4am | c.h.

Chapter six

We make a quick pit stop at a nearby 24 hour diner and spend nearly an hour there alone, just talking and laughing over the nights events. We are ridiculously over dressed and probably incredibly too loud, but the workers didn't seem to mind. In fact the diner was pretty dead and they seemed to enjoy our antics. 

Though my birthday has barely begun, I can say that it has already been the best I've had in years. 

Everything comes to a screeching halt though as we pull up to my house at about 3:45 in the morning because sitting on my steps is my very pissed off boyfriend.

I can still feel the buzz from the alcohol I'd consumed that night as I climb out of the passenger seat. At some point we'd all come to a silent agreement that everyone would be staying over at my place so they all stumble past me, aside from Luke who is the only sober one and is holding Ashton up as they walk. 

I had given Luke the keys so I wait until they're all inside before I carefully walk over to Jeffrey, my heels clicking against the pavement with every cautious step I take. 

I stumble backwards once I reach the top step that leads to another path that guides you towards my porch steps, so Jeffrey is forced to grab my so I don't tumble down the steps. 

The grip on my arm is tight as he steadies me and I barely have time to meet his gaze before he opens his mouth and everything that he'd been wanting to say to me comes out like a flood.

"Are you fucking kidding me, Rilee? I've been sitting here for over an hour waiting for you! I wanted to surprise you for your birthday but when I got here you were nowhere to be found!" 

I stare down at the ground as he continues to yell at me, my previously good mood falling with every word he screams at me. I knew he would be angry with me. 

"-And then you have the nerve to show back up completely shit faced? How could you be so irresponsible? I thought you knew better than to get in a car with a drunk driver!"

"He wasn't-" I'm cut off, as usual, by Jeffrey as he continues his rant. I know he's far from done so I just close my mouth and look anywhere else but at his face. 

"I thought we both agreed that you wouldn't drink! You know what it does to your body, Rilee. I told you that they are bad influences on you. That's why I don't like you hanging out with them!"

They just wanted me to have a little fun.

"Jeff, please." My plea comes out quiet and I can feel tears burning at the corners of my eyes, begging to be released. I fight them back though, because he hates it when I cry. He says it's a waste of energy and a child's habit. 

His hands shoot out and snatch the leftover burger and fries from my hand as well as the chocolate milkshake in my other, throwing them to the ground,"I thought we talked about this already! You can't keep breaking your diet or you'll never get to where you want to be!" 

The tears that I'd been fighting back finally begin to fall down my cheeks now and it's like a dam had broken because they won't stop. 

"I'm sorry." 

He stops mid rant and scoffs,"You're sorry? Sorry doesn't fix things, Rilee. You know that!"

At this point I zone out. I can hear his voice and see his lips moving but I don't actually hear the words that are leaving his lips. 

I picture myself somewhere else, far away from here. Somewhere that I'm not being scolded like a child by my boyfriend, and somewhere that I don't feel guilty for having a little fun for once.