Amanda

"I'm going clubbing, whether you like it or not," Hailey stated, "It's our last night in Atlanta, and I plan on enjoying it." She was sitting on the floor in front of the long mirror as she did her makeup. Riley was showering, so Hailey had to improvise. "You should come!"

"Um, yeah, no thanks," I replied, "Last time I went to a party, my ex broke up with me over a stupid photo."

"Come on!" Hailey complained, "We are in Georgia, for God's sake! Nobody you know will be taking pictures of you with other guys, and be sending them to Noah!" She capped her mascara and turned her head to look at me. I was sitting on the bed, the TV remote in hand, as I looked at random channels.

"I know that," I stated, "But I'm not sure parties are my scene anymore." Riley then came inside the room changed into a black, short dress with a towel wrapped around her blue hair.

"Riley!" Hailey exclaimed, "Amanda is on full-on post-breakup mode, we have to do something."

"I heard," she replied, "Hailey, you do her makeup, and I'll help her change into more presentable clothes."

"What? No!" I gasped, "Don't you dare-" But it was too late, Hailey had attacked my face while Riley figured out an outfit for me with our friend's clothes. As soon as Hailey finished, Riley shoved the clothes into my hands and pushed me inside the bathroom. I tried to get out, but it was impossible.

"You better change, Almonds!" I heard Hailey shout, "You are going out and meeting a cute boy!"

"I already met a boy!" I shouted back and heard my friends laugh.

"Whatever, just change!"

I sighed heavily and examined the clothes Riley had given me. They consisted of a short, black tank top, a dark red skirt, and black fishnet socks. I slipped on the clothes before shoving my feet into the black ankle boots set on the floor.

When I looked into the mirror, I sighed again. What had Hailey done to my face? She had attempted to do a smokey eye on me, which made me look like a panda. I removed all of the makeup and did it all over again, using Riley's cosmetics. I applied dark red lipstick and a little bit of mascara before stepping out of the bathroom. Of course, I had to swear to Riley I had changed and gotten ready.

"Great!" Hailey clapped her hands when she saw me. "Let's go!" She was wearing a strapless, white tube top with a pair of jean shorts fitted around her waist with a matching white belt. Her feet were displaying white sneakers, and her legs were bare.

We went down to the lobby, and as I made my way towards the door, Riley pulled me back. She must have seen my confused look because she proceeded to explain.

"The hotel hosts a club-like party every Friday night for teen guests," she informed me, "We're going there tonight."

I let her drag me to a room down a wide corridor where lights flew out of it and blinded me. Another step and there I was, once again squashed against dancing and sweaty teenagers. The music was so loud I could barely hear my friends.

"Drinks?" Hailey asked. I was about to shake my head when I realized that maybe a drink could help me forget. Forget for a little while that my heart was hurting. I nodded as Riley did the same.

Hailey disappeared and returned a few moments later with two cups in her hands. She handed me one, and I took it eagerly. I drank all of its contents in one go, the alcohol burning my throat as I threw the cup away.

The next thing I knew, I was dancing wildly to the beat of the music. The alcohol had taken control over my body as I let my arms and legs flow around me. I lost my friends a long time ago, but I didn't care. I felt free. I didn't feel scared I didn't feel heartbroken I felt free. The feeling I had deep inside me was euphoria, pure happiness.

I knew that the alcohol I drank was affecting me, but I couldn't care less. I felt genuinely happy, and I was not going to ruin it just yet.

A few moments later, I was dancing with a stranger, my face pressed against his chest, and his hands on my waist. My arms were wrapped around his neck as we swayed unevenly to the quick beat of the music. I felt as if I was floating, my feet off the ground as we moved around the dance floor.

Before I knew it, I was kissing him. I hated myself for it, but my body was not obeying my mind. His lips were hard against mine, the taste of liquor fresh in his mouth. We were both drunk and probably not thinking straight either. We had made our way to the hallway, where I had entered the party. I could hear my heart's swift and steady beating as the kiss deepened, my hands buried in his hair, his holding me closer.

I felt my fingers soften down the edges of his thick hair on his neck as if they were stuck with gel. That's when I somehow realized who it was.

I pulled away from his firm grip so quickly I almost lost my balance. I opened my eyes as I gasped for air. His blue eyes were shining like lightning when he opened them. I was against the wall opposite to the one he was leaning on his face had a confused look in it until he finally seemed to recognize me.

"Hunter?" I asked, and brought my hands up to my hair, knotting them in it, "Oh shit."

"What's wrong?" he asked and extended his arm towards me, but I moved away from it. I was speechless. What had I just done?

I mean, I know I'm not in a relationship, but there was Noah. Even if we weren't in anything serious, I still felt as if I had somehow betrayed him. What was I going to tell him? That I traveled to compete for gymnastics and ended making out with a random stranger I had met?

He might not care, maybe he is used to things like this, but deep inside me, I felt a pang of enormous guilt. I hated myself for it, but I couldn't help it. Maybe I could call him, but I'm not sure if he is still awake.

"Amanda," I heard Hunter say again, "I'm sorry if I didn't stop you, I just didn't realize it was you."

"It's not your fault," I replied, "I mean, you could've stopped me, but I didn't realize it was you either." I sighed. "I can't believe I did something like this, something so not my way."

"Do you- do you have a boyfriend?" he asked uncertainly as if the subject was somehow delicate to him.

"No," I replied, "But I'm scared I could hurt someone if I told him about what just went down."

"If they care about you, I'm sure they won't be angry over a simple kiss." He smiled, and I returned it with a grin.

"Now I have to find my friends," I stated and looked at the door and into the room. As I looked closer, I saw both Hailey and Riley dancing weirdly with their cups in the air. They were screaming the lyrics of the song currently playing at the top of their lungs, and I almost slapped myself. "Found them."

Hunter chuckled behind me. "I can help bring them back to your room."

"Yeah, that's a good idea."

An hour later, I was saying goodbye to Hunter and thanking him for his help. It had been impossible to bring the girls back because Hailey didn't want to leave, and Riley had passed out in the elevator on our way here. Even though both Hunter and I were still drunk, we had sobered up as we took care of my drunken friends.

I finally was able to sleep, even if Hailey was snoring loudly and tossing around the bed. I passed out as soon as my head hit the pillow.

*&*

"You did what!?" Hailey exclaimed. Riley groaned loudly from her bed and muttered something under her breath.

"I kissed Hunter, and I regret it," I said, "What am I going to do? What am I going to tell Noah?"

"I don't know," she said, "Just be honest."

Hailey was removing her makeup as I sat on our bed and informed her about what had happened. Riley was still sleeping through her hangover and hadn't said anything but groaned.

"Easier said than done," I stated and sighed, "I'm desperate here, Hailey!"

"Almonds!" she turned around to face me, "I have a tremendous hangover, and right now, I don't feel like I'm giving valid advice."

"Any advice will do!" I stated.

"OH MY FUCKING GOD!" Riley suddenly screamed, making both Hailey and I jump, "Grab your fucking phone, fucking call him, wake him the fuck up or fucking whatever, and fucking tell him!" She gave us her back. "For fuck's sake, so much fucking drama for fucking nothing."

"That must have been the biggest overuse of the word 'fuck' I have ever heard," Hailey commented.

"Fuck you," Riley then said, making us burst out laughing.

After we had calmed down, I sighed and picked up my phone. Guess Riley's right. I dialed his number with nervous fingers as I tried to steady my breathing. Why was I so nervous? I don't know. I pressed the phone to my ear and waited patiently. Ages later, I heard someone breathing on the other side and movement.

"Hello?"