Summer

Chapter 3

We arrived at Riley’s dead on seven O’clock. A few people had already arrived, the heavy dance beat blaring out the windows. A few people hadn’t made their way inside and were lounging in the front garden. Riley’s house was similar to our own except all the furniture had been pushed against the walls and the kitchen made into a make shift bar.

Instantly I felt disorientated due to the flashing strobe lights and the music echoing in my chest. Riley was making his way towards us, stumbling past the few swaying bodies. His blue hair and matching skinny jeans were glowing under the UV’s.

Ryan slapped him on the backside as he walked past him towards the garden. “Cheeky” Riley called over his shoulder then caught me in a spine cracking hug, lifting me in the air. "Riley put me down!” I screamed, usually I would be fine with him picking me up but I could smell the alcohol on him and I didn’t fancy waking up with a bruise as well as a hangover.

“Chill out” he laughed putting me back on the ground. “Robin hood” he nodded towards Robyn who was shaking her head. “You’re such a light weight” she noted as he pulled her in for a brief hug. “And you need a drink down you” he grinned leading the way to the kitchen. The counters were covered in bowls of snacks, glasses and colourful bottles. Robyn placed the bottles of shots we had brought on the counter; Riley took the bottle of apple shots and poured it into a number of shot glasses.

“Shots!” he called out pouring the sickly green liquid into ours and the cups of the others who had joined. As a group we counted down from three. “one..two..three!” in synchronization we tipped the glasses to our mouths. Before I managed to swallow I caught site of a now familiar face walking through the door.

Max Crow.

I didn’t have time to swallow before the liquid burned my mouth and throat, I spluttered a cough spitting out the acid drink. I looked up catching his eye as he made his way towards us. Riley was slapping me roughly on the back making sure I had finished my coughing fit.

“Yeah, I’m the lightweight” Riley laughed as I straightened myself. My cheeks flushed red as the group dispersed, still laughing and muttering about how some just can’t handle their drink. Rolling my eyes I wiped my mouth, I can handle my drink, what I can’t handle is Max Crow.

"That was attractive" a sarcastic voice commented. Max was standing with his arms crossed over his chest; he looked unbelievable in his black shirt buttoned all the way up with black jeans and converse.

I hated myself for noticing that his grey-blue eyes practically glowed against his pale skin and dark clothes. Raking my mind for a cocky come-back I ended up with nothing, so I stood there glaring at him. What was his problem? I grabbed Robyn’s hand; it was my time to barge past him. As I past him I knocked his shoulder not looking back and lead Robyn to the dance floor where Jayden was.

The three of us stayed there most of the night, moving along with the beat, flicking our hair and swaying our hips. It was getting too hot so I decided to find Teagan and make sure she didn’t think I was ignoring her. The downstairs was crowded with drunken bodies grinding against each other; the whole year was crammed into the small downstairs and I was beginning to feel claustrophobic.

I stumbled into the kitchen to grab a drink, not taking a chance with alcohol I grabbed a can of Dr Pepper and made my way through the glass doors into the garden. Couples were spread out across the grass, kissing, smoking and talking. I could see Riley in the corner being sick whilst Ryan patted him on the back.

I spotted the back of Teagan’s head down the bottom of the garden; the red sky of dusk was growing darker as the evening went by. The music was muffled down here the only noise was the soft pad of my shoes against the grass and the quiet voice of Teagan, at first I thought she was on the phone but then I heard a deep velvety voice reply.