Chapter 8

“So… Um crazy idea I just had right now” I point Drew eyeing him as he shoves a spoon full of cereal in his mouth.

“Let me guess” Austin raises his arm looking up from his phone “We roll up your dad up in a mat and toss him off a bridge”. I mean- it’s not a bad idea but it’s not what I was going for…

“Put a pin on that” I point him. “But I’m not talking about him right now.”

We were currently at Drew’s house just hanging out as I try to do an assignment for my statistics class. Drew had the calmest, quietest house out of us three. Judging by his looks, his house is a bit too much but I guess it kind of suits him being his parents are loaded. So were Austin’s but they both had issues with their parents… We all did. So, to boost themselves and be where they are, both Austin and Drew worked at construction sites as they majored in architecture. They were really trying to be independent, but there are some parents you just can’t run away from no matter how hard you try.

“Okay, so remember when you guys told me I’d fucked every girl in the city?” I’m grinning as I place my pen down finding humour in this conversation.

“Mhm” Drew hums finally looking up at me.

“That’s true you’ve run out of girls” Austin adds.

“Shut the hell up-” I point him, he was just giving unnecessary information at this point. “I’m thinking of having a casual fuck buddy.” Best idea I’ve had for months.

Give me a break, I rarely have any smart ideas.

“What are you saying?” Drew chuckles as he leans back on the couch. I feel like he’s mocking my beautiful idea.

“I’m saying, I’ll have a chick, this one specific chick, that I can fuck whenever. But nothing more” I shrug feeling pretty proud of myself. This was an amazing idea. I didn’t need to meet anyone new and I already had the perfect candidate in mind.

“Sorry to break it to you, but girls can’t do that” Austin points out.

“They get attached. That’s you guys’ nature” Drew adds with a small shrug.

“What if I said I had this one chick in mind that won’t?” I grin at them.

“What is she? A fairy?” Austin scoffs leaning back against the couch.

“She’s either a fairy or ugly” Drew agrees and I’m unable to soften my frown as I look between them. I regret starting this entire conversation.

“No, she’s actually really sexy.” I scoff thinking back to Tia. She’s basically everyone’s wet dream on the outside and a pretty chill human being.

“Who’s this girl?” Austin stands up from the couch.

“Her name’s Tia, pretty nice fuck.” I’m already done trying to over explain myself to these guys.

“Just nice?” Austin cringes “I’m sorry but nice doesn’t cut- “

“Ugh fuck off” I groan finally getting up from my seat and walking away before I actually got annoyed and let Austin win.

“It’s not worth it!” I can hear him yell as I climb the stairs and roll my eyes in response.

We had better things to do than entertain Austin.

Like prepare for a party and annoy the hell out of Flame.

**

The moment we walk into Summer’s gigantic house, Drew pats me in the back and walks away without a word. Splitting up this early? He must have seen something he likes or just didn’t want to spend the evening with us… Probably both. I scoff as I watch him walk away and smile to myself bopping my head to the loud music vibrating through the house.

I walk around the house, my grin widening the more I familiarize with the energy surrounding the place. Deemed lights, very attractive women, people dancing, others getting inappropriate in dark corners, drugs, drinks- Ugh I’m home. And I was planning on getting a little tipsy, as high as one possibly can get then find the main reason I came to this party.

“Fuck” I’m suddenly shoved against the wall, my back hitting the concrete so hard my chest hurts from the sharp gasp of air I inhale. I quickly hold onto the wrist of the tiny that’s still planted on my chest, glaring daggers at the woman in front of me.

I have to admit, it takes me a while to recognize her but when I do, I smile right back at her and thread my fingers with hers.

“You’re here” Tia’s smile is wide as her eyes trail over me.

