GREEK TRAGEDY
:: xx. | unintentional

It was the day before the dance and everyone was at Nathan's beach house for the before dance party. Tensions were high as well as the awkwardness considering all the drama that's been happening.

Ryland sat in the kitchen, drinking a cup of water. She was serious when she said she would never drink again after the last party. As she swallowed the water, her eyes followed Ashely and Jake who were walking through the kitchen, all buddy buddy with each other. She was a bit upset, sure, but she understood Ashely's motives.

She chugged the rest of her water before hopping off the counter with the plastic cup still in hand.

Once she was back on her feet, a guy with a wine bottle approached her.

"Let me top that off for ya." He began pouring the liquid in her cup before she could protest or say anything.

"Great."

"What?" He shrugged.

Ryland annoyingly sighed, "This was water, dumbass."

"Oh. My bad." He stuck out his free hand, "I could take it and you could get another cup?" Ryland just rolled her eyes and began on her way with him following behind, "Hey, im sorry! I didn't know!"

He chased after her, trying to get her attention for merely two reasons.

One, Ryland was now single ——— on the market.

Two, Johnny wanted a date to the dance and he always thought Ryland was cute.

As they passed by the staircase, Ashely was drunkly walking up the steps. She was attached to the rail as she went up, preventing herself from tumbling down with a plastic cup in hand.

Once she reached the top of the steps, she walked the hall ——— only a few steps before spotting Brooke was who leaned back against the wall while sitting on the floor. Ashely joined her, plopping down right next to her.

The blonde brought the cup to her lips, "I'm drunk." She calmly spoke, chugging the rest of the alcohol that was left in the cup.

The burnette turned her focus to Ashely, "Me too. But im also horny."

Ashely's head then turned in Brooke's direction, the two just staring at each other for a moment before rushing to the their feet. They both then went into the nearest room and locked the door behind them.

Ashely tossed the plastic cup to the floor before going into kiss Brooke. Her hands were on Brooke's waist, pulling her in, which the burnette happily didn't mind.

As the two continued to kiss, Brooke briefly pulled away.

Ashely's hands were still on Brooke's waist, "What?"

"No one knows about this. No one." Brooke looked into her eyes.

Ashely just shrugged, "Fine by me."

Before anyone knew it, Brooke went in and the two continued to kiss. The burnette's hands wandered around all over Ashely's body before one gripping her belt and pulling on it as she pulled away from the kiss.

Brooke backed towards the bed, sitting on the edge with a smirk across her lips as Ashely began to approach her while unbuckling her belt.

And from there, the two continued in harmony. Something that themselves never saw coming and if anyone else found out, they would say the exact same thing.

• • •

The next day, it was hours before the dance and everyone was at school ———— the middle of the day. Ryland was switching her textbooks at her locker when that same guy from last night who poured alcohol in her water approached.

"Hey, Edwards." He smiled.

Ryland turned around with an annoyed expression, "Johnny, right?"

He stuck out his hand, "Friends call me Vegas." Ryland gently took it and the two shook hands, "Again, sorry about last night."

"Water under the bridge." She turned back towards her locker, "So, why are you over here?"

"Well, I had fun last night for that brief moment we hung out and I know this is last minute, but I was wondering if you'd want to go to the dance together tonight?"

Ryland abruptly turned around, closing her locker, "Give me your arm."

Johnny rose his arm as Ryland pulled out a pen from her bag. She pulled the cap off the pen with her teeth as she gripped his arm.

She began to write down her number, "Text me and I'll send my address later."

A smirk spread across his lips, "Cool. I'll pick you up at eight."

As a light smile grew across her lips at his words, Ryland's eyes looked up but they didn't meet Johnny's. Someone grasped her attention and that was seeing Ashely and Jake walking together side by side. Her eyes followed them till they escaped to the next hallway and she had mixed emotions about it all.

She knew the two weren't dating and that Ashely only pursued him to get back at her, but now Ryland was a bit scared that maybe those two were becoming friends. She's not one to dictate anyone's relationships but Jake hurt her and well, if her and Ashely do end up on good terms again, well ——— she's not sure how she'd feel about her best friend being friends with her ex boyfriend.

