TRACK #11 MUSIC:

🎵 "Faded" - soulDecision

🎵 "Kashmir" - Led Zeppelin

🎵 "The Real Slim Shady" - Eminem

🎵 "Country Grammar" - Nelly

🎵 "Who Let the Dogs Out" - Baha Men

🎵 "All I Have to Give" - Backstreet Boys

🎵 "Clint Eastwood" - The Gorillaz

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TRACK #11 - FALL

"Faded" - soulDecision

All week the halls were electric with murmurs of Homecoming sparking down the corridor. The excitement was thick in the air as everyone buzzed about the game Friday night against our division rivals, Northside High, and the dance Saturday.

Unfortunately, the Bears ended up losing their game against Northside, 24-21. Brock took it really hard, and wouldn't even return my calls or messages. I was worried that he wouldn't even want to come to the dance. Which would be problematic, considering he was on the Homecoming Court. Also, and more importantly, because he was my date.

The thought lingered in the back of my mind as Emma and I met at the salon on Saturday in the early afternoon. The dance was at 6:00, but by the time we were done getting ready and taking pictures, it would be time to go. In addition to our hair and nails, my mom had thrown in makeup, too.

"You said that Brock was meeting us at your house for pictures?" Emma asked, holding her hands out to be tended. Brock indeed had agreed to join our friend group if I agreed to attend my first ever L.J. party with him after the dance. It seemed like a fair tradeoff, especially since I knew Emma would be at the party with Adrian. Afterwards, I was going to spend the night at Emma's. That was the plan, anyway. But now...

"I'm not sure," I admitted quietly with a small sigh. "I guess he's still pretty upset about the game because I haven't heard from him." A pang of anxiety hit my chest while I considered it all. Was that normal behavior? Did guys really get that upset about a football game? He wouldn't really stand me up on Homecoming, would he? Emma must have been able to tell I was mulling it over, so she gave me space, which I appreciated.

With Emma's nails painted silver and mine a very dark purple, we discussed what kind of makeup we each were going to wear while the stylists curled and pinned our hair. Emma had told me that I should do a smokey eye to go along with the whole "dark, sexy vibe" I was aiming for. I wasn't one-hundred percent sure what that was, but I figured I'd mention it when it was time.

Painted, primped, and polished, we headed to my house to finish getting ready. The friend group was going to meet there, and then we were all driving to the dance together in a conga line of cars. I could hear them beginning to arrive as I waited for Emma to get changed. I kept eyeballing my phone, hoping that it would ring, while my stomach did flips again. There was still no word from Brock.

My mood brightened when Emma stepped out of the bathroom in her dress, twisting herself around for me to help zip her up. The sparkly dress paired with her long, thick curls and silver earrings was a stunning look for her. "You're about to give Adrian a heart attack," I giggled, zipping her dress up the back. And Elijah too, I added to myself with a sly smile.

I stepped into the bathroom next to change into my dress. I slipped it on, hoping it would boost my confidence and calm my nerves about my still missing date. I leaned closer to the mirror and checked my makeup. It was darker than what I usually wore, but I liked the look. It was as if I could pretend I was someone else for the night, someone more badass than myself. Like my inner divas. As I turned and inspected myself to make sure everything was in place, Brock's little black box caught my attention. I had moved it into my bathroom just this morning so I would know exactly where it was. I opened it up excitedly and put the earrings on, silently hoping he'd actually get to see them. Glancing back up, I let out a soft sigh. They were perfect. After nodding my head once more at my reflection, I came out of the bathroom to Emma clapping her hands for me.

"You look like a rock 'n roll goddess," she laughed at her own description. I couldn't help but join her. "That dress. Wait. You are going to be the hottest girl there. And those earrings! Glad you found the perfect pair."

"Thanks," I smiled warmly as I wrapped my dark purple cardigan over myself before sliding on my black heeled booties. "Does the cardigan make it look like my parents won't lose it?" I asked with a sly smirk. I had been able to placate them with a vague description. Emma nodded excitedly, grabbing her silver clutch. I grabbed my own dark purple one and followed her to the top of the staircase. A group of people were chatting at the bottom. They all looked up at us while we walked down the stairs. Someone whistled loudly, but I couldn't tell who it was. I was too busy being impressed by Emma's ability to walk in thin heels.