“You’re here” I throw her comment back at her, my hand trailing down her curvy body, and settling on her waist to pull her close as my eyes roam over her body. I liked that she left little to the imagination, dressed in what looked like a big plain white V-neck t-shirt only. A very open t-shirt, I could trace the outline of tits if I zoomed closer. wow. And the fact that it was plain said a lot, no accessories, no drawings, just her and her curves in a piece of cloth I could easily peel off her.

“Of course I am, what else would I be doing on a Wednesday night?” she giggles, her hands swinging around my neck and forcing me to lean closer to her. I mean she could be doing a lot of things on a Wednesday but- Okay “Want to dance with me?” Tia playfully wags her eyebrows, not allowing me to answer first before she pulls away from my hold and grabs my hand instead.

“No not really” my confused answer in muffled by the loud music and I find myself stupidly following Tia as she pulls me through the crowd of people. Ugh fuck.

_

After a few uncomfortable minutes of standing awkwardly as Tia moved against me and basically dry humped me, not caring about the people around us, she finally pulls away panting. Her smile is wide as she laughs at nothing in particular and I stare down at her, thinking about the joint I could be smoking right now. I really don’t want to be rude to her and ruin the agreement we have, but I’m not wasted or horny enough to entertain her at the moment.

“Want to get out of here?” she yells through the music, her hands tightening around my neck to pull me closer to her and I fight to hold back a cringe. Don’t get me wrong, her confidence was attractive as hell but used at the wrong time, it seemed needy.

“I just got here…” I shrug, looking around at the room full of people who, AREN’T as sober as I am. It was truly frustrating to be the slightly sane one judging how disgusting humans can be with their tonging and humping when I am usually part of that crowd. I need to fix this.

I also had a checklist I was following and I wasn’t leaving this party until I saw her. She mentioned she’d be here and I haven’t been able to stop thinking of her in this element. Drunk and maybe nicer to me? Plus, she asked whether I’d be here so I bet she wanted to see me too. Right?

“Are you sure?” Tia pouts and I look around the room one more time.

I didn’t know how this casual think worked but I thought I was supposed to call her when I wanted to fuck. Not her pouting and acting clingy…

“Yeah, I want to party a bit first, maybe have a quickie with a stranger-” I shrug, laughing a little when she rolls her eyes and pulls away from me.

“I’m disappointed I’m not enough for you Cain” I’d take her seriously if she wasn’t smiling at the moment.

“Ugh shut the fuck up. I’ll find you when I’m ready to leave” I wave her off already turning to leave. That’s why I liked this arrangement; I didn’t have to take her seriously or give a fuck unless she was beneath and running out of oxygen.

I disappear into the crowd and walk past a lot of weird people doing pretty nasty stuff before I find the kitchen ready to chug three bottles of undiluted vodka, but I find something better than a real drink.

“Would you look at that-” I stalk towards Sparks who’s doing nothing but sitting on a counter top, legs swinging back and forth, phone in one hand, and a water bottle in the other. Water? Phone? Isolation? What the fuck was she even doing at a party.

She looks up at me from her phone and I can hear her small scoff as she raises a brow at me, “Are you stalking me Cainine?” She has a small smile on her lips as she watches me walk closer to her.

I smile wider, enjoying the view of how awesome her legs look in those fuzzy cotton shorts that were kissing her skin. But still judging her hard for coming to a party only to sit alone in the kitchen.

“I’m up here you pervert” she snaps her finger, very rudely might I add, and I look up to meet her caramel eyes narrowed. Judging by this prude attitude she had going on, I could only guess that the water in her hand is all she’s been drinking tonight. So disappointing.

“So what? No throwing up tonight?” Sober her is not fun, she talks a lot, is unnecessarily rude, and a prude. I’m not going to get another hot make out from this woman.

“You’re out of luck woman… No drinks for me tonight” she points me with the water bottle and I sigh in defeat.

“Damn it” I fake a pout and she laughs, soft, humorous, and positive. Shit, it sounds better than the music

“What? Were you expecting something?” she raises an eyebrow tilting her and I snort a laugh at that animated move she made.

