"Don't go." Drayton encircles his strong arm around my midriff, not allowing me an inch of space as I try to slide off the couch. "Stay. Please."

"I have to go," I half-heartedly argue.

Truthfully the feel of his naked body pressed against my back is doing the arguing for him, but if I let him pull me down, I'll never come back up for air.

We'd spent the rest of the night in the den, cuddled on the couch while we watched movies and eventually ate our Turkish dinner. It was cold by the time we got to it. But it still tasted delectable. The chocolate-covered strawberries also got consumed... admittedly they were eaten in a number of creative ways, but that was the plan from the start.

Unsurprisingly, the den couch was comfortable enough to sleep on and I'd personally never felt more relaxed. I don't want to get up but I've had a steady stream of text messages from Spencer ordering that I get my ass up and ready to shop. The last message she sent was to let me know that she'd gone home and I had better meet her there in the next hour or my life would be in grave danger. She really has a theatrical side and I've told her countless times that she should pursue theatre.

"I promised Spencer that we'd go shopping today," I explain, turning over so that Dray and I are front to front.

He's gorgeous in the morning. He's always the picture of masculine perfection but there's something about his sleepy, bed hair, droopy dishevelled look that makes me weak at the knees. His hands rest on my bare lower back as I run the tips of my fingers up and down his arms.

"I'll be back tonight though," I remind him with a smile.

"I don't care about tonight." He digs his fingers into my hips and flips us over so that I'm trapped beneath him. "We'll cancel tonight. All I need is you and a lot of privacy."

"As enticing as that sounds" - I grin up at his devilish smirk - "I think the party is pretty unstoppable at this point. Don't think I didn't notice the seven kegs that are lined up in the kitchen."

"Fine, the party can happen." His hand disappears under the blanket, gently grazing the top of my stomach. "You and I can go somewhere else. Anywhere you want."

"Don't tempt me Lahey." I giggle a little breathlessly as his hand gets lower, still teasing, light and slow. "Enjoy the party tonight. We've got plenty of time to be alone."

As the words leave my lips, a slight frown brings his mouth down and his brows draw together. I suppose he's thinking the same thing that I thought of a little too late. Neither of us is exactly sure how much time we have. We haven't talked about what will happen after graduation or how permanent this is or if we'll do long distance. It's totally up in the air, which I thought I was okay with until I saw the small frown on his flawless face.

"You're right." He quickly masks the previous pout and smiles before he ducks his head and kisses me, a little more desperately than he usually does. "We've got tons of time. Which is why" - he jumps off the couch and scoops me up bridal style - "you're going to shower with me before you go. You'll have to have one anyway, so it might as well be with me."

"Okay but regular showers are ten times quicker than showers with you, Dray," I tell him matter of factly as he jogs up the steps two at a time. "Woah, you're butt naked and I'm hardly decent, are you just gonna walk through the house?!"

"Chill out, no one's home." He pecks my forehead and gestures for me to push the door open. I roll my eyes at his cavalier attitude but push the door open, all the while insisting that I have legs for a reason and I can use them.

Drayton walks us the short distance down the corridor towards the staircase, when wouldn't you know it, Grayson comes strolling out of the kitchen with a mouthful of bread roll.

"Oh my God!" I squeal, thrashing in Drayton's arms, attempting to cover myself up. Grayson immediately spins on his heel and goes back in the direction he came from while Drayton continues to walk up the staircase as though he hadn't even seen Grayson.

"Dray!" I bellow. "Don't you have any shame!"

"Were dudes. We've seen each other naked tons." He shrugs and I want to facepalm just out of principal.

"Well he hasn't seen me naked tons of times," I mock him with a deep voice. "My ass is hanging out!"

"Yeah I am actually sorry about that but there's not much I could do." He shrugs and sets me on my feet once we're in the privacy of his own bathroom. "Do you want me to go and give him a concussion and hope he forgets the last ten minutes of his life?"

His expression is so dead serious that I burst out laughing as I unclip my bra and Drayton turns on the shower. "No thanks babe. I'll just attempt to not feel totally humiliated next time we come face to face."

"Least your tits weren't out." Drayton smirks and pulls on my hand, dragging me into the shower before I've barely finished removing my thigh high stockings. "Those are all mine."

• • •

"Spencer!" I call out, walking through the kitchen door an hour and a half later. "I'm here and ready to shop!"