Adrian greeted her at the bottom of the staircase with an extension of his arm, complete devotion written all over his face. She snuggled warmly into his side and kissed his cheek before he escorted her towards the door. Parents and friends gathered in the small foyer before beginning to file out.

Recognizing that I wasn't as skilled as Emma, Noah squeezed his way through the crowd to offer me his arm. I paused for a moment, taking in his appearance. His hair was pulled into a slick ponytail, and he wore a navy blue shirt with a yellow tie and khaki pants. The color of the tie brought out the slight glow of his skin and the bright hazel color of his eyes. He smiled warmly, radiating the kind of sincerity I could feel in my soul. "You look... beautiful," he offered with a sheepish grin while we walked towards the door together.

My eyes locked onto his after the compliment. For a moment, the rest of the world fell into the background, and all I could see was him. We stood at the front door together, simply staring at each other as we tried to read each other's thoughts. The sound of a camera snapping with a simultaneous flash brought us both back to reality, and I had to clear my suddenly dry throat.

"Thank you," I managed to say, remembering my manners a bit late. His answering smile was all it took for my body to come alive. It felt like I was on pins and needles. Without thinking, I firmed up my grip on Noah's arm, and my nerves instantly steadied.

I let go of Noah only when my mom reached out to hug me goodbye. Surprisingly, my parents didn't have a single negative comment about my dress. I took that as a win as we all headed outside for pictures. Brock was still nowhere in sight, but with Noah next to me, I was able to force a few smiles for the cameras.

The day had passed in a blur, but I was able to take a breath once Adrian, Emma, and I sat down in the back seat of Elijah's car. Noah slid himself in the passenger's seat after closing my door for me. Elijah had been fairly quiet, but I noticed him looking in his rearview mirror at Emma more than once. Each time, I held my breath hoping Adrian wouldn't catch on. Noah blasted the classic rock station as we drove to our school, where the dance would be held in the gymnasium. The steady thump of Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir" filled the car.

When we arrived, I immediately shed my cardigan and left it in the backseat. I felt a strange sense of freedom as I got out of the car and felt the autumn breeze on my bare skin. I could feel Noah's eyes on me, stealthily running the length of my body while we waited for Adrian, Emma, and Elijah to walk to our side. His gaze made me feel surprisingly confident instead of uncomfortable, and I straightened my shoulders.

The line to enter the dance looped around the school. The sun was setting as we waited to get in, chatting with everyone in the group. Kody had decided to drive himself and caught up with us in line. "The party has arrived!" he yelled, giving Emma and I both a good look up and down. He made us both twirl for him, squealing in delight at the display. "Stunning," he slapped his hands together in one singular clap.

"You look great," I smiled at Kody's undeniably unique ensemble. Fitted black pants lay perfectly tailored atop shiny, pointed-toe shoes. A white button-down shirt was tucked inside a vibrant royal blue formal coat covered with thin outlines of white flowers. A navy blue tie and matching carnation pinned at his breast finished the look. It was different from all of the other guys at Homecoming, but it was perfectly Kody Jackson.

"Oh, you know, this was just a little something I whipped up..." Kody brushed a few sleek curls across his forehead dramatically, and we all laughed.

"You made that?" I was astonished. Kody had always been an excellent dresser, but I had no idea that he also made his clothing as well.

"As egotistical as Kody can be, he often leaves out that he designs and makes most of his own clothing," Emma hip-bumped Kody, who was now blushing. "And that he is an exceptional shopping buddy."

