"You know," Amy began as she handed Emma a cup of fresh coffee. "it's not as bad I thought working here. Apart from the fact there's hardly any shifts where we work together."
Emma chuckled and took a sip of her coffee. "I think you'll need to go to manager about that - it's unbelievable!" She teased.

"Hey," Eli said, almost making Amy and Emma jump.
"Uh, hi." Emma said.
"Have you been stood here this whole time?" Amy asked.
Eli nodded. "I guess you didn't see me."

Amy was already feeling awkward, and was thankful Emma spoke up. "Is that a job application?"
"Yep. Crying houses, hiring. Besides, it wouldn't completely suck working together," Eli turned to Amy. "right?"
Amy chuckled. "No, yeah! That would be awesome."

Emma then walked off to the coffee counter, Amy was guessing she was getting some sugar and mixing it with one of the thin wooden sticks - like she did every time she wasn't working.

Eli followed Emma, which somehow made Amy sad. She was used to Eli eyeing her and giving her the attention and now he was talking to Emma without even giving her a second look.

She sighed. She knew she was being stupid over a pathetic situation like this, but something inside of her felt something for him and although she found him weird, she liked it and wanted to know more about him.

"I hope you're coming to Kieran's." Eli said to Amy, snapping her out of her thoughts.
"Sorry?" She asked.
Eli smiled. "I didn't mean to snap you out of your daydream. But I said I hope you're coming to Kieran's."
"Kieran's what?"
"His party." Eli chuckled. "Emma's throwing a surprise party."

"Was that what you two were just talking about?" She asked, in which Eli nodded.
Amy smiled. "Sure. I guess I'll see you there. Let's hope you get the job."
Eli gave her a small nod. "Let's hope I do."

***

"Emma!" Amy shouted as she entered the house and immediately saw her best friend.
"Amy!" She shouted back, pulling her into a hug.

"You want a drink?" Gustavo asked with a smirk as he came up to the two. "Shots?"
Emma and Amy exchanged looks before nodding and each taking a shot glass. Stavo cheered as the girls downed it before walking off to serve more drinks.

"Hey, you came!" Amy heard Eli say.
She spun around and smiled as she was greeted by the blue-eyed boy.
"Hi-"
"Yo, Kieran alert coming up the driveway!" Audrey announced, cutting Amy off.

Eli laughed and grabbed her hand, making her drop her shot glass, which was luckily empty. "I've got the best hiding spot." He told her.
Amy didn't object as Eli lead her behind the curtains.
Amy chuckled. "This is your great hiding spot?" She asked as the lights went out.

Amy could feel his breath hitting her as he silently laughed. Although Amy couldn't completely see, Eli leaned in closer and whispered, "Best one in the house."
She grinned. "I'm not so sure."

The doorbell rang, signalling Kieran was there. "Come in!" Emma excitedly called.
"Surprise!" Everyone shouted as the lights turned back on and everyone reappeared.

Eli and Amy forced the curtains out of the way and Eli laughed at some strands of her in her face from attempting to get out from behind the curtain smoothly.
Amy laughed and sorted out her hair. "It's hard having long hair, okay?"

Eli sat down in front of table full of more shots with Amy and gave her another before picking one up for himself.
They watched Kieran down a shot before turning to Eli after Emma had told him something.

Eli smiled and held up his shot before downing it with Amy.
Amy laughed. "Kieran doesn't look happy."
Eli shrugged and smirked. "I'm sure he's fine.

***

"I still think we need to get everyone to the hospital just to be safe." Audrey said as Amy stumbled into the room, clutching her stomach. "I guess I'm not the only one who's feeling sick, then." She groaned.

"Yep. But I haven't eaten a thing tonight." Brooke said. "My bet is it's Jake's tequila."
"Score one for the blonde." Gustavo joked. "Back in Phoenix, it was a thing to go to the desert and trip on Iowaska. I did it myself once and it had the same pungent smell as the tequila. It made you hurl too. I think we might have been dosed."

Emma scoffed. "Even Jake wouldn't do that."
"Wouldn't he? I mean, his behaviour has been less than stellar lately." Brooke said.

"Iowaska. Used as spiritual medicine in ceremonies among the indigenous people of Amazonian Peru." Noah read from his phone.

"Yeah, so, if that's what it is, the puking should stop soon. It's fairly harmless." Gustavo explained.
"Fairly?!" Amy repeated.
"Individuals often feel like they gain access to higher dimensions and make contact with spiritual guides." Noah looked up. "What does that mean?"
"It means we start hallucinating." Gustavo replied.

"Oh my God..." Emma mumbled.
"Or not. It effects everyone differently. I mean, some people feel wired, others get tired and pass out. Me, I got super relaxed." Gustavo pointed to himself. "No inhibitions. It all depends on what's buried inside of you; it brings that truth to the surface."

"You seem to know a lot about a drug that you only did one time." Emma spoke up.
"Suspicion, paranoia... Iowaska can do that too." Gustavo smiled.
"Look, if we're all about to start hallucinating we need to keep everyone inside this house - we need to be safe!" Audrey planned.

"I agree." Amy nodded in agreement.
"Yes. I will go get everyone who was outside yacking in my front yard." Emma said, getting up.
"I can give you a hand." Gustavo offered.
"Oh, no, no, no! I will give her a hand!" Audrey said, harshly. "Come on, Emma."

***

"Eli!" Amy yelled as her voice cracked. "Eli!"
"Amy!" She heard him yell.
She spun and smiled a drunken, and lazy smile before running up to him with her arms out. Eli extended his arms and pulled her into a big hug. He picked up off the ground and Amy lifted up her legs as if they were dramatically hugging in a cheesy film.

