WILD (✓)

~ thirteen ~

"Maybe you should slow down over there," CJ says from the drivers seat, a wide smile plastered on his face despite his words. I shake my head, bringing the bottle of vodka to my mouth and quickly chasing it down with some fruit punch. Mmm...

"No thanks," I dance in the passenger seat of his parked car, enjoying the way the liquor loosens my limbs. He isn't drinking and I'm curious as to why not, but I don't push it. More for me, I giggle. I reach over to the volume knob and turn the radio up loud, singing along to an old rock and roll song.

CJ laughs, leaning his head back against the seat. "Hey, you're not too bad,"

I blush, but I'm not really that embarrassed. I feel good. I feel light despite the fact that I'll have to go home and face reality at some point. Home. Maybe I should stop drinking... I shove the thought away with another swig from the bottle, shivering as the liquid hits my belly.

"Did you have a nice Christmas?" I ask sincerely. Thinking of him alone in an off campus apartment makes me sad.

"It was good," CJ's smile twitches but he quickly covers it up by joking, "Everyone's family is a little crazy around the holidays, right?"

I nod, raising the bottle at his statement. "Here, here," I take another swig.

We're quiet for a few minutes, now that I'm feeling a bit better about his holiday. At least he wasn't alone, even if his family is nuts. I peer at him through my lashes as he stares at the snow falling to the ground. Oh, he's so pretty, I sigh. His hair is a little bit more grown out now and I want to run my fingers through it. Maybe it's the alcohol making me weird, or maybe the alcohol just helps me see what I really want. Who knows?

"It's really snowing, crap." I groan, the realization that I probably shouldn't drive home hitting harder than the vodka. "My mom is going to kill me."

CJ nudges my arm reassuringly before starting the car. "Let's hang out for a bit, get you sobered up some and then we'll see if the snow has stopped." I chew my cheek as he pulls out of the stranded parking lot we found. Closing the bottle and putting it in the backseat, I wonder if he'll bring me to his apartment. Do I want him to? The butterflies in my stomach say yes, despite thoughts of Lucas flooding my mind.

Ignoring the conflicting thoughts, I close my eyes and lean my head back, not asking him where he's taking me. I don't want to ask and seem silly. Lucas is easier to read than CJ. Still, for some reason, not knowing with CJ doesn't bother me. Not one bit.

I must've drifted to sleep during the drive, because I'm jolted upright when I feel the car come to a stop. "Oh, sorry," I mumble, rubbing my eyes. Looking out the windshield, I notice the front windows of a barbecue restaurant bragging about their award winning pulled pork. So not his apartment then... am I disappointed?

"I thought you should eat something to sober up before you went home," CJ explains, opening my car door for me. "Plus, I'm starving." He smiles, his tongue between his teeth in a playful grin.

I gaze up at him and can't help the returning smile on my face. "I love barbecue," I say as I follow him inside. We don't have to wait long to be seated, and I'm grateful. The smell of tangy sauce and smoked meat fills the dimly lit cabin style restaurant. My belly gurgles, and still a little drunk, I nearly moan as a waitress walks by with someone else's dish. CJ raises his brows at me, amused. "I'm hungrier than I thought," I blush.

His eyes are intent on my face and I feel my breath quicken under his gaze. "Hi, I'm Mary and I'll be your server today," an older woman with dyed red hair sets down our menus, making me jump. CJ doesn't shift his gaze as I order my drink and it's all I can do just to get the words out.