"Yeah, yeah," Kody brushed her off while we finally made our way through the sluggish line and into the gym. "Where's loverboy?" Kody leaned over to me while both of our eyes trailed the space of the gymnasium. I shrugged nonchalantly, but I continued to search. The overhead lights were dimmed and the only illumination came from the twinkling strands that were strung from end to end. The DJ was blaring "The Real Slim Shady" by Eminem, and neon colors danced upon the walls, pouring from a large disco ball hung from the ceiling in the center of the gym. Emma grabbed my hand and began leading me to the dance floor, flailing her free arm and singing along with the lyrics. Did she really expect me to dance?

"Ooooh, no. I agreed to come, not to dance!" I shouted over the loud music. Kody was right behind us, adding his own ridiculous moves and encouraging me to keep walking. We found a spot near a group of Emma's color guard friends. Adrian, Elijah, and Noah disappeared in the crowd. I gave in and let my body swing side to side, unsure of my own movements. I tried to mimic Emma, who moved naturally to the beat, looking effortlessly graceful.

The crowd erupted when "Country Grammar" by Nelly started, and I took that as the perfect opportunity to excuse myself for a beverage. "I'll be back!" I yelled over the music. "Thirsty!" I motioned to Emma and Kody, but they were in their own world. Perfect. I slipped to the back of the gym to where large jugs of water and gatorade were set up with paper cups. I took one and got in line before Noah appeared beside me.

"Having fun?" he asked, holding his own cup. Small beads of sweat gathered on his forehead, so I assumed he had been dancing, too.

"I guess. This isn't usually my type of music. I'm not really sure how to dance to it!"

"You just have to let go and have fun. No one expects anyone to have decent moves at these things." He took my cup and filled it for me when we got to the front. I couldn't help but think about how many of these little actions made me feel like Noah was my real date. The feeling that I was pining after the wrong guy sat in the pit of my stomach.

"Thanks," I said after I snapped myself out of the thought. "Who Let The Dogs Out" by Baha Men began to play. Noah started to bob around and bark along with the song, making me laugh harder with each attempt. I could not help but to tease him when he broke out into The Robot, but I had to admit his methods were working; I felt myself starting to loosen up and, dare I say it, have some fun. The neon lights overhead suddenly shifted to a soft white glow as the music slowed down and the first few bars of "All I Have to Give" by Backstreet Boys filled the gym.

"Come on," Noah smiled softly, offering his hand. I blinked a few times. His smile widened like he heard my silent question. "I'm going to show you how to dance at one of these things."

I looked up to Noah and slowly slipped my hand into his. He led me to the dance floor and placed his arms around my waist, pulling me a comfortable distance from his body. I wrapped my arms around his neck and we began to sway.

"This song is so cheesy. I'm not sure why they chose it," I laughed, looking up at him and trying to ignore the butterflies dancing in my stomach. He was at least a head taller than me, even with my heels on.

"It's pretty bad, but a lot of people seem to like it." I could feel the rigidity in his shoulders. Even though he was tense, he radiated warmth and safety in his gentle, but firm, grasp. I settled in to rest my head on his shoulder, taking in his scent– fresh soap and fabric softener.

"I'm surprised to see you by yourself. I thought..." Noah began and then seemed to trail off. I raised my head to figure out what caught his attention, then followed his line of sight to see none other than Brock Miller. Wearing all black with a light blue tie and suspenders, Brock entered the dance smiling as if he owned the room. As he moved, people greeted him in waves and high fives, though I could see him scanning the crowd, looking for something. Or maybe someone.

Noah's eyes were on me when I turned back to him, and he visibly wavered before finally deciding to speak. "Looks like that's your cue," he said lowly.

"I should talk to him. I'm sorry," I nodded and gave Noah a small wave before walking away to confront Brock.

"Hey..." I tapped Brock's shoulder as he turned, eyes meeting mine. His tanned skin shone in the dim light, and somehow, he looked even better in formalwear, if that was even possible. His eyes widened, and his mouth parted slightly while he slowly looked me up and down. My body flushed as I felt his eyes undress me. A lump formed in my throat.

"Holy..." He blinked a few times before realizing he had spoken out loud. "Aria, you look so hot." He shot me a dazzling smile, arms enveloping me in a hug before he leaned down to kiss me on the cheek. His breath reeked of vodka and mint, a stark contrast from Noah's homey scent.

