After Dark

Chapter 5

(A/N: Ed Sheeran is just a really good artist to listen to while writing :P I listened to the song "Drunk" so many times while writing this omg.
Well this is for team Bo :3 )


*Bo's POV*
I make a trail of water on the floor as I walk out of the shower. I quickly run my towel through my hair and comb it. I hate these showers so much; it scares me to think that anyone could just walk in on me. I hum a melody that's been stuck in my head for a few days as I dress. My roommate, Steph, is in the room now, with her boyfriend. I'm still getting used to having a roommate, let alone a male always in the room the same time I am.
Moving to America has taken its toll on me. I haven't made many friends, besides Steph. But she was inevitable. I have to be friends with her, or else neither one of us would survive until the end of the year. I miss my best friends back in England so much.
I was a little intimidated by the way Steph dressed, I thought she would be rude. But she's actually really nice, and I'm thankful that I don't have to fear her for the year.
When I make it back to my room, I set my bucket with all my shower products on the dresser beside my bed. As usual, Tristan lay across Steph's bed. They're so close to each other, and they seem so at ease with each other. I've never had a full conversation with a person that I find attractive, besides Harry.
That's what I miss most about England, the lack of ease I have with people from the same place. I'm not used to the American accents.
I grabbed my phone from my dresser drawer and dialed one of three on speed dial. She picked up on the fourth ring, one before I would have given up.
"Bo, do you realize what time it is?" are the first words I hear from Lucy.
I laugh and shrug my shoulders as I reply, "What time is it?" I hear a groan from the other line and the squeaks of the bed, probably from her moving to check the time.
"It's 3am," she answers sourly.
"At least it's a Friday, right?" I move back on my bed, against the wall, facing the two other people in my room. "Or Saturday, in your case."
"Yeah, I guess. If it's a Friday at 8pm, what are you doing? Why aren't you with some friends?" Lucy's sleepy voice drifted through the phone line, and I heard her groan again.
"Well, I was hoping I could talk to a friend," I said. "But, it seems I'm interrupting her beauty sleep."
"Yeah, you are," she says softly. The problem with calling Lucy this late is that I can't tell when she's being rude or being sarcastic, which aren't very different, but I'd still prefer sarcastic over rude.
"It was nice talking to you, then," I smile, even though she can't see me. I pull my knees to my chest and wait for a reply.
"Mmfuhh."
"What?"
"I said, 'yeah.'" I laugh and play with a rip in my jeans.
"I'll talk to you sometime, okay?" I ask. It's really hard to pick a time to talk to my friends, we're all in college, but I'm in Washington instead of England.
"Mmkay," Lucy sighs.
"Goodbye. Miss you," I say into the phone.
"'Bye. I miss you, too," she replies, and the line goes dead. I let out a huff and poke a finger through the hole in my jeans. I'm only making it worse, but ripped jeans kind of look cool.
"Hey, Bo?" I heard from across the room. I looked up to see Steph and Tristan staring at me.
"Do you want to come to a party, tonight?" Steph asks. My mind goes back to Conner's where Jace asked if I'd go to a party today. I forgot until now, when she reminded me.
"Where is it?" I question, wondering if she's talking about the same party.
"At the frat house." I didn't take Steph as a girl who would go to a frat party, but she's surprised me so far. Tristan didn't look like a peppy fraternity member, either. I guess I shouldn't judge by the cover.
"Sure, I'll come. But, what kind of party is it? What do I wear?"
Steph gave me a creepy grin, her eyes lighting up. Tristan shook his head in amusement as I pressed myself against the wall.

