It was Saturday night, and I had just gotten off work at The Coffee Cup.

I felt my phone vibrate, and I saw Liam's name across the screen. I haven't talked to him since last night, and I was avoiding any interaction with him. This was the second Snapchat he sent me though, so I decided to open it.

The first one was a selfie of him asking how last night went. The second one was a message asking if I was okay. I typed back quickly saying "Yeah I'm fine."

"You gonna ditch me again tonight?" Jo asked as I sat down at a table.

I looked down at my phone, noticing that Liam already replied. I rolled my eyes at the clinginess, but also smiled at his name.

"Why what's up? I'm not going to that guys house." I said, thinking about the party she invited me to last night.

"No, that was lame as hell." She tossed the rag she had in her hand in a bucket. "We're having a party at my house tonight for Lila's birthday."

"I should probably get my homework done." I thought. "So yes, I'll be there. Text me when you get off, and I'll come over." I got up from the chair taking my latte with me.

I opened up Liam's snap when I got into my car. "Good. Well I'm going to a party tonight if you want to come with."

I took a pic and replied, "Can't. Have to catch up on some homework."

Liam was nice, and I did have fun last night, but after him seeing my mom, it was just too awkward. I also could find a million better things to do than go to some high school sausage party. One of them being Lila's birthday party. Lila was one of Jo's roommates.

When I got home, I touched up my make up to make me not look 12 years old. I also put on semi slutty clothes. They were tight, but not to revealing, so I could cover up my scars on my legs and stomach. I decided on black skinny jeans and a long sleeve green crop top. My jeans were high waisted and the top was long enough so there was only about an inch of my stomach showing. I tried to keep my cuts on the lower part of my stomach, towards my waist. I was so embarrassed to have them, but it seemed like my only form of therapy at times.

I didn't cut often. Just occasionally when my depression was bad. I also had a really bad habit of scratching and pulling at my skin when I was nervous. Often at school.

I sat on instagram for about an hour before receiving a text from Jo to come over. Her house was only about 10 minutes from mine, so I took my time leaving. This meant fixing my make up again and taking a hit off my bowl.

When I walked in to her house, it was already hazy. Jo and her roommates were sitting in a circle on the floor. I walked over to them and sat down. The blunt was passed to me almost immediately.

"You gotta catch up bro. I'm already high as fuck." Jo said with squinty eyes.

"Well you better slow down because I'm gonna be pissed if you pass out." I laughed at her and grabbed the skinny, brown paper. I took a long hit and let my body relax. The fact that weed was still illegal was a joke to me. I know it's not the best for you, but it was far better than the nicotine filled Loon I had, which I guess was also illegal at my age.

Within 10 minutes, I was baked as a cake. A couple of more people came in and joined our circle. Pretty soon loud music was playing, of course not the good kind, and there was a steady flow of people.

"Do you know what's crazy to me." Jo said.

"Shut the fuck up Jo. You're high." I laughed at her.

"No listen. You're like the coolest high schooler I know Charlie. I am a sophomore in college, and I'm getting high with a high schooler, but it's okay cause you're cool." She said.

"You're alright too Jo." I smiled at her and nudged my shoulder to her's, showing my affection. We normally didn't do any friendship stuff. We just partied together, so it actually meant a lot when she gave me the compliment.

"You know how high school you are? You're so high school that you're..." she looked around and then whispered "you're still a virgin."

I rolled my eyes at her. She's literally only had sex with like 3 guys, so I wasn't sure why she had to make a big deal out of it. I guess I just never felt close enough to anyone to let them in to that part of my life.

"No, I'm for real Charlie. Let's find you a hot college boy." She smiled and looked around the house.

Some guy walked up to us with a bottle of captain, almost as if he heard Jo and was waiting for the cue. "You ladies need some shots?"

"Yes please!" Jo yelled and took the bottle from his hand, along with a swig. She handed it to me, and I followed. I wasn't a fan of captain and it burned going down, but I wasn't picky. "Charlie. This guy is cute what about him? What's your name?"

