***
After six cups of punch, my bladder felt like it was going to burst, so I went upstairs to the bathroom. Just as I was about to open the door, I heard someone giggle from inside my room. Oh, hell no! My room was off limits, and I was ready to flip out on whoever was in there… But I want to see whatever was happening?
No, but I had to stop it.
Pushing the door open quickly with the hope that I’ll keep dinner down, I prepared for what I was about to see. My jaw dropped. I wanted to bleach my eyes. Lizzie and Julian were all over each other on my bed, and now I was going to have to burn the sheets.
Lizzie gasped and looked up in shock. What on earth was wrong with her? Glaring at her furiously, I pointed to the door. She immediately ran out, sneering at me as she shot past me. At least they were fully dressed. It could have been much worse.
Sorry I stopped you making a huge mistake with a complete dickhead.
“Well, well, well. Looks like we’re alone now, huh,” Julian sang. I stood my ground as he slowly moved off my bed and took one step towards me. This was my room. I wasn’t going to let him intimidate me here. Straightening my back to try to make myself appear taller, I stared him in the eye.
He stopped a couple inches in front, and my stomach tightened. What was he going to do? Everything inside me was screaming to run away, but I refused to do that. I’d done that for too long.
“Sorry you had to see that, babe. She wasn’t taking no for an answer.”
Babe. No.
I glared at him. I couldn’t really care less what he did with Lizzie, to be honest, they deserved each other. I just didn’t want it in my room. Or my house. He cocked his head to the side as he watched me with caution.
“Stop playing hard to get, Oakley,” he finally said and took another step closer. We were far too close now, but I didn’t waiver. Who was playing hard to get? I wasn’t playing anything. I hated him and had good reason to.
“You think I don’t see how you look at me?”
How I looked at him? What the hell was he seeing? He’s drunk. That’s the only explanation.
“Don’t look at me like that,” he growled. “I’ve had two years of you ignoring me and pretending you don’t give a shit! I have to fucking insult you just to get you to acknowledge me,” he shouted, stepping forward one more time.
Adrenaline coursed through my veins as his arms reached out to touch me. All I could think about was stopping him. His arms stretched nearer, I balled my hand into a fist and punched him as hard as I could. We both stumbled back in shock.
Oh God.
The sound – like a dull, crunching thud – rang through my ears. Julian’s hand shot to his mouth, and he groaned in pain. My hand immediately started throbbing. I shook my hand and winced. The movies didn’t show the puncher hurting after.
Julian straightened his spine. His dark eyes were stone cold. Blood started to seep through a small slit on his lip. Whoa. I’d done that. I was a little proud of myself for standing up to him.
It felt good.
You should’ve done that a long time ago, too.
How? I was a kid.
“Stop being such a bitch,” he spat. I took a step backwards, turned slowly and walked out of my room. I half expected him to follow me, but he didn’t. Taking the stairs two at a time, I flew to the bottom.
“Whoa,” Cole cried as I slammed into him. “You okay?”
Yes, actually. I’m really okay. Sod Julian.
Cole glared, and I spun around to see what’d earned that look. Julian, of course, was standing at the top of the stairs. He ducked into the bathroom when he noticed Cole with me.
“What happened? Was his lip bleeding?”
I smiled and held my slightly swollen hand up. Cole’s eyes widened in surprise and, I think, awe.
“Did you just punch him?” I nodded and watched pride sweep over his face. “You’re amazing,” he said and stroked my sore hand with his fingertips. “But you need to get that seen to.” Shaking his head he guided me to the downstairs bathroom.
After Cole made me keep my hand under cold water for a few minutes it was starting to feel better, but that could be just because it was turning numb. He kissed my temple and then wrapped my hand in a towel to dry it. “Let’s go get you a couple pills for the pain.” I threw the towel in the washing basket and reached for the door handle.
The pain was fine. It was a nice reminder of the fact that I’d defended myself. It was the first time.
Cole grabbed my good hand and spun me around. “Have I told you how beautiful you look in that dress?” Blushing, I reached up on tiptoes and kissed his lips. I wore a simple, summer maxi dress with a paisley design. It was nothing fancy, but I loved that Cole thought I looked good.
He made me sit back down with Kerry and Ben while he went to get me some painkillers. Julian still hadn’t left like I thought he would, he was now back downstairs with his friends. Why would he stay? If he was trying to make me feel uncomfortable in my own home he could stop wasting his efforts – I was already there.
“Here you go.” Cole handed me two paracetamol and a glass of water. Smiling gratefully, I slung the pills in my mouth and swigged a couple mouthfuls of water.
“Headache?” Kerry asked, letting Ben up for air.
I gave her a nod, not wanting to get into the real reason why I needed them.
Cole, always wanting to save me, grabbed my hand and gave it a tug. “Want to dance?”
In front of all of my family and most of the people I hated from school? I wanted to dance with Cole, but I didn’t want to draw any extra attention to myself. And I didn’t want Dad to see me and Cole getting closer. This was my bloody party though, and I should enjoy it.
I got up and followed him about three steps to where all the dancing was happening. And I use the term ‘dancing’ very loosely. Some of these people would be having sex if it wasn’t for clothes. People dry humping in her living room, that’d teach Mum for throwing a party she wanted me to have.
Dad was probably seething.
Good.
When I was in Cole’s arms, the party didn’t seem that bad at all. Nothing did.
This is going to end badly. He won’t want you when he finds out.
That was fine, because I’ll never tell.
Silencing my inner demons, I stepped closer to him. We’d been this close before. I’d left a small gap between us so we didn’t look a little too cosy. Throwing my arms around his neck, I grinned.
A few times I noticed Julian watching us dance. I was tired of being intimidated and scared, so I ignored him. The only thing I cared about was the way Cole was looked at me.
Just as I thought I could start to relax properly and enjoy the evening, the music was cut.
Mum tapped a microphone, and my heart dropped.
She’s going to make a speech.
25
Cole