Teegan

Bad decisions were made.

   At the time, it all felt really good and fun. After the fireworks show, Riss handed me another full cup of beer and once that was gone, we ran down into the water. Riss and Sage and the guys were in bathing suits, but I was just in my clothes. We squealed and laughed and then suddenly this guy I hadn't seen before was there, joining in the fun. God, he was hot. Like the type of guy that played the main character in a teen romance movie. Dark hair, styled perfectly, and a smile that could make any girl swoon. And he was giving me attention.

   Back on the deck, he wrapped a warm towel around my shoulders and told me his name was Raff. I laughed and told him that was a silly name. He must have known I was drunk by how I was acting, but he got me another beer anyway. After that, I didn't see Riss or Sage or anyone else that I knew, again. I found my phone on the deck and when I was almost dry again, I saw that it was after midnight. I read a text from my mom that said she hoped I was having fun, but I didn't reply. Head spinning, I realized how drunk I was and that I needed to get home.

   I was only about ten feet down the sand when Raff was there, grabbing my hand.

   "Hey, woah, you can't walk home by yourself," he said, his sweet, crooning voice filling my ears.

   "I can and I will," I told him, but he reached for my hand and held it.

   "Come back to the party. I'll make sure you're safe tonight," he went on, and I considered it.

   "I have to go home," I said, then stumbled and almost fell.

   "Let me walk you, then," he suggested and I nodded, trusting that he meant that he'd just walk me home.

   A minute or two later - pretty much when we were far enough away from the party - he grabbed my hips and pulled me close to him. I squealed and not in a good way, trying to get away. His mouth went to my neck and he kissed me, keeping me against his body.

   "I can make you feel good," he mumbled into my ear.

   I was drunk and weak - and he knew that - but I pulled away and shook my head, trying to put one food in front of the other. It was a bad idea, being this far from the party with him. But I knew I just had to keep walking and get home.

   Then I heard a voice. I don't know why or how, but Cohen was there, walking towards us. My knight in cargo shorts and a blue tank top.

*

Now, I feel embarrassed and pathetic and I'm still drunk but that fight sobered me up pretty quickly. When Cohen was laying there, helpless, as Raff hit him over and over in the face, it was like I was watching it on TV. I couldn't react, or yell, or move.

   "Are you okay?" he asks me, as I walk up beside him after his friend - I don't even know his name - came to collect me from where I was sitting in the sand.

   "Am I okay?" I ask back, narrowing my eyes at him. "I'm... fine. You're the one who... oh my god, your face."

   His friend lets out a laugh but then covers his mouth. Cohen playfully shoves his shoulder.

   "It's pretty bad, Co. Your eye is-"

   "I know. I'll get some ice on it when I'm home," he snaps, then looks at me again.

   We are about five minutes from my house and even though this guy got the shit kicked out of him because of me, he's still trying to smile at me. I sort of wish time would slow down, which is insane. Fifteen minutes ago I was trying to get away from Raff and get home. That happened fast.

   "Why was Raff pounding your face in?" Cohen's friend wants to know. He's looking at Cohen but then he glances at me. "Oh, shit, I'm Rex. Sorry."

   "Rex?" I blurt out, then cover my mouth. I shouldn't have said it like that.

   Cohen chuckles and Rex nods at me. "Well, my real name is Peter Rexton. This asshole gave me the nickname Rex when we were in freshman year. Only my parents call me Peter now."

   "Oh. Cool." I bite my bottom lip and keep walking.

   I'm cursing myself for not going over to them when I saw them on the deck. If I'd just walked over and said hi, the whole night would have been different. I'm feeling a lot more sober now and the actual events are hitting me hard. I drank too much. I stood with Rissa and her friends, watching the fireworks and then I went into the ocean, in my clothes. At that point it still felt fun.

   "So, care to fill me in?" Rex goes on, eyes wide.

   I look at Cohen to see if he's going to answer. I don't know what he'll say, which freaks me out even more. His perspective might be different from mine, but if it's the same, that's not good. I don't want him to know the truth.

