◤ chapter six: ❛ a night to forget ❜ ◢

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TONI HAD NEVER BEEN TO LIZ' HOUSE BEFORE. Then again, she had never had a reason to before this party, so why would she? Liz was certainly not one of her friends – though she seemed to be getting closer with Sabrina – and Toni didn't do class president or any leadership position or club which Liz would partake in. Toni was much more just go to school for classes and party later kinda person rather than actually getting involved. That was too much work and too much time spent with people she didn't give a fuck about.

         Still, she had to admit that it was a very lavish and modern build, much different than her own because her mother preferred an old house with character (which basically meant more work had to be done and bugs got in sometimes). She liked it, it was slick and smooth and felt less like a home that they were all destroying and more like just a regular building. Regardless, it looked terribly expensive, which confused her since everyone knew that Liz' mom didn't work and, well, Toni didn't really know what her dad did. Must be something that racked in a lot of cash to get this place, though. Never mind, because it wasn't like Toni was going to ask Liz about it. It wasn't her place to question the host – especially when she was getting free booze.

         Flash claimed the position as the DJ, the music booming as he cheered and practiced his beats. He was alright. Toni had definitely heard better but Flash was young and just starting out, so he was alright for what he was. Toni wasn't about to burst his bubble since he was a bit more bearable than the likes of Cindy Moon and Betty Brant. So whatever, she'd let him have it.

         She sipped at her cup, beer going down her throat. It wasn't the best taste, but who cares? It was going to get her drunk and that's all she cared about. People were chattering away, mostly in excitement about the possibility of seeing the great vigilante Spider-Man since Ned Leeds proclaimed that Peter Parker – due to his internship at SI – knew the masked hero and would most definitely get him to the party.

         It was idiotic and Toni didn't believe for a second that the vigilante would actually show up. It was probably just something to impress Liz or whoever else that Peter definitely didn't want because it only meant more taunts from Flash, who made it his personal mission to berate Peter for one reason or another. Toni didn't care enough to ask him why or to stand up for Peter. It didn't really make a difference in her life one way or another, so why would she?

         "Ugh, Liz' beer is so bad," Atlas complained, though he brought the cup up to lips again.

         Toni rolled her eyes. "Pretentious fuck," she called him and he shot her a look.

         "Well I'm sorry that Colette's been spoiling me," he snapped and she frowned.

         "Who?'

         "Colette."

         "Yeah, who the fuck is that?"

         Atlas sent her a look of disappointment. "The bartender at Nix'. Her name is Colette," he deadpanned, "Jesus, how didn't you know this? We're there like twice a week!"

         "And you're the one who usually orders drinks while I sit at the table. How the fuck am I supposed to know her name if you didn't tell me?" Toni accused him, hating that he was disappointed in her for not knowing one fucking name.

         "Whatever," Atlas grumbled before frowning, "Colette would never treat me like this."

         He took another sip of the beer to let Toni know what he was referring to and she shook her head at his dramatics. "Well Colette isn't here, is she? So suck it up and drink the fucking beer like a man."

         "I've heard that the phrase like a man is becoming offensive now. You shouldn't use it anymore," Atlas commented, though he did take another sip at her command.

         "Well I don't give a fuck since you are a man and it's fucking beer not your dad dying," Toni rolled her eyes, "Have you seen Sabrina?"

         Atlas shrugged, "Not for, like, thirty minutes. But she was with Liz earlier."

         "Of course she was," Toni muttered under her breath.

         He raised an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?" he asked, an edge of curiosity and want for gossip in his voice.

         "Nothing," Toni frowned, "It's just that Sabrina and Liz have been hanging out more recently. Like, you know that Liz is kinda mentoring Brina to become the next her, right? And it kinda feels like she's been flirting with her but I don't know and I don't wanna ask Sabrina since she probably won't tell me even if Liz is."

         Atlas hummed. "I think they'd make a cute couple. I mean, both of them are hot as fuck so it'd work."

         "You're gay."

         "Doesn't mean I don't notice obvious attractiveness even in women," Atlas scoffed, "God, I have eyes."

         "Good for you then," Toni said, frowning when she saw no liquid in her cup, "Shit. Imma get more beer, wanna come with?"

         Atlas shook his head. "Nah, think I'm gonna hit on some of the guys here."

         Toni raised an eyebrow, "You really wanna go after guys at our school? Like jocks who won't admit that they're gay because of their parents or stigma or whatever? You really want that?"

         "No, but I don't recognize them so they're crashing and I'm gonna fuck one of them, just wait," Atlas pointed to a group and Toni frowned.

         Why the fuck was Caden here? That didn't make any sense, well, it did because he's a fucking drug dealer and Toni knows that she's not the only druggie here. "Did you invite them?" Toni asked before realizing how dumb that sounded, "Shit, I know like Caden? Did you invite Caden?"

