So guys... thanks to emzybbz she has PERSUADED ME to upload the next part TODAY! So make sure you thank her. But you're not getting any more today, muahaha >:)

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"How long does it take to get some freaking drinks?" Alyssa said to Kayla, as the two of them awaited Courtney’s return. She had left around ten minutes ago, claiming she would go find some drinks as the boxes that stood on the table were now empty, but had not yet returned.

"You know what, fuck this, I’m going to get them myself," Alyssa said, forcing her purse into Kayla’s hand and starting to walk off in the direction of the kitchen.

"Hey – where are you going?"

Her arm was caught by a hand, and she turned round to see a flash of black hair, whom she recognised as Courtney, carrying three bottles of clear liquid.

"Where the hell have you been?" Alyssa demanded, taking one of the bottles from her hand and unscrewing the cap. "Come on, I’m practically sobering up here!"

"Oh my god, it took me forever to find these," Courtney lied casually. "She’s almost running out of drinks, and the party’s only just started."

"It’s ‘cause Brooke’s such a crap host," Alyssa said. "Which makes for a crap party. How can anyone have fun when there’s no alcohol?"

Courtney nodded in agreement, before remembering what she had been meaning to say. "And oh my God, get this – Olivia and Chelsie are here."

Alyssa turned her head sharply. "Olivia and… Chelsie? Are you kidding me?" she stifled a snigger. "Oh my god, that is so hilarious! They seriously think nerds like them can come to a party like this? Oh my god."

"I know, right? And Olivia’s wearing that dress we got her. She looks like such a slut. You can see all the guys practically drooling over her. It’s disgusting."

"Ha! Well, I hope she ends up pregnant. Serves her right for being such a slag. Then she’ll really get chucked out of school. Won’t that be a shame?"

Courtney nodded, sipping at her drink with a small smile on her face.

By now, the crowd was increasing in volume and it seemed like people were closing in on them, filling every single empty space in the cabin. The room was absolutely packed, almost unbearably hot and humid even with all the windows and doors open, and there was no space to move. It was a claustrophobic’s nightmare, but it didn’t seem like that was stopping anyone from having a good time.

Alyssa sighed, mentally scanning the crowd in search of the person she was seeking, but it was almost impossible to distinguish anybody in the throng of people. "Where the fuck is Carter? If he’s out there hooking up with some girl I swear I’ll kill him."

"Oh, I saw him," Courtney said quickly. "On the way to get drinks. Out on the deck. He was uh… looking for you." She smiled. "You better go find him before he wanders off."

Alyssa sighed and downed the rest of her drink before slamming it back down on the table beside her. "Okay. I’ll catch up with you later, gals."

She held her hand up in a half-hearted wave before starting to push her way through the tight crowd of people, which wasn’t easy. People were sprawled out in every place possible – drunk guys passed out on the floor, couples all over each other making out, couples practically getting it on in any place they could find, people dancing drunkenly with their friends, and even Dave at the front of a growing conga line.

Once she slid out of the sliding patio door and was out on the deck, she stood up on tiptoes, trying to get a good view of the crowd where she would be able to spot Carter. She scanned heaving deck in search of that familiar blonde hair and dark tan, but to no avail.

Then, suddenly, just as she was about to give up, she felt a hand tap her on the shoulder and she spun round quickly. However, instead of it being Carter, like she had been expecting, it was someone else.

"Hey, beautiful."

It wasn’t difficult to recognise that black swooping hair and unusually green eyes that stared right inside her when they met her gaze. Most girls would become weak at the knees at the sight of that intense colour, but not Alyssa. She was the toughest bitch around, and she was damn proud of it.

"Aaron."

"Babe, why so sad?" he said, noticing Alyssa’s face and stroking her cheek gently.

"Aaron, cut it out," she said, although her anger was weakening. "I’m looking for Carter."

Aaron sighed, shaking his head. "That Carter. He is no good for you, you know. He doesn’t treat you as he should."

"Tell me about it," Alyssa rolled her eyes. "Where is he, anyway? Have you seen him?"

Aaron ignored her question, his hand still lightly touching her cheek. "You see, I’d appreciate you, my gorgeous, if you were mine."

Alyssa rolled her eyes again, but she was smiling this time. Aaron was gorgeous, Carter wasn’t anywhere to be seen and if anything did happen, he deserved it for avoiding her all the time.

She leaned forward, tilting her head until their lips were brushing and stretched her arms out behind his neck. He pulled in closer, both of them locked in embrace, lips bonding, moving together as if one. When they finally broke apart, her face stayed just an inch away from his and she smiled.