"I'm Joe." He smiled at me holding out his hand.

"No frickin way. That's my name." Jo lightly pushed his arm. "Okay, this is Charlie, and she needs a cute guy."

I wasn't drunk enough to go along with her plan, and I felt my chest tighten from anxiety. "Uhm. I'm actually looking for an ugly guy, and you clearly don't fit the criteria. Sorry." I shrugged. I looked his body up and down and thought maybe if I had a few more shots I would make out with him. Then he would get mad because I wouldn't do anything else.

"Oh, come on. I'll take good care of you Charlie." He smiled and swung an arm around me. The look he gave me sent shivers down my spine. I did not need someone to take care of me.

"Charlie??" I heard someone behind me say, and I turned around.

"What the fuck." I said as my eyes met Liam's.

"Why are you here?" He asked me, but his gaze were on the tower next to me.

"Oh, who's this? I'm Jo." The girl, Jo asked. "Wait you can have Joe, and I can have this guy!"

I ignored how high she was. "Why are you here?"

"It's apparently Lauren's friend from high school's birthday, so she invited me to this party." He said.

"You know Lila? Awe." Jo smiled.

"Is this your boyfriend?" Joe asked. I was getting confused. There were lots of Jo(e)'s.

"No, I just have some classes with him." I told the guy. It wasn't a lie, but I just wanted it to seem like I wasn't in high school still.

"Charlie!" Lauren ran up to us. "I'm so glad you decided to come! Liam really wanted you to."

Liam's eyes widened. "Way to be cool Lauren."

The group of people became silent. Joe awkwardly walked away from us, and Jo seemed to disappear too, leaving us three to ourselves.

"Who was that guy?" Liam asked after eternity.

"Joe I guess." I shrugged. "Let's take some shots. Shall we?"

I walked to the counter and found a bottle of alcohol. If I was gonna see Liam, I needed to have some type of encouragement. Bacardi looked like the best fit. Considering this was a clear liquor, it went down easier, so I took about two shots in one.

"I didn't know you drank." Liam said taking the bottle.

"I didn't know you did either." I watched him carefully take his shot. It was the smallest swig ever, and I was disappointed.

Then Lauren. I wasn't sure what to do, so I turned around and went to find Jo. I didn't make it very far because I found a couch.

About ten minutes later, I saw Lauren and Liam again. They were a few feet away, but close enough, so I could hear them if I tried to listen.

"Lauren she didn't come here for me. She came here with someone else." I heard Liam say. I kind of thought maybe he had a thing for Lauren, but I guess not.

"Don't be a pussy. Talk to her. I'll even sober cab tonight, so you can work up the nerve to." She smiled. I wondered who they were talking about.

"Hey it's that cute girl looking for a not cute guy." Joe sat next to me. "Here I got you a drink."

"Thanks." I took the red cup from his hand and took a sip. It was still captain, but it wasn't as harsh since there was coke mixed in. I looked back over at Lauren and Liam who were no longer standing near me.

"Hello?" The guy asked.

"What sorry?" I turned my head towards the guy again.

"I said where you from?" He yelled over the music.

"Oh. I'm from St. Cloud." I took another large drink.

"Hey, Charlie, can I talk to you for a second?" Lauren appeared again.

I nodded and stood up. Joe stood up with me, which was annoying, so I looked at him and said "Yeah, you're not getting laid tonight with me. Thanks for the drink though."

"Yeah, come find me in twenty minutes." He briefly kissed my lips and walked away. My mouth tingled. The gesture felt weird and out of place.

"He's a fucking creep." Lauren said and I agreed. "Anyway, I'm here to wingman for Liam."

"Okay. I can help." I said and looked around for a girl, like I knew who she was talking about.

"No, Charlie. You're the bird he's trying to catch." She laughed.

I felt my face turn red. Me? That's weird. "Uhm. I'm not gonna hook up with him."

"Girl, that's fine. He just thinks you're cute. And smell nice. I don't know. You should go talk to him."