My eyes widened when I noticed a fresh bruise on his face haphazardly covered in concealer. "Brock!" My fingertips gently touched his mauled skin. "What hap–"

Brock's face twisted angrily as he gripped my wrist just slightly too tight, growling through gritted teeth. "Drop it," he warned with a glare that twisted my stomach. I yanked my wrist out of his grasp, rubbing the tender spot. "I'm sorry." He seemed to snap out of it once he realized what he had done. "Last night was just a rough game. There were recruiters there, and we lost. I got hurt," he added that last bit pointedly. "It was... a lot. I'm here now, though. Can we just have fun?"

"Yeah... sure..." I said through a haze of uneasiness. Brock took my hand and led me to the brightly lit hallways where the restrooms were located. The unflattering lighting showed how unfortunate everyone looked after a night of heated dancing.

"Just wait right here. I'll be out in a second." Brock didn't even meet my gaze as he spoke over me, letting my hand go to stroll into the restroom. I decided it was probably a good idea to do the same.

The girls' restroom was a crowd of giggles, gossip, and glamor. The mirrors were completely taken, though I managed to squeeze myself into a corner to check my makeup. As I ran my finger below my eye to clear a smudge of mascara, I realized that I was sharing space with none other than Brittany Jenkins.

"Out," she commanded everyone else while she held my gaze in our reflections. The restroom quickly and completely emptied as I stood frozen. She slowly turned to face me, but remained silent as she took in my appearance.

...Was I supposed to say something?

"Did you want to talk to me?" I stammered, carefully turning towards her.

"Those are some really nice earrings you have there. Brock really goes all out, doesn't he?" A wicked grin spread about her crimson painted lips. However, I could see the burning jealousy in her eyes. How did she know Brock bought me these earrings? "You're not special, you know, and if you thought those were real, you can think again."

"I..." I began, but my throat went dry.

"You're just a little plaything to him. A toy," she said as she learned her face towards me. "Something he can use, abuse, and toss aside. And then? Then, I will be there to finally claim him. Just remember I told you so." She turned on her heel to leave me at the sink completely stunned. I took a moment to steady myself before rejoining Brock in the main hallway.

"Geez, you took forever in there," he laughed and smiled a too-bright smile. He had definitely been drinking. Maybe drugs. Maybe both. "That bathroom sure cleared quickly. Did you poop?" he asked coyly before bursting into a fit of laughter that filled every crevice of the hall. My eyes widened. "Oh, come on! Girls poop!" He exclaimed before grabbing my waist and ushering me along.

What was I doing? Why did I so badly want to be with a guy that clearly had no control over his own being? I obviously knew Brock had a hard life, but was this the only way he could deal with it? Couldn't he open up to me instead? I was the girl he was dating. I mean, I thought I was. Come to think of it, what was this exactly that Brock and I had? A horrible unease crept through my bones as the words Brittany said repeated over and over in my mind. I shook my head in an attempt to clear it. I needed to find out where I stood with Brock, and I needed to know now.

"Listen, Brock..." I began just when voices began screaming for him to get back into the gymnasium. Apparently, he was being crowned Homecoming King. As I followed him into the gym to watch his acceptance, I realized then that Brittany had already been crowned queen. A slow song started, and the DJ announced the King and Queen's dance. My stomach dropped painfully seeing Brock's back while he walked transfixed to a crowned Brittany, who was extending her hand for him to take. He took it, then led her out into the middle of the dance floor. Everyone formed a haphazard circle to make space for them as they eased together comfortably. Almost too comfortably.

"Bridgeview's royalty officially gets their crowns," Kody mumbled, sidling up next to me. "And here we are, the peasants gawking and fawning over them." I sighed heavily, not in the mood for his obvious observations. "It's really unfair how sexy the both of them are."

I heard Kody yelp slightly in response to a thump to his chest. Then I felt an arm slide across my shoulder. "You're so much more beautiful than her." Emma gave me a gentle squeeze. Adrian stood next to her, quietly watching the festivities through narrowed eyes. "Are you sure you still want to go to the party? We can just go back to my house if you would rather skip it." Emma met my gaze to gauge my reaction.

