Chapter 10: Downpour

"Why the bloody hell didn't you tell me?" Olivia screamed through the phone.

I winced, rubbing my ear, and putting the phone and speaker. I had an intuition that this wouldn't be the last time that she was going to use her angry, outside voice. I'm surprised I haven't gone deaf yet.

I chuckled. "What are you, British?"

"Stop it! I'm completely serious! Just because we're in different states doesn't mean that I'm still not your best friend! At least I better still be..." she growled warningly.

"Don't worry. You can't be replaced, Liv."

"Good! You have to tell me these things. You've kissed like a billion times. You didn't even tell me about the first one," she said softly, sounding hurt.

I was struck with guilt. "I'm sorry...I've just been...busy."

"I know, I know; making out with a cute guy. So when do I get to meet him?" She was ever so considerate and bounced back from her mini depression quickly.

"Um...never. It's not a serious relationship. It's just kind of a summer thing."

"I don't care! I've met every single one of your boyfriends, and it's not going to stop with him. Besides, you talk so highly of this one. I'm fidgeting in my seat just thinking about meeting him."

"I do not!" I stammered.

"You do too. And you're probably blushing right now. Am I right?"

I sighed. She knew me too well. She took the sigh as a 'yes', and boasted that she was psychic.

"Anyway, I'm coming next Thursday. I'll bring Scottie."

"You're actually serious?"

"Of course, girl!"

I did a happy dance around my room, rotating from sprinkler, the lawn mower, the shopping cart, and the disco. My best friend and my little puppy were coming to visit me. I could still have some of my original summer with me. It's not that I didn't enjoy the company that I had here, because I did, I just needed to be in my own comfort zone with the friends I made on my own.

"Bring Cheyenne! I'm sure she'd love to see Zander."

"Good idea! I can't wait to meet them," she groaned. "And you said the boys were hot there, right?"

"Are you forgetting about a certain Nate?" I teased, twirling a stand of my hair around my right pointer finger.

"Just because we're dating now doesn't mean I can't appreciate the view of a good-looking man."

"They're all taken-whoa, hold your horses. You guys are dating!?" I squealed, jumping up and down excitedly.

"Oops, did I forget to tell you?" she giggled.

"Not funny, Liv."

"Karma sucks, doesn't it?"

I rolled my eyes, even though she couldn't see me. "Whatever. Now spill your guts, missy."

"Okay, so we were at the movies, you know, all of us. Then he asked me, in private, if I wanted to go have dinner with him. So naturally, I agreed because it's Nate. After that we had our first kiss and he asked me out! God, Ash, it was so romantic."

"I'm so happy for you!"

"Look at us, falling in love and whatnot."

"Uh...speak for yourself. I'm having myself a Notebook romance."

"You do realize that they end up together in the end, don't you?"

"Shut up, Olivia."

"No, I'm good, thanks. So tell me about Cayden! Are you flirting with him, too?"

"I haven't seen him around much lately..."

It seemed like he was avoiding me ever since I went on that first date with Eli, but there was no way that he was jealous of. In order for someone to be jealous, you had to have feelings for the other one. And he told me himself, I was just like a little sister to him; a stupid, tagalong sister.

He was probably busy with another one of his billions of girls or something along the lines of that. My crush on him was fading, probably because my mind was occupied on Eli most of the time, but I did miss his sarcastic remarks. It got boring around the house without him, that is, when I was actually around.

"Huh, weird. I should go tell my mom that I'm driving down to Florida."

"That's an awfully long drive..."

"I can handle it. I'm a good driver."

If she was here with me now, I would've given her a look of skepticism. "Okay...but make sure you bring Scottie's comfort items. And stop along the way so he can pee!"

"Oh, would you stop worrying? I'm a good auntie. Nate's calling! Bye, Ash! Love you!"

I didn't even get the chance to tell her 'bye' when she hung up. Ditched for the boyfriend. I'm feeling the love, Liv. I wasn't mad at her; she's been waiting years to be with him. He was such a blind idiot that he didn't see all the painfully obvious signals she was sending him. And trust me, there were a lot of signs. She might've as well had a blinking neon sign hanging around her neck, screaming, 'I LIKE YOU.'

I didn't have plans with Eli or anyone else today, so I just decided on an Ashlyn day to just stay home and relax for awhile. I haven't done that in such a long time. I've been so busy lately, but the good busy.