I make my way through to the living room and find Camilla and Nicolás standing beside the far wall, their sleeves rolled up with a collection of paint pots opened while they examine a number of swatches on the wall.

"Uh hi." I eye them curiously. In all the years that I've been coming to this house, I'd never once seen Camilla change its interior. The old school floral patterned walls and retro carpet have been a constant. The only mild renovation to take place was Spencer's bedroom because she'd had a meltdown when someone insulted her wallpaper at a sleepover.

"Hello Dallas." Camilla smiles kindly and I swear the woman looks ten years younger. Her complexion looks smoother, her eyes are a brighter shade of green and I've never seen her smile so wide in my life.

"Hey Dallas," Nicolás also greets. He's still adorning his usual arrogant air. But I do admit that he appears a little more humble, flashing me a genuine smile.

"What do you think hun?" Camilla asks, tilting her head to the side as she examines the paint swatches. There's three, a maroon colour, a teal and a soft yellow.

"Um definitely not yellow," I tell them honestly, walking towards them as I assess the colours. "Is this a feature wall or will it be the entire room?"

"Feature wall," Nicolás informs me, settling his hands on his hips. "The other walls will be a light cream."

"Hmmm," I lift my hand in front of one of the swatches, closing an eye so I can see it alone, switching between the three swatches. "I like the maroon," I conclude.

"That's what I said too!" Camilla bounces up and down with excitement, gripping onto Nicolás' arm with a joyous expression. He returns an affectionate grin as he wraps an arm around her waist and kisses her temple.

"Okay Cami," he chuckles. "Maroon it is."

"Not to seem blunt," I cross my arms over my chest, "but what's going on?"

"Nicolás is moving in!" Camilla explains as she starts to lid the paint pots. "We decided to do a little redecorating to celebrate. Like a fresh start I suppose."

They both give each other a quick but deep glance. I can physically see the love that they both share. It's amazing that after eighteen years apart, they were able to reconnect so quickly. It makes me believe in the stories, the fairy tales of true love conquering all.

"That's great you guys." I feel a warm smile lifting my lips as Spencer walks into the living area with an overnight bag slung over her shoulder. Her eyes dart between the three of us before she playfully shakes her head in exasperation.

"You guys broke my friend," she announces, strolling over to the front door where she drops the bag. "She's never been sappy and now look at her, blushing like a bride to be."

"Shut up." I roll my eyes and weave around the furniture to join her.

"What are you girls doing tonight?" Camilla asks, her and Nicolás standing side by side with their arms around each other's waists.

"We're going to Dallas' boyfriend's birthday," Spencer explains.

She's never been too keen on explaining to her Mom that I'm more of a casual dater. That would insinuate casual sex and it's just not a conversation she wants to have with her mother. The boyfriend label really doesn't bother me though. I kinda like it.

"Oh." Camilla gives us both a curious look with her brow raised. "You'll behave won't you?"

"Of course," Spencer waves her hand dismissively as she picks up her duffle and opens the door, "it's just a low key thing. Nothing crazy. Love you guys. See you later!"

I don't miss the knowing grin that Spencer and Nicolás flash each other and it would seem that she's got daddy wrapped around her little finger already.

"Bye girls. Be safe!" he calls out as Spencer ushers me down the front steps, shutting the door behind her.

When we're both in the car, she gives me a smug sideways glance and unzips the duffle on her lap, pulling out a large bottle of Henny as I'd suggested. She's all too excited as I start the car, vigorously shimmying her chest from side to side.

"I'm excited for tonight!" She waves the bottle in the air.

"I thought you got that for Dray?"

"I did, but he's going to share it," she informs me with a duh expression as she puts the drink away and fiddles with the stereo.

"That's not how gifts work," I tell her, slapping her hand and setting the station to one that plays upbeat hits around the clock.

"That's how this gift is working." She seems rather proud of her efforts, slapping her lap and jostling to the Calvin Harris song that's blaring from my old speakers.

"Whatever." I give her a curt look from the corner of my eye but drop the subject. "So where to?"

"The mall!"

• • •

By nine at night, Drayton's house is crawling with students from school. It's still early, which leads me to believe more people will show up and there is already an insane amount of people. The den is the main gathering space and I have continually winced, but shared a look of amusement with Drayton every time someone sits on the couch in the same spot we'd gone at it the night before.

