ELLY
   "Come on, Elly! The party won't be here all night," Em shouts as she starts her walk up the sidewalk. I sigh and follow her, wrapping my arms around myself to protect from the late-night chill and anybody looking at me in this skimpy excuse for a dress.
   "You didn't tell me this many people would be here!" I reply once I catch up to her. Cars line the street and music is blaring from inside. Through the windows, I can see packed rooms full of our classmates, none of whom I am great friends with.
   "It'll be alright. I'll be with you the whole time," she smiles at me and opens the door. We walk in, and a wave of smells crashes into me. Alcohol wreaks on everyone's breath.
   "You know," I shout over the noise, "this isn't my type of crowd. I might just call my brother to pick me up, and you can stay!"
   "No. Come on!" Em grabs my hands and pulls me through the crowd. She leads me toward the kitchen, which isn't as packed as everywhere else, but still busy with people getting drinks and making out against the counter.
   "Em, I don't-"
   "Elly, don't even try to tell me that you don't drink." Em laughs as we make it to the counter. She grabs two cups and multiple bottles. "Don't worry, I'll water your drink down."
   "Em, my brother will rip my head off if he finds out I was drinking."
   "So don't let him find out." Em smirks as she hands me a cup. "Bottoms up, Elly."
   "Em..."
   But she already is gulping down her drink. I sigh and take a sip of mine, but then start coughing and go to pour it out.
   "No, no, no." Em pulls my cup back from the edge of the sink. "You're a party girl now. Gotta finish."
   "It tastes...weird."
   "It's alcohol, Elly. You'll get used to it." She smiles at me, prompting me to take another drink. I take a small sip, but it still burns my throat. "That cup better be empty by the end of the night." She starts to make her way out of the kitchen.
   "Em, wait." I try to make my way through the crowd, but she's already too far ahead of me.
   "And no pouring it out!" She shouts behind her.
   "And there she goes," I mumble to myself. I turn back towards the sink to pour my drink out, but a hand stops me.
   "Em just told you not to pour it out," the guy says. He has a drink in his own hand that appears nearly empty.
   "So?" I ask. "Are you gonna let go of me?"
   "Why not just finish the drink. Otherwise, it's a waste."
   "I'll waste it when I throw it up later." I pull my hand away from him and cross my arms over my chest.
   "That's funny," he says. "Just finish the drink."
   "No."
   "Hey, you're Griffin's sister, aren't you?" he asks, leaning back against the sink.
   "Yeah. Why?"
   "He let you come here?"
   "Well, no." I step away from him.
   "Snuck out?"
   "Yeah."
   "Ooh. Sneaks out for the first time to go to a party, but won't drink?" The stranger shakes his head.
   "It's not that I won't drink," I say, aggravated with him. "I just don't want to drink."
   "You've drank before?" He smirks, amused. I miss Jaden's smirks.
   "No."
   "Probably can't even hold it down for five minutes." Jaden wouldn't taunt me like this.
   "What is that supposed to mean?"
   "Fine. I dare you to finish that cup." Jaden wouldn't make me drink.
   "No."
   "One go." Jaden, make it stop.
   "I don't want to. Just leave me alone."
   "I dare you." Jaden, help me.
   Jaden, I think as I down the cup.