A wakeup call at eleven in the night wasn't something I ever wanted to experience. It's safe to say that I've ticked something off the bucket list, that is if I had one. But this isn't a positive wake up call. Not when I woke to being hit with a pillow by a distressed Taylor who told me Blair's missing.

Well technically, she isn't missing just that she hasn't come home since she left this morning. On top of that she didn't actually attend school and they had a study session after Blair's shift at work. According to her boss, she didn't show and her parents started to freak out.

Blair might be adventurous and impulsive but she wouldn't do this. She's never not gone to school and work while having her phone turned off. That isn't like her which means something is up.

"What if she isn't here?" Taylor hisses at me while I continue to scroll through my Facebook feed.

"Then we'll try somewhere else," I exit the app when we reach the fence of the house overun by teenagers. "I didn't see any tags or any other parties so she's either here or at a bar."

"How would she get into a bar!" Taylor squawks and I give her a look of disbelief. Her eyes narrow in realisation. "Okay, I shouldn't be surprised she has a fake I.D. We'll split up and try to find her quicker."

Even though I don't like the idea of being by myself, it'll be quicker so I can get her home and get back to bed. I dodge the drunk stumbling out onto the veranda, using the railing as support to throw up in the garden.

Looking back I stop when I notice the neighbor standing on their lawn. With their arms crossed and a phone in their hand it doesn't take long for the dots to connect.

"Taylor we need," I stop when I realize she's already gone inside. "Be quick because the cops are on their way."

I mutter and rush inside, squinting my lights as a strobe light gets me right in the eye. The house wreaks from sweat and alcohol, bodies still moving as if they're having a seizure despite the time. I push my way through, standing on my toes in an attempt to spot Blair.

A few times I end up swatting hands that try to grab at me to get me to dance. I curse under my breathe when the heat starts to get to me from being shoved around amd squished like a sardine. I manage to break free from the dance floor, resorting to standing on the lounge pushed against the wall to try to spot her.

Nothing. I can't see her from up here because of the lights that I'm close to yanking out. I get down and push my way through the bodies to get back to the landing of the foyer to try another room.

I can feel my heart pounding against my chest almost in sync with the music. Stepping up I head across to the room opposite, almost wishing I hadn't when I see what's going on. I look at Blair who twists around effortlessly on the surface of the table with two other girls on either side of her.

"Blair!" I yell, moving forward and trying to push through the unlookers who encourage them to dance or even take their clothes off. "Blair get down!"

Making it through the crowd to the table I wave my arms to try to get her attention. Her eyes are closed and from my spot I notice the streaks on her cheeks from mascara. What the hell has happened. They open again and they're glassed over, I know Blair and it isn't like her to cry.

"Blair!" I scream, her eyes filter around the room and her movements stop when she sees me. "What are you doing?"

Instead of answering me she spins around to face the other side of guys. I reach forward to try to grab her ankle but fail to do so. Before I know it I feel hands on my waist and I'm being hauled up onto the table. I look back at the guy who winks and drifts his eyes to another girl on the table.

Blinking I stand up carefully and grab onto her shoulder. She looks at me, hand taking mine and trying to get me to dance with her. "Blair we need to go."

"Dance with me."

"Blair we need to-"

"Please," Her voice cracks and she swallows. "He's back. . ."

"Who's back?"

She doesn't answer and just starts dancing while pulling me closer. Against my better judgement I do the same, trying to block out the inappropriate comments being yelled at us. I feel myself easily get in sync with the music, swaying like it comes naturally to me.

It is natural to me.

Blair smiles although it lacks her usual confidence and spark, it's more a sad smile. Who's back? It isn't like I could just assume who it is, there's too many possibilities but I don't think any of them would have her like this. Well, maybe one.

"Kira!"

The voice is loud and almost makes me flinch until I look at the person. Rhys looks horrified seeing me on the table and I probably would be to. My eyes fall back on Blair who's mood has seemed to increase and her movements become more fluid with mine.