The candles are still glowing, Dray decided they looked nice and should stay. Hoards of people are gathered around the pool table, taking turns at a game, others have set up a beer pong match in the kitchen upstairs. There are girls dancing in the vacant floor space and the amount of alcohol that flows through the house is insane. Spencer didn't need to worry about what she'd drink tonight because the stuff is basically coming out of the taps at this point.

"Hey!" Spencer grips my arm the moment I come back down from the bathroom. I'd been making my way towards Drayton because I feel like I've hardly seen him so far. He's the birthday boy so naturally everyone wants his attention, which I respect, but I feel a little disappointed when my path is intercepted.

"Can you come to the bathroom with me!" she shouts over the music. She's left Grayson with a group of unfamiliar guys that I assume he's friends with outside of school.

"I just went!" I shout back.

"Please!" She clasps her hands with a pleading expression.

"Ugh, okay!"

We lace our fingers together and attempt to get up the staircase which for some unknown reason has turned into a gathering point. Not to sound like that annoying Mom who's constantly reminding everyone that microwaves are cancerous and cellphone towers are going to kill us all, but I really don't understand why people choose to congregate on the staircase. It's dangerous for one and it's narrow, hardly the most convenient social setting.

The bathroom is empty, much to Spencer's relief. I shut the door behind us as she runs in, her heels clacking against the tiles.

"I am busting! Holy shit!" She stumbles as she hikes up her dress and falls on to the toilet, a little satisfied sigh leaving her lips.

I use this time to assess my make up and hair, admiring the way my new dress clings to my body. It's a black fitted, long sleeve body con dress with a low cut neckline and a zip at the front that goes from top to bottom. I'd paired it with some black pumps that catered with making my legs look a little longer than they actually are.

Spencer settled with a loose spaghetti strap dress this time. She'd fallen in love with the pale pink, silk garment that looks absolutely perfect against her caramel skin tone. She stands up, adjusting herself and straightening her clothes before she flushes the toilet and creeps towards the mirror.

"You look sah hot!" she gushes, banging on the top of the soap dispenser with a careless thwack. "I'm drunk."

"No shit," I laugh, turning the tap on for her because she'd forgotten to do that before her hands got all slippery with soap. "I think I need to catch up."

"Yes!" she clips. "I think I should slow down."

"How about you have a glass of water and I'll have a shot of vodka?" I slide my cellphone out of my bra and sling an arm around Spence, causing her to snap into selfie mode immediately. "Smile!"

I aim the camera at the mirror and we spend an unknown amount of time, taking selfies, videos and other embarrassing activities until someone bangs on the bathroom door and insists that they're in need of a vomit.

We giggle all the way downstairs, filming each other on our phones and laughing at the absurd comments that come out of our mouths. The kitchen is equally as packed as the den, the large glass doors are shut, but the windows are cracked open because despite the fact that it's freezing outside, the copious amounts of bodies are causing a stuffy heat inside.

"Dallas!" Spencer shoves her phone in my face, recording a snapchat while I pour a shot from the bottle of 42below vodka. "Do a keg stand! Do it. I'm officially challenging you to a keg stand."

"You do a keg stand," I scoff and throw back my shot, wincing as it burns its way down my throat.

"No! I hate beer!" she argues, still filming the conversation. "You're one of those weird chica's that actually likes the taste of beer, do a keg stand!"

"Hey Maxon," I call out to the football player who's currently manning the kegs, he's not wearing a shirt and he's well and truly off his face.

"What's up cheer?!" he yells so loudly that half of the kitchen occupants turn their attention to us, for only a short moment of course. They're all too intoxicated to have an actual attention span.

"What's the current record?"

"Mitchum!" He points at one of our defence boys who's slouched in a corner, I don't even think he's conscious to be honest. "A minute fifty-six."

"That's a long time to be drinking beer." I wince. I'd wanted to do it for a challenge, but I also like having a functional liver.

"Come on cheer," Maxon lifts the hose and starts gyrating around the keg in some sort of disturbing ritualistic dance, "you know you want too."

"Yes!" Spencer starts pushing me towards the keg, having abandoned the video for now. She pulls me along and doesn't release her grip until I'm standing next to the silver barrel of beer.

"Fine!" I chuckle at her enthusiasm. She claps her hands together and steps back, familiarising herself with her phone again as she begins to film.

