Page 25 of This I Promise You
Upon arriving all I can think is,fuck this, and fuck this party.I literally wish I were anywhere else but here right now. Like, I don’t know,my bed. There are people spilling out onto the front porch and into the lawn. The lights inside are off, music isblaring, and party lights flashing through the windows make it look like a rave. What. The. Fuck.
Easton could be anywhere. People are making out on the stairs and on the couch, even against the wall. A couple dudes are passed out in the corner leaning on each other. A girl is evensucking her spilled drink out of the living room rug. Others are dancing and yelling and playing beer pong and doing keg stands. Seriously! What. The. Fuck. This is definitely not my thing. I’ve never been into shit like this, and a fraternity isnotmy kinda crowd.
That little pain in my ass bastard could be anywhere!
I walk into the kitchen.
“PAAAAAUL!”
Yep, it’s Easton and he’sfucked.
“Paul, the grumpy love of my life! What areyoudoing here?”
“Youcalledme. I came to get you.” I grab his wrist and start pulling him to the door. “We’re leaving. Right now.”
Shit. It’s too late for there to be this many people still here. Maybe I can escape out of the window? I don’t like this many people so close to me. It feels like everything is threatening to close in on me. Every sound is spikes to my brain and I feel like I’m being steamrolled. Like, physically flattened. My heart is racing at warp speed and I’m sweating already. I can’t do this, but I suppress it as best I can while I try to find the best way to exit. Gotta get the hell outta here. Maybe if I make a run for it, Easton will follow me out.
“Where’s Huxley?” I ask. “Is she with you?”
He shrugs. “We danced, then she puked. It was sooooo gross.” He starts up. “Wait, I called Huxley. Now you’re here. You weren’t andnow you are! You’resort ofhot, so it’s okay. I accept.”
I take a glance at him, ignoring what he just said and the little hiccup. So Huxley was here, but she puked. She might be in the bathroom? I tried calling her phone before I got here, but she didn't answer. I can’t just leave Easton while I look for her. Shit, I don’t know what to do. Maybe she found a ride home already?
Somehow Easton’s managed to get another drink in his hands, but he decides he doesn’t like it and trades it with a random chick.
“Do you know her?” I try to say, but my voice is drowned out by the music. I pull Easton into me as a group of girls runs by.
And…
Then…
Everything slows down. Everyone is on pause as Easton and I are looking at each other.
He’s far too close.
We’re nearly nose to nose now. Well, my nose to his forehead, but he’s looking up at me like he wants to kiss me. And hold on a fat fucking minute, he might be drunk, but I feel like I’m seeing him for the first time because he’s actually insanely attractive. His brown eyes are warm like honey; his full pink lips are parted…for me. Even his ears match his cheeks, all peachy colored and cute. Are those…freckles lightly speckled across his nose? His hair is a mess, but his body fits nicely against me and I can feel—
No.
Nope.
FUCK THIS.
Everything speeds back up to normal.
“We are leavingnow. Don’t take a hit, don’t drink any more. No more for you. You’re done. We are leaving even if I have to carry you out myself. Do you hear me?”
“Aye aye, Captain.” And then he salutes, he literally salutes me. He’s what, eighteen? Maybe nineteen, acting and drinking like he’s fucking twenty-five or some shit. This would be so much easier if he were sober.
Gah! And I’m trapped in a Conan Gray lyric.
“Let’s go!” I say again, only he doesn’t move. Fine.Fine. But he asked for this.
I bend and throw him over my shoulder. His feet are forward and he’s facing backward yelling for help and his hands pounding on my back. I don’t care as long as we get out of this fucking overcrowded house right the fuck now.
We finally make it outside and down the steps of the front porch when some dude stops me.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” And whoever it is grabs Easton and I jolt to a stop. “Do you know him?”
