I'm Sorry About Yesterday

Chapter Three

        “Paxton!” I shout. It’s no use. I lost her easily in the mass crowd if people, I have no clue where she is. “Paxton!” I yell again. The music is turned up so loud that I can barely hear myself. Oh gosh. Why did I let her go? She was so upset, I shouldn’t have let go of her hand. I’m such an idiot.

            A hand grabs my arm and for a moment I think it’s hers, but when I turn I see two pale eyes looking up at me. I take a small step back.

            “You’re the guy Paxton was with, right.”

            “Um, yeah I guess. Why?”

            “She’s not mad at you, right.” She smoothes down the blue fabric of her dress with her hands.

            “Not to my knowledge.”

            “Where is she?” she asks.

            “Um, I don’t know. She ran off.”

            “God. Can you do me a favor and bring her home? My mom’s at the hospital and I have to leave right now.” Her voice is urgent and serious.

            “Yeah, sure. Hope your mom is okay.” I really need to find her.

            “Thank you so much.” She starts to walk off, “Wait, I didn’t catch your name. Mine’s Clare.”

            “Christian.” I manage a small smile. Clare weaves in and out of the crowd and disappears from sight.

            I figure that four eyes are better than two, so I quickly walk towards the front door where I know Michael will be. When I get there, he’s leaning up against the wall, chatting with a short brunette girl. Something about Christmas songs?

            “Michael.” I whisper. He turns his head to face me and raises his eyebrows. “I need your help.”

            “What with?”

            “Finding someone.” He rolls his eyes.

            “Dude, I’m not cupid.”

            “That’s not what I meant.”

            “Okay? Continue…”

            “Okay, so there’s this girl named Paxton and she just walked up to me and started talking with me which was cool and she was really nice and then she made me dance with her and stuff which was also very nice. Then we uh-“

“Hooked up in the bathroom.” Michael jokes.

“NoOoOo. We kissed and all was well then this girl walked up and was being really awful to her. I tried to pull her away but that made things worse and Paxton got really upset and ran off and now I don’t know where she is and I have to take her home.”

“Damn. You have to take her home. Christian’s got game.” He holds his hand up for a high-five.

“Not like that.” I sigh. Michael’s my best friend and I love him to pieces, but I wish he could be more serious sometimes.

“Okay, the thing with upset girls, well upset people in general, is that they either run to a bathroom or to a bottle. So we have to check both places. I’ll get the bathroom, you go to the drink table, alright?”

            “Got it. Thanks Michael, you’re the best.”

            “Don’t I know it.” And with that, we part ways.

            I push pass countless people, mumbling sorry’s and excuse me’s and getting angry glares in response. But they don’t hold out their grudges for very long since there are more important things than me. And let’s face it, 80% are most likely very intoxicated.

            When I get to the drink table, I find another hoard of people surrounding it. All of them are chanting “GO, GO, GO, GO!” I weave my way through the tangled mass of people to find whom the crowd is cheering on.

            Oh no.

            This is bad.

            This is very, very bad.

            Paxton tips her head back and swallows another shot of liquid. Everyone then starts clapping for her. I get as close as I can to her, “Paxton, we have to go.”

            “Okey dokey.” She chirps. The crowd of people sighs and slowly disperses, leaving me alone with her. A smile stretches across her face; she looks like she’s on top of the world. That’ll change in the morning, I’m sure. She slides her hand into mine and skips, literally skips, out of the massive house and onto the cold night.

            “So where are we going?” she asks.

            “We are going to take you home.” I pull out my phone and quickly text Michael.

            “Where are we?” She asks, shivering. I rap my arms around her and do my best to keep her warm.

            “We are currently in the driveway of Taylor Roberts’ house.” Being with Paxton drunk is like being with a small child, which all in all, is immensely amusing.

            “Do you know where my home is, because I don’t?” she giggles. Then it dawns on me: I have no idea where this girl lives and I can’t exactly drop her off there by herself if I did know.

            “No, which is why you’ll be staying with me for the night.” I sigh, the whole situation is making a bit uncomfortable. I really do like her but I’ve never had to deal with anyone who was drunk other than my father. And I wouldn’t really call that dealing.

            “Okay.” She yawns, “I’m kinda tired.” We get to my car, her head on my shoulder. She climbs into the passenger’s seat and reunites our hands. We’re both quiet for a while.

            “I really like you.” She says matter-of-factly.

            “Is that so?” I chuckle a little.

            “Mh hmm.” Paxton nods and I smile.

            “That’s good.” She leans her head back on the chair and inhales, closing her eyes. She stays very quiet and very still. For a moment I think she’s asleep but her eyes fly open the minute we get to the apartment parking lot. I take the key out of the ignition and quickly run to the other side of the car to open Paxton’s door. She smiles at me and holds out her hand. I take it and lead her to my home.

The second we get to the door, she asks to be carried. She juts out her bottom lip and with her big puppy-dog eyes, so it’s impossible to say no. I lift her up and carry her bridal-style down the hallway and into my room. I figure that she can sleep in my bed and I can just crash on the couch.

            I set her down gently on the unmade bed, pulling the covers up to her neck. As I’m about to leave she speaks up.

            “Christian?”

            “Yes?”

“Can you stay with me?’

            “Pax-”

            “Please?”

            “Okay.” I climb under the covers, facing her with those gorgeous eyes looking into mine. She buries her head in my chest, breaths becoming slow and even. I breathe in her scent: sweet like vanilla and strawberries, and close my eyes. I kiss the top of her head softly and feel her smile against my chest. With that, I drift into sleep.

A/N: This one was really long, sorry. Once again, I hope this wasn't to cheesy or anything and by the way, Michael is the person in the side bar. He's the same Michael from Christian's band Fox Academy. Thank you for reading and please follow/vote/comment and all that : ) ily