         "The fuck is Caden?" Atlas asked in response.

         "Never mind," Toni muttered, "I'm gonna go talk to him. Have at it with anyone else."

         Atlas nodded at the plan but Toni didn't wait for anything else before walking up to Caden. He smiled when he saw her and drew her close, placing an arm around her waist. "Hey, Toni," he greeted in a low voice, "You look good tonight."

         "I always look good," she replied a bit cockily, but it was the truth so why not say it as it was? "So, what are you doing here?"

         He gave her an easy smile, kissing her before answering. "Oh, you know, got invited to hook the party up with drugs..."

         "By Liz?"

         "Who?"

         "Liz. She's the one hosting the party," Toni explained.

         "Well, it wasn't her because I don't know who the fuck that is," Caden laughed, as though what he had said was funny. Toni didn't join him.

         "Liz is gonna throw you out if she knows you have drugs," Toni mentioned, knowing Liz' less than tolerant view on drugs. She was nicer about those who took drugs, though it was very clear that this was not that kinda party, but if she found out that someone invited a drug dealer...well, that was not going to end well.

         "Then she won't," Caden decided, a cocky smile on his face. He opened his mouth to say something else but Toni kissed him so that he'd keep quiet.

         When they broke away, she asked, "So who invited you?"

         "Come on, you know I don't give away names," Caden smiled, "It's all on a hush-hush basis."

         "Even to me?" Toni asked, a pout on her face as she pulled at the strings of his hoodie, hoping that this play would sway him to tell her.

         "Even to you," he confirmed, "Oh, come on, baby. You know I'd tell you if I could," she hated how he said baby – ugh, it was disgusting, "How about I make it up to you? We can get out of here in an hour if you want?"

         She didn't. But, then again, she did. It wasn't like she was ever planning on staying here long. This was too tame of a party for her and she really didn't want to truly let loose in front of her classmates, but she also didn't want to spend time with Caden right now. He was annoying her with all his talk and his pet name baby. Toni despised pet names with a passion.

         However, she found herself nodding and he grinned. "Good, I'll see you then," he said before walking away with his friends, leaving Toni alone.

         She huffed to herself, disappointed that she agreed to him, but went to get some more beer in the kitchen before gulping down a large swallow and leaving the area. She heard someone complain about not seeing Spider-Man yet and she couldn't help the giggle that came out of her mouth. God, they were pathetic.

         Her eyes went around the area for a moment and she saw someone dip out of the room and her eyes widened. Fuck, fuck, FUCK! That couldn't be him, could it? Because why the fuck would he be here? Still, she chased after the figure and after seeing the profile of his face again, she knew for sure that it was her cousin. That bastard Finn who almost ruined her lifestyle for her all because he got caught selling drugs over summer. And here she thought he was a "reformed druggie" who didn't party anymore.

         She slammed him into the wall, ignoring the wince he produced at her harshness. "What the fuck are you doing here?" anger in her eyes at the sight of him. God, he almost ruined everything for her, "You shouldn't be here!"

         "Hey, let me go," Finn yelled back at her and shoved her away before straightening himself out, "and if I knew this was a Midtown party I would've never showed up. No need to get your panties in a twist."

         He grumbled the last part, but she heard him and her glared furthered as her jaw clenched. "Jesus, what the fuck?" she hissed out, "Are you here with anyone else? And do they know who I am?"

         God, she hated Finn. There was a reason why no one – not even Sabrina, who she told everything to – knew about Finn or his old job. No one knew why she went from flaunting her lifestyle without care to hiding it from her parents because she didn't want to even think about Finn.

         "Oh, they definitely know," Finn scoffed and she seethed – why the fuck would he tell anyone and ruin her again, "but not because I talk about you or anything."

         Now that confused her, them knowing her but not knowing her because of him. But she didn't question before a sneer came from her mouth, "Good, I don't want anyone to know that I'm related to an ex-convict."

         Finn rolled his eyes at her, "You're not. I didn't go to juvie so fuck off. And I don't want anyone to know that I'm related to a stuck up bitch like you."

         Toni leaned back. She didn't know why there was a pang in her heart, it wasn't like this was the first time someone called her this and it wouldn't be the last. And she had been called worst things...so why was she feeling so hurt by this? "Fuck you," she snarled, the first thing to pop into her head.

         "Heard that before, try being more original," Finn rolled his eyes, "And they only know about you because, apparently, you're lifelong friends with Caden Hayes. At least, that's what he told his girlfriend."

         Her eyes widened and all the anger she felt towards Finn faded away at the realization that her hookup buddy had a girlfriend and she was just the mistress. God, she had been played and used! "Oh my God, he has a girlfriend?"

         She felt disgusted in herself for sleeping with him now and promising to do it again – not that it was actually going to happen now that she knew he was with someone.