“No.” I hope I don’t sound defensive as I avoid her gaze and walk to the refrigerator.

“Anyway, what about you? You sober?” she asks, jumping of the counter top.

“When am I ever sober woman?” I open the cold box and waste no time going straight for the good stuff. They never put out the real good drinks for people and since I’m late to the getting intoxicated part, I need to catch up fast. “So, what will I have to do to get you to drink with me?” I look up at her and she folds her arms across her chest. Having a drinking buddy never hurt anyone.

“Told you I’m not-” she stops mid-sentence and I wiggle my eyebrows at her as she looks through me seeming to be deep in thought. Before her eyes narrow as she concentrates on me again “Well there is one thing”. Fuck yeah.

“What?” I ask placing the bottles of beer on the counter top and watch as she slowly approaches me that distant smile back on her pretty lip.

“Tell me about yourself” she shrugs and I scoff a laugh at the ridiculousness of her corny request. She had to be fucking with me.

No, and I really mean no girl has ever asked that of me. So, you can’t blame me when I burst into laughter the more we sit there in silence giving me more time to digest what she just said. Of all the things she could ask for, money, drugs, a one-night stand- This had to be a joke, why would she care to know about me anyway?

“What?” she frowns seeming serious for a clown and I slap the counter top with my open palm laughing harder. ‘Tell me about yourself’ What?!

“What do you mean what? That was funny” I pant still snorting some giggles as I look up at her.

“It’s not a joke” she stares at me a furrow in her eyebrows and I halt my laughter. She was fucking serious.

“Sorry to break it to you, but there’s nothing to know about me” I shake my head shrugging.

“But there is… So much actually” she points out seeming so sure of herself.

“Oh yeah? Like what?” I challenge, very interested in what she has to say.

“Just a guess, but you have daddy issues” she starts and the smile is wiped of my face instantly. “This tough guy thing is just an act, you’re just super scared of commitment, just don’t know why yet, and you probably cry yourself to sleep every night” she says looking proud of her discovery and I snort laughing again. What the fuck was this? WHO the fuck was this?

“I most definitely don’t cry myself to sleep every night and daddy issues is a song by the neighborhoods, so…” I definitely had daddy issues.

“Okay I may have exaggerated a little on the last part but the rest is true.” She says, ignoring my poor comment on daddy issues. Good, cause it was an embarrassing attempt.

I exaggerate a sigh and look her straight in the eye before asking, “What’s it to you?”

“Hmm?”

“Why do you care?”

“Oh, I don’t, I just think it’d be interesting” she shrugs.

“You think I’d be interesting?” I correct.

“Something like that” she shrugs again and I chuckle. Damn, she’s attractive, adorable, weird, funny, and sober. Wow.

“Hey, I think I am too” I shrug “But I have to pass on your offer, I’ll just drink alone.” I wanted her company, but not enough to let a wannabe shrink peek at my brain.

“Oh, come on Cainine you know you want to hang out with me.” She wiggles her eyebrows at me.

“I am at a party for fuck’s sake I can get whatever company I want” I tell her finding this whole thing amusing.

“I know, but you’d prefer mine” Flame smiles and I’d flip her off if she didn’t look that adorable.

“Now where did you get that from?” I’d hate to be obvious.

“You don’t have to say it, but we both know you came here looking for me. You just asked me to drink with you so we know it’s my company you want” she concludes looking proud of herself and my eyes narrow. Bull-Shit.

“I mean, I came here looking for a drink, but save it” I raise my hand to shut her up before she starts spewing nonsense. “Grab a bottle and follow me” she wasn’t being funny at the moment, just sucking all the mood from the party, making it annoying in some type of way. “You talk too much you know that?”

“Tell me something I don’t know” Flame mumbles and I shake my head and grab a cup of some drink that was already on the counter top and take a gulp of it. I needed to get drunk and I needed to do it quick. So, I’d use the cheap liquor as a starter if I had to.

