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chapter nine: "'us"

song: mia ft. drake by bad bunny (@ party) // if you let me ft. grades by sinead harnett (leaving party)

Kaylee's POV

I grab Anthony's hand and start dancing with him. I feel my cheeks turning red as the alcohol is making me feel even hotter in this room. He smiles at me and turns me around, grabbing my waist. "This, is how you dance, mama," he says and sways his hips with mine.

The DJ transitions to the next song, and the song MIA comes on. "No way," Anthony says. "I'mma show you how to salsa now," he says. I can tell he's smiling from behind me. I move my hair to the side and feel him breathing on the side of me neck.

He spins me around, so I'm facing him. "You ready?" he asks. I nod, and let him do his thing. This guy really thinks I don't have any rhythm. He grabs my waist and "teaches" me the foot work. I nod, acting clueless like I have no idea how to dance. "You got it?" he asks, looking down at me. "I think so," I shout over the loud music.

He starts leading, and I start swaying my loose hips in front of him. He looks surprised. He lifts his arm above me and I spin into it. I transition back smoothly into his arms with my back against his front.

"Where'd you learn to dance like that?" he asks impressed, still moving along with me. "My sister's not the only one who got dance lessons," I say, laughing. "Damn, ma. You got some smooth moves," he says. He twirls me out and spins me into his arms, so that I'm facing him. "And I'm into it."

Thank God that it's pretty dark in here because my cheeks turn so red.

"My sIStER!" I hear coming from the left of me. I whip my head and see my sister drunk--and I mean drunk... maybe as drunk as myself. I see Steve, her boyfriend, holding her up as she hangs her right arm over his shoulders, having a difficult time standing straight up. "Woah, Pip? Are you okay?" I say, catching her in my arms as she falls towards me, trying not to tip over with the added weight put on me. "Totally. This party is the best party I've been to in a while," she says, slurring her words a bit. "I'm getting sleepy. Steve could we go?" she asks, turning to him. "Yea. I'll see you guys back at hers," he says and tries to pull her towards the door. "No. I want to go to yours," she says and whispers something to him. I hear my name within that whisper and wonder what she's talking about. "I guess we're going to mine. I'll see you guys later," he says shrugging. He helps her out of the crowd until they're out of my sight, disappearing into the crowd of people.

"You and your sister go hard, man," Anthony says and turns back to me. "Me? What do you mean?" I ask, clearly faking that I'm sober. "Okay, Miss 'I need to get a good buzz,'" he says and laughs. "You're clearly not just 'buzzed'" right now."

"I don't feel that drunk," I lie. He shakes his head, knowing that I'm lying.

He checks the time. "Damn, it's one in the morning. I should probably get goin', too. Can I take you home?" he asks. "Yea, I am pooped," I say, shrugging. He takes my hand and I try to keep myself from losing my balance by grabbing onto his arm. His strong, muscular arm. God damnit.

We head down to the lobby and get into a cab that Anthony had called. He tells him my address while I'm on the verge of falling asleep. "This is weird," I mumble, not thinking before I speak. "What's weird?" he asks, resting his hand on my knee as I rest my head on his shoulder. "Us," I say, looking up at him. "How so?" he asks. "I don't know, how do you think this is weird?" I say, my eyes drooping. "You're the one that said that it was weird," he laughs. "I know, but why do you think this is weird?"

"Well.." he pauses. I feel the cab jerk forward. "Oh, thank you sir. You have a good night," he says. He gets out of the car from his side and opens the door on my side. He helps me out of the car, so I don't fall over. "What happened to you not drinking because you're underage?" he asks, as he holds my left arm and my waist. He brings me to the elevator of Pip's building. "I was joooking," I drag out.

We get to Pipa's apartment, and I fumble with the keys to open it. "Here, let me get that," he says. He unlocks the apartment door for me and I thank him. I walk forward and fall onto the couch. "Come sit with me."

"I think you should get ready for bed," he says to me, picking me up from the couch. I wine, thinking of the effort of getting dressed into my pajamas. "I know, I know. You'll be more comfortable tonight," he says. I drag my feet to my bedroom. "Can you help me?" I ask, smiling. "I don't know if that's a good idea-"

"Oh, c'mon. It's fine," I say, pulling him into my room. I stumble over to the drawers, picking out a huge shirt, and a huge shirt only. I take off my shirt quickly. "Woah, woah," Anthony says, turning around. I smile at the thought of him being a little frazzled by me. I throw on the oversized shirt and take off my bottoms. "Are you decent now?" Anthony asks. "Yes sir."

I fall back onto my bed. He comes and sits with me. "Can you stay?" I mumble. "Kaylee-"

"Please?" I say, looking up at him. He doesn't respond. "Please?" I ask again, sitting up and looking him in his eyes. "Alright, alright. But you gotta try to get some sleep. It's already two in the morning."

"Do you wanna get in?" I ask, leaning on my elbows. "I was in these clothes all night. They're not the cleanest-"

"Then take them off," I say. "Kaylee," he drags my name out. "Not like that. I'm just saying, if you wanna be more comfortable," I shrug and put my head back on my pillow, closing my eyes. "Fine, fine." He gets up from the bed and starts off with slipping of his shoes. I peak at him with one eye open. He then takes his shirt off in one swift move, followed by his black jeans and socks. I pretend to close my eyes again. "Oh, c'mon. I saw you peaking when I got out of the shower the other day," he says, smirking. I hide my reddening face in my hands.

He slides into my bed with only his briefs on. I roll next to him and cuddle up with him. He puts his arm around me. I look up at him and he looks down at me. I scoot up, touching his nose with mine. He leans in to kiss, but I pull away and smile at him.

I stop teasing and lean in, again, doing things without thinking them through. He kisses me slowly, getting a rhythm going. I pull away and go in to kiss him again, but he pulls away. "Kaylee," he starts. There's a long pause. "W-What? Is something wrong again?" I ask. "You're just... you're drunk right now," he says. "It's fine Ant-"

"It's not," he says, kissing me on the forehead. "I'll talk to you in the morning," he says, wrapping his arms around me. I turn to a more comfortable position on my left side, where my back is facing him. Yes, it's a more comfortable position, but I just don't want him to see me cringing and how embarrassed I am. I feel him breathing next to me as he rubs arm, trying to help me sleep.

Did he really stop because I was drunk? He's stopped us so many times before. Every time we've started something, he ends it. Our first date when we kissed, he said that I should "get some sleep." Our make out session before the party, he said that "we were gonna be late to the party." And now, he says that I'm too drunk. I mean yes, I'm feeling it, but I'm capable of making my own decisions right now.

"Kaylee?" he asks. I shut my eyes quickly and don't respond. "Kaylee?" he whispers again. I don't answer. He sighs.

"Well, I don't know if you'll hear this in your sleep, but..." he pauses.

"You asked me how I think 'us' is weird.." he deeply breathes in between sentences.

"I think it's weird because I only met you two days ago, but it feels like I've known you forever. I think it's weird 'cause I don't think I've ever felt this way about a woman before, and I've known you for barely even forty eight hours. I don't think I've ever had feelings for a woman like this."