Page 22 of Afterglow
“Definitely should be for you,”
Unexpectedly, a shirt is thrown at Sam’s chest. Jayden narrows his eyes at the both of us. Overprotective brothers are the worst.
“Stop flirting with my sister,” Jay says sternly.
Sam grins even wider but obeys the silent command to wear a shirt. “Why? It’s so fun to see you riled up,”
“Don’t make me bruise your other cheek,”
I snort. Men. Pouring myself a drink, I down it in seconds. I’m not intoxicated enough.
“Slow down,” Jayden states.
I scoff, walking away from him. My mind continues to run riot as I dance with my friends, yet the more I drink, the more my brain seems to get the message. The three of us shout lyrics to Taylor Swift, laughing and smiling. It is good to let loose at the start of the year before my classes get too hectic.
Hands wrap around my waist, floating down to my hips. I step away and look up at the rugged guy. “Don’t touch me,” I slur, while a weight builds in my chest, forcing my breathing to become sparse.
This is not good.
“Don’t be like that. Let’s have some fun,”
His strange hands attempt to grab me again as if consent doesn’t exist to him. Fuck I hate men. The stranger is rough with his hands digging into my stomach. I gather enough strength to push him away from me. He mustn’t expect it—or he is too drunk to stand, because he falls to the ground.
“You fucking bitch,”
Everything shakes. Arms. Legs. Hands. Then the spinning starts. Fuck. I try to use my breathing exercises but I’m too far gone for them to work. I twist the ring around my middle finger, trying to calm down. Nothing works as I struggle up the stairs of the Hockey House.Jay’s bedroom is around here somewhere. A piercing ring assaults my ears, making its way into my brain.
Breathe in. Breathe out.
My chest rises erratically. After what feels like a lifetime of searching, I crash onto my brother’s bed. The pounding of my heart thuds in my ears. My vision blurs, black and white spots appearing.
Fuck.
Tears stream down my cheeks as a pit grows in my stomach, making the nausea even worse.
Why didn’t I find Sofia or Athena? I thought they were next to me.
In this moment, as my eyes fluttered shut, I’ve never felt more alone.
Chapter 11
Theodore Knight
As athletes, we are naturally competitive. But when someone starts a beer pong game, all hell breaks loose. The goalie from the ice hockey team, Toby Hodge and I are in a battle for bragging rights and what the better sport is. The answer is and always will be football.
I line up my ball with the final cup. “Knight lines it up. He shoots,”
I pause. “And he scores,” My teammates huddle around me like we have won achampionship.
A couple people pass me more drinks, but after that game, I need to piss. Strolling over to the bathroom downstairs, I look at all the people surrounding it. Fucking hell. Where is Jayden? Surely, he will let me use his bathroom.
I’m about to go find him but Kierra cuts me off. She fits in every cliche: head cheerleader and obsessed with football players. We started hooking up in freshman year, but I don’t think I’m interested anymore.
“Theo,” Kierra purred.
“Hey Kierra. I wanted to talk to you,”
Her eyes light up. Dear god, this isn’t going to end well.
