𝐇𝐈𝐃𝐄| 𝐉.𝐁.

16: Everything will be alright

"Okay, the first one to down all twenty five shots without throwing up, wins." Ethan says, pouring the alcohol in a few more shot glasses.

"Are you sure you can take it? I mean, you're not a drinker, not to mention a prude too." Kacey squints her eyes at me I hear whispers amongst the people behind me.

"I can take it. Why do you ask? Scared someone will finally beat you at the thing you do best, swallowing?" I smirk and her eyes widen.

"Damn, girl." Red says, high fiving me.

I look at Josh and he gives me that same harsh glare and I just roll my eyes.

"You both ready?" Ethan asks.

"Yeah." Kacey and I nod at him.

"Go!" Ethan shouts, hitting the buzzer.

Kacey and I shockingly, take shots one by one at the same place.

"Lex, stop." Taylor warns as I gulp down my seventh shot.

I vigorously shake my head as I keep going, blocking her comment out.

"Getting a little dizzy there, Lex?" Kacey smirks at me.

"Not at all." I spit at her as I down my tenth shot.

"Maybe you should stop. Don't stoop to her level, you don't need to prove anything." Shawn says to me. 

"I don't take orders from anyone." I say and down another two shots.

"Alexis, stop!" Josh says but I ignore his request and down another three shots.

"Who's getting dizzy now?" I smirk as Kacey loses her a balance a little.

"Dizzy? Not in the slightest." She slurs, clearing her throat as she downs another two shots.

"C'mon Lex, this isn't you." Josh says, taking the shot out of my hand.

"Stop worrying about me and go take care of your girlfriend. She's nice, pretty and so smart!" I sarcastically slur to him in a high pitched voice.

I grab the shot from his hand and gulp it down, along with five more shots.

"Thirty seconds left!" Ethan shouts and everyone cheers behind me.

"I'm not losing to this bitch." I growl as I down the last four shots.

"Done!" Red shouts as I slam the last empty shot glass on the table.

Kacey starts to gag and runs off into the bathroom, already puking her guts out.

"We have a winner, ladies and gentlemen!" Ethan shouts as he hold my hand up.

Everyone cheers and pats my shoulder.

I pull away from Ethan and wipe my mouth.

"Where are you going, you should celebrate!" I hear Ethan shout.

"I don't want to. I just need a minute." I slur, swallowing the dry heaves in my throat.

I stumble into the kitchen and place my palm on the fridge as I put my head, clearing all the spiraling thoughts in my head.

Okay, now I'm regretting it.

I should've stopped at my tenth shot, that was when I felt really dizzy.

But I just wanted to show Kacey that I wasn't backing down to her, and I did.

"Ugh." I groan, rubbing my head.

"Lex." A voice says and I look up to see a blurry figure but the curly hair stands out.

I blink a few times to make out who it is. Once I do, I immediate clench my jaw at him.

"Go away Josh." I slur, turning on my heels.

"No, I'm taking you home. You aren't yourself right now." He says, grabbing my arm, pulling me back.

"Don't act like you care now. You only care when I want someone else. I've always felt a little something for you and I know you knew it to. But all it took was seven minutes in heaven at a stupid fucking party for you to finally confess?" I scoff, trying to get out of his grip.

"C'mon, Alexis, you don't mean it, you're-"

"But I do, Josh. Like I said, go worry about your girlfriend and I'll worry about me." I huff.

"You're nuts if you think I'm gonna leave you here alone. Please, let me take you home." He pleads.

"Hey, Lex, are you alright?" I hear Taylor call out as she pushes through the drunk bodies.

"She's fine. I'm gonna take her home. Red will walk you home, okay?" Josh says to her.

"Okay. Please, don't break her heart. She's gone through enough pain." I hear Taylor mutter to Josh and I roll my eyes.

Taylor rubs his arm and Josh nods at her.

"I'll see you tomorrow. Lex, call me first thing in the morning." She says, kissing my head and I nod as she wonders off with Red.

"C'mon." Josh says, holding his hand out.

I look at him, meeting his gaze and then slowly accept his hand.

He pulls me through the drunk teens and we finally make it to the door.

"Josh, stop." I slur, tugging on his arm as I bend down, swallowing another dry heave in my throat.

Then out of nowhere, tears started steaming down my face.

"Hey, hey, it's gonna alright. Everything is gonna be okay. I'm here, it's gonna be alright." He says and I look up at him, meeting his dark eyes.

"I promise, okay? Trust me. C'mon, let's go." He says in a soft tone.

I slowly nod and he wipes my tears with the pads of this thumbs.

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding and jump in Josh's arms.

I wrap my legs around his waist and he tightly wraps his arms around me.

"It's okay, it's okay. I got you, I'll never let you go. And if you fall, I'll always catch you." He mumbles and I take in the scent of his cologne.

"It's hard to be mad at you when you smell so good." I say and he lets out a breathy chuckle.

And he carried me to the car, my legs wrapped around his waist the whole time.

Maybe he was right, maybe everything is going to be okay.

At least when I'm with him.