Shirtless

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

It felt odd, to be drunk as a skunk. I’ve been tipsy before at my cousins wedding, but never intoxicated like I was now. I had only had about three glasses when I said ‘fuck it’ and drank straight from the bottle like I was a dehydrated desert Bedouin. Adrien had laughed at me, and grabbed me by the arm, pulling me towards the bonfire.

With every step closer, I could feel the music pound through the sand and the alcohol attributed to the buzz. The silhouette that was black became people. Taking another sip, I began to move with the upbeat rhythm, letting the throng of pulsing bodies move me along. I was vaguely aware of Adrien’s grip falling off my arm, but when I turned to look, strangers were laughing and drinking behind, making me forget why I looked and lose myself.

My hips began to move to the erratic beat, bodies pressed against me, my sips from the bottle became more frequent. Something began to bubble up inside my chest, moving up my throat. Lifting up both my hands, probably spilling a bit of my rum, I laughed. I felt light, like my blood was replaced by alcohol and felt like I could fly anywhere, like Superman. The only thing keeping me planted to earth was the weight on my two shoulders. Looking in front of me, I found Abby laughing away just like me.

“Abby?” I asked, my voice coming out louder and less consistent than I wanted, making the ‘A’ soft and then the ‘bby’ like a high pitched cat.

“ELLIE! You’re here! In the partay!” She shouted, her head moving from side to side. “That’s so weird.”

“I know, right?” I said, moving my head in time with hers so I could keep looking her in the eye, but that proved quite a feat considering the level of control I had over my body right now.

“You know what this means?” She asked, sobering up a little. I just looked on confused, my arms beginning to sway and bringing up another sip. “Ooh, give me some of that.” And she took my bottle. Handing it back, she began to shout in a voice I’ve never heard her use. It was so loud.

“Hey, everyone!!” She screamed, making it go silent from the shock everyone got. Only the music was blasting in the background. The silence won’t last long though. “We got a new girl! Let’s give her a welcome!”

Everyone cheered, one person pouring their drink on me, drenching me in alcohol on my one shoulder. The funny thing was; I didn’t care. They started to chant. What? I don’t know. It was a whole slurry of words mixed together from everyone being drunk. But I focused on one person and soon figured out what they were saying.

“Take your top off. Take your top off. Take your top off.” It was an endearing chant, willing me to actually do it. Abby laughed, pushing the rum bottle to my mouth, forcing me to take another long gulp of rum. With the bottle almost done, Abby took it from my hands and began to unbutton my orange shirt.

“I can do it, Abs.” I laughed, pushing her hands away and fumbling at the small buttons. Maybe I couldn’t do it. No, wait! There it is, my shirt was undone! Taking it off, I threw it to the ground and picked up my Captain Morgan, feeling incomplete without it.

“Hey look! I can see her boobs!” One guy shouted, making everyone go completely silent again, all staring at me. I blinked at them, my brain not really comprehending what he said. “That’s awesome!” And everyone cheered again.

Feeling the roar of everyone’s cheering, I started shouting as well, lifting my hands up and accidently spilt the rest of the drink on the sand.

It was wild. I had boys pressed up against me from all sides, something that’s never happened to me before –not even close, and I don’t even think I was dancing right. But they didn’t seem to mind. They did when a guy with high cheekbones, brown hair and gorgeous eyes glared at them. Then they scampered away like scared puppies.

Adrien grabbed me by my forearm and pulled me out of the crowd. We were nearer to the water now and I could hear the wave’s crash against the shore, along with the music, making me a bit sick to tell the truth. I swayed a little, but his grip made me stand straight. Even in my stupor, I could tell he was refraining himself from looking at my breasts. Aw, what a gentleman!

“Where is your shirt?” He asked, looking at my eyes. I lifted my hands out and showed him my palms like a five year old.

“I lost it.” I grinned, feeling my knees go weak. He closed his eyes, and opened them, his gaze going for a split second downwards before he caught himself and lifted them to my face.

“I’ll give you my shirt.” He said, letting go of my shoulders to take his off.

“No, don’t do that. A shirt makes me feel to constrict- constr- restricted.” I complained, watching him take it off. My lips felt very dry, so I licked them, tasting some rum and splashes of beer.

“Here take it.” He forced it into my hands, watching me carefully. I smiled, a plan forming in my head to get back at him for getting me drunk. Wow, I’m evil when I’m intoxicated.

Lifting my arms above my head, I started stretching, bending backwards a little, right in front of him. I saw him shift a little, uncomfortable and turn around. Stopping, I looked at him, not liking he’s not taking the bait.

“Adrien…” I muttered, making my voice softer and deliberate.

“Yes?” He asked, still looking away.

“Look at me,” I touched his arm, bringing his shirt to cover my chest. He switched his gaze to me, not turning his head, but when he realised my chest was covered he shifted directly in front of me.

“You’re really pretty, you know that right?” I muttered with my vision sort of blurry as I looked at him. He cleared his throat.

“You’re drunk.”

“You got me drunk.” I retorted quickly, surprising both myself and him for the comeback. He seemed ashamed and scratched his head.

“Well, you were never supposed to take your top off.” He grunted, making me smile.

“Kiss me.” I said, stepping closer to him, my one hand reaching behind his neck.

“What? No, you aren’t thinking straight.” He pushed at my shoulders, but for some reason, in my drunken state, I felt stronger and pulled myself closer.

“I thought of a lie.” I whispered in his ear, kissing it softly. Where was this experience coming from? “My hands slipped out from under me.” And I kissed him.

His lips were warm and tasted slightly of beer. His lips were in a flat line, not kissing back, but my body didn’t give up. When did I say was the last time I kissed someone? I forgot already, but I don’t know why I didn’t do it more often. Was I even kissing properly and that is why he wasn’t kissing me? I don’t care.

Pulling away, just a tiny bit so that our lips were barely touching, I whispered again.

“Kiss me.”

My one hand slid a tiny bit from the back of his neck a little more to the front, where I felt him swallow. Dropping his shirt, I lifted my other hand up and around his neck. Both of us were shirtless so I used it to my advantage. I pushed myself against him, feeling him taking in a deep breath, the movement moving my palm a little.

“Why should I? You’re confused, that would be taking advantage of you.” He whispered back, his voice hoarse. So, it would be taking advantage of me? That would mean he wants to. Isn’t it funny how I can think of so many things to say now that I’m drunk?

“Why, you ask?” I answered, planting little kisses on his jaw. “Because I’m not a babysitter.” I grinned, making my way down his throat. “So, kiss me, Adrien.”

This time it wasn’t me that kissed his lips. His found mine like some detective working away night and day to figure out a case. It felt different to when I was the one moving my lips, now I was the one not doing anything. But his arms wrapped around my middle and I tried my best to copy what he was doing. I seemed to be doing a good enough of a job seeing as he pressed me against his even more.

Why don’t I do this more often? Oh gosh, what’s he doing? His lips weren’t on mine anymore but moved down my jaw to under my ear. Is this how he felt when I did it? It feels like this glorious symphony of acapella was filling me up, getting me lost in the feeling.