No Strings *COMPLETE*

Chapter 18

     After realizing the we were almost late for the party, we rushed home.
     We pull into the driveway and hurry inside, only to see that none of the guys are home. I shrug it off and go upstairs to put make-up on and change.
     I look in the mirror hanging on my door and I still can't believe what I'm seeing. My Auburn curls have transformed into flat ironed strands of strawberry blonde and crimson. That hairdresser really knew what she was doing. The guys aren't going to know what to think.
     I finish putting my make-up on, topping it off with some dark red lipstick I hear the front door shut, and voices in the foyer, which only means one thing: The boys are back and the party has officially begun.
     I quickly put on my dress, converse, and a silver pendant necklace.
     Reaching for the door handle, I hear the doorbell chime and my heart leaps in glee. That's got to be Kieran! I swing my bedroom door open and bounce downstairs. "What the fuck are you doing here?" Nate's voice says angrily, carrying through the house. Oh, shit, too late. Nathan already beat me to the door. I found the corner, only to come across Nate hastily holding Kieran- I assume- outside the front door.
     "Nathan, what are you doing?" I ask. He spins around, prepared to throw a smart as  remark my way, but stops suddenly, as soon as our eyes widening. My face heats up. "What? I'm that hideous?" I say, turning to go hide in my bedroom. "You're so beautiful," Kieran's voice says. I turn around to see that he's used Nate's stupor against him and shoved his way into the house. Nate snaps out of his daze. "Motherfucker," he grumbles glaring at Kieran.
     "You dyed your hair, sweetheart. It... you look beautiful," Kieran says, making his way towards me. I can't help but smile, and meet him halfway. "Has your mother seen your hair? She's gonna-." "Yes, Nathan she's seen it. She was there when I fucking got it done. Now mind your own business." I snap at him.
     Kieran grabs my waist and pulls me to him. Kissing me gently on the lips.
     Kieran pulls away first  allowing me to see the look on Nathan's face, and boy was he not happy. I smirk and Nathan and turn to Kieran and say, "Alright babe. You ready to meet the family?" Kieran grins at me and without hesitation, says, "Absolutely, baby."
     This is too perfect, I feel the heat of Nathan's stare as I grab Kieran's hand and lead him to the kitchen.
     As we walk in, my mom is washing something in the sink while Lilli is facing, cutting, and talking with my cousin Toby. I squeeze Kieran's hand in reassurance as we walk up to my mom. "Mom? This is Kieran." My mom almost falls she turns around, and both Kieran and I grab ahold of her to help. "Are you okay, Mrs. Torres? Kieran asks worriedly. "I'm fine just lost my balance for a second. And please call me Teressa." She says sitting down at the island. "Are you good mom?" I ask. "Oh, I'm fine honey. So is this the boy you and Lilli were talking about at the mall?" Lilli turns quickly towards me and gives me a panicked look. I get a hot flash in my face but try to keep my cool. "Do you have to embarrass me, mom?" Kieran looks at me with a big grin and all I can do is blush.
     The door leading from the kitchen out of the patio opens suddenly and my father appears, holding a pan of hamburgers, all while looking at us like we're intruding.
     "Hey, dad!" I say, breaking the sudden silence. He gives me a genuine Papa Bear grin and turns to lock eyes with Kieran.
     "Hi honey. Who's this?" "This is Kieran, a friend of mine." He raises an eyebrow, "A friend huh? Come here, son," he beckons Kieran to him. Kieran sends me a sideways glance but towards him anyways. "Teddy, sweetie, be nice," my mom calls out to him before going back to her task.
     Once Kieran was with in arms length, my dad clamps a hand down on his shoulder. (Which damn near scared the piss out of him.)
      "Keegan, right?" my dad asks Kieran, knowing damn well that is most definitely not his name. Kieran stares wide-eyed at me, clearly afraid to correct the grizzly bear of a man with a death grip on his shoulder. I nod my head at him, encouraging him to to correct my father. I watch him as he takes in a big gulp of air.
     "Actually, sir... It's Kieran. "My dad's lip curls up into the form of a smirk. That was a test, I should have known. By the grin on my dad's face, Kieran passed.
