The Book Fight

CHAPTER 11: Blurry nights

ASTON

“Are you okay?” I catch Sekani when her knees give away.

“Yeah,” she separates our bodies the moment she gets a grip.

“Water?” I offer but she doesn’t move when I point to the den. “Come on Sekani, we’ll fight when you’re better.”

I really don’t want her to start bleeding again.

“Fine.” She turns to the house instead and I follow. “I am not even that drunk,” Sekani folds her arms when we walk through the door.

She acknowledges every compliment and nods at everyone that wishes her well and send good regards for her health. I really hope it wasn’t serious because school was a nightmare without her there.

Even I am man enough to admit that, school princess or not.

“Argh, why are you still following me Aston? I am capable of getting water myself.” Sekani increases her pace but I keep up.

“Okay. Let’s say you are not that drunk.” I button my jacket when too many girls start looking at me weirdly. “But can you repeat what you said before?” About liking me.

She stops in the middle of the hall to scold a, “I didn’t say a thing.”

“Fine.” I walk past her and go to the large kitchen.

Luckily, it is not as packed but a few girls do giggle and wave when I pass through the door which Sekani catches but ignores.

“Why does it matter anyway?” Sekani is now following me as I look for an empty or clean cup. “Why do you care?”

“I said fine Sekani.” I open the cabinets and grab coffee mugs. “We are getting water in you and then I’ll let you be.”

It’s either the gummies are not as strong as George promised or I have truly fried my brain because I feel sober and exposed.

“Fine Aston,” she watches me fill the mugs with bottled water. “If I drink this, will you then leave me alone?”

“If that’s what you want,” people are moving around us but I only see her.

“I want some air,” Sekani walks out through the back door and I follow with another mug of water. “Seriously? Out here too?”

I close the door to shut out the music since the back yard is not as crowded but it does have a nice view of the lake.

“Yes seriously. Now drink the water so the princess can be free of me,” I notice her eyes are getting lower and redder.

“Whatever.” Sekani switches out her empty mug for the one in my hand.

“No, your safety and health is not whatever.” Alcohol poisoning is a serious thing.

“Why do you care?” She empties the second cup and I pull out a water bottle from my back pocket for her to consume too.

She basically had quarter if not half a bottle of tequila, she needs to drink twice the water so it can miraculously flush itself out somehow.

“All that matters is that I care,” I put the mugs down and edge her to drink the bottled water but she only plays with the cap.

“Why? You don’t even like me.” Sekani finally takes a small sip.

“What makes you think I don’t like you Sekani?” I am actually very curious.

“Because you ignore me, steal my sh*t and sometimes you act like I annoy you. You even said it yourself that you never wanted to be my friend.”

I hate that it came out so cruel.

“I never did just want your friendship Sekani,” that part was true. “But you don’t annoy me, not in the way you think at least.”

She is annoyingly perfect and is always taking space in my head but I like it, it gives me a break from the dark stuff filling up in there.

“Yi was right.” Sekani leans against the patio railing. “Boys are confusing, especially the cute ones.”

I freeze.

Did she just refer to me as cute?

“What?” Sekani snorts in that adorable way that makes my heart flutter, “oh don’t tell me girls don’t tell you how cute you are? That’s a lie because I saw how they looked at you in there even Yi said it.”

“Not to me,” I stand closer to her.

“You’re kidding right?” Sekani stares at me like I just said the craziest thing in the world. “You’re telling me you never notice all those looks girls give you, all the googly eyes and giggles at your savage one liners?”

“Nope,” I shake my head. “They’re not coming from the right girl so why would I?” I look into her beautiful brown eyes but they’re not getting any clearer.

“Aston—” she slurs.

“Sekani, we really need to get you home. You’re really drunk.” I pat my jacket for my cellphone. “I’ll tell Buck to bring your friend around.”

“You’re right, I am drunk,” her smile is even getting lazy. “I am also calm and serene despite my unrequited crush standing next to me.”

Enough of this.

“It’s requited,” I assure because I know she won’t remember this part. “You are all I think about Sekani Rivers, so having you shut me out is bad—just don’t do it.”

We have our issues yes but I can’t go back to her ignoring me again, especially when I am getting better mentally and socially.

“Oh Aston,” Sekani holds me by the shoulders. “There is a lot of buzzing in my head so I’ll be honest with you since I know you don’t have the courage to do the same with me.”

