I eye Ruby from my bed as she stands in front of my mirror and applies some of her fiery red lipstick to her full lips. She puckers them several times until she's satisfied with her look. She's wearing her usual plaid shirt unbuttoned in the front showing off her black tank and short black shorts. Underneath the shorts are black stockings and on her feet boots that look like they could kill someone with one kick. She turns to me with her arms open as if she's saying "ta-da".

"You're not wearing that to the party are you?" she questions.

I pull my feet out from under me and stare down at my outfit. I'm not sure what she wants me to wear, I'm comfortable and warm in my cream colored sweater and tight black jeans.

"It's not like I'm trying to impress anyone." I state getting to my feet.

"At least tell me your wearing those killer boots that make you look sexy," she says.

"Of course, I never leave home without them."

Ruby knows all the big parties on campus. Since school has started, I haven't been to one, but she's been to plenty. This one is just off campus a few blocks from our house, apparently it's one of the big ones for the year. Last year back in Boston I avoided parties like the plague, and I had planned to do so this year too, but with Ruby it's unavoidable.

We take my car because I'm almost positive that I'm not gonna drink. I have to park halfway down the block and it probably would have just been easier to walk. The iced sidewalks make it hard to walk, but we eventually make it up to the huge house on Charming Way. The place is very charming or it would be charming if it didn't have college students scattered on the lawn and loud music pulsing from inside. I guess the warmth from their buzz is keeping them outside, while I'm just walking up freezing to death from this January cold.

We step inside and maybe it's not so charming. The paint is peeling off the walls, the stairs look old like they would fall apart if someone stepped too hard on them. The furniture looks like it's been here since the house was built. I worry that with the loud music the walls may cave in as well.

We step into the kitchen and in the corner chatting with one of the "lost boys" is Tink. She's not wearing her hair in her usual bun, its straightened and hangs in front. Her red, black, and white dress sits tight on her body exposing every curve she has. In her hand she holds a wine glass and looking around. The wine glass and this party just don't belong, but somehow she makes it work.

I notice the blonde from the fencing club walking over to her. He whispers something into her ear her facial expression changes almost immediately. I'm watching them closely trying to get a read on Tinks face. Her free arm is moving as she's talking to him. It's a small kitchen, but I can barely hear my own thoughts over the loud music in the next room, let alone a conversation a few inches away.

Ruby hands me a red solo cup, how cliche. I sniff it before giving it a try, I sip on it slowly as I lean against the white countertop behind me. Tink looks nervous as she watches him walk away. I turn to the other side of the kitchen where there's another entrance into what I believe is a dining room. Perched against the doorway is Killian. He's got a flask in his hand as his eyes circle the room. I try to look away before he can notice me staring, but it's too late. He starts to smirk, but then his face tightens and he looks behind him like he's afraid of something.

I look down at my feet as he takes a few big strides towards me, I know because his dark combat looking boots touch the tip of mine. Even though I'm not looking and even through the mass chaos around me I can feel him when he leans over and brushes my ear with his lips.

"You shouldn't be here Swan," he says.

I push down on his shoulder so that I can get closer to his ear. He leans down enough so that our cheeks are almost touching.

"I can be wherever I want Jones."

I'm not sure if it's the small amount of alcohol I've consumed or something else but I feel tingles in the lower half of my stomach as he pulls back and his forehead almost touches mine. I stare at the side of his face and his cheek twitches a few times. I swallow hard as his wide eyes finally meet mine. He sucks in a deep breath, but his eyes never leave mine.

"Jones!"

The sound of someone's deep voice breaks us from each other. He turns and I watch as he clenches his hands into tight fists at his side. I look around him and notice it's the guy with the hooded sweatshirt. He still has his head covered, but I can see him better. A little bit of blonde hair peeks out from under the hood, along with a scar that runs down his left cheek.

"It's almost time," he says.

