Charlie’s POV
“What the fuck!?”
Nora and Clayton were making out? What the actual heck!
They distanced themselves from each other, their faces filled with shock.
This was not how I imagined my birthday going.
“Charlie-” Nora attempted to say something as I turned on my heels, slamming her bedroom door before I flounced my way downstairs.
A singular thought kept replaying in my head.
What the hell!
What the hell, what the hell, what in the actual hell!
“Charlie! Wait, what’s wrong?” Ella approached me as I reached the bottom of the stairs.
I didn’t reply. Instead, I made my way to the kitchen to pour myself a drink.
I really needed a drink.
So Nora was Clayton’s mystery girlfriend? I couldn’t believe it.
“Charlie?” Ella worried.
“Did you know?” I asked her after downing half a cup of vodka and soda.
“Know what?”
“That Nora and Clayton are hooking up.”
Her jaw dropped as she cupped her mouth with both of her hands. I’ll take it as a sign that she did not know.
“Oh my god!”
My mind went back to before I interrupted their make out session.
Ryan had told me to wait. The way he spoke, it was urgent, as if he were almost warning me that whatever was behind the door would disturb me.
I looked at him. “Did you know?”
“Huh?” He played dumb, averting his gaze away from me.
“Did you know?” I repeated, this time was with a patient hint of anger.
“I’m sorry, I wanted to say something. I just didn’t think it was my place to.”
Great, another betrayal.
Okay, maybe I’m just overreacting.
Am I overreacting?
Shouldn’t I be angry? Not only were my sister and best friend secretly hooking up, my boyfriend knew about it and didn’t tell me.
“I think you should leave.”
His face fell. “Charlie, please.”
“You heard him!” Ella gestured to the door.
I didn’t bother watching him leave, instead, I turned around to mix another drink before heading to the heart of the party outside.
Ella was right beside me.
“Are you okay?” She wondered.
“I will be. Now let’s get drunk.” I smiled.
“Wait, where is Tom?” I asked.
“He stayed home. He has to get up early tomorrow for some interview or something.” She explained over the loud backyard music.
Ella and I danced the night away, well, for another hour at least, by that time, most of the party people had left to go to another party that was being hosted by a senior at St Griffiths. Only a group of people remained, Ella and I included, along with the two traitors.
“So, should we play a game?” Ella asked the group.
“What game?” I asked her.
“Oh, I know! We should play Never have I ever!” A blonde girl suggested excitedly. I want to say her name is Karen? Maybe Kara?
“Great idea, Kiara.” Ella smiled.
Kiara. I was pretty close. I mean, Kara is basically Kiara without the I.
“Anyone want to play Never Have I Ever?!” Ella called out.
A few people came into the living room where we were seated, eager to play.
“Okay, let’s do this!”
Okay, Ella seemed far to excited to play this game. I, for one, was not. All I could think about was catching my best friend and my sister osculating, and the fact that Ryan seemed to know about their secret love affair.
“Oh, Ace! Do you wanna play?” Ella called out.
I followed her gaze to see Ace standing in the foyer.
I thought he went home.
“Uh, sure. What are we playing?”
“Never have I ever.” Kiara answered excitedly.
For a split second, I thought he would have bailed. He doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who would play a drinking game.
“Okay. But we’re going to need a lot more alcohol.” He smirked, making his way to the circle of people.
Both Nora and Clayton sat on the floor opposite side of Ella and I. We were seated on the three person couch, whilst Kiara sat on the floor right side of Ella. The rest of the formed circle consisted of people I don’t know, or don’t remember. A girl with smudged mascara. Another girl with bright pink tips in her hair and body glitter painted on her skin. There were a few guys who I was certain didn’t attend Clarence High, and another girl who reached her hand to stop Ace from walking past her.
“You can sit next to me.” She winked.
He smirked before taking a seat on the floor next to her.
“Okay, focus!” Ella snapped at everyone. “If you don’t know the rules, either search them up or get the fuck out of the circle. This isn’t amateur hour.”
“Okay, Charlie can go first, seeing as it’s his birthday.” Ella said once everyone held a drink in their hands.
Great, way to put me on the spot.
I always hated drinking games that involved coming up with a truth, a dare, or something that I’ve never done that everyone else has.
“Uh, okay.” I cleared my throat. “Uh, never have I ever…..”
I looked upwards at the ceiling, then I scanned my surroundings, hoping that an idea of what to say might magically pop in my head.
“Uh, done drugs?”
Everyone took a sip of their drinks, except for me.
“Never have I ever,” Ella’s turn was next. “went skinny dipping.”
Most of the circle had a sip, Ace included. The girl seated next to him whispered something in his ear.
I turned away and looked to Kiara, whose turn was next.
“Never have I ever gotten a tattoo.”
One of the random guys drank, as did Nora and Ace.
As the game went on, I couldn’t help but glance over at Ace and the girl that had her talons on him.
Why did I feel jealous?
I shouldn’t be jealous. I’m dating Ryan, who just so happened to lie to me. And Ace was definitely straight as far as I could tell.
“Never have I ever done it in school.” Ace spoke.
A few people drank.
By the time it was my turn again, I still hadn’t drank so I decided to say something that applied to me.
“Never have I ever broken a bone!” I eagerly took a massive swig from my drink, unbothered as to who else had broken a bone.
It was Ella’s turn next. “Never have I ever had sex.”
And everyone else drank…
Except for me.
A few people looked at me, as if to say ‘really?’
A sudden rush of embarrassment came over me as my face turned red.
“Are you a nun?” The girl next to Ace asked sarcastically with a scoff. “Did you like take a vow?”
“At least he’s not a slut, like you, Camille.” Ella retorted.
The girl scoffed in disbelief. “What did you just call me?”
“Do you need me to spell it out? S-L-U-T. Slut!”
The girl stood abruptly and threw her drink over Ella, some of it splashing onto me.
Ella laughed before splashing her own drink in the girl’s face.
“You fucking bitch!” Camille barked before launching herself at Ella.
I stood up and moved away from them.
A few people laughed, while others gasped.
“Someone break them up!” Nora demanded.
Both Ella and Camille were pulling on each other’s hair as they stumbled around. After twisting, Camille managed to get Ella on the ground and smacked her in the face a few times.
“Stop!” I walked over to break it up, but when I attempted to pull the girl away from Ella, one of the random guys shoved me.
“Don’t touch my sister!” He spat.
“Well, get your sister off of my friend!” I demanded.
I turned to see Ella twist around, switching their positions. The girl clawed at Ella’s face from below, causing Ella to growl before punching the girl in the face.
“Get off my sister!” The guy went to grab Ella.
Something inside of me snapped and I grabbed the guy from his collar and dragged him away from Ella.
In retaliation, he punched me in the face.
“Holy Shit!” I heard Clayton gasp.
Camille’s brother had me on the ground and began punching the crap out of me from above.
“Get the fuck off my best friend!” Clayton seethed, attempting to pull the guy away.
The other random guy, who I am guessing is Camille’s brother’s best friend, dragged Clayton away, leaving me to get beat up.
With my right arm, I managed to punch the guy in the stomach, not that it was much help.
I was seriously unfit, a freaking ferret could probably bench more than me.
My eyes were closed and my hands were covering my face.
I didn’t need another broken nose.
After a moment, it stopped. I felt the guy’s weight lift off of me.
I cautiously opened my eyes to see that Ace had pulled the guy off of me.
“I think you, your sister and your thick-headed friend should leave.” Ace suggested stoically.
“Why don’t you make me?” The guy spat, shoving Ace back a few steps.
Ace chuckled before punching the guy straight in the nose.
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