Caley's POV :

Party.

I was at a party. Not by will of course. I was dragged here by Rachel.
Rachel was in a mood to party whilst I was bribed for food.
Damn stuffs I do for food!

Kenna was busy. Ana was being Ana. Miriam n Maira don't party. Like at all.

It had been 2 weeks since the cafeteria incident.
Since then we were behaving as politely as we could during lunch hour.
I'm not planning on cleaning tables any time soon again. Nope. Nada. Not happening.

It was not less than a nightmare. I remember having my hands sore for 2 days straight!

Sure I play soccer at times but even that doesn't cover up to what my situation had been after cleaning those tables.

"Earth to Caley", says Rachel while waving her hand in front of me.

That pulls me out of my train of thoughts.

"Huh?", I say in response.

Rachel rolls her eyes and then I take in my surroundings.

Oh right, I am at a party thrown by Finn, a jock from our school.
His parents were out for weekend and he decided to throw a party.

It's a regular high school party. Red plastic glasses thrown around the lawn, spiked drinks and of course the over display of affection everywhere.
Be it on couch, against a wall or on the dance floor.
All you can see is drunk teenagers in action. Gross!

"Hey Cal, thanks for making it to the party", Finn patted my back and welcomed us in his home. He had to shout over the loud music being played.

"Of course man, you look drunk already. The party has just begun!", I cheered loudly.

He grinned at this. "Just a tad bit drunk. Help yourself around ladies. I'll catch up with you in a while".
With that he mocked a salute to us and disappeared in a sea of teenagers around.

"Really Caley? Acting like a girl once in a while won't kill you, you know?", huffed Rachel.

"Hey, I'm a cheerleader ain't I? Isn't that enough girly?", I rose my eyebrow in question.

"That's cause your mom had to force you to get into the squad. Else you were totally a gone case. I mean just look at what you're wearing to a party!", complained Rachel.

I looked down to see I was wearing a black Super man sweatshirt, paired it with blue worn out jeans, along with sneakers.
Whilst Rachel was wearing a LBD which reached her mid thigh and paired it with red stilettos.

Okay, can someone tell me what's wrong with wearing a sweatshirt to a party? Isn't it about being comfortable?

"And I don't see any problem with my choice of clothes", I answer her honestly.

"Aurgh! You're a cheerleader for God's sake! Cheerleaders have a reputation to hold to", she exclaimed exasperately.

"Your point being?", I asked her curiously.

"You're supposed to act more like a girl and not like a tomboy or something", she tried reasoning with me.

"That's so sexist Rach! Do you want me to parade around like them wearing dresses or skirts which hardly cover their butts?", I ask incredulously pointing towards a group of girls who are just wearing clothes for namesake, throwing themselves at jocks left and right.

Have girls no dignity left in them these days? Really?

"No Caley. You know better than dressing or acting like them. My point is unless you act more like a girl how will a guy notice you?", she tried another way to explain it to me.

"Whoa whoa whoa. Hold up Missy.
One, I don't need a guy to make me feel good. And Two, isn't it about being yourself? The guy shall like a girl for being herself and not being others? Follow what you preach girl!", I looked at her in disbelief.

She narrowed her eyes at me then let a defeated sigh.

"There's no hope for you I swear", she mutters more to herself.

"Well I never said I did", I wink at her.

A smile tug at the corner of her lips and she shook her head laughing.

"Come on. Let's get this party started", I gave a smug smile to Rachel.

She nods in response and we make our make to the dance floor.

After an hour of dancing and mingling in the crowd, I excuse myself from them and make my way to the kitchen to get a drink.

On my way to kitchen, all I see is couples making out in the hallway. Like in a way that's supposed to be done in private.
Ew. I look away and continue with my quest to kitchen.

After 10 minutes of roaming around aimlessly and asking few people for directions, I finally make it to kitchen.
God I'm so thirsty!

I look around to see a couple in a total make out session against a refrigerator. Really? They're not even leaving a poor refrigerator out of this?

Ew man, I don't want to go anywhere near them. Their position looks so bad I swear I had to look away.
Then my throat goes dry again. Okay, I have to do it to quench my thirst.