"I don't care what Brock says. I have no problems about taking you directly home," Adrian added reassuringly. We had become closer over the weeks, especially since we got to hang out more in math. I saw him as more than just Emma's boyfriend, but my own friend as well; and tonight, I was extra grateful for him.

I nodded, trying to seem confident. If I wanted any hope of a future with Brock, I had to talk with him and find out where I stood. It wasn't hard to convince myself this was the right decision as I watched Brock laugh a little too enthusiastically next to a grinning Brittany. Jealousy clenched my throat. Finally, the song ended, and I felt like I could breathe again. Everyone clapped politely, and the dancing started once again. Brock was preoccupied with congratulations and photos, so I followed Kody, Emma, and Adrian outside to wait for him.

The wind nipped at my face, and I shivered as Noah and Elijah joined our little group. Wordlessly, Noah grabbed Elijah's keys from him and walked off without so much as a goodbye. I swallowed my guilt.

"Are you certain you do not need a ride?" Elijah met Adrian's gaze before he returned it with a reassuring nod.

"Yeah. Dad was able to get my car out of the shop in time so that I could, uh, 'take Emma to dinner' after the dance. He obviously doesn't know we're headed to L.J.'s. You guys want to come?" Adrian offered nonchalantly.

Elijah shook his head. "We must politely decline, thank you." A moment later, Noah reappeared beside him with a heap of fabric in his hand.

"Here." He held it out to me, and only then did I realize he had gone to retrieve my cardigan for me. My heart sank.

"Oh, thank you..." I trailed off, though I was thoroughly grateful for the gesture. I slipped the cardigan around my shoulders just as Brock and a group of his friends filed out of the school.

"And that's our cue," Noah quipped before he grabbed Kody's shoulder and turned them both to leave.

"I expect you to call me tomorrow and tell me every. single. detail, Aria!" Kody yelled back to us. I brushed him off with an amused smile.

Elijah hugged Adrian and then leaned into Emma to do the same. "Be safe," he whispered low enough to escape Adrian's ears, but it didn't escape mine. She turned her face to hide her warmed cheeks. He waved politely to me before following Noah into the dark night.

"Look at this beautiful girl." Brock wrapped his arms around me, burying his face in my neck. I shuddered at the feeling of his warm breath on my skin. There was something about having his attention that made me feel invincible. Even Brittany Jenkins' cold stare as she passed with her crew couldn't break the feeling. I offered him my congratulations on his new title, which he brushed off with a conceited response.

"Are we ready, then?" Adrian questioned while Emma, Brock, and I followed him to his car. I said a silent prayer of gratitude that Brock didn't drive himself to the dance; not only because of the current state he was in, but also because I still had the excuse to stay with Adrian and Emma.

"Your first L.J. party! Are you excited?" Brock eagerly asked as we rode in the backseat of Adrian's car. The loud music muffled our conversation.

It took effort to swallow the lump that was lodged in my throat. "Yeah, sure..." It was obvious I was lying.

"Aria, we talked about this," Brock began kindly, slipping his hand reassuringly in mine. "You don't have to drink to come out. I will take care of you." He sounded sincere, but I felt my stomach twist uncomfortably at the idea. It's not just that I didn't want to drink, but I didn't want to see him drink either. I heard enough stories about his friends to know what went on at their parties. "I know my friends are a lot to take in, but if we're going to do this, you'll have to warm up to the idea eventually, right?"

We? As in boyfriend and girlfriend, we?

Did he just give me the answer to the question that has been burning in my mind? My face must have betrayed me because his eyes danced with entertainment.

The car came to a stop in front of a HUGE house. I could hear "Clint Eastwood" by the Gorillaz blaring from the windows of the mansion. This was definitely not any scene that I was used to. I picked at the hem of my dress and bit my bottom lip.

