For Better For Worse

CHAPTER FOUR

We currently sit at the back of a guy's SUV as he drives us to the party taking another route. Guy, that's his name. Kim's supposed friend. I'm really baffled at the way she knows lots of places and people around here as a freshman, sometimes I think she's been here longer than I could imagine.

It took a while before she finally convinced me to join in on her friend's ride. He's been schooling here for 2 years and knows the ins and outs of the campus, well most of it. According to him, there are a set of people who are very familiar with every corner of the college and one of them happens to be the guy holding the party and the same one Kim talked about. Gideon.

The journey was short, but through I was scared. He drove deep into the woods where everywhere was dark, the only source of light was the illuminating light from the moon. We drove deep and soon we could hear the loud music play from nearby and the closer we got, the louder and more boisterous it became.

Soon, we were visible enough to see other parked cars and the lights that gleamed brightly from the place. From the noise, you could tell the place's already crowded. The car pulled to a stop near a motorcycle and Kim and I hopped down, thanking the young man for all his help and walking towards the party.

She shrieks quietly. "Isn't it great! Crashing a party as an uninvited guest. ." And with that, I halt at the spot.

"You weren't invited?" I asked, in a whispering tone, to which she hushed immediately, looking around for any listening ears.

"Don't shush me! You told me this party was for Freshmen! Like us! Remember!" Could you believe this girl?! And I was here, worrying about attending a party I wasn't even invited to.

"Yeah! But I also got a tip that he wouldn't mind. Who cares anyway? "

"I do!" I retorted.

"Listen, the party is for those who know about it and I happen to have a friend of a friend who invited me here, it's not a big deal!"

I frown. If I knew earlier, I wouldn't have come, but I couldn't go back now. The guy who brought us here is long gone and I did take good note of the surroundings since it was dark. So I might as well stay and enjoy the party.

"Fine! I'll let go, just this once!" I say, causing her to smile. Her arm found its way to mine and locked with it.

"Let's go party!" She says and now we are walking towards what looked like a mainway in. We saunter in and soon were carried along by the music and people.

Everyone here is either dancing, drinking, making out, or getting high. One way or the other, they are all busy enjoying themselves. There's a little bonfire with tree logs set up as benches safely distant around it. Very visible was the large open shelter where the bar was set up with lots of drinks, I doubt they'd have my kind of drinks. The place is properly lit with different lots of Christmas lights.

"Alright! We're here to have fun." Kim stands in front of me, holding onto my shoulders.

"Yeah sure, I'll only have to hope someone doesn't notice that I was uninvited," I remark sarcastically.

"Don't worry about that. I'm gonna go check out with a few friends and head your way. You just go find something to drink at the bar."

I rub the back of my hand against my palm, one of the things I do when I'm very nervous. I nod and she disappears into the dancing crowd.

My throat feeling tight from anxiety, I slowly walk over to the bar and take a seat on one of the few empty stools.

Take deep breaths, Beth! You have to calm yourself down.

I throw a fleeting smile at a few people who approach the bar asking for drinks and after they all leave, I let out a deep breath before tucking my hair and observing the place.

"What can I get you? doll face." A voice question from behind the counter and I turn, glaring at a sandy blonde boy with little stubbles.

"Excuse me?"

"What can I get you?" He repeats and I take a chance to glance through the drinks on the shelves and the counter. I don't think they'd have what I want.

"Er.. Can I get a fruit punch or something soft?" I request, and he laughs. I shoot him a confused glare.

"Lemme guess, Freshmen?"

I feign a gasp. "Oh no, you've got me," I roll my eyes.

"Listen, doll face. The only drinks we have here are vodka, whiskey, bourbon, and bottles of bear, we don't serve baby juice here." He remarks snarkily and I express an eye-roll.

"Do you want any? Doll face"

"No, thanks and I'd love it if you don't call me doll face" I give him a tight-lipped smile, showing him my feigned appreciation.

"Suit yourself." He turns and I look away. "Doll face" he mutters to my hearing and I shoot back a hostile glare, but instead he smiles. Feeling annoyed already, I get out of the stool but I'm caught by Kim who struts over with two red cups in her hands.

"Told you I'd be back!" She tells me and I glance over at the rude bartender and then shift back to her.

"You were gone for a while, I thought you had ditched me," I eye the cups in her hands.

"Oh no, not for now. I need to make sure you're comfortable before letting the party take me."

"Here" she handed me one of the cups.

"I hope this isn't one of your ways to get me comfortable, cause I don't drink,"

"What! Really?" I nod. "Tch! You're a real buzz kill, you know that." Thanks for the honesty.

"Well, everyone isn't the same. I'm gonna party till the night's over, see ya." She tells me and then dashes out and then, I realize I didn't give her back the cup, but it's too late; she's gone.

_____________

Within an hour, more people had trooped in, after being said that the owners of the parties. A.K.A The popular guys had arrived and few had left for some reason. The music was tuned up and Kim was having a blast as she drank and danced with a few guys from time to time.

There's something crazy about that girl. I laugh slightly as I thought. Getting tired of staying in the same place, I move away from the bar and swam past the crowd to a much freer space, beside a large tree close to the bonfire. I lean against it, glaring deeply at the blazing fire. The orange, blue, and yellow, tiny ghosts danced in the woods, flickering licks of light twitch toward the crystal sky above.

You know, it's more than that. It's more than, heat, light, and combustion gasses. It metaphorically referred to the intensity of something, the extreme passion between two people who are in love. Something he and I shared intensely. Extreme passion.

I remember those nights, he'd sneak into my room, just to surprise me. Those days we would miss classes just to 'hang out' in the janitor's closet. Some days we'd skip school to go have fun. His kind of fun. Although we argued and had our differences, our love for each other never ceased to stop burning and maybe that's the reason it's so hard getting over him.

We still had that fire. It's consuming.

"Bee" A deep voice calls behind me and I tense up. My heart racing frantically against my chest, my throat feeling more tight than before. My heart doing what it does best.; failing me.

I stand there, contemplating whether or not I should turn or run. Fight or Flight.

Flight!! My mind rings

Fight!! My heart sings.

And with thatm I let out a breath, turning slowly and locking eyes with him.

"Andrew"