I take her hand as she spins me around. Very slowly I twist myself down in time with the music, body rolling back up once I get too low. Blair grins until she's yanked backwards. I try to grasp onto her hand when I notice Taylor standing beside the guy who has her over his shoulder.

"Really?" She yells and I purse my lips. "Get down."

I exhale and crouch down, carefully jumping down to the ground. When my feet touch the ground a hand wraps around my bicep and I look at Rhys who looks livid. I raise an eyebrow and pull my arm away or try to.

"What the hell were you thinking?" He yells over the music.

"It doesn't matter to you," I yell back and pull my arm away successfully this time. "At least it shouldn't."

I start to walk away in order to catch up to the girls. "Do you know what guys were saying about you? They wanted you to strip."

Walking outside I notice Taylor and the guy staring down at Blair who's laying on the grass. I exhale and start towards them while ignoring Rhys' prescene beside me. Until he once again latches onto me, I stop and shove his chest in an attempt to get him away from me.

"What is your problem!" I screech, not caring that this would be causing a scene.

"You bloody know what my problem is," I notice the slight slur tinging his words but not enough that it's difficult to understand. He's been drinking. His eyes are glazed over from the alcohol he's taken. "I don't want them ogling you like that."

"They weren't! I was only dancing for Blair's sake," I pull my arm back, looking at the skin where he was holding me. There's white finger prints from where he was holding which makes me frown. "Look. You have no right to even say that to me. I have no meaning to you-"

He cuts me off with a laugh. "We both know that's a load of bullshit."

I stare at Rhys for a moment to think of something to say. Does that mean I do have meaning to him? I don't necessarily know what meaning it is, but it's something. It could just be hatred for all I know.

"You're the one who said it," I mumble, crossing my arms over my chest. "If that's not the case then you're going to have to say sorry because it was extremely rude."

"You want me to apologize?" He scoffs, shaking his head. "I don't think I should have to over something minor."

"You said you didn't care about me," I bite my lip and take a step backwards. "When I was starting to think 'oh maybe he could be a friend of mine' but clearly not."

"I'm not going to be a good friend for you," He states while licking his lips. "I'm toxic to those around me. I don't mind if you're friends with Nate but from now on I think we should stay away-"

The sound of sirens cuts him off and I spin around, remembering the neighbor next door. I look over my shoulder to see the neighbor grinning and shortly after people begin to scream, fleeing from the house quickly.

"Kira!" Taylor calls from her car up the road.

I look back to Rhys seeing his eyes widen. "Who's here with you tonight? How are you getting home?"

"We were going to get a cab but Lachlan- he's completely wasted. . ." He rushes back inside and I bite the inside of my cheek.

"Kira we need to go!"

I get my phone out and call out to her. "Check your phone! I'll be alright."

"Kira!"

She screams when I rush into the house against the teenagers trying to escape from being arrested. I send the text to her and spot Rhys hauling Lachlan to his feet and ushering him out the back door. I follow him, the door clanking shut makes him look over his shoulder.

"What are you doing?"

"Making sure neither of you get arrested," I rush ahead to open the back gate that leads to an alley way. "Come on. We need to be quick before we get caught."

"Where are we going?" Lachlan asks and I point to the end of the alley while walking quickly.

Rhys supports his best friend's weight considering every second step he almost crashes into the ground. "Down the drain. It's not ideal but my friend is going to meet us there."

"How do you know that?" Rhys asks and I shrug.

"Because I used to live on that street on the corner of it. There's a field that my family and I would have picnics on," I suck my lips in and try not to let the nostalgia kick in. "There's also an antenna across the road with a few of the city. It's quite gorgeous at night."

"Then why did you move?" Lachlan asks with a slight laugh. "It sounds pretty good apart from the drain part."

"That doesn't matter," I hold my arm out when I see the flash of lights that go past. Quickly they stop walking and I stick my head out cursing under my breathe when the car comes to a stop. "They stopped."

Rhys puts Lachlan against the fence, using the mesh fencing to hold himself up. "How are we going to get past?"

