Jamie was drunk. Again.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡav4XvyNOti
The loud music pulsed almost painfully in his ears as he danced up against some guy he wouldn't remember in the morning. He felt elated, his body covered in a light sheen of sweat. Everything was ever so slightly hazy, almost dream-like. The man swaying against him ground his ass into Jamie's crotch, igniting a twinge of pleasure. Nothing felt better to Jamie than this.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRA9TPDnxDu
The man suddenly turned in Jamie's arms, and his hands that had been clutching the guy's upper thighs were now on his ass. The dark-haired man pressed a sloppy, open mouthed kiss on Jamie's neck.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOFozKJdyh
"D'you wanna come back to my place?" the man slurred, sounding far more intoxicated than Jamie was. His hands were roaming Jamie's body now, and when he tried to slide them down the back of Jamie's pants, Jamie seized his wrists and squeezed until the other man cried out in pain and yanked them back.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuicNKOvkmg
"I told you," Jamie said sharply. "I don't sleep with drunk guys. And I don't sleep with anybody while I'm drunk."
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1at6rsz1o
"Fuckin' asshole," the other man muttered, rubbing his sore wrists.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL41CLahtE1
"Yeah, I'm the asshole," Jamie snorted. "Scram."
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyRjtiq7uu
With a glare and a huff, the guy stalked off. Jamie sighed and ran a hand through his unruly golden curls. Clearly, he was not drunk enough.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjgbwO4ULu
He made his way to the kitchen, where the drinks were. It was much quieter here, with far fewer drunk partiers. Only a Black girl with two curly buns high on her head sat at the table, cheek resting on her palm as she scrolled endlessly through her phone with a bored expression.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAMzWft1ju
Jamie had intended to pour himself another drink and head back out into the fray, but something about the girl beckoned him to stay. He found himself asking,
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVnC1wLcax
"You want me to pour you a drink?"
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KBpsL2snW
The girl started, looking up at him with a pounding heart. "What?"
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymDGaIOh1k
"Uh, do you wanna drink?" the guy at the island counter repeated, looking awkward.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SzhoYUMO5
"Oh, um, no thanks." She grunted and shook her head. "I don't, uh, drink. And anyway, I wouldn't let a random stranger at a party pour me a drink after hearing too many stories on the news about date rape…" she trailed off, realizing she was rambling.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIJRR6RKwo
"I get it." The fair-haired boy brought his plastic cup over to where she was, sitting on the side of the table to her right.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeHREOTjAb
She stared at him. He's really cute, she thought, watching his slender hands twist the cup he was holding back and forth. When his eyes flicked up to meet hers, she hurriedly turned her gaze away, cheeks warming. She cringed her eyes closed and folded her left arm up against itself, tensing it and holding the position for a few seconds.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvBDKlYrlI
"So. Why're you at a party if you don't drink or dance?" the boy inquired, propping his chin against his fist. When she looked over at him again, he offered her a sweet smile.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpRZFxERsJ
She returned the smile tentatively, then blinked hard. "My parents… They're always pushing me to be social. To get out of the house, because of my…depression. It makes me want to stay home." Oh God, who was she telling him all this? It was her fatal flaw, oversharing. Suddenly, she made a hiccupping sound.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuwvcykHgW
"So…" Jamie started, struggling to formulate a response, "you came to a party. To socialize, right?" The girl nodded. "And you decided that the best way to go about this was to hole up in the kitchen, away from the party?" She smiled embarrassedly.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbc2OF86xkW
"It's really more to (hic) get my mom out of my hair. I hate parties." She laughed, and it did funny things to Jamie's heart. He shifted uncomfortably.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1HYBIkTaq
"Then why not do something else? Go skating? Bowling? Join a local club?"
