Control

Chapter Three

TW: This chapter includes sexual content that may disturb some people 

It was dark out, the full moon was casting shadows upon Zach and me as we walked up to a brightly lit house, music booming across the street. Teenagers were scattered across the front yard, some hunched over bushes, others were coupled into tight embraces as their mouths explored each other.

I immediately wanted to turn around but Zach must have sensed my unease and lightly touched my wrist. "Come on, it will be fun." He said, as he gently nudged me forward. He wore tight black jeans and a black shirt that hung loosely on his small frame, he had brushed his hair back so it was out of his face. I was impressed with how he cleaned himself up.

We made our way inside and I was hit with the stench of beer and sweat. Heat radiated off the countless bodies tightly packed into the house, and I instantly felt the urge to take my off turtleneck jumper, although I knew my bruises would be too blatant for anyone to ignore. I was glad the jumper was cropped, allowing the small of my skin across my stomach to feel some air.

Some people were huddled in groups, alcohol sloshing in their cups, while others had formed a circle and were grinding against each other in beat to the music. I recognised people from school but no one I could start a conversation with. I briefly scanned the room to see if I could spot Kelsey, but she appeared to be nowhere in sight.

I turned to Zach and leaned in close so he could hear above the roaring of music and chatter of people. "Let's get a drink," I said hoping this would calm my nerves. I took him by the hand and led him across the room to a table set up with bottles of liquor and red solo cups. Across the table stood a brawny guy with long dark hair slicked back reminding me of a rat. I recognised him from school as George, a boxer with quite a reputation for making his way through the girls at school. As I approached, his eyes scanned me up and down. Instinctively I felt the need to pull down my skirt.

George sneered, exposing a set of crooked front teeth, "Who knew you could dress up so nicely."

I clenched my jaw, and I could feel Zach stiffen beside me. "Just give us a drink, will you?"

His sneer only grew larger. He pulled up a small shot glass and began filling it with an unlabeled clear liquid. "What is it?" I said when he placed it in front of me.

"Liquid luck." He said, a cocky smile playing at his lips. When I didn't make any move to grab the glass, he rolled his eyes and sighed. "It's vodka, and it's not spiked if that's what you're thinking." He reached for the glass he just handed me, lifting it to his mouth, his face grimacing as he swallowed. "See?" He then poured more of the vodka into the shot glass and thrust it over to me. This time I reached for it and lifted it to my mouth, swallowing the liquid in one. I tried to keep a straight face as the liquid burned my tongue and seeped down my throat.

When I put the glass down I noticed George smiling widely. "Nice one!" He turned his eyes towards Zach, as if only just noticing him. "Same for you?" His eyes dulled and his voice went monotoned. I saw Zach nod stiffly and watched as he grabbed the glass of vodka and gradually raised it to his lips. I wanted to reach out and tell him he didn't need to do this but stopped myself when realising the embarrassment that would cause him. I knew that Zach had never been drunk before, and this would be a nerve-racking experience for him. I gently touched his arm to signal for him to wait. "One more for me."

George smiled widely, "that's what I like to hear." He poured me another drink and handed it over, I could already feel the alcohol from my first drink hitting me in a wave, although I raised my glass and clinked it against Zachs. "Together."

I saw gratitude flood in his eyes, and together we raised the drinks to our lips and gulped them down.

I expected Zach to cough and splutter but once he downed the vodka and got over the initial burn he smiled broadly.