Again | g.d

Part Fourteen

I threw back another shot, wincing at the burning sensation burning my tongue and the back of my throat.

My head was pounding from the crowded bar and loud music, my stomach hurt from all the alcohol, and I grew closer to blacking out with each passing second - but I didn't care.

As long as I could remember the promise ring Grayson had given me, or given back, was in my pocket I still hadn't drank enough.

I just need to forget. I need to forget Grayson. I need to forget how much it all hurts. Just for one night I need to forget everything.

So when I see Jack emerging from the crowd of dancing people, heading straight towards me with a look of confusion on his face, everything I've been trying so hard to avoid comes rushing back to me, and suddenly all the alcohol in my system isn't affecting me at all.

"Anna," He says over the music as he walks closer to me. "what're you doing here?" He asks, placing his hands on my cheeks.

I grab his fingers, and tug his hands off of me, ignoring his question. "How... did you know I was-that I was here?" I slur.

I don't want to see Jack. I don't want him touching me. I don't want him anywhere near me.

He's not Grayson. I only want Grayson.

"You weren't answering your phone, but you left your locations on," He says quickly, trying to hold my hands. "Come on, I'm taking you home," He says softly.

Sober me would've let him. Drunken me wasn't going to let him take me anywhere.

I rip my hands from his grip, nearly falling out of the barstool I sat on. "I'm not going anywhere w-with you," I say drunkenly.

Jack chuckles, trying to get me up again. "Sav, come on-"

"Only Grayson  calls me that." I tell him. This time, my words aren't strung together. This time they're clear and concise. Because I mean it more than anything. "Don't call me that."

This time he freezes, giving me a questioning look. "Why can't I call you that?" He asks me hesitantly, making it obvious he doesn't want to know the answer.

Sober me wouldn't give him one - because this probably wasn't the best time, place, or state to do it in. But drunk me didn't care about those things - especially when I just want him to go away.

"Because you're not-you're not Grayson," I said quietly, my heart shattering as his name sloppily left my mouth.

"Who cares about Grayson - I'm your boyfriend, Savannah," I could hear a hint of jealousy in his voice.

I couldn't help but chuckle, the alcohol in my glass splashing onto my skin as I shook with laughter.

"What the hell is so funny?" Jack's voice edged with annoyance and anger.

"I care about Grayson, that's why I'm here." I slurred again.

The expression on Jacks face slowly changed as he began to realize my drunken words weren't just random. "What do you mean, Anna?" He asked me slowly.

"Come on, Jack, it's not h-hard to understand," I laughed again. "When the p-person you're in love with is about to marry your-your best friend, and wants nothing to do with you," I held up my glass of liquor, giving Jack a wide smile. "You drink!"

Jack grabbed my face with his hands, looking at me intently. "Tell me you don't really mean that. Please tell me you're just saying that because you're wasted."

"Yes, I'm saying it because I'm drunk," I echoed him, truthfully. "but drunk words are s-sober thoughts, " I hiccuped.

His face twisted in confusion. He probably didn't know what to think. How could he possibly piece together everything I had blurred out to him in a way that made sense? I could barely understand the situation, myself, so how could Jack?

Jacks hands fell from my face as he stood up straight. "How long?" He asked me, his chest rising and falling quickly as he breathed heavily. "How long have you been in love with him, Savannah?"

"Way longer than you," I giggled z as I placed my finger on his chest, tracing hearts onto his t-shirt.

I hadn't even noticed how much of my weight I was leaning against him until he backed away, and I fell out of my chair onto the floor, spilling my beer all over me.

"Shit," I cursed, looking up to see Jack walking away from me. "Where are you going?" I yelled at him, my words tangled up together.

"I just need to get away from you right now," He responded quickly, not bothering to turn around.

I watched him walk away from the floor, feeling my eyes fill up with tears as I watched him disappear into the crowd of strangers.

"I'll get home without you, butt-head," I mumbled, reaching into my pocket to pull out my phone and call Ethan.

With blurry vision I scrolled through my contacts, finally clicking on his number when I saw his contact photo.

Almost immediately the line clicked, and a wave of relief washed over me.

Before he could get a word out I began to talk. "Look, I know, it's late, but I really n-need you right now," I whimpered as I slowly picked myself off of the floor.

"I can't, Savannah. I told you, I'm done," He said sternly.

I sighed. "I know this isn't the first time I've asked you to p-pick me up from some random place this late, and I'll never do it again - I swear."

"What?"

"I didn't even m-mean to get wasted. I was just planning on getting tipsy enough to stop thinking about Gray," I began to blabber away. "But it was like the more drunk I got the more I thought about him and Avery, so I would just drink some more but -"

"Savannah, stop, I'm not -"

"I know, I know, I'm being annoying - it's just..." I started quietly, gripping the phone tightly. "I have to try and get over him again, and I don't know how I'm supposed to do that," I said hoarsely. "For crying out loud, I don't even want to fucking move on, but he's made it more than clear that I should."

The line was silent for a few seconds. "So, anyways," I sniffed, trying to clear my mind. "I'm at that-that super sketchy bar downtown, so if you could please hurry that would be great."

"U-um yeah. I'll be there as soon as I can," Ethan said slowly, hesitation clear in his voice. "Stay safe until I get there."

"Thank you so much, E. I love you, you're the best."

"I love you, too, Sav," He said before the line went dead - making me realize what terrible mistake I had just made.