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbmbKdq92H
"I just figured, I've only been to one party, and that was in high school, y'know?" She grunted. "This is my second year in college. So, I thought I would see if I would like it. And I don't." She shrugged.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydlfz0XPcU
"Hmm." Jamie leaned back in the creaky chair. He absently raised the cup to his lips, welcoming the burn of the alcohol as it slipped down his throat
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5zFxjfysy
"So what are you—" the girl started to say before she suddenly tucked her chin down against her chest and scrunching her face up. Jamie frowned, concerned.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgps26ACyT
"Hey, you good—" he began, reaching out a hand, before cringing back as she let out a blood-curdling scream.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpxcYMFONa
What the fuck is happening? he thought, alarmed.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjt7gT6MEnV
As soon as she stopped screaming, the girl leapt to her feet, grabbing up her messenger bag.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4VUDHe700
"I have to go," she said, sounding panicked. Before Jamie could react, she was darting out the front door.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHw0Xi6AkO8
"Wha—wait!" Jamie scrambled after her, his drink forgotten on the table.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8axhoLElMF
The girl was already several yards up the road by the time he reached the end of the driveway. He sprinted after her, feet pounding the asphalt. He felt a little unsteady from the alcohol he had consumed, but it was manageable.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Wq8IromrJ
"Hey, stop—" Jamie said sharply as he caught up to the dark-skinned girl. He caught her arm, pulling her to a halt. She immediately twisted out of his feet grip, but thankfully stopped walking.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGtP6XVPLA
"What happened?" Jamie panted out as he bent over, hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uGWSyesc8
"Nothing," the girl mumbled uncertainly. "Why did you follow me out here, anyway?"
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG29Yz4D5K2
Jamie gave her an incredulous look. "You fucking screamed and ran out the door! What else was I supposed to do?"
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JN1n9ejMg
"Well, you needn't have concerned yourself with me," she responded stiffly. Sensing her discomfort, Jamie backed off the subject.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kImzmYLIY
"What's your name, then?" he asked, relief filling him as she visibly relaxed.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRpLxCp9HB
She turned a smile on him, squaring her shoulders.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbKsRY8G0z
"Miel," she answered confidently. "Miel Banks."
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBg6CwqkHYb
Jamie smiled at her, the first one that night that crinkled the corners of his eyes. Miel felt like he had taken the sun from the sky and beamed it upon just her.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMzW36GYjF
When Miel came back to herself, she looked away and tugged self-consciously on the sleeve of her olive green sweater. After just a moment, she raised her eyes back to his. Having gone from one dimly lit environment to another, she couldn't tell what color his eyes were, just that they were pale.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvcnEK7dGq
"What about you?" Miel scrunched her face for a moment. "What, uh. Is your name?"
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIL8hhMHrI
"Jamie McNamara."
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrMA13mQTT
"Pleased to meet you. Do you...need to be walked home? (Grunt). I know you've been drinking."
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XbF2CH4ee
"You don't have to," Jamie mumbled. "But you can if you want "
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2LZ9xfz8F
"It would make me feel better." Miel offered him a soft smile that made his heart twinge again.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeN4bTNXmxh
"Alright," Jamie said with a growing sense of unease. "I don't live far."
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJLMto1elK
They walked the few blocks in silence, and Miel made to walk past the huge house when Jamie called,
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkDpgVGoWK
"Here."
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozBtu5prX0
Miel turned to gape at the house.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NVA7HdKgJ
"You live here?" she said in disbelief. Jamie gave her an uncomfortable smile.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6HuPdELbX
"Uh...yeah. For now." Jamie felt like he couldn't wait to be out of Miel's presence, but then he paused. Why did she make him feel this way? He shouldn't, but…
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfNKK8M3jc
Suddenly seeming to relax in a way that bewildered Miel, Jamie flashed her a charming smile that felt a little forced.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzNZNwCofC
"Why don't you come in? My parents won't be home tonight."
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWw9Fafa3am
Miel hesitated. What would her parents think about her going into this random, drunk white guy's house? But then…maybe she didn't really care what happened to her.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbecwwCvNAk
"Alright. Sure."