I watch the exchange between Killian and him. Killian looks more than annoyed by his presence than anything else. He takes a few steps towards the guy, but stops and turns to me, an angry pained expression crosses his face. He calls for him again and this time he steps away without looking back.

I walk the rooms trying to find Ruby, the image of Killian's face sticks in my mind, it almost makes my stomach churn. I think I want to believe him that something is going to happen, but I need to find Ruby first. It's not hard with her red shirt swinging in the air as she dances to a rock song on the top of the dining room table.

"Emma, get up here!" she calls.

I grab a hold of her hand and tug her down a bit to my level. She stumbles a bit and we both almost crash to the ground, but I hold her up.

"We should go," I yell.

"What? No way we just got here," she says.

"Live a little!"

Her eyes widen and suddenly I'm back to that conversation at Granny's. Is that how everyone sees me nowadays? They see me as someone with a stick up my ass, who can't have any fun. Well, I guess if I'm gonna show her I'm still Emma deep down I'll need another drink. I grab the cup she's holding in her other hand and down it.

"Alright Emma!"

Someone comes over and hands me another cup and I down that one too, while thoughts of Killian's face slowly disappear from my mind. She pulls me up onto the table and as the alcohol runs through me I start dancing with her. She's smiling and dancing and I realize I'm doing the same, mostly smiling and attempting to dance. A song from High School pounds through the speakers as we hold hands and sing along. For the first time in a long time everything bad vanishes from my mind and the only thing I'm thinking about is I hope I don't forget the lyrics to this song.

Ruby and I a strewn out on the old couch that sits in the living room. We are surrounded by a group of her friends who have been very welcoming to me. A red head wearing what almost looks like a bra with glittering sequence paired with a green skirt comes dancing over to Ruby.

"Ariel! Come sit!" she yells over.

Ariel plops herself down on the floor next to a handsome guy named Philip. He sits cross legged with his arm around his girlfriend Aurora. Everyone is smiling and having a good time, I'm not quite sure how many drinks I've had but I know I'm pretty far gone.

"Those were some nice dance moves up there," Ariel says looking at Ruby and myself.

"Right? My girl Emma over here finally learning to live a little," Ruby says shaking me.

I put my hand out to stop her, she's making me feel like I'm on a ship out to sea and my stomach just is not ready for something like that. I smile even through the waves of nausea as I've still got a very good buzz at this point. I'm about to open my mouth to say something when we hear a screaming noise from upstairs. I can see the bottom few steps and suddenly a large body comes rolling down and crashes into the few people there. People scatter. Ruby stands up and Phillip follows.

"Lost boys?" he turns to look at Ruby.

"I saw some earlier, didn't think they were coming," she says.

"They always come," Ariel says joining them.

Sure enough the guy whose name I'd come to know as Peter comes walking down the stairs, knife hanging at his side. I have to blink several times to make sure I'm seeing things right.

"Initiation you think?" Phillip asks without looking at Ruby.

My eyes wander back as another thud comes down the stairs, it's the boy with the hood, Killian right on his tail. I watch as Peter picks the guy up by his shirt who's on the floor, his hand dangerously close to the knife at his side. I squint harder to see better and realize it's not some little knife, it's freaking sword. I take a full swig of the drink in my hand just to relax my nerves. I'm so out of it, I'm hoping that maybe I'm just seeing things.

"Who the hell carries a sword?" I say out loud.

Ruby looks down at me and then over at Phillip. Everyone stays silent watching. Peters yelling and shaking him to make him respond. The guy just stares up like he wants nothing to do with Peter and his group. We all hear the sound of glass crashing in another room and screams. I can just see people in the room across from us fighting, like an all out brawl.

I finally stand so I can see what all the commotion is about, I'm wobbly on my feet and it sucks. As I scan the room, my eyes finally land on Killian. He's holding onto someone by the front of their shirt. The dude looks like he's literally gonna shit his pants. Killian pushes the guy away as all hell breaks loose around us. Ruby grabs a hold of my hand as we head back into the kitchen away from the chaos.

