Lizzie

I grab myself a glass of cold water to take up to my room too. The house is so silent; after the noise of the party, it is soothing. I really don't get the whole partying scene. I grab some cookies from the flower-patterned barrel sitting on the counter and start munching before I've got to the bottom of the staircase. I didn't really eat anything at the party, and my dinner was a few hours ago now.

Heading up the stairs, I see the light go out under my parents' bedroom door. Since it's now well after half-ten, and by the time I chat again with Brandon and see if he has any news on Tammy, I already know I won't be getting any sleep much before midnight. The thought of having to go through the whole day tomorrow, shattered, makes me groan. But I do have the trip to Oregon with Brandon to look forward to. I can sleep an hour or two on the jet before we land. I'm excited for that; I mean, taking me to Oregon to go hiking in my favourite place is just so exciting. I cannot wait.

As I open the door to my bedroom, the fairy lights strung everywhere come on. They are on a motion sensor, and I love how it cheers my room up and casts a warm glow across the entire space. My bed looks so comfortable that I could just throw myself on it, close my eyes, and fall fast asleep.

I throw my bag down on the little round chair that sits in one corner of my room and begin to undress myself. I make sure my blinds are closed because I know with the light on, Brandon could, should he be looking, see right into my bedroom. I know our houses are set back from one another, but still I don't want to take any chances. Not that I wouldn't like Brandon to see me naked, but not like this. I want it to be when we're together, when he is holding me tight into him, and I can smell his minty breath and lemon and cinnamon aftershave. Mmm. He always smells so divine, and I always buy him the same Ralph Lauren aftershave. Polo.

Happy I'm behind closed shutters, I remove my clothes and leave them lying on the back of the chair, under the end of my duvet on the bed. I find my pajama sleep shorts and top. Buttercup yellow with blue flowers. Cute and cozy.

I fantasize about the silk ones I would wear if I were with Brandon, and imagine how it would feel for his fingers to trail down my stomach and touch me there, enjoying the soft touch of silk against his fingertips. The warm sensation I felt in the car, both when he looked at me and when I touched his hand on the shift stick, floods my body. This need and desire I have for him are so desperate. I really want to feel him inside of me.

My phone bleeps and vibrates; I reach for my purse, open it and pull out my mobile. I can see Brandon's face on it. I flick the screen up and throw myself on the bed against my pillows.

"Hi there. Any news?" I ask as I prop myself up and rest the mobile on my knees so I can untie my hair from its ponytail. The top of my head feels sore from where it's been tied up all day.

"Yeah. She's fine. Sort of." He says, lying against his pillows on his bed too. I can see from the way he is resting his mobile on his knees that he looks ready for bed. His chest is naked. It looks like soft caramel since he's been working on his tan. It suits him; it's like a latte. I could run over there and lick his torso. Stop it, Lizzie. I chide myself, but it's so frigging difficult. I want to be in bed next to him.

I want to touch his skin. I want to be so damn close to him that it's physically turning my insides out. The heat is scorching from below, and I have to focus on what he's saying so I don't stroke myself. It. Is. Fucking. Difficult.

Brandon's hands are behind his head, and I can see the bulge of his biceps, not too big. I hate that. But just right. They're perfect, and with his tattoos they make his arms even sexier. His eyes are so deep and perfect, I could stare into them forever. It's so fucking shit that I have to be his best friend instead of one of the girls, no THE ONLY girl he takes to bed. Fantasizing about your best mate is nothing like being the one he wants to be with full time. It's killing me. Killing Me. Literally. Killing Me.

"What do you mean sort of? Was she wasted?"

"Yep, unfortunately. Denver found her sprawled across one of the beds in the house. He said he had to grab a random blanket out of one of the wardrobes and drape it over her and call for Lilly." I shake my head as I listen to Brandon. It's tragic. So many kids I know get wasted at a young age for reasons only known to them. But Tammy is a good girl, well at least she was a good girl. She never drank, and especially not like this, and she certainly never took pills. This was the first time I'd ever witnessed her taking or having any.

So, now I'm wondering how long this has been going on. My heart literally breaks for her younger sister, Willow. She needs somebody to look up to, somebody to be her elder and responsible sister. Not a teenager who is taking pills, drinking herself to oblivion and hanging out having sex with all the wrong guys.

"Shit. That's so bad. Did they take her home?"

"Yeah, Denver carried her out to his car with Lilly and drove her straight home. They managed to find her key in her purse so they didn't need to wake Willow up. I guess her parents were travelling again."

"Yes, Tammy mentioned they were attending some big charity gala in New York for a few days. So sad, Brandon. I wish we could do something for her." He nods his head in agreement. His eyes aren't shining so brightly right now; I know he cares for Tammy too. We've all gone through school together, we've climbed trees together, played together, swam in the ocean together, and for this to be happening to her is so sad. SO. SAD.