Eve

"Stay, just a little longer!"

Over the blaring bass of the Backstreet Boys, Kai's voice was nearly drowned out. If it weren't for the way he repeated himself, the light grip on my wrist, and his words spoken so close to my ear, I would've kept walking. Thirty minutes of awkward mingling and bumping into sweaty bodies—I can handle. Two hours of suffocating in a room filled with pulsating rhythms, the stench of alcohol, and bodies pressing and grinding against me? That's pushing it.

As much as I adore the wild, carefree spirit of nights like this, I'm desperate to find solace in the calm hush of the night outside.

"Kai," I call out, my voice louder than I intended.

Please listen.

Twisting on the spot, he greets me with a lopsided pout that almost changes my mind. Almost.

"Pleash, ten more minsh—oh!" he slurs, rocking unsteadily on his heels. "Have you tried the shnacks?"

Even drunk, his persistence is admirable. That's just who he is—relentless, fighting for what he wants.

Huffing, I shake my arm free and steady him. Brushing back the stray strands stuck to my face, I wince as a sudden red light blinds me for a second.

"I need to go."

Kai's rarely drunk—maybe three times in the twelve years we've known each other. Tonight's almost number four. I'm ready for the battle.

Even though I wish I could just slip away unnoticed, I stay.

Although seeing the flushed eyes, the bird's-nest hair, and that tipsy grin is intriguing, I'll admit—his antics are the only reason I'm still here. Being zapped in the face by flashing lights doesn't do it for me.

Grunting as a stumbling couple barges into my shoulder, I grit my teeth and shuffle closer to Kai, who's swaying as they rush past him toward the back door.

Between being bulldozed by random bodies, men trying their luck, pressing and grinding against me, women lusting over Kai, and drinks being shoved into my face, nearly spilling over me.

Grounding myself with a deep breath, surrounded by the acrid scent of alcohol and sweat, I stare into his soft hazel irises. I force a gentle smile over my tight lips. I'm not sure who I'm convincing more—me or him—but judging by the calm in his gaze, I must've pulled it off better than I thought.

The words catch in my throat, and I slap a hand over my mouth to stop the laugh threatening to take their place. Kai's hiccup rumbles into the neck of the beer bottle he's nursing for the second time. Just when I think it can't get any sillier, he attempts his usual technique on me. It doesn't work this time. His eyes are wide and pink from his new buzz, his lips are pursed into the shape of a duck's beak, and his cheeks are flushed with concentration. We burst into laughter, clutching our sides, leaning on one another for support as we double over.

Now that I'm not moving, the chaotic bass thrums through the floor, rattling my bones and pounding as if there's a speaker inside my skull.

I just want to snuggle under my blanket, cradling a warm cup of Horlicks.

Sighing at the thought, I glance up at Kai through my lashes. He's fist-bumping passing members of his team, who stagger away from the chugging station, heading toward the cheerleaders lost in their own carefree world.

I shouldn't complain. Kai would go out of his way to stay with me and binge episodes of our latest show. So coming out to celebrate the last day of our extended weekend before returning to college is the least I can do. If I hadn't declined the offer to watch an episode of The Walking Dead before coming out, I know he'd convince me to watch a few more episodes, so we'd skip the party.

The tension I saw before the holidays has completely ebbed away. Now he's out there, supporting his team, making new memories.

He's worked hard—I won't take that away from him.

Nodding toward one of the basketball team's supporters hanging out in the centre of Grayson O'Donald's house, Kai laughs as the poor guy tries to impress the team by downing a glass of tanned liquid. I don't miss the sour face he pulls at the end when the contents disappear.

Knowing Kai's distracted, I fight the knot curling in my stomach and tug on his sleeve. "Don't worry about me, I had fun." Looking away so he won't see the fib in my eyes, I force another smile. "Tomorrow's the first day back. I want to face it with a clear head—that's all."

I wish I could spend hours with people and fit in as easily as you. . .

Feeling the awkwardness creep in when Ronny, the sweet guy in class, strolls by, I smile bashfully and duck my head. Then Rachel, Grayson's newest match, leans in over Kai's shoulder, asking where her "man" is.

Please, let me walk out of here.

Shifting from one foot to the other, Kai rakes a hand through his short, fluffy chocolate locks, sticking to his forehead. "Are you shure I can't convinsh you to shtay?" He eyes the crowd and releases a breath. "Can I walk you home?"

Sidestepping a group of women I don't quite recognize, I hold my breath as their perfume spills into the air, fresh from the bottle, as they flip their hair and eye the players gathered near the cheerleaders.

Before I can answer, Kai's talking again, leaving me to simmer in my desperate wish to leave.

"I'll come; I know the way." He nods, setting his empty bottle, realizing there's no more liquid inside. Before I can explain it's not about him knowing the way but about his balance, he adds, "Are you shure I can't interesht you in a sholo of Pepshi before we leave?"

Glancing at the leather sofa rather than the snack table crammed with dips, crisps, and bottles to avoid tempting him to beg for more, I tiresomely hum to myself in thought.

I'm sure he'll crash safely on the sofa or in one of the guest rooms. It looks comfortable enough for him to stretch out and last the night. Grayson is a good guy; he'll look after him in the morning.

Exhaustion and frustration tug at me, but I grin, certain this trick won't fail. "How many am I holding up?"

Kai's furrowed brow and cocky grin say it all.

"That's eashy," he snickers. "It's four."

I roll my eyes. "You need coffee," I reply, forcing the sing-song tone I usually use when I'm right. The crease between his brows shows he's not buying it.

"Only if you shtay for five more minutsh," he fires back.

I shake my head with another exasperated laugh. "No."

"Two?"

"Kai." I deadpan, folding my arms.

He slowly nods, defeat flashing across his face for the briefest moment. "OK, OK. . . how about five?"

"You already said that." I pat his arm, feeling better now that he's settled onto the plump green sofa. "If it'll ease your mind, I promise to call a taxi as soon as I'm outside."

Kai cocks a brow, then squints. "And when you're home?"

"And message you when I'm home. Deal?"

"Deal." The gears in his head seem to grind to a halt as he zones out. When he snaps back, there's a small exhale. "Are you shertain?"

Sticking my hand out, I poke my pinkie toward him. "Positive."

With the wrong hand, he hooks his pinkie with my index finger and shakes on it. "Alright, shorty, I'll shee you tomorrow."

An unbelievable amount of relief courses through me at the thought of finally being allowed to leave, knowing in under two minutes, I'll be outside and on my way home. Unable to suppress my beaming grin, I pull him into an embrace, tell him to let his hair down and have some fun, then make tracks for the exit.

I wedge through sweaty bodies, arms tight to my sides. Tripping over sprawled limbs, I hurry on. Bodies gyrate. Music blares. Lasers flash. I lunge for the door.

The cloud of perspiration, vapor, and alcohol breaks as I cross the threshold, filling my lungs with the crisp night air.

Stumbling outside the party's clutches, I inhale another breath, savouring the sense of relief.

No more heat. The dampening of the raging beats feels like my head has room to think again. No more slick bodies pressing into mine. Peace.

A weak grunt slips from my throat. The one thing that remains persistent is the laser beams spiking through the windows.

The memory of Kai's intoxicated voice and squeaky hiccups were a blast. Seeing him unwind made the night more bearable than I expected before we set out.

"Leaving already?"