"C'mon!" Brock shouted excitedly. He quickly grabbed my wrist and practically dragged me out of the car. I thought about which diva I should bring out at the party while we walked up the long concrete driveway. I would probably need the most confident, not-here-for-YOUR-drama diva I could muster. Christina? Maybe Aretha. I could command a room, couldn't I?

The house itself looked like something out of a magazine– a stately colonial that sat high on top of a hill with perfectly manicured landscaping. I gulped audibly.

Brock weaved his fingers with mine. "I know! This house is crazy!" he beamed. "His basement is like a real bar with flat screen TVs, pool tables, arcade games, and huge couches. He's got an indoor and outdoor pool, sauna, hot tub, a guest house... you name it, it's probably there. There are so many rooms I can't even count them, and his dad is never home. Even when his mom is, she still lets him do this. She says it's good for him to be surrounded by such good-looking and popular people. He basically runs the place."

"That sounds a little lonely," I commented as we walked up the stairs to the front door. Emma and Adrian trailed slightly behind us. "Must be why he throws so many parties."

Brock laughed, "Probably." I shook nervously before Brock stared down at me. "You look beautiful, Aria. I cannot wait to show you off in there." I looked over at him, and his eyes sparkled with a mischief that I couldn't quite place. Knowing I wasn't going to be able to muster much of a response, he guided me inside.

When I crossed the threshold, the high ceilings and marble staircase immediately caught my attention. The place oozed extravagance, and I couldn't believe someone who went to our high school had this kind of home.

"ADRIAN! EMMA!" I heard someone shout.

I turned to locate the source when Brock pulled me aside. "All the important people are probably all in the basement," he informed me and quickly led me to another door, which, when opened, let out the source of the loud music mixed with laughter and cheers.

We walked downstairs to see high schoolers everywhere, Solo cups in hands. Many of the girls had traded Homecoming dresses for bikini tops and short shorts while the guys walked around in swimsuits topless. Some of the kids were playing video games on the large TVs while others danced on a makeshift dance floor near the bar. I was fairly certain I had seen things like this in movies before, but never in person.

I took a seat on one of the couches to kind of ease myself into my very new and very unfamiliar surroundings.

"Be right back," Brock blurted and then disappeared. Sighing, I turned to say something to Emma when I realized neither she nor Adrian were with us anymore. We must have lost them somewhere in the crowd. Crap. Okay, Aria. Don't panic; just breathe. Brock said he would be right back.

I was pretty sure an hour passed when Brock finally flopped onto the seat next to me. Even drunk he managed to maintain his effortless ability to look cool. "Hey." He wore a lopsided grin while he looked down at me. I could smell fresh alcohol on his breath, and I was trying very hard to hold back my anger.

"Hi," I responded a little too quickly. I hated to admit it, especially since I was supposed to be mad at him, but I was feeling more at ease now that he was beside me. Overall, I still felt completely out of place. Especially since Brittany, the queen bee herself, was staring at me with a level of evil that even the devil would admire.

"Sorry about that. I got held up by some of the guys," he supplied as an excuse and then overdramatically pressed his lips to my cheek. He held it there until my anger wavered, then sat back. "Look, I know this isn't your scene, but I have a secret stashed in my pocket that could fix everything."

"That is one cheesy pick-up line," I replied, bemused. He chuckled at my response. "If it saves me from Brittany's constant death glare, then by all means, show it to me."

With a dramatic flair, Brock reached into his pocket and slowly pulled out a key. My face hardened, but his smile was soft. "At ease," he laughed. "It's not what you think. I might spend a lot of time here." That earned a stern look from me. "I know, I know. But, it comes with advantages. Like this." He gestured to the key. "Mandy– Mrs. O'Brien– gives me free rein to use their guest house, so I don't drink and drive. I stocked it with a whole bunch of good snacks. Why don't we just watch a movie over there, and we can talk? I'm sure Emma and Adrian will find a way to entertain themselves while we're away."

I chewed my bottom lip for a moment. He was watching me think it over, a sad puppy dog look on his face. Any excuse to have some alone time with him was good enough reason for me. Plus, it would give him time to sober up. I nodded my head.