"Alright, usually you'd need two guys to lift a lad onto the keg" - Maxon steps behind me and puts his hands on my hips - "but I think I can manage you by myself."

"Nice try Maxon." I shove him off. "You only need to catch my legs when I flip upside down. I'm a cheerleader, I can manage a handstand just fine."

"Sheesh, okay." He rolls his eyes but steps away, giving me the space I'd ordered. I put the tap in my mouth and rest my hands on either side of the barrel before I kick off the ground and into a handstand position. I can feel Maxon's hands brush against my ankles, but I don't really need any help to stay upright.

"Yes bîtch!" Spencer cheers as I start swallowing the beer. I pace myself, knowing that if I don't chug it as fast as I can, I might be able to stay up longer. I must have gathered a small crowd because I can hear people cheering as the seconds tick on.

When I start to feel dizzy and sick, I drop to the floor, feet first, and spit the hose out.

"Forty-seven seconds!" Maxon slaps me on the back, hollering with excitement along with Spencer and a few other watchers. I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand and do my best to stop the kitchen from spinning. I just had a lot of beer.

"What a legend!" Spencer screams, standing next to me with the phone in front of us, recording a snap video. "She got forty-seven seconds! How do you feel babe!"

"Like I'm gonna be sick!"

"Have a taccy!" Spencer puts her hand on my lower back and steers me through the kitchen.

(A/N: a taccy is a tactical spew. Throwing up so that you can carry on drinking.)

"Na, I'll just have a water!" I turn and head for the water faucet, pouring a glass and downing it quickly. "I want bread," I mumble and begin to fumble my way through the cabinets. I finally find a loaf of gluten-free bread and decide I'd rather chew on cardboard.

"Maxon!" one of the boys shouts from the entryway of the kitchen with a smug look on his face. "Drayton's birthday present is here!"

Maxon returns his glee and dashes across the kitchen, disappearing as he literally rubs his hands together like a creepy old toad. I'm curious to know what they got him that requires such devious grins and excited behaviour.

"Come on." I tug on Spencer's wrist and we follow after them, pushing through the crowd to get downstairs.

When I finally make it through the people, I spot Drayton; it isn't hard though, he's in the centre of the room, sitting on a chair while some bitch gives him a lap dance. The loud cheers and hoots fill the space and I watch with annoyance, hating every second that I see this stripper all over him. He looks a little flustered but chuckles and sits still anyway. His eyes spend more time scanning the room and I wonder if he's looking for me.

"Hey." Grayson taps my shoulder to get my attention, I hadn't even noticed him approaching so I turn and attempt not to take my frustration out on him. "This wasn't his idea. It's something the guys do to each other at birthdays sometimes. He was hoping they wouldn't do it to him this year."

"Some warning would have been nice," I mumble before I turn to leave, ignoring the pitiful expression that Spencer throws me.

"Where do you think you're going?" Melissa pushes me back as I head for the staircase. I didn't even know she was here but she folds her arms and stares me down.

"I'm going back upstairs." I shrug and shake my head, not sure what kind of answer she's looking for.

"Ain't that your man?" She gestures her head behind me but I don't even turn around. "Ya know what I'd do if I were you" - I shake my head and wait for her to elaborate - "I'd go do her job for her."

"What?"

"Girl, you can dance, you're sexy and he's crazy about you. Go and take her place. Give him a dance."

"In front of all these people!?" I drawl with disbelief at what I'm hearing.

I'm also in disbelief that I think it sounds like a good idea.

"You cheer in front of people all the time." She shrugs.

"This is a little different."

"Well I say, don't put up with that shît. Show him how a real woman does it." Her pep talk is surprisingly effective. "Plus you've had a bit to drink, always adds to the confidence gage."

"You're like my fairy godmother," I chuckle. "You always know what to say."

"Go." She smiles with amusement.

I turn around and the bîtch is wearing even less than before. Mustering up the few fucks that I actually give and throwing them out the window, I adopt confidence and march right towards them.

A little glimmer of guilt flashes across Drayton's face for a moment, but I ignore him and put a flat palm on barbie's shoulder, pushing her off of his lap and into a heap on the floor. She shoots me a hateful scowl but I don't give her a moment to regain composure before I've slung a leg over Dray's lap, straddling him front on. His eyes widen and his hands immediately rest on my hips.

