Don't Follow Me: A High School Bully Romance (Diamond In The Rough Book 4)(23)

“Woo hoo!”

The entire room stopped to cheer with me and I burst into laughter. How cool was that? I swiveled my hips and tipped back the drink, swallowing it all down without once removing my mouth. We all got sucked into the party. Into the dancing and the laughter and the conglomerate cheers. Someone started tugging on my arm and I found myself by the counter with Allison while we snacked on chips. My best friend leaned against me as we watched the boys get roped into a game of beer pong.

“Hey! This is Rae. She’s my best friend. She starts here in September.”

Someone jutted their hand out and shook mine as I tried to focus.

“Hey there. I’m Matt.”

“Hey! I’m Jessica.”

“Rae? That’s such a pretty name. I’m Ralph.”

“Nice to meet you! I’m going to be a freshman, too. Well a transfer freshman, but still. I’m Rebecca!”

“DeShawn.”

“The name’s Curtis. Rae’s a very pretty name.”

Allison introduced me to anyone and everyone that walked by. I was beginning to think she’d had too many drinks, too.

“Rae! Hi!”

I perked up at the familiar voice. “Meredith! Hey there!”

The girl from lunch walked up to us and I leaned over to Allison.

“I met her at orientation. She’s cool,” I whispered.

Meredith walked up. “Here you go. Drink for you, and a drink for--”

Allison held out her hand. “No, no. It’s okay. I don’t drink.”

“Oh! Well, I’ll get you a water, then. You know, once I make my own trip back.”

Meredith winked before she stumbled a bit. Which made me smile.

“A bit too much there?”

She snickered. “Never. Not at parties like this. Oh, my gosh. I’m so glad you made it out. Have you seen Kristie? She’s here with Kayla.”

“Who?” Allison asked.

I peeked over at her. “Two other girls I had lunch with.”

Allison smiled. “Hey! See? You’re making friends already. Where are they? I’d love to meet them.”

“Kristie! Kayla! Over here!”

Meredith’s voice boomed across the kitchen and the two blondes bounded out from the corner. We all hugged and I introduced Allison to the group. And before I knew it, we were diving into conversations about the party and the guys and how good the drinks were. Allison was like a unicorn, the only person at the party not drinking. And while the girls were pretty drunk, it helped me to forget about lunch. About what we all talked about.

Until I found Clint staring at me from the beer pong table.





20





Clinton





“Yeah! Another one!”

I clapped my hand against Mike’s as the guys on the other end of the table had to chug. Again. While I enjoyed a rousing night of getting drunk, it didn’t appeal to me right now. It was clear I’d have to keep my eye on Rae. Which I did. From my perch at the game. Allison kept pulling people over to introduce to Rae. Boys and girls alike. And while I didn’t like the way some of the guys lingered around them, they eventually dissipated.

Eventually the dynamic duo were surrounded by three drunk, stumbling idiots.

I nudged Mike. “Any idea who they are?”

“Yeah! Got one! Wait, what?”

I nodded. “Over there with Rae and Ally. Who are they?”

Michael shrugged. “Who cares? They’re having a good time and--yeah!--so are we. You gonna pay attention or what?”

“Chug! Chug! Chug!” the guys at the other side of the table chanted as their drunken horse of a buddy slammed back yet another beer. He stumbled into the table, almost knocking it over as Mike and I caught it. How in the world had I considered this fun? Everyone was acting like a bunch of children. I sighed as I helped get the table set back up. Readying myself for a rematch.

But, when I looked over at the little girl’s huddle, I noticed they were gone.

“Hey. Hey, Mike.”

“What?”

“Where did the girls go?”

I looked over at him and saw him rubber-necking around the room.

“I don’t know. Did you see where they went?”

I shook my head. “Nope. I’m gonna go find them.”

I left the beer pong table and went on the hunt. Rae didn’t need to be walking around here with Ally without someone at their side. She’d had way too much to drink already, and Allison didn’t know how to navigate parties like this. Mike followed hot on my heels as we pushed our way through the crowded house. The smell of pot slowly began wafting through the air.

We need to get out of here.

