𝘼𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙣'𝙨 𝙋𝙊𝙑

Her green eyes light up and a wide smile curls at her red painted lips as he places a hand on her hip, tucking her long raven hair behind her ear. He dips his head down and whispers something in her ear with a grin on his face, causing her to laugh loudly and playfully smack his chest.

I watch from afar with a red solo cup in my hand as the girl I don't even know the name of and my boyfriend laugh across the crowded room, my chest aching with loneliness.

"You okay, girl?" I hear a voice ask and I turn my head to see a tipsy looking blonde with a cheery smile on her lips "You look down in the dumps"

"I'm fine" I shrug, pasting on a smile.

"You got a crush on him?" She asks me, nodding at Rafe.

"He's my boyfriend" I counter and her blue eyes widen in disbelief "Are you surprised he'd be with me?"

"No, I'm surprised that he's over there flirting with her when he has a girlfriend as hot as you" She retorts and I feel my cheeks heating up at the compliment.

"Thanks" I mumble, smiling at her shyly.

"I'm Erika, but you can call me Rika" She introduces herself, holding out her hand.

"Allison, but my friends call me Alli" I reply, taking a hold of her hand.

Instead of shaking my hand like I though she would, she brings my hand up to her mouth and presses a kiss to my knuckles.

"Your boyfriend is a douchebag and you deserve better than him" She tells me.

"He loves me, he's just not very good at showing it" I argue, slipping my hand out of her grasp.

"Someone who loves you doesn't act like that" Erika scoffs, glancing at Rafe who's face is gut twistingly close to the girl he's holding.

Their noses brush against one another and I inhale sharply, my feet moving before my mind can even comprehend the situation.

I reach the pair and grab Rafe's arm, tugging on it gently to get his attention. He turns his head to me and his happy grin slips off his face as he frowns down at me.

"What is it?" He questions me.

"Can we talk please?" I ask him.

"Who is she?" The girl asks Rafe, looking me up and down like I'm the dirt on the bottom of her shoe.

"I'm his girlfriend" I snap at her, feeling irritated at her dirty looks "So I'd really appreciate it if you get your hands off him"

She scoffs in disgust and rolls her eyes, strutting away and hitting my shoulder with her own as she passes me.

"What the fuck, Allison?" Rafe spits, gaining my attention.

"She was flirting with you" I defend myself.

"You didn't have to be a bitch about it" He counters as if I'm the one in the wrong.

"You want her, don't you?" I breathe out hopelessly.

"Don't be attention seeking" He huffs at me in annoyance "You've got such a fucking victim complex, you know that?"

"Do you even love me?" I ask him.

"You already know how I feel, Allison" He shrugs, not meeting my eyes.

"Actually, I don't" I argue.

"What the hell is your problem?" Rafe snaps, giving me his full attention.

"You never tell me that you love me anymore" I declare "You won't even touch me most days. I have to fight just to get you to look at me"

"Are you seriously so desperate for attention?" He scoffs in disbelief.

"Tell me you love me, Rafe" I plead.

"I don't have to explain myself to you" He retorts.

"It's three words. Just say them and I'll drop everything" I assure him.

"I've not got time for your shit right now" He states angrily.

"If you can't admit it. I'm leaving" I tell him.

"Then go. I don't need you, and I'm certainly not gonna chase you" He replies, clearly uncaring about whether I leave or not.

I spin around with tears in my eyes and push my way through the crowd of people in the Thornton household, making my way outside into the fresh air.

"Alli!" I hear Erika's voice call out and I pause, letting her catch up to me.

"Hi, Rika" I paste on a smile for her but she frowns at me sympathetically.

"What happened in there?" She asks me, rubbing my arm comfortingly.

"Nothing that hasn't happened before" I laugh humourlessly, a tear rolling down my cheek.

"Do you want a lift home?" She sighs, tucking my curled hair behind my ear.

"You've been drinking" I point out and she smiles in amusement.

"Yeah, but my boyfriend is picking me up. We can drop you off" She offers.

"If it's not too much bother" I answer.

"No bother at all, sweetness" She assures me before perking up with a happy grin "There he is now"

I turn to see a sleek black sports car pull up next to us and the driver's window rolls down to reveal a smiling brunette man.

"You ready to go, baby?" He asks his girlfriend who skips over and leans down on the window, pressing her lips to his quickly.

"I'm ready, but I said we'd give my friend a lift. That's fine with you, right?" She explains and his eyes dart to me, giving me a friendly smile which I return.

"That's fine" He agrees.

"Come on, Alli" Erika chirps, grabbing my hand and pulling open the car door.

Erika and I slip into the back seat and her boyfriend turns to me as we buckle up.

"Where do you want me to drop you off?" He asks.

I open my mouth to give him my address but my voice dies in my throat and I find myself wanting to go anywhere but home.

"Allison" Erika nudges me gently.

"I can't remember the address, but I can give you directions" I blurt out.

"Okay, just keep me right" He shrugs and I nod.

In no time at all we pull up on the dark gravel road and I hesitate before grabbing the handle to push open the car door. I climb out and close the door behind me, wrapping my arms around my little black dress clad body as the cold breeze hits my bare arms and legs.

"Thanks for the lift" I say, glancing at the couple as Erika climbs into the front seat.

"No problem. Have a nice night, Alli!" Erika beams happily.

"You too, Rika" I smile warmly.

I wave them off as the car pulls away from the house and drives off, leaving me alone in the darkness with only the moonlight to light the way.

After taking at least ten deep breaths, I make my way up to the porch and shakily rap my knuckles against the wooden door. It swings open to reveal a grinning blonde boy and I feel myself relaxing almost immediately.

"Princess!" JJ gasps drunkenly "Whatcha doin' in the cut at this hour?"

"Is Kie here?" I ask curiously and he wiggles his eyebrows at me suggestively "JJ, stop that"

"Okay, okay" He chuckles, turning to look behind him "Kie, you've got a cute little visitor!"

"Who is it?!" Kiara hollers.

"Get up off your lazy ass and come take a look!" He shouts.

"Call me lazy again and I'll castrate you" Kiara warns him, pushing past him to get to the door.

Her eyes widen in surprise and I suddenly feel really vulnerable stood out in the cold on the wrong side of the island in a mini dress with alcohol running through my system.

"Allison, what are you doing here?" She asks me as JJ stumbles away.

"I don't want to go home yet" I admit.

"So your first thought was to come and see me, platonically of course" Kiara teases.

"Fine, I'll just go to Sarah's" I huff, turning to walk away but my hand is grabbed.

"No, you'll stay with me" Kiara declares and the authority in her voice sends chills down my spine "Sleeping in Sarah's bed isn't the same, remember?"

"Don't use my words against me, Kiara" I retort.

"Come in, have a drink with me and the boys" She offers, rubbing her thumb over my knuckles "I promise I'll let you be the little spoon if you stay"

"Platonically?" I question and she smirks widely, rolling her eyes playfully.

"Of course, sunshine" She nods.