***

We arrived at the party around 9, and by then it was just getting started. There were people surrounding us with full plastic cups, chatting amongst themselves. I tried to look around and find Jace, but he must not have been there yet.
Steph dressed me in one of my dresses. I usually wouldn't wear it; I thought it was a bit too tight and a little too short. It was a dark grey, which didn't really match my skin tone very well. But, with the help of Steph, my face looked caked with makeup. I'm not saying it was bad, but maybe a tad much. I looked okay, I guess. Not impressive, but definitely not formal either.
Steph led me to the snack table, where there were a few people pouring colored liquid into red cups and handing them to others. I took one and sipped from it. I didn't like the bitter taste of beer at all, but I wasn't going to be rude. I had no idea who's party it was, or what it was even for.
I stood, watching Steph and Tristan talk to each other animatedly, drinking the contents of my cup slowly. I wasn't really sure who any of these people are, and I was a bit overwhelmed by the large masses of people arriving at once. Soon, the whole area was filled with sober- but soon to be drunk- people. I knew what kind of party it was, now.
These were the parties where anything could happen and no one would remember it. These are where people take embarrassing pictures of others and one day stumble across them and hold it as blackmail. These are the parties where everyone gets drunk in the end, and wake up the next morning on the floor or stairs.
I decided that I would join them. I mean, even drunk, I might be more sensible than some of these people are when they're sober.
I moved to a new country, I have made no friends, and I have a past that's tracking me down. Maybe I need this. Maybe I need to forget everything and just do what everyone else is doing.

***

I giggled as Jace pinned me against the wall, his mouth mere inches from mine. His lips trailed across my neck, and towards my ear.
"Do you want to go upstairs?" he whispered, taking my earlobe in between his lips.
Go upstairs? Is that an American term? I wonder what it means. Are there more games upstairs? Oh! I can't wait to beat Jace at another beer game.
I nodded my head, yes. Jace's pretty smile returned to his face as he took my wrist in his hand. He dragged me through the crowded house. Many hands reached out and brushed against my arms, making me laugh and smile at their owners. They tickled.
I stumbled up the stairs once or twice, and I could tell Jace was getting impatient.
"Don't be a grumpy pants," I pouted, taking my wrist from his hold and crossing my arms. He turned around and glared at me. His smirk reappeared when he lost his footing and pressed me against the wall for a second time tonight. The rail was digging into my back as he leaned even closer, his alcohol-smelling breath rolling over my skin.
He picked me up fireman style, with one arm under my knees and the other supporting my back. I squealed as he started walking upstairs again, kicking my high-heeled feet playfully. He took a minute to open a door down the hallway. He dropped me on the bed, causing me to bounce and almost fall on the floor. He closed the door behind him, locking it again.
"Where are the games?" I asked Jace with a small smile, wondering what he was doing. He slowly crept towards me and climbed on the bed.
His nose was inches from my skin as he huskily spoke, "Let's make a little game of our own." I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion and he chuckled at my expression. "Let's see how drunk you really are."
My puzzled expression didn't leave my face as his hands rubbed along my stomach, his fingers running across my chest. I felt my cheeks turn hot, and I pulled his wandering hands away from my body. "No."
His funny smile didn't settle me as he reached lower this time. His fingers fiddled with the hem, making not only my cheeks burn, but my eyes start to water. I didn't want him to do this to me. We only met a few days ago. I pulled my legs up into my chest, away from his touch.
"C'mon, baby. I thought you wanted to play more games?" I took a while to shake my head, and I watched his eyes darken. His hands went up to my chest again, groping the swells through the dress. I grimaced and moved away from him, falling off the bed and on to the floor. I scrambled up and looked at him.
"Maybe we should get you a little more to drink," Jace laughed, showing his pretty smile again. But, I think that was one of the only things I liked about him in that moment.
I shook my head and hurried to the door, Jace's voice calling to me as I twisted the doorknob. "Where are you going?" he inquired. The question sent chills down my spine. He didn't care what I did, as long as I had sex with him.
I quickly ran down the hall and the stairs, looking desperately for Steph's bright red hair. I rode here with her and Tristan, they are my ride. I pulled out my phone from my back pocket, only to find it dead in my hands. I looked around the room once more, looking for any sign of red hair. My eyes landed on a cell phone lying on the counter beside a college student with one of those plastic cups in his hand. I made my way over to him.
"Can I... um... borrow your phone?" I asked him, biting my lip and giving him a sheepish look.
"Sure," he smiled at me, handing me the phone from the counter.
I took the device in my hands, my fingers tapping on the touch screen as I find the "phone" icon. I don't have anyone to call. Who do I go to?
I try to remember that number I knew by heart so long ago, that gave me flutters at the stomach and twists at the heart and heat at the cheeks.
I pressed the phone to my ear, listening intently for the voice I used to know so well.
"Hello?" a raspy sound came through the speaker.
"Harry?"
"Bo?" was the startled reply.
"I was wondering if you could drive me to my dorm?" I asked quietly.


(Can you comment, please? I just want to know how I'm doing :3)