(based on a true story with fictional scenes)
"Come hang out with me this afternoon,"
"Nope, a very hard pass."
"Oh come on," He sighed as he stopped me from walking by gripping both my shoulders. "Are you really going to reject this?" He pouted, digging in his pockets to reveal a baby picture of him.
"Yup." I said, there was no bone in my body that wanted to hang out with Jackson because I knew he saw me as more than a friend and I never got his hopes up and I sure wouldn't start now.
I pursed my lips, sighing through my nose as my eyes landed on the figure that was making his way over to us. He towered over the brunette girl and as they walked hand in hand. They were like the popular couple in school. She tiptoed in attempt to reach his height as he leaned down to peck her - there was a tiny smile that lingered on her face and I smiled in admiration.
Most girls had a thing for him but he only had eyes for her.
"What's up guys?" He said, slapping Jackson's shoulder. "Not much," Jackson says. "Just that I asked Alyssa to hang out with me and she doesn't want to give the time of day. "Yeah well I have to study and besides, I have a life without you."
"We'll all be there." Darren says and I blink. "Sorry?"
"I said we'll all be-"
"Yeah, no. Bye." I turned around but stopped in my tracks when I heard "Please,"
"It'll be just like before," Destiny said and I sighed, giving in. I hardly ever hung out with my friends outside of school because I just never saw the reason to do that but I guess I'll let it be just this once.
"Fine," I roll my eyes.
"Yay, it's going to be so fun," Destiny chirped, hugging me with a smile on her face and I wish tonight I would be as well.
□□□
I sure as hell was wrong. I really should've just followed my gut and went home.
I sighed, the music was booming in " blanks house". Idiot fooled all of us because the party was at the club. I sighed, downing down the cola in the red cup. I didn't drink and neither did Destiny so I settled with the one drink I trusted to not be alcoholic In here.
"Never again," I shook my head. Destiny smiles, obviously she would do this again. For her man, for the fun of it, for her fear of missing out, obviously. "Oh come on it's fun,"
"Really, this?"
She nods her head slowly and I shake my head. "For your man,"
and speaking of the devil, he randomly appears and let me add, absolutely wasted. "Baby," he cups Destiny's cheek. "Jasmine's outside looking for you," He says, his words slurred. "What,"
"Jasmine, outside." is all he comes up with. Destiny nods, grabbing her phone. "I'll come with you."
"Nah its okay. I'm gonna need someone to look after him while I'm gone,"
"What?"I snap as I look to my left. His eyes haven't left me and it was getting so uncomfortable."Is there something on my face?" I ask and instead of answering, he attempts to steady himself. He ends up dropping the glass in his hand and bends down to look at the sight but stumbles over.
He's still looking at me, his eyes never leaving my face, and it's making me feel increasingly uncomfortable. Then, out of the blue, he says, "Is there something on my face?" I'm a bit taken aback, but I manage to stammer out, "No, nothing's on your face." He ignores my answer and simply stares at me, like he's waiting for something to happen. He doesn't say anything and suddenly stumbles.
As he stumbles, I rush forward and grab his shoulders to keep him upright, and he grabs onto my arm for support. I feel my pulse quicken, and my heart races. I can feel his vodka filled breath on my neck, and I can't help but be aware of how close we are.
I try to ignore the way my body is responding to his proximity, and I take a breath to steady myself. "Are you okay?" I ask, my voice shaking slightly. He just nods and takes a deep breath. "Thanks," he says, and I nod in response.
He inches closer and I knit my brows.
What in the world-
"Darren," I say pushing him back. "I like you," My eyes widen. "What? No, Darren.. No" I push him back even harder, not even caring that he was drunk. "You don't know what you're saying, you're drunk." I say, knowing damn well the drunk said they always longed to say. "And Destiny- she's my friend,"
"We broke up," He says, shocking me even more. His words hang in the air between us, and I can't process what he just said. We stare at each other in silence for what feels like an eternity, and then he starts to move even closer to me. My heart is pounding in my chest, and I'm frozen in place. I know I should say something, but I can't seem to find the words. Finally, I manage to stammer out, "No, Darren.. You're drunk, and you don't know what you're saying."
He just shakes his head and takes another step forward. "No, I'm not," he says, his voice
Yeah right.
"What do you mean you broke up?"
"She doesn't want to be with me." And that's when I get it. "I'm no flipping rebound Darren." I snap. "Hey look," he tried to stop me but I jerked my arm off his grip. "Get off me!" I said, walking off.
I make my way to the restroom, needing a moment to collect myself. I slam my purse on the counter and splash some water on my face. As I look in the mirror, I realize that I'm shaking. I'm not sure if it's from anger or fear or something else, but I know I need to get a grip. I take a deep breath and try to focus on my breathing. After a few minutes, I feel a bit calmer.
As I stand in front of the mirror, I see the door to one of the cubicles open behind me. In the reflection, I see a familiar face - Chris. He sees me too, and his expression is unreadable. We just look at each other for a moment. "What are you doing here?"
"Chris? What are you doing here?"
"Uhm, it's the men's restroom?" He says like it's the most obvious thing in the world. "No it isn't..." I trail off when I realize that the figure plastered on the wall didn't have a skirt on - Oh. It was the men's restroom.
"My bad. I just- I have a lot I my head right now"
"Rough night?" He asks, zipping his jeans and headed over to the sink to wash his hands.
"Yeah, you could say that," I say with a laugh, trying to lighten the mood. "Didn't expect to see you here. Or any guy for that matter." I gesture to the sign on the wall. "And to answer your question, this is like the worst night,"
"I figured" He says and I said, "I should've just stayed at home you know?"
"Well you can say that again,"
"Really, how come?" I turn around, locking with his brown eyes. "I had a rough night myself so I thought coming here would sort it out but I was wrong,"
"I-" He seemed hesitant to say something but he opened his mouth to continue anyways. "You probably don't care but I broke up with my girlfriend."
"Oh not again," I mutter, shaking my head. "Sorry?"
"Nothing, I've had enough of guys for the night." I say grabbing my purse. "See ya,"
"Hey," I hear and warm hands tug at my wrist and it was like my body was set on fire. "You really think I'll let you go home on your own?"
"And you really think I'm gonna let a man take me home?" He tilts his head to the side. "That's what I thought," I say, leaving the restroom but I could still hear the sound of his footsteps.
"Not so fast,"