I walk to them and clear my throat.

Anddd

No effect. Nothing. I don't even get a glance in my direction.

Rude much? I think to myself and clear my throat again. Louder this time.

Anddd

Nope. Nothing again. They don't even move an inch or turn their heads from their position.

Aughhh I let out few incoherent words under my breath.

They look so disgusting right now that it hurts my eyes to just glance at them.

Oh what all I have to witness just to get my drink!

"Hello??", I call out to them to get a reaction out of them.

Nope. Nothing again.

Are they deaf? What's their problem!

That's it! I can't take it anymore.

I pull the guy's shirt from behind and that gets them to react. Finally.

"What the-" I cut him off immediately.
"Get a room why don't you?", I ask without looking at the person.

"Easy their Tiger", says the guy in an all familiar voice.

I snap my head in his direction to see it's our very own Mr. Ryan West in all his glory. With his little trophy displayed right in front of him.

No surprise there.

I glare at a smirking Ryan. Oh how I wish I can wipe that smirk off his face.

"Relax Tiger. If you wanted me so badly, all you had to do was ask", he winked at me.

I scrunched my nose in disgust and pushed him next to his little trophy.

"You wish West", I sneered at him.

"Oh I wish alright", he countered back with a smirk.

I growl at him in response.

He looks at me from head to toe,
"I must admit you have some fashion sense Anderson", he says with an amused smile on his face.

The trophy next to him lets out a giggle in response.

I raise my eyebrow at her, "At least I'm not the one who has mistaken a napkin as a dress", I smirk at the blonde in front of me who was wearing something that totally screamed slut!

Her smile is now wiped off her face and is replaced with a scowl.

Score! I pat my back imaginatively.

"Tut tut Anderson. Fighting over a guy, are we?", he says with a smug smile on his face.

I look around in confusion and turn to him, "I'm sorry who are we talking about exactly?", I ask him in innocence.

"Me", he stated arrogantly.

I burst out laughing in his face.

"You must be high on girls already West. You must take it slow", I say while wiping a fake tear from my eyes.

"Is it your subtle way of saying you're jealous?", he countered.

"Jealous? Me? Of your trophies? You must be high or something", I said while cackling up again.

"I'm high on you sweetheart", he said while leaning closer to me.

Way too close for my liking actually.

I gasped at our close proximity. Okay, he's definitely drunk.

"Back off West", I warned him this time.

He looked at me for a while with an amused expression on his face and then backed away.

Oh Thank Lord! I didn't want to make a scene at a party.
I let out a breath in relief.

"Okay I'm gonna get my drinks and let you do whatever the heck you want to do", I said while getting 3 cans of beer out of refrigerator.

"You shouldn't be drinking Anderson", remarked Ryan with seriousness.

I rose my eyebrow in question.

"Remember when I asked you for your opinion? No? Me neither!", I retorted back acidly.

"Don't. Get. Drunk.", he repeated more calmly.

I'd be lying if I said a shiver didn't just run down my spine at his cold tone.

"Hey West, your barbie is waiting for you", I said while ignoring what he said and pointing towards the little trophy behind him who was glaring at me.
What's her problem?

"How original Anderson", he rolled his eyes.

"Well I try to be", I smirk at him and take that as a cue to leave.

Halfway across the hallway I meet Rachel who looks extremely pissed.

"Where the heck were you woman? How long will it take to get a drink exactly?", she demanded angrily.

"Uh sorry. I was caught up in.. ", I started but was cut off by Rachel.

"- Ohh I get it I get it. You don't have to apologise, you should've just informed me you'd be occupied for a while", she trailed off while looking behind me.

Huh? I turned to look whom she was looking at. West was making his way towards us now.
I raised my eyebrow at Rachel who gave me a wink.

I glare at her for her dumb assumptions.

"Hello Ladies", West greeted when he reached us.

"Oh hey Ryan", Rachel greeted back.

"You look beautiful Rachel. Glad to see at least someone has a sense of dressing", Ryan said while giving me a once over.

