At dinner, Bryce could tell you were feeling uncomfortable and leaned his forehead against yours, whispering: "Is everything okay, babe?"
You: "It's fine. I'm not going to ruin our night talking about it when there's nothing I can do to change that he's here."
Bryce kissed you and squeezed your hand under the table, but it was too late. Everything was starting to boil over. Seeing Noah act like he's unphased by you when his presence is making you so uncomfortable, Riley being already drunk, Bryce being so perfect but just not Kio...
Kio... why did he have to be home tonight? You were doing so great with just being friends when that only entailed running into each other at school and sending memes back and forth whenever you hung out with his whole family. Tonight was the first time you'd been alone with him in 6 months. It was only for 5mins and it was enough to send you in a downward spiral.
When no one was looking, you grabbed the bottle of alcohol in Riley's purse and poured a huge shot into your soda.
Once you all make it to the dance, everyone is having fun and dancing. Riley is so drunk that she's all over Noah and honestly it's making you just want to be black out drunk so you don't have to think about the fact that they might end up hooking up. She noticed that you're sobering up and blames that on your mood change: "Geez, why are you being so uptight?"
Rather than deal with your emotions, you do what you always do and grab the bottle and chug a drink too. Riley and Noah start cheering while you dance between them feeling your troubles float away. Bryce notices you and Riley both dancing on Noah and tries to pull you away: "What are you doing? What reason would you possibly have for dancing with HIM."
You: *too drunk to think clearly* "Okay, Dad. Sorry. I won't dance with Noah..."
He looks relieved but when he turns back you are climbing up on a table with Riley.
Bryce: "What the hell? Get down, your dress is half falling off!"
You: "You didn't want me putting on a show for Noah so I'm being fair... it's a show for everyone baby. Enjoy, you're the one taking me home if you chill out."
You weren't trying to be loud, but alcohol messes with your volume control apparently because the entire ballroom erupts with applause as the boys in your school start chanting for you and Riley to dance more.
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Bryce: "You're making a fool of both of us. GET DOWN!!"
You like him, a lot. Deep down you know he's right, but in the moment all you want is to stop feeling what you've been feeling.
You: "If you don't want to watch, then leave."
Bryce shakes his head absolutely furious and storms out.
Riley: "Hey, wait. Maybe you should go after him. You're drunk and you're going to regret pushing him away."
You: "Really? You're the reason I'm drunk half the time. I don't remember the last time you hung out with me and didn't start drinking before the night was over. Hell half the time you get drunk just to ditch me for your boyfriend. And where is he tonight? Probably out getting drunk with someone who isn't in high school pretending like she has to drink away the pain of loving home."
Riley looked at you in shock. She couldn't believe you'd said those things to her. Honestly, even though you believed those things, even you regretted saying them. She climbed down and stormed off.