The last thing Rae needed was to be caught at a party where there was both underaged drinking and marijuana. Yes, I get it. This was California. But she’d ruin her chances at this school if she was caught in a place like this. Especially by the police.

No. I had to look out for my girl.

“Let’s try the back porch,” Mike said.

I nodded. “Good plan. They aren’t out here anywhere.”

We walked around the house and found a wooden gate hanging open. I heard the splashing of water and an in-ground pool quickly came into view. Girls giggled and boys stood around them, ogling their bodies clad in bikinis. Red cups had been discarded in corners. I saw two wallets and a damn cell phone just sitting in the grass. I shook my head. How the hell had I done this with my life? And in high school, no less.

Mike slapped my chest. “There they are.”

I lifted my eyes and heat shot up my spine. What the fuck was Rae doing with a group of guys? I saw Ally standing next to her, clinging tightly to her arm as Rae laughed. Her head fell back and I saw those boys eyeing her. One of them was standing much too close. I saw those three other girls gathered around them. All of them, huddled around the edge of the pool.

“Cannonball!”

Some asshole ran off the diving board and curled up his legs. He splashed everyone standing at the edge of the pool and it made Rae roar with laughter. Her face lit up as she looked over at Ally, who was laughing her ass off, too.

It’s nothing, Clint. Just your girl having a good time with her best friend.

But I felt a stir of jealousy erupt in my gut.

Even though I tried stuffing it down, it sat there. Churning. Blending. Igniting a fire in my chest. That was the old Clint. Not the new Clint. I wouldn’t smother Rae tonight. She was enjoying herself, and after all the shit she had to put up with, she deserved a chance to unwind. A chance to let loose. A chance to be free.

But, at the expense of her getting arrested?

“Wait a second. Is that--?”

I looked over and saw Mike narrowing his eyes.

“What is it?” I asked.

He snickered. “Allison’s holding a red cup.”

My head whipped back over. “What now?”

One of the guys moved out of the way and I saw it. Ally, with one arm wrapped around Rae’s, and her free hand holding a fucking red Solo cup. My jaw dropped open. I watched Mike lunge, headed straight for the two of them. I saw his nostrils flaring. I reached for his arm and held him back. I stood in front of him, holding my hands against his chest.

“What the fuck is she doing? She’s never had a damn drink in her life!”

I leveled my eyes with his. “It could just be water, dude. You don’t know what’s in that cup.”

“Clint, have you seen one drop of water around this shithole?”

I sighed. “Okay, but we go up there calmly. We aren’t here to police them. Just keep them safe.”

“Yeah, and my girl--who hasn’t ever had alcohol--is drinking some fucking cinnamon concoction from hell. Get out of my way.”

“Mike!”

He shoved me out of the way and stormed up to the girls with me right behind him. The guys in the group turned around with grins on their faces as their gazes ran up and down our bodies. My stare found Rae and her smile dropped. Ally looked at Mike and her jaw fell open. He walked up to her and peered into her cup as I went to stand beside Rae. And when a look of shock dripped over Mike’s eyes, I sighed.

Ally shook her head. “It’s just a bit of wine. It really isn’t anything. I tried a sip of Mom’s once.”

Mike took her glass. “How many have you had?”

Ally balked. “What? That’s my first one. I’m not some lush.”

Rae slipped in between them. “What the hell’s wrong? She’s just having a drink.”

Mike snickered. “Yeah. And you’ve had one too many. Come on. We’re going to the hotel.”

Ally shook her head. “I want to stay, though. We made some new friends. See?”

I looked over at the girls, who seemed to be grinning. They had these ‘I told you so’ faces on and their arms were crossed over their chests.

What the hell had they been talking about over here?

“Clint, do something.”

Rae motioned over toward Mike, but all I did was shrug.

“He’s right. I think things are getting a little out of hand here.”

Rae scoffed. “Are you serious right now?”

Ally sighed. “Come on. Just a little more time.”

Mike shook his head. “We’re going back to the hotel. Now.”

I nodded. “I think that’s a good idea.”

Rae glowered. “Oh, sure you do. You get to party, but I don’t. You get to get it out of your system, but I don’t. Because then who would take care of you? Right?”