I made slightly burnt grilled cheese for lunch and a bag of Lays potato chips. I watched reruns of Spongebob until something stupid-one of the new shows-came on. I switched it to ABC Family, where one of those animal abuse commercials showed up. I was instantly reminded of Scottie, who I missed dearly. He was my little baby. I wasn't allowed to have him up here when Dakota was around because he was allergic to fur. Not deathly, but it made him miserable, hence the reason why Scottie couldn't come with me.

I don't understand why Mom couldn't wait until next year to marry Phil. Ever since they met, she'd been acting like a lovesick teenager, more than I ever was. And that was saying something. I was so disgustingly happy for my mom. Sometimes I wished that it wasn't Phil, but someone more thrilling and exciting, because quite frankly, Phil annoys the crap out of me. He's just so...nerdy. He's in accounting and all I've heard him talk about is math. Mom has weird taste in men.

And speak of the devil, Mom was calling me. "Hi, Mom," I exasperated.

"Hello, Pumpkin! How are you? Is Dakota feeding you? Is it nutritious? Because if it's not, I'm going to have a stern talk with him."

I didn't want my beautiful diet of junk food to come to an end, so I lied. "Yes, it's nutritious. I'm fine, how are you?"

Mom knew I was lying, because let's face it, I don't eat healthy. But I think she really just wanted to tell me about her honeymoon. "I'm absolutely wonderful! The Caribbean is just gorgeous!"

"I love talking to you and all, but why are you calling?"

"What?" she replied innocently. "I can't talk to my daughter without my motives being questioned?"

"Nope."

She sighed and let out a chortle. "Alright, you got me. Dakota tells me you've met a boy." She says this like it's some sort of top-secret thing.

I didn't like the direction this conversation was going in. My mom doesn't exactly approve of my wildfire dating habits. The last boy she liked was Liam, no surprise there. I made a mental note to kill Dakota later. He knew better than to tell Mom about Eli.

"I've met lots of boys, Mom."

"But there's a certain one. Eli, was it?"

"Ah, that one. What about him?"

"I just want you to be careful-"

"Mom! We're not doing anything. I'm not really in the mood for kids anytime soon."

She let out a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness. I'm not ready to be a grandmother. I mean, I just got married-"

"You don't have to worry about that, Mom."

"So tell me, is he hot?" she inquired.

I cannot believe my mom just asked me if Eli was hot. She wasn't supposed to use terms like that. "Mom!"

"What? It was just a question. If it bothers you that much, let me rephrase it. Is he handsome?"

Incredibly. "I guess."

"Aw, isn't that cute? Dakota's been telling me that he's taken you out on multiple dates. Is that true?"

Dakota needs to learn to keep his mouth shut. "Two dates, Mom. We've been on two dates."

"But he says that you've been having play dates with him everyday."

Play dates? What was I, seven? "We're just hanging out. No dates."

"Is it serious?"

"We met like a couple of weeks ago, so no. If you're here to ask me about my love life, can I hang up?"

"So you do have a love life!"

"Goodbye, Mother."

"Fine, Phil wants to go back to bed anyway."

"Mom! TMI!

She giggled. "Stop it, Phil!" I heard her cry in the background. "Bye honey."

I repressed a gag and clicked end as fast as I could. Why couldn't she have hung up before that happened? I didn't need-or want-to know what they were planning on doing. Sure, I kind of assumed that it was going to happen, but it's not like I needed to know when. I was forever going to have this burning scar in my mind. Yay.

***

"Whose party is this?" I asked, looking around.

He shrugged. "Some kid I went to school with."

"You don't even know his name?" When I went to parties in New York, I made sure I knew the host. I felt rude going otherwise.

"I'm sure I will when he introduces himself to you," he smirked. "It's a perfect plan."

"You're using me?" I asked, feigning hurt.

It seemed like we were the last ones there. The party was already in full rage, and Maroon 5 was blasting through the speakers. I saw a couple streakers, but they were running too fast for me to see anything I shouldn't have. People were lounging around, looking carefree as they drank and danced.

Eli led me to a group of people that were sitting on and around a black couch. There was a guy with ashen blonde hair with his arms slung around two scantily-dressed girls. If they were standing, the dress wouldn't have even covered their butt. I'm sure if they spread their legs farther apart, people would be able to see their panties underneath-or lack of. They looked up at him adoringly while he just looked smug. I assumed this was the host.

