Falling into the Badboy

Four

I settle for a deep v neck polka-dotted shirt, with shorts. I slip on some white flats and head down the stairs. "I'll be back later!" I yell down the hall. "Going to a party, love you!" I quickly walk out the door before Aunt Vicki tries to stop me.

I run down the walkway and Brian is standing beside the bike. I smile up at him, as he doesn't say a word. He just slips the helmet over my head and climbs on the bike. I've never been on a bike before, so as I slip behind him I slide my arms around his waist. He looks over his shoulder at me, "you ready?" I nod my head smiling as he kickstarts the bike and we are off down the road.

As we pull into the driveway I look up at the big house, that's blasting music, and lights are flashing inside. Brian helps me off the bike setting his helmet on the seat. Grabbing my hand he pulls me inside the house, "you want something to drink?" He leans over and yells into my ear. I smile and nod my head as he pulls me towards the kitchen.

As Brian grabs two empty cups he fills them from the keg and hands me mine before filling his. He licks his lips before putting the solo cup to his mouth and taking a drink. I look over my shoulder and see Melanie on the dance floor, she sees me too and a wicked smile crosses her lips as she continues dancing. I'm not sure what she is up to but, with Brian's hand at the small of my back, we turn walking out of the kitchen and onto the back porch. I can see Leah hanging all over Tom and we walk over to them.

"Grace!" Leah jumps away from Tom and lunges at me stumbling half the way. I pat her back smiling as she pulls away from our embrace. "I knew you would change your mind." She says stumbling over all of the words. Eyebrows raised I look over at Tom.

"Getting wasted tonight I take it?" I say, and Leah smiles wrapping her arm around Toms's waist. I sip from my cup and look beside me to see that Brian is gone. "What the hell, " I mumble under my breath. I turn around and head inside the house. Maybe he already needed a refill. I take another drink from my cup and finish it, I go to the kitchen any way I'll just fill mine up again.

I couldn't find Brian anywhere, and as I stand on the back porch with Leah and Tom I finish my fourth beer before throwing my cup in the trash. I walk down the steps and away from the house needing to calm my thoughts. My head is pounding and the music is just making it worse.

As the music subsides I hear the sound of crickets and frogs, under the full moon I can see a pond just ahead of me. I walk closer and see a small dock off to the side and I walk onto it. I sit on the edge taking my shoes off and putting them beside me as I dip my feet into the water.

My whole body is on fire, and my breathing starts to feel heavy the more tired I get. I pull my phone out and see I have a ton of missed calls from my aunt, and Derek. It's almost 12:30 and I wonder what's wrong. I told aunt Vicki I was leaving. Maybe she didn't hear me.

I call Derek's phone standing and putting my shoes back on. He answers on the first ring, "Grace? Where are you right now?!" He asks as I can hear the panic in his voice.

"Derek relax, I'm just at a party I say rubbing my forehead as it takes me a second to think of what I'm saying.

" I'm coming to get you, what's the address?" Eyes wide I shake my head.

"No way. You are not picking me up, because I know you'll show up with sirens blaring and lights flashing. I'm on my way home don't worry. I'll be there in ten minutes." I turn and see a figure standing at the tree line, pulling my phone away from my ear I hang up and squint my eyes. "Brian? Is that you?" Just then that unknown number from earlier calls me. I answer it, "hello."

"Where are you?" Brian asks as I can hear music blasting in the background.

"At the pond," I say and look back to the treeline, "are you at the house?" I ask. As my pulse picks up.