     "What are you intentions with my Skilar?" My dad presses. The kitchen door swings shut and everybody stops what they're doing to stare at the culprit. Nathan ignores the states and makes himself comfortable at the island. Well, isn't this ironic..? All the guys in my life that would like for poor Kieran to just disappear; all in one room. I look around, debating on the best way out. "Hey, K, didn't you say you knew something about greenery? Come on, I'll show you the greenhouse," I say, reaching for Kieran's hand. He takes the hint and grabs my hand.
    As we're  headed out the back door, Nate- who had been silent the entire time, up until now- speaks up. "C'mon Ski. Let the kid hang out with us guys. We don't bite.. hard." Little motherfucker. "No, you guys can be stupid on your own-.
     "It's okay, Angel," Kieran says quietly slightly squeezing my hand, "Hang out with the gis, I'll meet up with you before midnight," he kisses my cheek and walks over to Nate, where the other guys were gathering. "Alright, Pops, let's set up beer pong," Nate says, slapping my dad on the back. The most surprising part was, HE ACTUALLY LISTENED TO HIM!! I don't  understand what spell he has over my parents.
     As If to read my mind, Nate turns towards me and while giving me his infamous smirk, he winks at me. THAT FUCKING PRICK!! I want to go up to Nate and smack that look right off of his face, but right before I could do anything, Lilli grabs ahold of my wrist and pulls me out of there. Next thing I know, we are on the front porch and she is trying to calm me down.
     "He's going to try something, or say something about us to him!" "Ski, breathe. He wouldn't be that stupid. He knows that would make him a dead man between Alec and your dad." She was right and I knew that, but I still couldn't help but worry. What was Nate planning?
     Lilli hugs me out of the blue, as if to say 'Don't worry.' Pulling away, Lilli says, "stay here. I'll be right back with Jack Daniel's and chocolate." She walks in the front door, so I sit down and wait for her to come back.
     A few minutes past and I'm already freezing cold. I wait a couple more minutes for Lilli and still no sign of her. "Fuck this, I'm going inside." I walk in the front door and there is no one in sight. I make my way to the foyer and still no one. But then I hear laughter coming from the kitchen and decide to check in there.
     The first thing I see is Toby, Lilli, and Alec all joined together in a little group. I look around, noticing a pattern. Everyone is in their own tiny cliques; Toby, Lilli and Alec, mom and dad, and... of course Kieran and fucking Nathan. I hear Nathan laughing, and I go to investigate. He has Kieran so fucking wasted he couldn't even stand up straight. "What the fuck Nathan?!" I yell at him, as I go to help Kieran to a seat so he would stop making a damn fool of himself. Nate feeds Kieran another shot of my dad's 100 proof Vodka. "Okay, that's enough. Let's go get you to another room." I says as I gently grab and lead Kieran to my room. As we get up the stairs Kieran is singing, 'Do you wanna build a snowman?' And bumping into the walls. "Careful hun," I say pushing my bedroom door open.
     As soon as we get into the room, "Comfy!!" Kieran yells and lays on my purple fluffy carpet. Ummm, I thought he would go for the bed but okay, I grab one of my blankets and cover him with it. Then I grab my trash can and set it next to him. "I'll be back to check on you here in a bit, Love, okay?" Kieran mumbles in response and cuddles under the covers some more. He's so cute!! But Nate is going to die!!
     I leave my room opening the door trying not to wake Kieran up. I try to keep my cool as I head down the stairs but my anger is boiling over. I head to the kitchen and see a very drunk Nathan trying to get Alec to take shots with him. My first thought is to break the Vodka bottle but no. Instead I walk straight over towards Nate, grab him by the shirt, and drag him to the back yard. I bring him in to the shed that used to be my quiet place, but is now used as a library.
     "What the fuck Ski!!" "I was going to ask the same thing Nathan!" All he does is stare for a long minute. "Hello! Earth to dumbass!!" "Stop it!" Of course, that's what pisces him off. "Stop what Nate?" "Stop being such a bitch!" "Why?! I have every fucking right to be a bitch!! You might have just given my boyfriend alcohol poisoning!" I yell. "Boyfriend, huh?" The little smartass says, raising an eyebrow at me. I pause, without realizing it. He clocks his head, all signs of his irritation now momentarily replaced with amusement. I watch as his eyes dance, indicating that he does, in fact, have a buzz going. "Yeah. My boyfriend. What's it to you?" He leans back, glaring at me. "You have some balls, Torres. He doesn't like you. He just wants in your fucking pants." That is fucking it!! Without think, I smack him as hard as I can, right across the face.