"Babe, what are you doing?" he murmurs as I start rolling my hips, giving him a lap dance of my own.

"Happy birthday!!" I shout loudly so that everyone can hear it, basically ignoring him and begging for his attention at the same time. A chorus of happy birthdays is sung out in a sloppy symphony and I start to giggle at the bewilderment on Dray's face.

I lift my leg straight in the air and spin around so that my backs to his chest, slowly unzipping the front of my dress, earning an enthusiastic sound of cheering and clapping as I continue to roll my hips and flick my long blonde hair around.

"Dallas?"

I stand up and bend over, shaking my ass at his face before I whip my hair and slowly straighten up, enjoying the sounds of applause that ring out from the crowd. It feels good to be appreciated. The crowd of horny males has moved in closer; I don't have a full grasp on my surroundings but I can hear the never-ending supply of cheering and clapping, picking up a few "fuck yeahs!" And other words of encouragement as I dance exotically.

I circle the chair that Drayton's sitting on, dancing seductively as I strategically drop the dress from my shoulders, coming back to the front of him as I completely discard it so that I'm down to my bra and thong. The applause and hollering becoming even louder than before.

"Take it off!"

Considering the fact that I'm only wearing a bra and underwear, I have to assume they're suggesting that I go completely naked. But I don't get even a moment to consider it before Drayton's bolted up out of the chair; his strong fingers wrap around my upper arm and he starts dragging me through the den, picking up my dress on the way past. A collective sound of protests and disappointment come from the gathered group and I turn around to see a lot of eyes on the two of us.

Drayton basically acts as a bodyguard, shielding me as he pushes me through the thrum of intoxicated teenagers and up the stairs.

"What the fuck are you doing?!" he barks as he pushes me into his room and slams the door. "What was that?!"

I'm stunned to see the anger radiating from him. I'm not dense enough to think I'm sober but even with a wall of alcohol to guard my vulnerability, I'm still hurt by his rejection.

"It was a lap dance?" I finally mumble. He tosses the dress at me but it falls to the floor before my arms register that they need to catch the object flying at my face and that's when I still to feel a rage of my own. "Oh, so that artificial bitch that they got from the back pages can dance on you, but not me?!"

Drayton whips his head towards me, clenching and unclenching his balled fists that are at his side. "Do you think that's what this is about?!" he yells, walking towards me with rigid movements and thunderous eyes. "Do you think I'd rather have her, than you?! That's not the fucking problem!"

"Well then what is it asshole!?" I shove his chest but he barely moves. This is not a conversation that we should be having right now. Both of us are far too intoxicated to be arguing. We'll end up saying something we regret. "Ya know what, fuck you."

I attempt to step around him but he grips my wrist and pushes my back against the wall, holding me in place as his chest rises and falls with rapid breaths which fan me with the scent of Henny.

"The problem is, that I don't want any of those fucking perverted assholes, staring at my girlfriend while she dances around in her fucking underwear, dammit!" He slams his hand against the wall beside my head. "You're mine. Mine! They're all fucking dirty pricks and I don't want their eyes on you!"

"Y-your girlfriend?" I stammer.

He just called me his girlfriend and I know that it seems like a bad time to get hung up on such a minor detail but my heart is literally pounding out of my chest at the sound of him referring to me that way.

"Yes. My girlfriend," he responds as he straightens up with a somewhat calmer expression and lifts me by the waist. He throws me on the bed and hovers over my body, encasing me beneath him, his rippling arms on either side of my head. "MY girlfriend. No one else gets to see you like this."

As we stare at each other, a physical energy forming between us, the dog tags I got him for his birthday fall out of his shirt, hanging from his neck. I don't know why I'm so happy to see him wearing them. I'd expected that he wouldn't, considering not many people know about his sister. But they've been hidden under his clothes all night and that affects me so much more than I imagined it would.

I wrap my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck and bring our mouths together, falling apart at the way he responds with urgent fervent need.

"You're mine," he growls against my mouth, his hand roughly gripping my thigh. All I can do is nod in agreement, not wanting to speak or argue for another second longer.

• • •

Drama, drama, drama. Lol. This is a prime example of alcohol causing problems 😂 if this didn't seem like our usual Dray and Dallas, it's because it isn't. They were drunk. Try and remember that people do things they usually wouldn't, when they're under the influence. ☺️

Much love. Until next time x
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