All I Need Is You | Jensen Ackles

Chapter 51- Another love

Tonight's party is thrown by someone that I don't know, just like all those other times.

By the time I arrive, night has fallen and every window is lit up. The bass rumbles beneath my feet as I walk up the driveway, and the promise of the night thrums in my chest as I squeeze between bodies to find Jake and his friends.

A few vaguely familiar faces pass by, but for the most part, I don't recognize anyone. I got a couple pairs of eyes on me already, I can tell by the way the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

I hang on the couch while I pretend to do something over my phone when in reality I just want to look busy. I just received a text from Jake that he'll arrive in five minutes.

This is my second alcohol drink for the night and I'm planning to stop here. I don't want these people to find out what happens to me when I get drunk.

"Hey, Anna."

"Hi! Where are the others?" Jake is the only one who has a car among his friends so they always come together.

"Everyone was busy except for Izzy but she already got her eyes on some chick so it's just us."

"Oh okay."

Jake sits next to me and polishes off the beer twenty seconds later. "What?"

"You gonna crush it against your forehead now?" I tease. "I promise to act impressed."

"Soft skull, plus I'm not a frat boy," he says.

*

It's a cool night, and we are the only ones outside, sitting on a patio swing tucked into the corner of the dark backyard. It's been mostly eaten by ivy and is rusted to the point of immobility, but it's still usable as a place to sit.

Jake lights his joint, palm curved around it to tamp down on the airflow and I sit as far from him as possible on the small swing.

He wordlessly holds out his joint to me, offering it between his index and middle finger.

"I'm good," I reply.

He takes my drag for himself as I take a gulp of the rum and Coke.

We stay quiet as we stare at the skinny pale kid across the pool who does vape tricks for a group of very impressed, very stoned spectators.

"Have you ever shotgunned?" He asks.

"Nope."

"Do you want to?"

I actually don't know.

I lick my lips. "No." It's probably for the best.

"Geez, I can see my breath." I absentmindedly rub my arms again.

He shrugs off his jacket and puts it on my shoulders. "Here."

"No, you'll get cold."

"Nah, I'm hot." he doesn't forget to wink and I roll my eyes at him.

"Thanks" I slide it on.

I don't even know why I'm even feeling cold when I'm wearing a shirt underneath my sweat.

"I'll take you up on that offer," I say, too fast.

I don't like being drunk. It switches off the best parts of my brain and leaves the fool to run my life, to run my mouth.

He looks at me, a little taken aback. "Okay. Come over here."

I swallow and scoot closer to him. "I just want to say, like—this is something you'd just do with your pals, right? Friend stuff."