The Carter Project ✓

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IT WAS LOUD.

Of course, I expected as much, but there was trouble with adjusting to the feeling. There were plenty of other things I wasn't used to. Like how I was never used to seeing so many people in my house, or any house for that matter. But Carter and I's houses were both almost identical so it was like getting that very image, even if I didn't want it in my head. I could only imagine the tornado of a storm they would leave behind in his kitchen and living room. I had already kicked an empty can of beer with my foot on the way in, making me almost stumble over and making Carter look at me with a concern in his eyes that was not very comforting to me.

"Lighten up," he said, punching my shoulder playfully. "You wanted to come, right? I have to talk to some friends who have been waiting to see me, but get yourself a drink, they're over there on the far table."

And with that, he disappeared into the dark crowd as his friends swallowed him whole and I was left alone to fend for myself on the empty and vulnerable side of the room. Way to treat your guests, Abrams.

The far table that he was talking about wasn't very far at all, I just had to squeeze my way around all of the people who found themselves congregated towards the middle of the room. On my way over there, I cursed myself for getting into this predicament. I had my low moments, but I was never so desperate that I would venture out of my comfort zone like this. First of all, I was looking for a distraction with help from none other than Carter Abrams. And secondly, I let him convince me to wear a dress which I felt like I looked silly in among all of these gorgeous party girls. Now I stood at the fringes of the crowd and I knew I would have to fight my way through it all if I wanted that drink he promised me.

I was hoping that maybe, someone would take a break from dancing or talking to realize that I was trying to get past them. Of course, there seemed to be no chance in the whole, wide world of that happening. The couple dancing in front of me even started to make out with each other so now both of their eyes were closed.

The sight of them made me realize why I was here in the first place: because the one person I used to kiss like that — except with a lot more class — had dumped me out of the blue tonight. How had I become so wrapped up in my own memory so quickly that I had lost sight of what had caused it in the first place? Of course, remembering Landon ruining my life the way he did contributed nothing to this situation except made my desire to get drunk even more intense.

I took a deep breath, clenching my eyelids shut for a quick second before letting them detach, taking in the sight of the crowd before me. Physical strength definitely wasn't my strong suit, no pun intended, so I didn't know how I would fare against a throng of drunk and horny teenagers when about half of them could've been twice my size. I had bony elbows that would come in handy, but they could only get me so far.

But first I needed to find a way in, someone whose body mass seemed similar enough to mine that I could shove past them without being knocked over onto my ass — or even worse, my face.

While contemplating this, a hand clamped itself down on my shoulder tightly. Because of how wired I was from trying to psych myself up to mow down a crowd, my first instinct was to turn with my right hand and connect it with whoever was trying to sneak up on me while I was alone and defenseless. I had heard enough stories about creepy men at high school and college parties, so I didn't want my first foray into the lifestyle to be a misadventure. Of course, this thinking only lead to my fist being caught by Carter Abrams' free one, and a cocky grin on his face mixed with equal parts surprise and satisfaction.