"Eli, my man! I'm glad you could come." He gave him one of those man-hugs.

"I wouldn't want to miss the party. Thanks for the invite."

"No problem. Wouldn't be a party without a Clemens boy, would it?"

"I guess not," he chuckled.

The blonde's eyes shifted over to me, running them along the length of my body. It felt a little uncomfortable that I was just standing here while he checked me out, but only because Eli was here. Eli growled and grabbed my hand possessively. Was he, dare I say, jealous?

"And who is this lovely lady?"

"I'm Ashlyn." I smiled easily.

"Collin."

"It's nice to meet you."

"The pleasure is all mine."

I couldn't help the giggle that escaped my lips as he sent me a wink. I haven't flirted like this since I got to Jangles. Flirting with Eli was playful; this was more lustful.

Collin gestured between Eli and me. "Are you two dating?

I didn't know what Eli and I were; friends for sure, but dating? We went out twice, and I'm not sure if that counted or not. And even though I'd like to think we were, since he didn't officially ask me out, I answered, "No." Eli's grip tightened on my hand, but I ignored it.

"Then maybe we can get to know each other," Collin said suggestively.

"Maybe." Being mysterious was a surefire way to being more attractive. It left them wanting more.

One of the girls clinging to him glared at me. The other one was just plain drunk, hiccupping every few seconds. Collin shrugged her off. She frowned, but stumbled away. I had a feeling Collin was a jock or some sort of influential person in high school.

"I think I saw Dylan and Prescott somewhere," Eli urged.

I took the hint that Eli dropped, and smiled seductively at Collin before leaving with Eli to find our friends. I made sure to swing my hips as I walked. I could feel his eyes on me, mentally stripping me.

As soon as we were far enough away from Collin, Eli hissed, "What the hell was that?"

"What are you talking about?" I frowned.

"Maybe!" he said in a falsetto voice. "You were flirting with him."

"What's the big deal? It's not like we're dating, right?"

Sometimes Eli could be so infuriating. "That doesn't mean you have the right to go around and start insinuating sex with another person in front of me: the person who invited you to this party."

"It kind of does, Eli. We're not dating," I dragged out the word 'dating' like I was talking to a toddler. "And I was not insinuating anything."

"I'm not blind, Ashlyn. It was blatantly obvious."

"Blatantly? Since when do you know such big words?"

"For your information, I was salutatorian."

"If you didn't sleep with so many girls, I'm sure you'd be valedictorian."

"Were you not paying attention before?" His voice was getting louder and louder. "I told you I was a virgin, unlike someone."

I opened my mouth, and before I could stop myself, I slapped him and stomped away. He was over exaggerating. Okay, I admit, I was flirting, but again, what was the big deal? He didn't correct me when I said we weren't dating. I was free to flirt with whoever I wanted. I wasn't suggesting sex; I would never do that in front of him. I was flirting; plain and simple. It didn't mean anything.

I found myself in the kitchen. It was average sized and averaged looking. There wasn't anything special about it. Someone handed me a drink and I took it. I know, I know. First rule of a party: get your own drink. But I doubt that someone would spike it, and right now, I was too angry to even care.

"Wanna dance?"

I looked up and saw Collin leaning against the counter. An eyebrow was raised, expecting an answer. I was about to decline when it occurred to me that it would make Eli even angrier. I nodded. "Sure."

His fan girls were sulking against the opposite wall, shooting deathly daggers at me. Somebody's jealous. "Uh...what about them?"

"Oh, them? They'll be fine with it."

"I really don't think they are."

He shrugged. "They'll get over it."

He grabbed my hand and pulled me towards where most of the people were. I swayed my hips to the music. It didn't take long before he started to grind against me. Our legs were intertwined, his hands roaming until finally settling on my butt. I rubbed my back against him. He started peppering kisses down my neck. "Bedroom?" he breathed.

I couldn't come up with an audible response, so I just nodded. He pulled me up the stairs, taking clothes off as we went up. There was a small pile of clothes growing steadily at the bottom of the stairs. Collin was going to have quite a lost and found when everybody left.