"No thanks. He's in high school. That's kind of awkward for me."

"Bitch. You're in high school too. He's literally older than you. Stop taking shit from dumb college guys, like Joe, and go talk to Liam."

"No. It's not the age thing. Like we go to school together."

She rolled her eyes and grabbed my arm. We started walking towards... I wasn't really sure actually. I chugged the rest of my drink and maybe set it on a table. I can't remember. I saw Liam's face in front of me, and I gave him a smile.

"Oh hey. It's you again." He said.

I looked around then realized he was talking to me. I let out a huge laugh. Shit, I was drunk.

"Are you gonna tell anyone about this at school?" I asked.

"Charlie, are you okay?" Lauren asked.

"I'm kind of tired. I think I need another shot to wake me up." I reached behind Liam to grab the bottle of Bacardi, but my arms were so heavy.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Lauren asked.

"Right? Moving is so hard." I said. I let my body fall into Liam's and used him as a pillow. Normally, it would have been weird for me, but I just wanted to lay down. His chest felt comfortable and safe.

"Liam, we need to leave right now. I think that one creepy guy roofied her." Lauren said.

"No. Guys, I'm fine." I said, but I couldn't get myself to move off of Liam.

"Joe? Where is he?" Liam asked. "I have some words to say to him."

"Bring her to your truck. I'll take care of it. I'll make sure he gets kicked out." I could hear Lauren, but I couldn't see her.

I don't really remember getting to the truck, I just remember laying my head on Liam's lap in the back seat.

"Liam, when do your parents get back?" Lauren asked. When did she get back? Wait are we moving? I tried to sit up to see, but I couldn't move. My body was so heavy.

"Not until tomorrow. Why?" He asked. I felt his hand on my head. I wanted to grab it and make him play with my hair, but my body was broken.

"Someone needs to watch her. I don't know what that asshole put in her drink." She said.

"She can stay at my place." He said and started brushing his fingers through my hair. Wait, did I ask him to do that? Maybe he just read my mind. "Lauren, would you mind staying over too?"

"Why? You're trying to get with Charlie I thought? Not me?" She asked.

"That's why I need you there. I just don't want her to think I was the one trying to take advantage of her. I think it would be better if there was a girl there." Liam's hand moved from my head, and I was upset. "Shit. Charlie are you okay?"

Wait was I crying? Why was I crying? Was I really crying because he stopped playing with my hair. Maybe it was because my brother was being taken away from me. No, I couldn't think of that right now. It will open a whole can of depression that I could not deal with right now.

"Charlie?" Liam asked again.

"Is kay." I mumbled.

I remember being put in a bed. I began freaking out. Where was I? I felt like I couldn't breathe. I heard someone screaming then realized it was me. "Stop! Don't touch me! Get away from me!"

"Charlie, it's okay. It's me. It's Liam." I heard him, but I couldn't comprehend what he was saying. I felt myself kicking and swinging.

"What the hell happened!" Lauren came in.

"I don't know she just started screaming and kicking. I didn't do anything!" There was panic in his voice, but I still couldn't stop.

"Charlie. You're okay. We're at Liam's house. And you're in his guest bedroom. Okay? Everything is fine." Lauren sat next to me and put her hand on my shoulder.

I began to feel myself calm down. My breathing was heavy, but the world didn't seem so blurry anymore. "Lauren?"

"Yeah. I'm here. And so is Liam. Do you want some water?" She handed me a bottle. I took it from her and opened it. I felt like I couldn't drink enough of it.

"Are you okay Charlie? Did it wear off?" Liam asked. I finally looked at Liam and noticed he was only wearing a pair of pajama pants. I ripped my eyes away from his shirtless body before anything be noticed I was staring.

"I think so." Lauren said, and I turned my attention to her. I needed to focus on something other than Liam's body.

"Damn. I can't believe he did this to her. It's so messed up." Liam shook his head.

"It actually happens a lot. I learned pretty quickly not to accept a drink from anyone." Lauren said, and silence fell over us.