We got to the party and I smelled weed from across the street. I looked excitedly at Will as we crossed and went up the stairs.

“Hey, Em!” my friend Elise called.

“Hey,” I smiled. “What’s up?”

“Wanna do some shots?”

“Hell yeah!”

We walked up to the counter and she poured three for all of us. I handed Will his and we all downed them.

“Woo!” Elise cheered. She kind of annoyed me.

We did another and as Elise was pouring the third I heard some people beside me talking.

“What the hell is he doing here?” one of them asked.

I almost immediately knew it was Harry. I turned around, and sure enough, there he was. I nudged Will and pointed.

“The fuck?”

He definitely stood out with his tattoos and piercings. I couldn’t help but think of how strikingly attractive. I was never into guys who had them, but he really wore them well. I felt a swirling sensation in my stomach as we took the third shot.

“He’s coming over here,” Will whispered in my ear and I nodded. Harry came up to the counter and took his own shot glass.

“Hello,” he smiled darkly.

“Sup, man?” Will asked. Harry only looked at him and chuckled. “Something funny to you?”

“Na,” he said, still smiling. He poured his shot and took it with ease. I watched in awe.

“Don’t come in here like you own the fucking place, new kid,” Will snarled. “Who even invited you?”

“Hannah,” he shrugged. “She wants to blow me.”

“Go on, then, big guy,” Will rolled his eyes.

“You’re awfully quiet,” Harry looked at me. I rolled my eyes. “You can blow me, too.”

“Fuck off!” Will suddenly shouted and shoved Harry back into the fridge.

“Will!” I screamed. “Stop!”

With a twisted smile Harry stood up from off the fridge. “You wanna play that game?” He walked up to Will and punched him square in the face.

“Stop!” I yelled again and pulled Will away, who was clenching his jaw.

“Aw, she’s adorable,” Harry said. “Congrats, man.”

“Fuck out of here,” Will hissed.

“I’m gonna go look for Hannah,” he smiled and strode away as if he accomplished something. He made me sick.

“Will, I love you and thank you for standing up for me,” I said when Harry had disappeared. “But
don’t get involved with him.”

“He can’t just say that to you, Em,” Will said, obviously annoyed. “A thank you would be nice.”

“Thank you,” I smiled. “Now can we have some fun?”

I ended up losing Will later on during the party and dancing with some friends who had showed up too. I had taken a few more shots and was dead wasted by then. The music thumped through my head and with every passing second more energy seemed to flow into me. Everyone was dancing and I felt alive.

It was nearly 2 am when the party started to wind down. People were beginning to leave so I went to find Will. I hated being the last person to leave parties.

“Will?” I asked when I found him in the front yard. I stumbled down the steps and up to him. He was facing the street, just standing there, so I came up behind him and put my hand on his shoulder to stabilize myself as I fixed my shoe. When I looked up, it wasn’t Will. It was Harry. I took my hand off his shoulder so fast I stumbled back. Harry quickly reacted and slid his hand behind my back to keep me standing. I pushed him off of me when I was steady.

“I- no,” I slurred. “Where’s Will?”

“My friend from earlier?” he asked.

“Yeah,” I rolled my eyes.

“He left like an hour ago,” he told me.

“No he didn’t,” I said harshly. “Did he?”

“Yeah,” he said.

“Ugh,” I groaned as I felt tears brimming in my eyes. “Why did he leave me?”

“Are you going to cry?” Harry said, restraining his laugh.

“No,” I shouted. “I’m just confused.”

“Was he your ride home?”

“No, I drove him,” I said. “But now I can’t drive.”

“I’ll drive you,” he told me.

“Who even are you?” I yelled. “You’re going to stab me.”

“What are you saying?” he asked, laughing. “I’m not going to stab you. Stop shouting that before
someone calls the police.”

“I need to go home,” I whined. I wiped a tear off my cheek. Why was I even crying?

“Please let me drive you home,” he told me. I looked around me and everyone was pulling off in
their cars. I realized I didn’t really have a choice. I probably did, but I was definitely not feeling good at that moment so I gave in.

“Please just take me home,” I said, tiredly. I gave him my keys and we got in.

“Are you drunk?” I asked. I never even heard his answer because I was sound asleep. I woke up when he was gently nudging me.

“Here,” he told me.

“How do you know where I live?” I asked him.

“You told me,” he chuckled. “I have to go home, so go to bed.”

“Fuck!” I hissed when I remembered my curfew was one. It was now nearly three. “I’m going to die.”

“Why?”

I was crying again. “I had to be home two hours ago and now my mom is going to be so pissed.”

“You’ll be okay,” he kept laughing. “Please, just go inside.”

“How are you going to get home?” I asked him.

“I’ll walk,” he shrugged.

“No, you’re going to get hurt,” I whined. “Sleep with me.”

“What?” he was laughing.

“No, don’t sleep with me,” I said in disgust. “Go home.”

“You are completely wasted.”

“I know,” I whined. “Don’t get hurt by the train tracks because you’re actually a nice guy.” I was just mumbling whatever came to mind.

“How do you know I live by there?”

“Someone told me,” I said. I rubbed my face out of exhaustion. “Seriously, be careful.”

“I will,” he said softly. “Go to bed.”

“Okay,” I whispered. I turned and went to let myself in to the house. When I turned around, Harry was gone. I went upstairs and went straight to bed.