Ryland soon let go of Johnny's arm, "See you tonight."

She scurried off to her class and just kept her mind focus on the dance. She didn't want to think of anything that would make her sad or mad.

• • •

Later that day, everyone was at their resident getting ready for the dance. Most of the girls were getting ready at Alexa's while Brooke and someone else she wouldn't say over the phone was headed to Ryland's to get ready.

Ryland was finishing setting her dress and whatnot on the bed as she waited for them. She haggled Brooke about who she was bringing but the burnette didn't budge, so that made her a bit skeptical.

As soon as everything was laid out, there was a knock on the front door. Ryland ran downstairs, eager to see Brooke and by the time her hand was around the knob, she told herself to clam down. She opened the door and there stood Brooke with a bag and her dress in hand.

"Hey." She lightly smiled, "So, look behind me real quick."

Ryland did as she was told and saw Peyton outside in her car. An annoyed sigh escaped her lips as she gave Brooke back her attention.

"Why's she here?"

"She's my friend and I didn't want her to be alone." Brooke pleaded, "Please?"

Ryland's arms crossed over her chest, "And what? Give her the benefit of the doubt like you?"

"Please?"

Ryland let out a deep sigh as she thought for a second. Although she wanted to say no, Brooke was giving her the puppy eyes to which she caved, "Tell her to come on."

Peyton soon made her way in as well as Brooke and the three of them began getting ready for the dance. Within the next two hours or so, they eventually finished getting ready.

Peyton and Brooke were chatting to each other downstairs as they waited for Ryland to come down.

"So you and Felix aren't dating? I'm sorry, im completely lost."

Brooke shrugged, "We're just hanging. But he is rubbing off on me."

Soon after Brooke's response, Ryland walked down the stairs and she looked absolutely breathtaking ——— so breathtaking that Brooke was at a loss of words.

She began to slowly approach Ryland but before she could reach her, the doorbell rang and the blonde headed that way.

Ryland opened the door and there stood Johnny in a black tux.

A smile was plastered across her lips, "You clean up nice, Johnny ——— I mean Vegas."

"No, no . . I like the way you say Johnny."

He extended his hand and she gladly took it, heading out the house with the girls following behind. Peyton closed the door behind her and hopped back in her car with Brooke on the passenger side. They had gotten a head start, while Johnny and Ryland trailed behind.

• • •

Everyone was at the dance by now. Partying, just having a good ole time or at least trying too. Jake and Ashely were dancing together, while Peyton and Lucas made small glances towards one another. Then there was Ryland who sat a table next to Anna, Jay, and Alexa while she waited for Johnny to bring their drinks back.

The four of them were talking amongst themselves when Felix approached the table.

"Where's Brooke?" Jay noticed.

"Bathroom." His hands were in his pockets as he glanced towards his sister, "Interesting choice of outfit, Anna."

"I don't know —— " Ryland twirled a strand of anna's hair, "I think she looks pretty."

"Wow, I didn't know this was a lesbian mixer." Felix lightly chuckled.

Anna quickly brushed her off, "Don't be so gay, Ryland."

Ryland awkwardly pulled her hand away and before anyone could really react or say anything else, Johnny and Brooke showed up at the table.

Brooke pulled Felix back to the dance floor and Johnny sat next to Ryland but just for a brief moment because he was called over by his friends. Soon Jay and Alexa hit the dance floor as well, then eventually Anna was off somewhere. All leaving Ryland by herself.

She didn't quite mind it though. It gave her some room to collect her thoughts and think as she sipped her drink that Johnny had gotten for her. As she sipped her drink, her eyes wandered around the gymnasium and eventually landing on Lucas who just pulled Ashely away from Jake.

She couldn't exactly make out what they were saying but she had an idea. If she recalled correctly, Lucas did say he was going to try and get Ashely back ——— maybe he's finally making moves to do so.

Soon enough that plastic met her lips again and her eyes shifted towards Peyton and Chad. She watched those two have a brief conversation before began Peyton scurrying off and Chad going after her.

The room was definitely filled with drama and not just her own.

She just hopes that the drama doesn't last any longer than it already has.

a/n:
thoughts on this chapter ??