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consuming and obliterating all thoughts, all conversation.
welcome it. Dropping the empty bottle by the door, step
into the throng.
Anonymous faces crowd in as Andy weaves us
through the room, past flashes of blond hair and glittering
earrings; heavy-lidded goths and pouting lip gloss; flesh,
piercings, bottles, lines of shots, shrieks of laughter and,
permeating it all, the unmistakable smell of weed.
“You want something to eat?” Andy mouths.
shake my head, reaching instead for one of the
shots. down it easily, barely feeling the sting as it slides
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down my throat. reach for another, but Andy catches my
arm, pointing over my shoulder. “Hey, there’s Bex!”
turn and squint into the crowd, but the dark mass
of writhing bodies twine into each other anonymously.
turn back to Andy, confused, and am suddenly shoved
headfirst into his shoulder, beer slopping over my back.
“Hey!” Andy pushes the guy who knocked me.
“Watch it, okay?”
The guy staggers away and collapses on sofa.
“Ow …,”
moan quietly, the taste of fresh blood
salty on my tongue, the scent of Andy’s aftershave tickling
my nose.
Andy looks down at me, concerned. “You okay?” He
brushes my lips carefully with his thumb, and my head
swims with more memories.
“You’re soaked!” He grins, wiping beer from my
hair.
“Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.”
Apart from pile of jackets, the bathroom is empty,
the faint thud thud thud pulsing distantly through the floorboards. Andy grabs damp cloth and starts to gently
clean my cut, his brow furrowed in concentration as he
leans closer, making me dizzy. He cups my cheek and my
skin blazes, my heart pounding as his eyes meet mine.
Without thinking, lean forward and press my lips
against his.
He pulls back, surprised. “Rosie—” search his eyes
anxiously, his gaze deep in mine.
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Then suddenly we’re kissing, the taste of his soft
lips so sweet and familiar, my heart thumping frantically
against my ribs.
God, haven’t been kissed— haven’t been touched— in so, so long …
press closer, the kisses deepening, lengthening, as
my mind spins into oblivion, my body on fire.
This is it. This is what need. To escape. To just lose
myself completely. To forget …
kiss him harder, pushing my chest against his, my
hand moving to his zip.
“Mm …,” Andy groans.
tug at the little metal pull.
“Rosie …”
push closer, my tongue sliding against his as slip
my hand inside
“Rose, no—Rosie!” He pushes me away, my lips
stinging in the empty air.
“I’m sorry,” he sighs, ru
hair. “I’m sorry, can’t
can’t do this.”
“What?” blink, his face swimming in front of mine.
“Why? What’s wrong?”
He looks away and
frown, trying to search his
eyes, but they won’t keep still, won’t focus.
“Andy?”
“Rosie,
just
can’t.” He looks at me, his eyes
pained, then looks away, sighs.
Then realize.
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“You don’t want me.” swallow painfully, my throat
sour as shiver, cold suddenly. “You never did.”
“Rosie, no, that’s not what I—”
push past him, my chest tight, the room blurring
as stagger for the door.
“Rose, wait—” He reaches for me
“Get off me!” wrench away, reeling as lurch into
the corridor.
There are bodies everywhere—leaning against
walls and sprawled over the floor, yelling at me as
stumble over their limbs, my own legs threatening to
buckle at any moment. clutch at the wall, feeling my way
along, trying to keep going, stay upright, get out of here,
breathe
Suddenly the wall ends.
feel myself falling and
can’t stop. wince, ready for the slamming pain. But it
never comes.
“Whoa there, tiger.”
guy’s face swims in front of
mine as he pulls me upright and he leans me back against
the wall.
“You okay? Nearly had little fall there.”
“Another one falling for you, Kyle?” his friend jokes.
Kyle laughs, and hear myself join in. He takes
swig of beer, then offers me the bottle. take it eagerly—
too fast—the glass crashing against my teeth as the cool
liquid slops down my front. Kyle laughs, and smile up at
him, licking my lips, the taste of beer bitter and cool in my
mouth.
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“What’s your name, anyway?” he asks, brushing my
hair out of my eyes. “Do know you?”
“I …”
try to concentrate, but his face keeps
swimming out of focus. “Um
Ro …”
“Ro?” He has dimples when he smiles. “Well, Ro,” he
says, leaning in closer, “you’ve got very pretty eyes.”
He moves to tuck my hair behind my ear, and
suddenly I’m kissing him, hard. He smiles in surprise, then
kisses me back hungrily, pressing his body against mine.
My head bangs violently against the wall, but the pain is
welcome, the kisses rough, desperate, his stubble
scratching my cheeks, his tongue writhing in my mouth.
His grip tightens, and clutch fiercely at his back, my eyes
screwed shut, blotting out everything else.
Suddenly he’s ripped away, my lips burning as
gasp for air.
“Hey! What’s your problem, Andy?” Kyle snarls.
Andy. Shit
“Leave her alone, Kyle.”
“It was her! Couldn’t keep her hands off me.”
Andy grabs my arm. “Come on.”
“Hey.” Kyle stops him. “She’s big girl, Hunter, she
can do what she wants.” He winks at Andy. “And she
wants me.”
“She’s had too much to drink.”
“What are you, her mother?”
wince.
“Just
Leave her alone, okay?” Andy says.
“What’s it to you?” Kyle challenges.
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“I said”—Andy steps closer—“leave her—”
“Yeah, Andy,” hear myself slur. “What’s it to you?”
Andy stops. He’s looking at me, but can’t see his
eyes.
Kyle laughs. “Oh, dear, Hunter. Seems you’re not
needed after all. Do us all
favor, eh, mate? Get
life.”
Kyle drapes his arm round my shoulders. “Come on,
sweetheart, let’s find somewhere we won’t be disturbed.”
He pushes past Andy.
“Wait.” Andy catches my arm.
“Back off, Hunter!”
“Rose,” Andy says. “Rose, look at me.”
stare at the floor.
“Rosie!”
“Whoa—hold on
minute.” Kyle’s arm drops from
my shoulder. “Rosie? Wait, you’re Rosie Ke
swipes my hair from my eyes and peers down at me.
“Jeezus Christ.” He smirks. “Now, what’s Crazy Ke
daughter doing on the loose?”
What? My face burns.
“Hey everyone! It’s Crrrazy Ke
“Kyle!” Andy grabs him, and Kyle holds up his hands
in mock surrender.
“Hey, she’s all yours, Hunter. My mistake, mate.” He
staggers off along the corridor, drunkenly toppling from
one wall to the other. “Should’ve recognized her by her
walk, eh, lads? Just like her old lady—remember the
prom?”
They
laugh
and
whoop
appreciatively.
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“Whoaoaoa! And as for that fall—whoops!” Kyle falls into
chubby guy’s waiting arms. “Classic trademark.”
“I …” can’t think. Can’t breathe.
“Sorry, sweetheart.” He dances over and slings his
arm round my neck. “Nothing personal. You’re very cute,