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIWtT1BiEi
The inside of the house was just as grand. It wasn't a mansion, but it was trying hard to be one. The foyer had stone floors with a carpeted seating area in the center that Miel doubted was ever used, and vaulted ceilings made every small sound echo. Jamie grabbed her hand with a "Come on" and pulled her further into the house.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NwpVeNe0C
Towards the back of the house, past a luxurious recreation room and a home theater, was a small cluster of doors.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbg42WC8kd7
"My parents insist on us having our rooms close together, even though we hardly interact. I guess they like the look of a close family when they give people the grand tour." Miel was shocked by the venom in his voice. "I shouldn't have told you that," Jamie sighed, opening his door and ushering Miel in. He flipped the lock out of habit, then unlocked it again when he noticed Miel tensing out of the corner of his eye.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlBte5cdrc
Idiot, he berated himself.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5K6i15XAYY
"Make yourself comfortable," he offered hospitably, gesturing to a small seating area in front of a gas fireplace. As she settled onto the black leather loveseat, he flicked on the fire to chase away the chill in the room.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSMfNiqklg
He hesitated, then opened the cabinet in his bedside table and pulled out one of the bottles of alcohol he kept in there. He sat down in the chair at the opposite end of the couch where Miel was sitting and propped his socked feet up on the coffee table. He took a swig of whiskey straight from the bottle, then caught Miel's frown.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTO4zEQdqw
"Are you sure you should be…I mean, how much have you had to drink tonight?" she asked. The concern in her voice made Jamie want to bury his face in his arms and never stop crying. He hated it.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuibzq1PBk
"That's none of your damn business," he replied harshly. "I left you alone about your screaming, didn't I?" Miel looked like she wanted to argue, but finally pressed her lips into a thin line and looked away.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XzEbqqPrl
"Why did you bring me in here?" she asked as he took another sip from the bottle. "If you're…I'm not…"
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkUSlrEycK
Jamie laughed and he realized what she was getting at. "I didn't bring you back here to fuck you, Miel," he assured her, trying to make his voice a little gentler. "I don't do that. And I'm gay."
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrr2xIVHWtk
"Oh. Okay."
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThRqrkEblU
They lapsed into an awkward silence where Miel squeezed her fingers together in her lap and tried to pretend not to notice Jamie scrutinizing gaze. She could feel it pressing against her like a weight, lighting her skin on fire. She knew this boy was gay, but her body didn't seem to.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCob043H5nd
Jamie took one last drink, then leaned forward and set the bottle down on the table. He stood up, his breathing ragged as he simply hovered there for a moment, sounding as if he were about to cry. Miel could feel the air moving as he stepped toward her, before sitting down beside her on the loveseat.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJwauXzdmY
"Who are you, Miel Banks?" The boy's breath ghosted over her ear in a murmur. Miel swallowed.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kmuOyt5Om
"I…" she whispered. She turned to face Jamie, and he was shocked to see the thinly veiled fear in her warm brown eyes.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9D0geBLol7
Good, Jamie thought bitterly, filled with self-loathing. If she's scared, she'll stay away. If she's scared…I won't have to feel these things…
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDISDEPVzBS
"Why do you make my heart feel this way?" Jamie breathed. What? No! Why was he saying this to her?
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevFUNwa3KX
"What?" Suddenly Jamie became aware of how close their faces were. Had he been leaning in that much? Miel hadn't moved an inch…
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡco0L52Hpve
Against his own desires, Jamei found himself swaying closer, like a cobra to a charmer. So close. He could lean forward just an inch more and their lips would be brushing.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0c3m99Hf1I
"Jamie…" Miel looked completely torn, longing and conflict flickering in her honeyed eyes.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88R6SwQylG
Abruptly, she pulled away and stood. She pulled her arms to her chest and tensed, her face cringing.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tt2brJ1M2
"I have to go." Jamie watched, frozen, as she slipped into her coat, collected her bag, and disappeared from sight around him. He didn't turn to watch her leave, the soft, final click of the door latching shut behind her the only indication that she had gone.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIT2ewyxNb
Jamie leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, burying his face in his hands.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAuSF5R6mU
Fuck.
585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Vr9KWHDIE
2,029 words
ns216.73.216.46da2