His face lit up. "Awesome!" Brock jumped to his feet, then extended his hand out for mine. "Ready?" he asked sweetly.

"Sure." I smiled warmly and took his hand. He pulled me up a little bit too hard, and we bonked our heads together. He had to force himself to stop laughing when my cheeks tinted pink.

As we headed to the guest house, Brock kept a light conversation going. Mostly about what his plans were for when college started next fall. I nodded while I listened to him excitedly talk about finally getting out of this town and away from his dad. Yes, he thought it would be amazing to play in front of a jammed-pack college stadium. No, he didn't think he would start his first year. But yes, he would have to be ready at all times, just in case. More importantly, he talked about how certain he was that our budding relationship would survive anything the future held. That part was my favorite.

When he unlocked the door, he held it open for me. I had to admit it was beautiful inside. It mimicked an elegant studio apartment, with a full kitchenette, dining area, and a small living room that sat directly in front of the king-sized bed tucked in the far left side. To the right of the bed was a closet and full bathroom. Just as Brock promised, on the dining table sat a couple of large bags of chips, boxes of various candy, and different types of chocolate bars.

"Shouldn't the snacks have been set out for everyone in the main house?" I mocked him before I started picking through the goods. "How many people did you plan on feeding?"

"You remember seeing me eat, right?" he chuckled. "I have those little ice creams in the freezer too."

That piqued my interest. "What kind?" I asked as I walked over to it.

"That cookie dough one. It's your favorite, right?" He walked up behind me with two Solo cups in hand.

"Um, yes," I acknowledged. I opened the fridge and noticed there was also Diet Coke in there. He remembered my favorite ice cream flavor and my favorite soda. Those were two things a diligent boyfriend would know. Warmth spread across my cheeks at the thought. My boyfriend.

"Allow me." He smiled as he took the two-liter bottle out. "Oops, forgot the ice," he added as he opened the freezer door and removed an ice tray. He twisted the tray, and the ice popped from their holding with a satisfying crack.

I grabbed the ice cream and headed over to the couch to sit down. Brock sat down next to me and handed me my drink and a spoon.

"Thank you," I said while I set the ice cream on the coffee table in front of me before deciding to take a long chug of my drink. I hadn't realized I was as thirsty as I was. "Mmm, is that cherry?" I noticed a strong hint of grenadine in my drink when I took another sip.

"Yeah, I saw maraschino cherries while I was at the store and thought it might taste good." He jabbed his thumb over towards the jar that sat on the counter. "Like it?" he asked.

"It's delicious," I took another sip. His smile brightened. Soon, the drink was gone.

"Geez, you were thirsty," he laughed.

"I've kind of avoided drinks all night," I admitted sheepishly. He nodded once, but didn't comment.

"You can have mine, and I'll go make another one," he offered me his cup. I shrugged and took it, downing it quickly. The cherry was just so smooth.

Brock roared before taking both of our empty cups back over to where the Diet Coke and cherries were. "Crap," he said after a moment. "I almost forgot about the paper plates. Mandy obviously doesn't care if I eat in here, but she asks that I make as little of a mess as possible. Do you mind picking out a movie while I go get them?" He walked over to the bedside table closest to him and tossed the remote at me.

"Sure," I managed to squeak out as I caught it.

"Be back in a few." He smiled at me, then shut the door behind him.

I sat channel surfing for a few moments before realizing the picture on the TV was blurring. Odd. What was wrong with this stupid thing? I flipped to another channel, thinking it was just bad reception, when I noticed I couldn't make out the next one either. Like any TV savvy person, I hit the remote a few times to see if that would adjust it. It did not. Huh. Maybe I was tired? Squinting my eyes, I tried to focus on the picture, but then everything else in the room started to blur as well.

I turned my head and was barely able to register that there was a stack of paper plates sitting on the kitchen counter. I felt my stomach turn before my muscles began to relax. I started nodding off, my eyes gently closing while I tried to fight off sleep. Finally, I could hold back no longer, and I let myself drift away as the world turned black.

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