Why Don't We? // Jack Avery fanfiction

"I can't believe her!"

Content warning: mention of alcohol and mild language

"I can't believe her!!" I complain to Jack, as I nuzzle my head into his chest. He had picked me up from school, and let me come over to his place. I stared up at his big hazel eyes, and his curly head of hair. "Don't worry Em. We won't let her in. Nobody deserves to have their party ruined for them by some jerk like her. I honestly can't believe that Rachael is forgiving her just like that. It's kinda stupid." He says. "It is stupid." I agree. "Rachael has always been nice to everyone but she doesn't have a boundary. Madeleine has been making my life miserable for so long now, and Rachael knows that. She shouldn't just act like things are fine." Jack strokes my hair and plants a kiss on the top of my head. I look up to see his big pouty eyes. "Everything will be okay Em. I promise."

A couple of days pass, and it's the night of the party. Normally, I don't really go to parties, and neither do the guys, but we all thought we deserved some fun. The boys all invited their old friends, and I invited a good portion of the school that I liked. Rachael on the other hand, invited nobody but Madeleine. I had gone straight home from school and showered, put on makeup and a short dress. Normally I wouldn't wear a dress this short, but after I tried it on and refused to buy it because of a) its price and b) its length, Jack decided to buy it for me. I admittedly tried very hard to look good for tonight, but I feel like if Madeleine is going to be there, I should at least feel confident in myself. I apply a quick layer of lipgloss, and head downstairs to wait for Jack to pick me up. "Hey hon" my mom says. "You look lovely!" I thank her, and we talk about when I'll be home until Jack knocks on the door. "Well, hello there young man." My mom says, jokinging. Jack smiles shyly and shakes her hand. "Hi" he says quietly. "You keep her safe now, okay?" Jack nods his head quickly. "I always will." I feel myself blush at this. My mom laughs and tells us to go have fun. My dad shouts his goodbyes from his office. I shout back, saying goodbye as well.

The ride to the boys' house is quick, as usual. "Em. Tonight is our night, okay? Not Madeleine's, not Rachael's nobody but us and the guys. So don't let her get to you." Jack kisses my hand, as he knows he would ruin my makeup if he kissed my face.

We walk in the together, hand in hand and my ears instantly start to ring with the sound of the loud music. Eveyone is dressed very nicely, and I'm glad that I wore what I did. "Guys! They're here!" Daniel calls out to Corbyn and Zach, who I see in the other room playing ping pong. They pause their game and come up to Jack and I, each with 2 red cups in their hands. "We've been waiting for you guys so we can all share our first drink of the party together!" Corbyn says. Zach nods his head. "Yeah. This is our night!" Jack takes the 2 extra cups, one from Corbyn and one from Zach. There is some sort of foamy looking pink drink. "Where's Jonah?" Jack asks, sniffing the oddly coloured drink. "He went off with Rachael. They're somewhere in the basement with everyone else. Just ignore it. He isn't being himself." Daniel says. Jack frowns at this. "Em, are you sure you want to drink tonight? You don't have to feel pressured to drink it if you don't want to." Jack says, and the others nod in agreeance. I shake my head. "I've been a goodie 2 shoes for too long now. Tonight is our night. Let's do this." I say boldly. "Well in that case.. TO US" Corbyn chants. "TO US" we all repeat, chugging down the liquid. Much to my surprise, the liquid tastes sweet and fruity, which is nowhere near what I expected it to taste like. "Be careful with this drink though guys. It tastes like candy but it'll get you drunk in half a second." Jack says, lifting an eyebrow at Zach. Zach holds up his hands as if to surrender, and laughs. Before I know it, more and more people are flooding into the already crowded house. Some go down to the basement, and some stay on the main floor. Some smoke, and some drink. The boys all go there separate ways, Corbyn, talking to his old friend Christian, and Daniel talking to 2 girls; I recognized one of them as his cousin, the other one probably a friend of hers. Zach was talking to 4 girls, all of them giggling at his jokes. He is flirting hard. I stay with Jack, in the middle of the dance floor. The speaker is playing loud music. Jack and I each take 2 shots from a bottle that is being passed around. I'm already feeling extremely tipsy since I've never drank before. Jack, who is standing behind me snakes his arms around my waist. "You're so beautiful." He half whispers, half yells into my ear. I can tell he is drunk too. It makes me giggle. I turn around and wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him in for a deep kiss. I feel all eyes on us. Many girls are probably staring angrily, wishing they had a chance with Jack; but he's mine, and now they all know that. Our kiss is cut short by yelling in the livingroom.

Corbyn's POV

I'm so happy we decided to throw this party. I've gotten to see so many friends of mine that I haven't seen in months, or even years. My friend Jarrett and I are talking about our time at summer camp when we were 14, when someone taps me on my back. I turn around to see Madeline there. The girl that nobody wanted to show up. The loser that tripped Emily when I first met her. "What do you want?" I say, not bothering to be nice with her. "I saw you from across the room and wanted to tell you how good you look." She says, unphased by my rude response. Jarrett who clearly doesn't understand what's going on says he's going to get a drink, and slips away. "I'm not interested." I say, wishing Jarrett hadn't left." Her face contorts and changes into a devious smile. "Oh I know. Because you're in love with Emily." I feel my face redden and burn with anger and embarrassment. "You don't have to be though. I'm here and I'm at least 10 times prettier than her. Maybe 20. So, why would you want someone like her when I'm right in front of you?" She takes her finger and traces it along my jawline. With her other hand, she pulls my body closer to her own. "Stop it." I warn. She ignores my warning and moves her hand down my chest. She places her other hand on my thigh. Before I can figure out how to contain anger, I find myself screaming.

"GET OUT." I yell angrily, causing people to stare at me. I see her face turn red as all eyes are on us.

The music shuts off abruptly and somehow eveyone falls silent.

"You shouldn't have even come to this party. You know that nobody here actually likes you. First you bully Emily and then you harass me after I clearly tell you I'm not interested? You can't DO that to someone. Have you never heard of consent? You shouldn't have even been here in the first place. Just get out!"

"Okay.. Wow.. I'm sorry I'm so hated.." she says angirly. "Are you happy now" She yells at me as she walks toward the front door, slamming it behind her.

"What the hell was that Corbyn??" Rachael demands angrily. "What the hell was THAT?" I yell back, slurring slightly. "What the hell were you thinking when you invited the biggest ass in that whole school to OUR PARTY. Not your party. OURS. You invited a girl who you knew hurt Emily, your best friend and now you're yelling at me because she harassed me? You're INSANE." I say with anger clear in my voice.

Before I know it, Jonah is standing in front of me. "Don't talk to my girlfriend like that man. Don't do it." He says in a warning voice. "Or what?" I ask, tauntingly. "Look man, I don't want this to get bad." Jonah says to me. "Then it won't." I Whisper, and walk out the front door.

Emily's POV

I can't believe what just happened. I want to scream, and hit something, and cry all at once. Instead, I just watch as Zach and Daniel begin to shout: Party's over, everyone get out!!

How did a party that started so perfectly end so badly.

Finally the tears start to come.