"Let's play a game." He slurred, his voice suddenly becoming deeper to Amy.
"What kind of game?" She grinned, leaning closer so their noses were almost touching.
"Let's see who can find the best hiding spot in the house." Eli said, his voice then becoming higher, before returning back to normal. "Since you said my hiding spot wasn't the best, let's see if you can find a better one."

Amy laughed and grabbed his hand, pressing her forehead against his. "Game on." Was all she said, before she pulled away and dragged him up the stairs.

They ran around the upstairs area of the house. From falling into bathtubs, to squeezing into wardrobes and underneath beds. They were now underneath the sheets, lying on Emma's bed in fits of laughter.

Eli was kicking his legs like a baby whilst Amy was trying to pull the cover over her continuously, since Eli's constant kicking would knock the cover off her.

"Eli, stop!" Amy giggled.
Eli laughed a childish laugh before stopping and sitting up, with the covers still over him. He helped Amy up so they were both sat there under the covers cross legged.

"Can I tell you something?" Eli asked.
Amy nodded eagerly. The two were acting like little girls at a sleepover.
"Come closer." Eli slurred. Amy leaned in, almost falling but quickly using her arm to keep her balance.
She felt Eli's breath hit her ear as he loudly breathed. "You're really pretty." He whispered.

Amy pulled away and squeaked.
"Thank you!"
Eli giggled. "I know we'll forget what happened in about an hour. But-"
He was interrupted by the sound of sirens, making Amy throw the covers off them and stumbling over towards Emma's bedroom window.

Outside were police cars, police men and Emma, who looked terrified. "Woah!" Amy gasped, pointing at Emma as Eli came up behind her.
"What are-?"
He was cut off when the bedroom door swung open, revealing a policeman with the name badge: Dwayne.

"You two. Downstairs. Now!" He ordered.
Amy and Eli didn't argue. They both nodded and headed towards the door. Dwayne stepped out of the way so they could get past before sticking close behind them as they walked.

***

"So you're telling me that you all got together for a big party but someone who wasn't here dosed you. That's your story?" Sheriff Acosta asked, struggling to believe them.

"It's actually not a story; it's what happened." Brooke retorted.
"Whatever we were on, I was almost stabbed, okay? That happened! If my dad hadn't showed up, I would've died!" Emma spoke up.

The sheriff nodded before turning to Kevin. "Did you see the person that attacked her?"
He shook his head.
"Did anyone in this room see Emma get attacked?"

No one answered, apart from Kieran. "I passed out early and when I woke up, the cops were here."
The sheriff looked at Eli, who innocently shrugged. "I was with Amy the whole time. I didn't even realise she was outside."
He then turned to Amy, who nodded. "He's telling the truth."

"I heard her screaming but I didn't actually see her or anyone else." Noah spoke up.
"Em, I saw a lot of weird stuff tonight too. It felt really real at the time but it was just that Iowaska or whatever he put in that stuff." Brooke said. "Yet enough night ruined by Jake Fitzgerald." She sighed.

"Wait, Jake Fitzgerald was here... tonight?" Sheriff Acosta questioned.
"He was the one who put the doped up tequila on the doorstep - he even signed his name to the card."

"Look, if Emma says that someone wearing a Brandon James mask attacked her, then someone wearing a Brandon James mask attacked her!" Audrey stated.
"Really? Any idea who?" The sheriff shot at her.
Audrey didn't need to hesitate. "Maybe you should ask your son! He's the one who seems to enjoy drawing her covered in blood!"

Amy watched as he turned to his guilty looking son, who had his arms folded.
He drew Emma covered in blood? Amy said to herself; the thought of seeing that picture made her sick.
"Okay!" Amy said, slapping her knees and getting up. "It clearly looks like you need some serious father-son conversation, so can we all go?"
Sheriff Acosta sighed before nodding. "Sure. You guys can go home now."

***

"Hey," Eli said to Amy, grabbing hold of her arm. "you want a ride home?"
Amy chuckled. "Uhm, I don't really remember much of what just happened apart from we were looking for good hiding places, so that's not too awkward which means no awkward rides home, right?"
Eli lightly laughed and nodded, although he remembered everything that happened. "I guess that's pretty logical." He held out his arm, signalling for Amy to link hers with his. "My car's just down the road."
She smiled as she linked their arms. "Well, let's go."

Once they reached Eli's car and both got in, Eli turned to Amy. "You're gonna have to tell me where you live, if that's okay." He chuckled. "Don't worry, I'm not a stalker."

Amy playfully grinned and raised an eyebrow. "I don't know whether I believe that or not, but okay - I guess I'll just have to trust you."

Eli smiled started the engine before placing his hands on the wheel.
"I hope you're sober enough to drive." Amy joked. "My parents and friends will never let me see you again if we get into any accidents."

Eli made a 'pft' noise and shook his head. "You've got nothing to worry about. Don't worry," He said as he turned to her and grinned. "you're in safe hands."
Amy looked back to the road and laughed. "You're still pretty creepy. Turn a left here." She pointed.

"Creepy, huh? Do you mind?" He asked.
Amy turned to face him and smiled. "Not at all, actually."

They sat in silence for most of the journey home. Amy would occasionally speak up to direct him to her house and Eli would ask her questions that she could only reply with a short answer.

Soon enough, they reached her house and as Amy got out, Eli rolled down her window. "Hey, Amy, wait!"
Amy turned back around and brushed her hands through her hair.

Eli smiled. "I'll see you tomorrow. I'm excited to see you up on stage."
Amy chuckled and shook her head. "We don't know whether I'm gonna be a final contestant."
"Believe me, I know you will be."
Amy smiled at the teenager, in which his blue eyes lit up, before turning around and walking towards her house.

Eli watched her as she opened the door and walked inside, before driving away.