I rolled my eyes at his comment.

"Why Thank you. You look quite handsome as always", Rachel winked at Ryan which he responded with his obvious smirk.

Gag me.

"Never mind Caley's dressing sense, she can't wear a dress even if her life depended on it", Rachel said with a teasing smile on her face.

"Why thank you. I like it how you talk about me as if I'm not here", I say while sipping my can of beer.

She sticks her tongue out in response.

"How mature", I mutter to myself.

Ryan eyes me closely every time I take a sip from my can. What's his problem again?

"May I have the pleasure to dance with you Beautiful?", asks a guy to Rachel.
"Blake", he extends his hand out to Rachel.

"Rachel", she shakes his hand while suppressing a blush.
"And these are my friends Caley and Ryan", She introduces us as well.

We exchange our hello's politely.

Blake is quite tall and muscular enough. He has a boyish charm on his face.
He's cute actually.

Rachel looks at me for my opinion and I nod my head in approval. The guy's cute and it's just a dance so why the heck not?

"Yes you- ", she was cut off by Craig's voice.

"- No she can't. Go dance with someone else", Craig says in a pissed tone.

"Relax bud, I didn't know she's taken", Blake raises his hands in surrender.

"What? No! I -", Rachel started to say but was cut off by Craig immediately.

"Of course she is. Now scram before I rearrange your face", said Craig in a threatening voice.

Blake backed away, knowing very well no one messes with Craig.

Craig's pretty popular in town.
He isn't our star Quater-back for nothing.
He has the looks, physique and an impressive family background.
His parents are well known Surgeons in California.

"What the heck Craig!?", shrieked Rachel when we were left alone.

"What?", he says casually as if he didn't just shooed the guy away.

"Why did you lie to him?", demanded Rachel angrily.

"Cause I didn't want you to dance with him", he said in a matter of fact tone.

Rachel glared at Craig for a while,
"Screw you", with that she left our side.

"This girl is driving me crazy I swear", Craig turned to us in frustration.

"She'll come around", I told him sympathetically.

"Dude, stop obsessing around. Give her a break will you?", stated Ryan in an annoying voice.

"And what? Let her be played by others?", asked Craig in disbelief.

"No. Give her a break. Stop pining over her. Stop showering her with your affection. It's high time she takes you seriously", explained Ryan.

Damn he's right. If it wasn't for Rachel, I wouldn't have agreed with West.

Craig looked at me for my opinion.

"I don't believe I'm saying this, but I agree with West, It's time you stop chasing her and make her chase you.", I said hoping Rachel won't kill me for this.

He looked at us for few minutes in silence and then a wide grin stretched across his lips.

"Let the chase begin", he announced gleefully.

-------------

After another hour of lazing around, drinking and dancing I was extremely tired, just as I took a seat on the couch, Rachel slumped down next to me. She was totally wasted.

On the other hand I wasn't. I knew exactly when to stop. I can handle beer well but I knew when not to over do it. I am the designated driver plus I had a perfect first hand experience not to repeat the same mistake again.

"God Cal, how do you manage to stay sober? Just give in for today will you?", slurred Rachel from my side.

"Ahuh? And who'll take our pretty butts home?", I reasoned out.

"Who cares? Let's just crash over here", slurred Rachel in a state of daze.

I shook my head in response, sober Rachel would never tell this.

After a moment of silence I heard soft snores around me. I turned my head to see Rachel was asleep already.
Damn she couldn't even wait till we reached to our car.
I have to carry her fat butt to the car all alone! I sighed in defeat.

I leaned back to the couch and thought over Rachel's question.

It's not like I've never been drunk before recklessly. I did. But that was even when I had learnt a biggest lesson of my life.

Never get way too drunk that your life may turn upside down within a blink of an eye.

That's when I started to get a hold of myself. Just cause of one person.