"They're probably blocking off the road," Rhys explains with an exhale. He's seemed to sober up a bit more from before but I can still smell the alcohol on him, maybe it's Lachlan but one smells like a brewery. "Is there any other way we can get to the drain?"

"You can run if you're quick enough," I mumble. "There's runs that help you get up or down, you can hide underneath the bridge. But the problem is Lachlan."

Rhys glances to his friend and seems to be debating. "He can run if he has to. Just getting down the drain will be the problem. Is there much water?"

"No. It's only a small stream."

"Good," He turns back to Lachlan. "Okay. You're going to need to run along the fence for the drain and wait until one of us gets down their before you move."

"Sort of like a spy?"

Rhys nods and tries not to laugh at his friend. "Yeah but if you don't go quick enough then you'll get arrested so move it."

I stick my head out again and make a hand gesture to go when the policeman turns around with a torch in his hand. Lachlan moves quicker than I thought possible - even with the slight sway in his step - he moves pretty quickly to the drain.

"How did he?" I question, he jumps and slides down as if that didn't just rip his skin to shreds. "He's going to feel that in the morning."

"He used to be an athlete. A good one at that," Rhys' lips twitch in amusement. "Are you ready?"

"You're going next," I state, he goes to protest but I explain further. "I haven't got alcohol in my system and if you get caught by them I can cause a diversion. Who do you think he will chase a drunk teen or a girl who potentially is being stalked by a drunken male?"

Rhys stares at me for a moment. "Smart girl. I didn't even think of that."

"That would be the alcohol in your brain," I tap his forehead with my fist lightly. "Go. Be careful and if I scream don't stop."

His eyes do a once over before he takes a step back. "I'm sorry. . ."

Instead of replying I check once again and give the signal for Rhys to go. He does so and it takes all of my will power to keep my eyes on the police officer. I glance back seeing Rhys crouch down and begin to slide down the wall.

Without a second of hesitation I start towards the drain. I almost trip over the grass that lashes against my legs, instantly making them itch. When I reach it I sit down, carefully sliding down so I don't do too much damage to my hands.

I reach the bottom only to be yanked to my feet by Rhys. "Go with it."

Before I can question it his arms slip around my waist. He pushes his body against mine and I almost fall back onto the wall. When his head ducks down and he grabs the hand supporting my body weight, pulling it to his waist I notice the sudden light on us.

"Excuse me. What are you two doing?" I inhale sharply, swallowing the lump in my throat. "Kira what are-"

"Kyle?" My eyes widen as I push Rhys off of me slightly. "Hi um, this. . ."

"You weren't at the party down the road were you?" I shake my head, swallowing the lump. "Neither of you have been drinking?"

"I was showing Rhys where I used to live and I heard the sirens..."

Kyle crouches down, torch shinning down at his feet rather than on us. "Your father didn't mention that you had a boyfriend. He was actually saying you were having some issues at school, I hope you're looking after her. She's like a little sister to me."

"He isn't my boyfriend just a friend."

Kyle's eyes flicker between us and he chuckles with a nod. "Right. I won't tell your father, just get home safely. Nice to meet you Rhys."

I wave slightly and watch as he leaves, slouching into Rhys at almost having a heart attack. That was close. It was pure luck that it happened to be Kyle. He's only twenty-six and considering he used to be the troubled boy we lived next door to, I remember how he would often seek advice from my father.

Especially over his parents divorce and the legal rights his mother had when his father basically took everything. He almost threw away his future in law enforcement when he planned on vandalizing his father's exquisite new home that he bought from their divorce.

"Family friend?" I nod, moving away from Rhys and running a hand through my hair. "What's wrong?"

That was the first time I've seen Kyle since my mother's death.

"It doesn't matter," My phone buzzes and I pull it out to read the text. "Let's go. Taylor's here."

This was one of my favorite chapters to write. It's later than usual - mainly because I didn't get home until a while ago. I had a parent night for my HSC drama performance where I feel like I did the first run through perfectly. Yay for me not failing Drama (1/5 subjects)

Question: what time is it? favorite chapter so far?

Thoughts? Feelings? Predictions?

-inspiredrlh 💕