As he kissed me, I couldn't help but feel like I was betraying Eli. It felt wrong, yet my raging teenage hormones told me it was so right. He kicked open a door and lowered me onto the bed. My shirt was already off, so all that was left was my bra and my jeans.

I regained control when my jeans were halfway down. "S-stop," I gasped, pushing him off of me. "I can't do this, Collin."

"You've gotten me all worked up. You will finish what you started," he growled.

"Can we just-"

The door swung open. I shut my eyes, momentarily blinded because I was accustomed to the dark. A figured stepped in. "Sorry. I didn't know there were people-Ashlyn?"

Oh, God. Eli.

"Eli! I can explain!" I cried, sitting up and waddling towards him in my undergarments.

His expression showed anything but remorse; hurt and anger. "Save it," he snarled, backing out. "I don't want to hear it; any of it. Find your own way home."

Eli, I'm so sorry. Just let me explain," I begged, my voice wavering.

He glared at me one last time before he slammed the door shut. Guilt began to sink in; I felt horrible. "Eli," I whispered, letting my arms flop to my sides.

"So did you want to get back into bed or...?" I forgot he was even there.

I shook my head sadly. "No...I...I have to go."

I slid my pants on quickly, fumbling with fastening the button. I ran out of the room in my bra. I forgot there were actually people there, so it was hard finding my shirt when people were wolf whistling.

I pushed my way to the door, muttering 'sorry' to anyone I had pushed. I needed to get to Eli before he left. I wasn't that far behind him, so he couldn't have gotten away already. I sprinted as fast as my feet would carry me to where his car was parked. By the time I got there, the jeep was speeding away, burning rubber. I chased after it, but I could only go so far before I had to stop and catch my breath. Car was much faster than foot.

I had absolutely no idea where I was, so I couldn't walk home. Even if I did where I was, which I could easily find out if I really wanted to, it's not like I knew this area. Asking for directions was hopeless; everyone was too drunk.

I went back to the party, awkwardly searching for a familiar face. I was hoping that Dylan and Prescott would still be here, but much to my disappointment I couldn't find them. I groaned and pulled out my cell phone. Pressing the home and power button several times, I came to a conclusion that my phone was out of battery.

I ventured into the kitchen, hoping that someone there would let me borrow their phone. I approached a group of people playing beer pong. "Hey, does anyone have a phone I can borrow?"

Someone tossed a red blackberry to me. I caught it easily. "Thanks!" I said gratefully, dialing Eli's number. To be honest, I have no idea why I was. We were in a fight, after all. As I expected, it went straight to voicemail. I hung up before the beep. I hated leaving voicemails.

It was odd that I had memorized Eli's number, but not Dakota's. I thought about calling Mom, but figured that it would cause more harm than it would good. The only other number I had memorized was Olivia's, and that wouldn't help me at all given that she was in another state.

I wasn't in the mood to party, so I just sat on the curb for hours, listening to the music booming from Collin's house. Whenever I got hungry, thirsty, or felt the need to pee, I went back into the house and satisfied my needs.

The party ended around one in the morning. I watched people filter out, hoping for one of them to offer me a ride. But none of them did. Grey clouds started to fill the sky, covering up the moon and my main source of light. I crossed my fingers, praying, "Please don't it rain, please don't let it rain."

Once again, luck was not on my side. No surprise there. It started to pour out fat and heavy raindrops. I looked up at the dark sky, yelling, "Why!?"

I was drenched, lonely, and had no way home. And to think I only agreed to come here because I thought I would be bored in the apartment. I let out a sigh and drudged up to Collin's house. I should've used my brain and did this earlier, but I was previously under the influence of alcohol. And I'm not that smart to begin with.

I rang the doorbell and listened for any sign of life. None. I rang it again. Still nothing. I repeatedly jammed my finger on the doorbell button like my life depended on it. Collin must've either been in a deep sleep, passed out, dead, or with a girl (or girls).

I ambled back and resorted to sitting on the curb again. On the bright side, it wasn't cold out. But there was a chance that I could get hypothermia from the rain. I laid down on the cement, stretching my arms and legs. It looked like I was in a position to make a snow angel. The cement was cooler than it normal was, but it was still uncomfortably wet. I hoped that it was only a shower. I wasn't a fan of waterbeds.

Just as I was getting somewhat comfortable, I heard the sound of a car honking. I jumped, looking up to see who it was.

"Need a ride?"