Ruby and I stumble into the kitchen.

"That was insane," I think I say.

Phillip and Aurora enter the kitchen from where we entered, and at the same time I hear footsteps approaching from the other side of the kitchen. Ruby stops and looks up.

"You guys should leave."

"Oh look a knight in shining armor to save the day," I say sarcastically.

I turn to Killian and almost wobble over, he's standing right over me staring at Ruby, Phillip, and Aurora. He doesn't look amused at all.

"Shoot my bags in there," Ruby says.

"Your not going alone, we'll go with you," Phillip says protectively.

"Emma you should go home before this gets out of hand," Ruby says.

"I can handle myself," I say stumbling around.

Ruby looks at me, she knows I can, but there's also something she's not telling me. Her and Killian exchange glances and suddenly she's leaving the room and I'm being pulled in the other direction by Killian.

"Heave ho Swan, c'mon now" he groans while attempting to pull me away from the crowd.

This whole thing just seems like something out of a movie, there's no way this is real and it's totally in my mind from all the drinks I've had. This is what happens when I let loose. Killian looks back towards me and I allow my drunken self to look into is eyes.

"You have pretty eyes."

The words come out of my mouth before I know what I'm saying.

"You're drunk Swan," he calls out over the yelling and screaming.

"Tell me about it," I admit stumbling behind him.

I can just barely hear him spewing out words, not sure who he's addressing or maybe he's just talking to himself. He stops walking turns around and picks me up over his shoulder like a child who's throwing a tantrum in the middle of Walmart.

"Put me down Jones!" I say snacking his back.

"Stay still Swan or I'm gonna drop your ass," he yells.

"That's what you get for picking me up," I pout.

I can hear sirens in the distance and Killian cursing under his breath. He moves faster and the bumping around is making my stomach queasy as hell. Oh dear God I'm gonna vomit.

"Killian!" I yell over the muffled sounds of the party.

"Not now Swan, you'll thank me in the morning."

"No Killian I'm serious..."

I can hear him start to say something but it's cut off by the sound of me vomiting down his back and on his leather jacket.

"Oh blimey," he says.

I'd laugh at the word if I wasn't still hurling all over his jacket.

"Told you," I cough.

He cringes, but continues to rush us out of there. I can feel the cold air as he crashed through the doorway. Outside is just as chaotic as inside, I watch through blurry drunk vision as people are literally throwing themselves at each other on the front lawn. Killian picks up the pace as my vomit does the same.

The sirens are closer and I think I can see the lights flashing in the distance, either that or I'm gonna pass out soon. Killian keeps running even though the house and the flashing lights are no longer in our sight. I recognize the street and realize he's taking me home.

"My car," I moan.

"I'll get it when I'm sober," he says.

"Nahuh, driving her was a one time deal Jones," I say.

"Your really gonna fight me on this now Swan?"

"Ugh whatever, just drop me. The smell of my puke makes me want to puke all over you again," I moan.

He ignores me and starts up the stairs to the apartment.

"Keys," he says holding out a hand.

"Back pocket," I say sinking my weight into him.

"In your dreams Swan, I'd rather not get my ass kicked tonight by you," he says.

I giggle and the sound does not fit me at all.

"Rum is the root of all evil," I moan.

Killian chuckles and readjusts me on his shoulder.

"Not when you know your limit," he says.

"Don't you dare start!" I yell.

I reach around my back and I can feel his eyes on my hand. I slip it into my tight back pocket and dangle the keys in front of him behind me. He snatches them from my hands and attempts to open the door. I yawn.

"Don't fall asleep on me yet Swan," he says.

My eyelids grow heavy. Sleep is very much in my very near future, no scratch that sleep is happening now. I can feel my body loosen and hear Killian cursing up a storm, and then the room goes dark.