•Space•

Twelve:

"oh nothing" anna says in her suspicious voice.

"okay then. uhh, riley. wanna go dance?" he asks as he turns to me. no. just say no. you don't want to.

"sure" i reply. a wide grin spreads across his face, and he grabs my hand and viciously yanks me to the dance floor.

"this is gonna be a long night" i mutter to myself. he places his hands firmly and protectively on my waist. i put my hands at his neck and we start swaying slowly to the music.

"you know, i don't think i've had the chance to take your virginity yet" he says as he looks away from my eyes. the uneasy feeling in my stomach returns and i try to bring myself away from him, but he pulls me closer viciously.

"can you, umm. let go a bit?" i ask him.

"no."

"why?"

"i wanna hold you and make sure all the guys here know your mine" he whispers. my breath quickens and i know i'm in trouble. he looks behind me, then to my eyes, then behind me again. he forces a kiss on me and i instantly slap him in the face.

"what the hell?!" i scream, trying my best to stay calm.

"baby, i'm sorry." he apologizes. he brings a hand to stroke my hair, but my natural reaction is to flinch. he shakes his head and pulls me into a hug. get away from him, now! i try to shove him away from me, but due to my drunken state and his strength, i can't.

"tyler" i sob.

"i- i have to go to the bathroom" i lie. he lets me go, and i run into the bathroom within an instant. i start breaking down, and tears streak down my face until my head hurts. i think i just cried all the alcohol out of my system. i hear anna burst into the bathroom and she gives me a gentle hug.

"i saw what happened." she tells me.

"who is he?" i ask.

"he isn't like that sober, trust me."

"then why am i scared of him?" i ask her, and start crying even more.

"i am too." she admits. a few other girls that i don't know come in too and start hugging me.

"im sorry girl." one of the strangers comforts me.

"wh- who are you?" i ask them.

"i don't know you either, but you definitely need support." another one of the girls say. i look in the mirror and they are all beautiful girls.

"thanks" i sob. after the girls are gone, and it's been at least 30 minutes, i finally convince anna that i'm fine. we go out together to talk to anders.

"get your fucking boy into shape." anna screams at anders.

"i would, but i dunno where he went." anders shrugs.

"your a pretty shit friend then. where's jack?!" anna asks him.

"went to go find him, before any of those feminists do and beat the shit out of him" anders laughs to himself.

"this isn't a goddamn joke, anders. why is he like that?" i ask him, with more tears welling up inside.

"i don't know. he said something happened last night, and he needed something to take him mind off it. and it doesn't help that his toxic ex is here either. i think that's why he kissed you." anders spills.

"what happened last night?" i ask.

"you tell me, you two fucking sleep in the same room!" he yells.