Alec Brooks.

~~~~~~ Flash back ~~~~~~

I was at a party in my freshman year, thrown by some popular kid of our school.

I was wearing a cute halter neck top and paired it with a capri. I never wore a dress, I just don't see it's appeal honestly.

I danced, mingled with people and drank all night. So much so that I couldn't even walk straight.

Apparently I was a fun drunk, well that's what people say anyway. Doing all those crazy stuffs which I possibly wouldn't have done when in sober state.

Like climbing on the table and dancing sensuously.

Hearing guys chant my name just to see more of it.

Hitting the girlfriend in face of a guy I had hots for.

Doing crazy chicken dance.

Practically embarrassing myself over and over again.

After an hour or so my head started to hurt badly. All I knew was I have to get to a room and rest for a while.

I couldn't walk straight. I couldn't trust my eyes to lead me to the right path.
I balanced half of my weight against a wall and dragged my feet across the hallway.
Having no clue on Earth where the heck I'm even going.

Suddenly I was pulled by my wrist by someone. He started flirting with me and touching me inappropriately.
I told him to leave me alone and pushed him away with as much strength as I could muster.

The guy didn't budge at all. He had a strong grip on me. He pushed me against a wall and kissed me hard.
I tried pushing him away but my body was giving up on me.

All of a sudden out of nowhere the guy was pulled behind by his collar.
Someone intervened at the right moment and punched the guy in face then stomach.

All I could see in my dazy state was someone punching someone. Sounds of flesh hitting flesh, grunts and growls were the only things I could hear.

After a few minutes my body finally gave up on me and I passed out on the floor.

I woke up with a killer headache next morning.
When I opened my eyes something felt different. Really different. I quickly assessed my surroundings only to find out I didn't know where I was.

Panic surged through my entire body. I couldn't remember anything. I tried to remember what exactly happened last night.

I forced myself to remember the events that took place last night. Something! Anything! I rebuked myself to think harder.

"Oh you're up! Morning", said an unfamiliar voice.

I looked up to see a guy who looked around my age enter the room.
Tall, toned chest and dare I say Hot!
He has oceanic blue eyes and olive skin.

OHMYGOD! What the heck did I do last night?

Did I.. Did.. Did it happen last night? Was the only question revolving in my mind.

I was frightened would be an understatement of the century!

"Who.. Who are you? A-And W-what am I d-doing he-ere?", I asked in a low voice.
Scared to hear the answer of that question.

He looked at me for a while and said, "You don't remember a thing, do you?"

What was there to remember?? I asked myself over and over again.

"What do you mean?", I asked in a calm tone.
Trying to control my nerves inside.

"Do you seriously don't remember what happened last night?", he asked again while scrutinising me under his glare.

"Obviously I don't! Why do you think I would've asked you if I remember a thing!?", I sneered at him.

I don't want to sound rude to the person who practically has an answer to the million dollar question. But the guy's like an annoying broken record, repeating himself over and over again!

Isn't he smart enough to understand I don't remember a thing?

"Feisty aren't you? I like it", he said with a smirk on his face.

"Will you just tell me already!?", I snapped at him.

"Okay okay relax. Nothing happened between us. I was at the same party yesterday. I found some loser forcing himself on you, first I thought it's a mutual consent thing. Then I heard you saying 'Leave me alone' then you tried pushing him away repeatedly. That's when I realised what was happening. I pulled that prick by the collar of his shirt and jumped in action.

By the time I was done with him I found you passed out on the floor. I didn't trust you on your own so I decided to get you back to my place. Don't worry I didn't behave inappropriately with you. In fact I didn't even change your clothes if that makes you feel better", he explained it to me.

I was under shock after I learnt this. It took me a while to process all this information.

And that's when it hit me. Every event and single detail came crashing down to me.

OhGod !OhGod! OhGod! What have I done?? I was molested last night! I was on the verge of getting rape!
OhMyGod!

I felt my hands tremble in fear. I didn't know how to react to this.
Shivers of fear and disgust ran down my spine. I felt... I felt used,broken in some way.

I felt tears stream down my face.

"Oh crap! What's wrong?? Are you okay?", asked the guy in front of me.

I stared at him in disbelief. And I started crying even more. He made it seem more real. And I cried even harder.

He crossed the distance between us in two long strides and pulled me to his chest.

"Shhh.. it's okay. You're okay. Nothing's happened to you", he cooed in my ear repeatedly.

I clutched his shirt tightly and cried all over him.

"Shhh.. shhh.. listen to me.", he held my face in his hands and made me look at him.

"Nothing has happened last night. Do you hear me? Nothing. He didn't get that far. I didn't let him to", he said with sincerity glistening in his eyes.

I knew he was saying the truth by the way his eyes held my gaze.

I nodded my head in response and hugged him tightly. Trying to erase all the bad feelings and negative vibes that I had on my mind.

I half expected him to push me away, but he hugged me back, cooing in my ear repeatedly while stroking my back gently.

I pulled away from him when I was sure I wouldn't ponder on it anymore.

"Are you okay? Feeling any better?", he asked me softly while holding my face in his hands.

I nodded my head in response.
I looked up at him in gratitude and whispered 'Thank you' so softly that I barely heard it myself.

"Shhh. Don't", he whispered back calmly.

We stared at each other for a long time. After what seemed like forever he inched closer and gave a peck on my forehead, his lips lingering there for a while and then pulled away to look at me.

"Better now?", he gave me a heart melting smile and winked at me.