"Come on," she said quietly, fiddling with the buttons on his shirt sexily, which sent Aaron’s heart beating faster. She smiled inwardly to herself. She had the bad boy wrapped around her little finger. "Let’s go on upstairs."

***

"Chelsieeee?"

Olivia could barely hear her own voice calling for her friend as she stumbled through the crowd, drunken unfamiliar bodies pressing up against her, the whole room spinning as she tried to force her way towards the door. She was so drunk she was barely conscious. But it had seemed like a good idea at the time – Brooke and other people had constantly been offering her drinks and it was rude to keep saying no – plus, a little alcohol may have been what she needed to relax a little. However, now she was completely out of it and she couldn’t think straight.

The room lurched to one side and she toppled over – whether this was on her own account or whether she had been pushed, she was not aware – but the room was so crowded she could barely make out where she was anymore. She lay there for a while, giggling to herself as she saw up one girl’s dress, until a voice stood out from the loud but dull buzz of the crowd.

"Olivia?"

The voice was familiar, but not one she knew well. She looked up at the outstretched hand looming above her, which took her hand and yanked her upright, somewhat startling her.

"Oh man, you’re wasted," Ethan said, biting his lip. "Here, follow me."

He turned in the opposite direction, his hand still clasped around her wrist in a way that was completely unromantic but still made her heart skip a beat. She followed him, trying not to stumble in her new heels – which she had still not gotten used to wearing – until they were outside of the cabin, down the steps and standing by the lake, where it was finally quiet.

They sat down on a nearby log, the cold evening air suddenly hitting Olivia and sending her back into her senses a little bit more. He handed her a bottle of water and she sipped it a couple of times. She breathed in the silence, the only sound audible was that of the breeze that blew gently over the lake, rustling the leaves on the trees above.

"Man," said Ethan suddenly, startling her slightly. He picked up a small rock from the ground and threw it with a great amount of force into the lake, sending the water leaping up into the air with a splash. "I didn’t know you were one to get pissed."

"I’m not… usually," Olivia answered him, watching a second rock hit the surface of the water.

"Ah," he glanced over at her and smiled. "First high school party, I see."

"Yeah. I guess I kinda got a little out of control."

"I remember that," Ethan said. He let out a low whistle. "I was grounded for so long after that."

Olivia looked up. "You came home drunk?"

"Yeah – in a police car." He grinned at Olivia’s shocked expression.

"I know, I know – I was quite the bad boy in freshman year, you know." He shrugged. "Guess I kinda learnt my lesson after that one."

"Wow."

"I heard you had a little run in with the cops yourself, though."

Olivia turned her head and frowned at him. "Wait, how’d you-?" she started, before stopping. "Oh, yeah. Alyssa."

"So you’re not quite the little good girl yourself, eh?" he grinned, before pausing and sighing. "Alyssa does some pretty messed up stuff, you know. It’s not really a good idea to get involved with her. But… I’m pretty sure you’ve got that already worked out by now."

"No kidding. I’m just glad that I got out now. I didn’t know it was possible for one girl to be so bitchy."

"Yeah… that’s Alyssa. Always has been, always will be."

Olivia frowned. "Aren’t you friends with her? Come on, I thought you were popular. You can’t bitch about her to me! Isn’t that kind of betrayal, death penalty stuff?"

He rolled his eyes and smiled. "Probably. But, hey. That crowd’s not all it’s cracked up to be. And you’re better than that, I swear." After a pause, he sighed. "Sometimes I wish I could get out, but it’s not that easy."

Olivia nodded slowly, blinking as she watched the moonlight being reflected on the surface of the water. She smiled inwardly to herself as she thought about this moment, but the pleasant feeling didn’t last long as it was soon replaced with severe nausea from the pit of her stomach.

"Oh god, I don’t feel so good…" she said, leaping up suddenly from the log in time to throw up behind a nearby bush. When she emerged, looking slightly greener than usual, Ethan had stood up from the log and was wrapping his jacket around her.

"Thanks," she said quietly, as she began to shiver.

"Maybe you should get home," he said. "Do you want me to call someone or… I can drive you?"

"No, no, it’s fine," she said, shaking her head. "I’ll just… call my dad and get him to pick me up. It’s fine. I don’t mind waiting. I’ll be okay."

"You sure?" Ethan looked at her. "It’s just, you’re in kind of a bad state.... and I don’t want anything bad to happen to you."

Olivia looked up on hearing these words, smiling at him. "That’s so cute. But seriously, I’m fine. I’ll be okay." She fumbled around for her phone, but before she could locate it, she was startled by the sound of someone screaming. She looked over in the direction of the cabin to see that the music had turned off, all the lights had gone out and it was now pitch black.