“Tastes weird” I cringe placing the cup back on the counter and grab my bottles walking ahead of Flame to lead the way.

“Maybe you shouldn’t be drinking some foreign drink you find lying wherever” Flame mutters and I ignore her. She talks too much. Maybe it’ll be cuter when I’m drunk?

I’ve been to Summer’s house a couple of times for obvious reasons and I’ve been to almost all the rooms but nothing beats the rooftop. I’ve had so many hook ups here and parties of my own. Nothing beats coming up here for some fresh air with my friends after getting super wasted.

But something tells me I’ll be having none of that tonight when I look at Flame’s innocent, angelic face and remember that she actually wants me to tell her about myself. Pft.

I sit close to the edge of the building for a clear view and place my bottles next to me already tasting the alcohol and freedom I’m about to get. Then I feel the air grow thick and warm as someone sits next to me and I turn my head and look at Sparks as she fixes her hair that the wind seems to love so much and wants to take away.

“Nice view… The city looks awesome from here” she says and I nod taking a sip of my drink waiting for something interesting to happen. So I watch as she watches the world and I wait… Waiting… waiting… waiting… And nothing.

Nothing but wind, awkward silence and chirping crickets. Nice. Actual crickets chirping.

“Boy do I wish I was drunk already” I mutter to myself and release a sigh. She was talking way too much a few minutes ago and now she’s quiet just looking into space as if she’s having an interesting conversation with the city lights.

“So, you drinking or should I go back in there?” I was already half-way through my first bottle and she wasn’t even planning on opening hers.

“I’m not drinking until you start talking” Flame looks at me struggling to get her hair off her face.

“Talk about what?” I act dumb raising my eyebrows and shit and she rolls her eyes.

“You… Yourself ” she waves her hands.

“If you want that, you’re going to have to be drunk” I point her with my bottle.

Why the fuck would she want to know about me anyway? A stranger, a girl she shared just one dumb kiss with. I mean sure we kind of made sparks fly in there, but why?

“I already had one bottle before you came” she looks away from me.

Why does that seem like a lie?

“I said you have to be drunk” I repeat myself suddenly feeling like I need her twinkling eyes on me again.

“I said I was getting drunk for a price so unless you start talking nothing is going in this mouth” she points her lips and I laugh, chugging down the rest of the beer.

“No kidding.”

A second after I speak, she leans closer to me, her warm breath meeting mine and our breaths for sure make out and fuck right there between us. Because the tension between us now is insane, but I never back down from hot tension. I maintain the eye contact, holding back a smirk when I realize she’s trying to intimidate me. Aw Sparks.

“If I wanted something in my mouth, I would have it right now but…” she moves back making me huff at the sudden lack of her scent. “I’m up here with you and I want nothing from you.”

Son of a bitch. I laugh shaking my head and she chuckles pushing her hair back.

“You would if I wanted you to” I twist the cap of the bottle and start my second bottle. I feel her stare at me for a while as if she’s trying to read my thoughts then she looks away. Weirdo. She has no idea, that there’s nothing going on up here.

“You know, you remind me of someone” I blurt hating the moment I opened my mouth to start that sentence. But her attitude and the way she spoke sometimes, just reminded of a girl in my past and I guess I was getting tipsy enough to talk about her.

That confidence, bratty, innocent, and judgy behavior was all too familiar.

“Is that right? Well, she must be pretty amazing” Sparks concludes for herself and I almost do a spit take. That’s exactly she would say.

“Mmhm” I hum not wanting to speak anymore. My mouth just betrayed me.

“Who is it?” she asks and I twitch as a vivid memory of dark straight hair, a sweet smile, soft voice, and hands around my neck chocking me, attack me.

**
Who do you think Cain is remembering?

Re-editing editor here, damn, I had no idea this would take time but here we are… lets all play our roles now, shall we?