beautiful I looked and his slurred words flow into my ears like music as his hands travel up and down my back and around my waist, his fingers stroking my leg. I tap my foot impatiently as the energy flowing in my blood pumps faster and faster.

I keep trying to focus on what Tyler is saying to me but his touch is leaving a cold trail in its wake. Suddenly I spot Reid again, this time pushing the girl up against the wall, his fingers digging into her hips, like he used to do to me and I just lose it.

The very small string that was slowly sewing my heart back together snaps in half. Everything falls apart inside of me and I feel like I'm on fire. Tears spring into my eyes and I turn to Tyler.