I let out a giggle and nod my head in embarrassment.

He gave me a smile and straightened himself.

"The name's Brooks. Alec Brooks.", he introduces himself in James Bond style.

I roll my eyes at his immaturity but give a smile nevertheless.

"Anderson. Caley Anderson", I mimick him with a teasing smile on my face.

He lets out a boyish grin at that.

-------

Since then I was friends with Alec Brooks. We became really close. More like best friends. We learnt a lot about each other. Likes, dislikes, we were aware of each other's routines, our parents were familiar with us. I started falling for Alec Brooks in no time.

After 4 months of strong bond he came over one day to announce he was moving away to NewYork with his family in a week.

I practically locked myself in my room whole day. I didn't want him to go. I was too attached to him to let him go. I cried myself to sleep everyday.

He came over every day just to talk to me, to amend our strained friendship.
I made sure I didn't meet him at any cost.
I refused to talk to him or meet him. I ignored him all the way till the day he was actually leaving the town. Leaving me behind.

When I finally realised this is it. This is the last time I would ever see him, reality hit me like a tonne of bricks.

I looked out of my window to see it was raining heavily.
I didn't care. I had to see him now.

I grabbed a pair of sneakers, put them on and ran as fast as I could to his house.

I saw Mrs and Mr. Brooks lifting a pile of books and dumping it in the trunk of their car.

Mrs. Brooks noticed me and beckoned me over.

"Oh honey I'm glad you came over. Alec was really upset that he didn't get a chance to say goodbye to you", she said and gave me a motherly hug and Mr. Brooks gave a gentle squeeze on my shoulder.

"Where's Alec?", I asked them trying to suppress my tears.

"Backyard", said Mr. Brooks.

I thanked him and made my way to their backyard.

I saw Alec completely drenched, standing next to our flower plant which we planted together.

I went closer to him and just stood there. I didn't know what came over me and I hugged him tightly from behind.

"I'm sorry", I told him quietly, tears pouring down my cheeks.

I felt his muscles tense under my hold and then relax immediately.

He turned around and looked at me calmly.

He wiped off the tears falling from my eyes and pulled me in a hug tightly.

I hugged him back with as much force as I could muster. OhGod I can't let him go. I just can't.

We were just standing in his backyard, hugging each other whilst it was raining cats and dogs over us.

I pulled away after a while and apologised for my behaviour again.

"I just.. I couldn't..", was all I could say before I felt his lips crashing down on mine.

I was taken a back for a moment there. A-Alec is kissing me? He likes me?

That realisation hit me even more than a tonne of bricks!

I kissed him back immediately with all I had. All the emotions were transformed in that kiss. We didn't need to say it out loud. The kiss explained itself in a better way.

We pulled away after a while for catching our breaths. That's my first kiss if you exclude the scene that happened at the party.

And that too in the rain! Looks like my dream came true! Kissing Alec while its raining!

We had this huge grin plastered across our faces. No words were needed to describe it. It was perfect.

We may not see each other again, but what we had now was enough for us.

"I need you to promise me you'll take care of yourself and stay away from trouble", I said to Alec.

He looked at me with his eyes shining in mischief.

"I promise", he said with a teasing glint in his eyes.

I stared at him for a while contemplating whether he crossed his fingers or toes this time.

"Fingers and toes in check?", I glared at him.

He let out a chuckle and nodded his head in amusement.

"Good", I said and stuck my tongue out in response.

"Promise me you won't get drunk to a point where you can't handle yourself. I'm not stopping you from drinking. Just promise me you'll stop when you know you can't handle it anymore. Please? For me?", he requested with a tight smile on his face.

A tear streak made it's way down my cheek again.

I nodded my head in confirmation.

"I promise you Alec. I promise you", I said while bursting in another round of tears.

He pulled me to his chest and I sobbed uncontrollably in his chest.

He pulled me back and I could see a pool of tears making it's way in his eyes. He pulled me in for a long kiss this time. Our breaths were ragged when we pulled away again.

"It's time to leave honey", said Mrs. Brooks from behind us.

"Coming mom", Alec said in response.

"It was a pleasure meeting you Ms. Caley Anderson", he said with his heart melting smile on his face.

"The pleasure was all mine Mr. Alec Brooks", I said with a huge smile on my face.

He entwined his fingers with mine and walked us out.

Mrs and Mr. Brooks were seated in their car already.

"Take care child"
"Have a great life ahead Caley", said Mrs and Mr. Brooks to me with a loving smile on their faces.

"You too", I gave them a genuine smile back.

"Take care Cals. I'll miss you.", said Alec in a soft voice while looking at me intently.

"You too Alex. I'll miss you more", I said while trying not to cry in front of him again.

He held my face in his hands, leaned in slowly and pecked my lips again. Slowly and softly. His lips lingering over mine for quite some time.

"Take care", he said after he pulled away while still holding my face in his hands.

We stared at each other for a long time. After what seemed like forever he inched closer and gave a peck on my forehead, his lips lingering there for a while and then pulled away to look at me.

He gave me a tight smile and walked away. He got in the car and blew me a kiss.
I pretended to catch it and place it over my heart.

He chuckled and shook his head in amusement.

He curved his pinky finger and reminded me of my promise.

I made a curve with my pinky finger trying to show that I'm holding on to my promise.

He gave me a last smile and waved at me when the car started to move forward.

I gave him a huge smile and waved back to him.

Although my world was falling apart around me.

I won't let you down Alec, I promise.