   "I was walking back to... find you..." Cohen says to Rex, his voice sort of mumbles. "I ran into Raff and Teegan. They were..." He lets his voice trail off, not looking at me or Rex or anything.

   I take that as my chance. "Raff was walking me home. Cohen said he could do it, since his house is back the same way. Raff got offended and shoved Cohen to the ground."

   Rex looks at his friend and I know he can tell that's not the whole story. Cohen punched Raff  because he said something about him leaving and his girlfriend being hurt. But it's not my place to go into those details, just like I won't willingly tell Rex and Cohen that Raff was trying to make moves on me.

   Suddenly Cohen snaps his head towards me, his eyes burning into my soul. It's this quiet connection, as if we know we are both keeping secrets. "Raff's an asshole. He was being pushy about taking her home... it rubbed me the wrong way."

   Rex nods and looks between us again. "Well, at least I have walking buddies now."

   "Walking buddies? Really, dude?" Cohen says and then laughs.

   We are on the beach in front of the back deck of my mom's house a few minutes later. I am suddenly feeling pretty darn clear headed, but I know I need some water and to lay down. I'm still drunk. When I look over at the guys, they are exchanges a look that I don't understand.

   "Thanks, really. You didn't need to-" I start, but Cohen sighs loud enough to stop me.

   "I did, believe me." He winces and I can see his eye is really swelling now.

   "I can get you some ice," I say, pointing up to the house.

   "I'll make sure he gets ice on his face as soon as we get to his house," Rex answers quickly. "Goodnight, Teegan."

   I have no idea why Rex is suddenly rushing them away from me, but I nod and lift a hand to wave. Cohen looks up and our eyes meet again, but he doesn't say anything else before they turn and start walking between the house and the neighbors. I want to call out and tell Cohen thank you again. I want to ask him when I can see him again. But I don't, because they are already out of sight.

   I go in the back door as quiet as a mouse and make sure the door clicks closed silently behind me. I double check the floor for toys that might trip me, but there's none. After pouring a tall glass of water from the cooler in the fridge, I take a deep breath and head up to my bedroom.

   What the hell did I get myself into?

*

   Babe! How was your fourth of July?! I literally got to go to a party with Casey and some other people from the office. I didn't drink because it was an event put on by my boss but I got to talk to Casey!

   My head is pounding like someone is drilling into my skull when I open my eyes and reach for my phone. I open the new text from Kiara and read it, but words don't really make sense. I look over and see that I barely drank half of the water before I crashed, which explains the headache. If there's one thing I know, it's drink a full glass of water before going to bed after drinking. I re-read the text, smiling.

   I am happy for Kiara and her grown-up summer she's having. Casey is a year older than us and an intern at the company, which is what she'll be in September, part time. I know she's crushing on him hard, so I'm hoping it works out.

   I'm not sure at all what to tell her about last night. I've never kept anything from her, but it all seems very childish now as, I think back. I got too drunk and two guys fought over me, after the first guy tried to push himself on me. Nope, not telling her that.

   Yay! You should ask him out. My night was okay. After the family festivities I just went to this party with the local kids and had a few beers, I send back.

   It feels all sorts of wrong leaving out anything to do with Cohen, but I'll tell her eventually. I'll tell her once I know if there's anything to tell.

   I stay in bed for two more hours, mostly passing time staring at Instagram, hoping my headache subsides. I see some photos from the party but thankfully I'm not in any. There's a far away shot of us in the water, but no one would know it was me. Thankfully. I still have to figure out what I'm going to tell my mom. What if she hears about the fight?

   I get up and shower and avoid going downstairs for a long time, but when I finally do, the house is quiet and empty. Mom left me a note on the fridge that says she took the kids to Santa Maria to get some groceries and they'll be back this afternoon. I'm sure she knows I'm home and safe because my sandals are at the back door. It's after noon before I look for something to eat, and just as I open the fridge there's a knock on the back door.