         "Yeah," Finn confirmed with a nod of his head before asking, "how do you know him anyways?"

         Toni huffed, crossing her arms before confessing, "He's my drug dealer and sometimes I invite him to parties so that we can hookup," then she cursed, "Fuck, I didn't know he was dating anyone, he said he was single."

         "Caden's also a liar, it's a general fact that everyone should know about him," Finn stated, though he was just repeating the obvious now that she had figured out he had lied to her, "I know from experience."

         She frowned but didn't question him. Really, she had no interest in whatever happened to between him and Caden. "Oh my God...that bitch!" she cursed him again.

         Finn eyed her suspiciously. "Did you invite him to the party?"

         Toni shook her head, "God, no. Liz is throwing it for back to school, I don't invite people who don't go to school here to this kinda party."

         She didn't mention that she had already seen him and asked who invited him, only to not get an answer. He didn't need to know all of that.

         "Yeah, well, apparently someone doesn't have the same kinda morals as you. Which also explains why Caden's girlfriend is here," Finn told her, causing her eyes to widen greatly.

         "What? She's here? Does she know about me? About Caden and I?" Toni fired off questions.

         "As I said before; no," Finn assured her and she felt her shoulders relax. The last thing she wanted to deal with was an angry girlfriend, even if she had every right, "And please end your relationship with Caden. Tessa's my friend and I don't want her to get hurt because of this."

         Toni felt her jaw clench at his implication that she wouldn't do it herself. She knew she wasn't the best person in the entire world, but she wasn't the Devil either. She had enough morals to know that this was wrong and to break it off – God!

         "Finn! Hey!" speak of the devil and he shall appear because Caden was there with a smug smile on his face as his eyes flickered to her, "And Toni, how are you?"

         There was a hint of flirtation in his voice as he looked at her and she felt utterly disgusted. She wasn't the devil, but he sure was. Toni's eyes flickered with rage again as she looked at him. "You fucking asshole! I slept with you when you had a girlfriend!"

         Caden didn't even look at her, turning to Finn with an accusatory look as if Finn was wrong for telling her the truth. "You told her that I have a girlfriend? How did you even find her?" of course that's what Caden was more concerned about, not even realizing that he had done something wrong.

         Finn rolled his eyes. "This is my cousin," he pointed to her, "And Tessa mentioned her when we were coming over here."

         She couldn't stand to look at him anymore, just wanting to down more cups of beer and forget this whole night and her continuous mistakes with Caden. "Rot in hell, bitch," her tone was full of venom and eyes full of fury as she passed him, downing what was in her cup before going to the kitchen to get some more.

         When she got to the kitchen and refilled her cup, she didn't waste another moment before downing it again. "Damn," she heard and rolled her eyes when she saw Harry standing there watching her, "Bad night?"

         "Of course you're here," she muttered, "Just my luck."

         "Ouch," Harry mockingly placed his hand on his heart, a smile on his face, "Must be a really bad night then."

         "Even worse now that you're here," she snapped at him.

         "You wound me, Toni," he laughed, finding himself funny even though she really didn't, "Come on, what happened?"

         "As if I'd tell you," she said, though didn't move away. Of all people, Harry was the last person she would ever spill her guts to when drunk. Even drunk Toni knew not to fuck with him, "Just leave me alone."

         "Come on, am I really that revolting? Can't even stand to be in my presence for one second?" Harry asked teasingly.

         "Yes," she snapped, not even having to think before saying it because she really did find him that revolting, "You know, I think I might puke on you if you don't leave me alone."

         "Sure you are," Harry said sarcastically, "Look, Toni, you're drunk and something obviously happened and no one else is even close enough to listen to you."

         "You say that like I wanna talk about it," Toni rolled her eyes at Harry's ignorance about her. She didn't need to talk about her problems; she could just drink them all away."

         Harry gave her a look. "Everyone wants to talk it, you just don't have anyone that will listen. But I'm here, so let's go outside and you can tell me everything that happened."

         "I don't think so. Another drink would be better for me," Toni shook her head, already going to full up her cup yet again before Harry stopped her.

         "You'll regret it in the morning," he said.

         "I think I'd regret telling you anything more," she snapped back, "Now let me go."

         "I'm trying to be nice here."

         "And I don't care!"

         "Fine," Harry said, "Go and drink and sleep with some guy you don't even know. Throw up in the morning and have a headache and cry or whatever about your shit. See if I care."

         Toni's jaw tightened as Harry moved passed her, hating how he was right about what would happen in the morning. She knew it was the truth, knew that she would do exactly that. "Wait!" she called him back and he raised an eyebrow, "Fine, but don't you dare tell anyone what I tell you and don't even think that this means we're friends of any kind."

         Harry brightened, a smug look on his face, "Fine. Let's go outside."