I tense because Yi and Buck are taking too long, Sekani is about to drop any second. I can see it in her hazy eyes.

“I like you and it’s really annoying so bear with me” she continues despite my lack of eye contact. “I also think you’re really cute, I love seeing you shirtless so when you ask and I tell you to put a shirt on—please don’t.”

Now I look at her.

Note to self, drunk Sekani has loose lips.

“But if I find out that you took my book, you will be nothing to me. Romantic feelings or not.” The smile I had on my face falls as she adds, “because I won’t forgive you. Not for this.”

“Sekani.” I hold her hands in place when she tries to remove them.

“Wow, if you weren’t so blurry, I’d kiss you.” She moves closer and holds my face, “I bet you taste like tequila and pot.”

I laugh with her because that was a good pun.

“I probably do.” I lean into her soft touch because it feels amazing. “You’re the most beautiful person I have ever seen Sekani.”

Inside and out.

“I am?” I don’t know why she is surprised because there is a house full of people that agree and have said the same.

“Yeah, that’s why we can’t just be friends. You are too pretty and I like looking at you too much for it to be platonic.” It makes her smile so I add, “you smell really amazing too.”

Of course, I like Sekani back but I don’t want to take the easy out when I say it. I want her to know and remember my words when they leave my mouth because I haven’t liked a girl this much...ever.

“Oh screw it, you’re too adorable.” Sekani closes the space between us and kisses my…eye?

Hold on. Sekani is tall but I am taller, how on earth did she reach my eye?

“That did not just happen,” she covers her mouth to stop the laughing. “I told you, you were blurry.”

She laughs harder when I join in because I can’t help but find the humor in this.

“So how did my eye taste?” I hold her steady because she is swinging now.

“Hazel.” She is holding my shoulders again, “your eyes are very hazel. How did I not know that?”

“Sekani?” Her eyes keep dropping like she is getting dizzy.

“By the way, you are spinning. Actually everything is spin—” Sekani falls into my arms but this time she doesn’t get back up.

“Parker, we have a problem.” Buck walks in with a limp Yi between him and Ryder’s shoulder.

She looks drunker than Sekani and its miracle her eyes are even open as she slurs, “I told you she was fine with Aston. Can I go throw up now? The tequila is fighting back”

“Sorry guys but Sekani can crash in my parent’s room if it’s a bother,” Ryder takes Yi off Buck’s shoulders. “I’d make sure it’s locked though, it’s the only one with a bed so it’s in high demand.”

“What now?” I ask Buck because he is not looking sober either but that also means George is probably on the way already.

“I’ll be fine with Aston,” Sekani is the one to answer.

I look down but her eyes are still closed as she holds on to me with an iron grip I didn’t expect.

My house it is then.

SEKANI

I open my eyes but the heaviness of fatigue and alcohol is too strong so I keep them closed as I hold whatever my head is laying on tightly.

It feels like someone’s lap.

I can tell because it’s a bit uncomfortable and muscly but I definitely won’t be remembering any of this as I don’t even remember how I got into this car or what has happened since the moment I left that den.

And a part of me is glad because that means I won’t have regrets.

“Isn’t your mom going to freak out? You guys can stay over at our place if it’s a problem.”

“And have her wake up in a house full of boys at the mayor’s house? No, my parents love Sekani so they will be fine with it.” The person I am sleeping on answers.

I really think it’s Aston because his expensive scent is the most potent around me.

“And why are you shirtless again pretty boy?” The driver asks, I can tell because the voice is coming from the front which means we’re in the back seat,

“I somehow lost my shirt and she wouldn’t stop shivering,” Aston adjusts the jacket over me. “Bucky? How are you doing buddy?”

“I f*****g love you man,” Buck slurs from the front too. “You’re a rock star,” there is a short pause before he says “you too Kani! You really know how to throw a good party girl!”

The three boys laugh and I can’t help but smile.

“Ah, high school parties. I really don’t miss them” the driver seems entertained.

“They are not so bad,” Aston’s voice fades away as the last wave takes me to slumber.

But I feel safe.

It could be the tequila running through my blood stream but deep down I know it’s not because of how relaxed my body is as I hold on to Aston’s lap like it’s a pillow.

I feel safe because of him.