The Player Next Door

Chapter 16

I couldn't help but laugh as Jake splashed me lightly with the water; after all I was drunk along with everyone else here.

Jake scooped me up in his arms before throwing me back into the water.

I jumped up my mouth shaped in a wide 'o', "Jake!!"

He laughed using his thumb to push the wet hairs away form my face, "You look ridiculous with your hair in your face like that"

I stuck my tongue out at him and he tried to grab it before I pulled it back into my mouth.

I smacked his hands away from my face, "Go away from me"

He laughed at my inability to speak properly and I couldn't help but smile up at him. He was smiling wide, his beautifully straight teeth on display and a dimple on his cheek forming, "You're going to feel like shit in the morning."

I leaned on him for balance grabbing his arms with my hands, "I think it'll be worth it"

"Chelsea?" I looked up to see Ryan looking down at me and I slowly pulled my hands away from Jake.

"Hey Ryan" I smiled up at him, "Come in the water"

"No thank you" he said his eyes looking between Jake and I, "Chelsea come on, get out"

I moved away from where he was reaching out for me which moved me closer to Jake who stopped me by putting a hand at the small of my back, "No, I want to stay"

"Dude leave her alone, let her swim" Zach chimed in from somewhere near by.

"Stay out of this" Ryan said shooting him a glare.

Their loud voices started to turn the heads of the other people at the party.

"I'm going to go" I said looking at Jake, "I'll see you later"

I tried to walk away from him but Jake grabbed my arm, "No, I'm not letting you leave with him, he's drunk"

Ignoring Jake I stepped out of the pool and went up to Ryan, "Let's just sit down"

"How come every time I turn around you're with him?" Ryan said ignoring my request.

"Ryan lower your voice" I said looking around at all the staring faces, "You were getting drunk with your friends, how come I can't do the same?"

He laughed but it was cold and humorless, "He's not your friend Chelsea, he just wants to sleep with you, how can you not see that?"

Jake was suddenly out of the pool and standing next to us his voice making me snap my head in his direction, "That's not true Chelsea, it's not like that"

"Shut up!" Ryan yelled, "You can have any girl here Jake, why do you need to bother Chelsea?"

"I think you need to sit down and shut up" Jake said anger clear in his voice.

"What you don't like being called out for your actions? She's here with me fuckface, find someone else to try and sleep with" suddenly the next thing I know Jake's fist is colliding with Ryans face and everyone at the party is screaming and gasping.

"Jake!" I screamed throwing my hands over my mouth. I quickly rushed to Ryans side.

His adrenaline rushing from being drunk, Ryan quickly recovered wiping the blood away from his mouth where Jake's fist made contact.

Jake's eyes were wide as if he was surprised by his own actions.

"Ryan let's go, we're leaving" I said helping him up.

Kimmy appeared next to us grabbing Ryan's keys.

As we left I could hear Jake calling out to me but I ignored him.