~~~~~ End of flash back ~~~~~

"Hey Anderson you okay?", I heard West's voice around me.

I opened my eyes to see West standing right in front of me with a look that I couldn't quite decipher.

I wiped my tears off and nodded my head as a yes.

"You sure? Do you want me to get you a drink or something?", he asked me, his voice lacing with concern.

"A glass of water please?", I asked him politely.

He nodded his head and went to fetch me a glass of water.

I looked around to see many people passed out on floor or couches.
Rachel was still snoring quietly but her head was rested on Craig's shoulder.

Looks like no matter what, Craig won't be able to stay away from Rachel. I smiled at this. Rachel's really lucky. Only if she knew.

"Here", said West while placing a glass of water in front of me.

"Thank you", I gulped it down calmly.

"Better?", he asked hesitantly.

I nodded my head in response.

"Come on, let's leave", he said with the same expression on his face.

He woke up Craig and told him we were leaving.
He carried Rachel bridal style all the way to my car, made her sit safely and buckled her seatbelt for her.
He pecked on her forehead then made his way next to West.

I thanked them again for their help.

"Drive safely Anderson", said West worryingly.

"I will", I promised and drove away to Rachel's place.

After carrying her fat butt all the way to her room. I climbed in bed with her and drifted off to sleep.

-------------------------

A/N : Sorry for the late update.
I was really busy with stuffs.

I have my finals from next week!

I'll try to update asap.

And I made it wayyyy longer this time. I hope it's not a crappy chapter.

Do let me know what you think of it. :)

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