Burning Attraction Read online

  I spot Carson, talking with a group of his brothers, so I walk over. "Hey Carson, hey guys, thanks again for allowing this here!" I hug Carson and a friend of his named Joe, who has always been friendly to me. Everyone says their hellos back to me.

  "You know you're welcome Cassie," Carson says. "You like the decorations?"

  "Yes! I was going to ask who did everything."

  I see a small blush on his cheeks. "Joe, Frank and I did."

  "Oh my God, really?" I giggle lightly, "I freakin love it all. Thank you so much!" I want to hug him again, but I think it would awkward so I don't. Aubrey tells him too how much she likes it, but then we walk off to grab a drink.

  I walk around the house, but I don't see Avery anywhere. I send a text to him, but twenty minutes later there is still no response, so I call him. Nothing. I ask Aubrey to call Mason, which she willingly does and there is no answer from him either. I'm not sure if to be nervous or not, maybe they're here and can't hear it over the thumping music. I know sometimes I can’t. I figure I'll give it another try soon if I don't spot them.

  Aubrey and I go outside after another ten minutes. Many people keep coming up and talking to me, hugging me and handing me drinks, so I'm sweating hot, and practically drunk. I need fresh air and to try Avery again.

  "Hello?" A girl answers.

  "Um, hi." I look at my phone to make sure I dialed the right number and I did, so I put the phone back to my ear. There is no noise in the background, so I know it's not from inside the house. "Is Avery there?"

  "Oh, yeah, but he is in the shower. Can I ask who is calling?" My heart pounds heavy in my chest. In the shower? What shower? Where is he? Who is this and why is she answering his phone?

  I let out a dry laugh, "uh, this is his girlfriend, Cassie, he is supposed to be at my birthday celebration. Who are you?"

  I can hear the amusement in the girls voice, "oh yes, Cassie. I've heard of you. This is Leah. I'll tell him you called when he is out."

  I click the end call button before anymore is said. I'm pissed! No, wait, pissed is an understatement. I lash out on Aubrey, not meaning to, but I'm seething with anger. "I need to get fuckin' drunk now!"

  "Whoa, calm down. What happened? Who was that? Where's Avery?" Aubrey asks, following after me as I storm my way back into the house.

  Whipping my head around, I have to swallow down the lump in my throat before I answer. I think I'm going to throw up. "Some bitch named Leah answered his phone, he is in the fuckin' shower, but that’s all the God damn details I apparently get. And although I don't know who she is, she knows who the hell I am! Now, I need tequila, stat!"

  Five shots of tequila later, I finally feel a little numb. I no longer have the feeling of nausea, but I still feel my heart beating out of control. I turned my phone off after the third shot, because right now I don't even want to hear from Avery, I just want to enjoy my birthday. I'll deal with the drama later, I've had enough bull shit this year, I'm not going to let anyone ruin tonight.

  I'm about to pick up the sixth shot when someone pulls it out my hand. I look over and glare at Pierce. "What are you doing? And why are you here?"

  He just grins at me, "cheers!" He throws back my shot, then smiles bigger at me. "Happy birthday Rosie. What has your knickers in a twist?"

  "My kickers? What are you my grandmother?" I snap. I ask the pledge for another drink as Pierce roars in laughter.

  "I think we both know that ain't true," he whispers close to my ear, sending chills down my spine. I take a deep breath and try to ignore him. I throw back the shot then ask for a Tequila Sunrise.

  I leave the table, grabbing Aubrey's arm. I'm nearly trashed and need her to help me walk. I see a bench so I walk over to it and flop down onto the seat. I reach down to grab at the straps on my heels, but my head spins and I can't quite make it. Instead, I just rest my head on my knees. My foot gets lifted and I assume that Aubrey is trying to help me out, until the warmth of the large hands tells me I'm wrong. Both shoes come off and are placed next to me.

  I hear Aubrey speak from the side of me, "thanks for helping. But I don't think right now is the time to be messing around with her."

  Pierce's voice rings through the other ear, "trouble in paradise?"

  I pick my head up and raise an eyebrow. "How'd you guess?"

  "You're too beautiful to be upset about him. Come, dance and have fun. Let loose Rosie. Just don't get alcohol poisoning, you should slow down on the drinks." There is sympathy in his grey eyes and I smile at him. He is actually quite an awesome person, when he isn't hitting on me or taunting me.

  I nod, "good idea. Fuck it all! I'm getting plastered and having the time of my life!" I hold up my drink before taking a long sip of it. I grab my heels and throw them in the linen closet, hoping I remember where they are later, I just don't want someone steeling them. Aubrey ends up stepping out of hers and throws them in there too, causing me to laugh. If we forget these, the boys are going to be confused tomorrow.

  Pierce and Aubrey both follow me out to the makeshift dance floor, and I shake my hips to the LMFAO song that is blasting through the speakers. "I'm sexy and I know it!" I shout out, "Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, yeah!" I keep repeating the words, shaking my ass back and forth as fast as I can, laughing at how much of an idiot I probably look like. Aubrey is joining me in the crazy dance so it's all the more fun. I know she is just as upset that Mason isn't answering or calling, and is most likely with Avery, but she isn't talking about it either. She is just joining me in the drinks, the dancing, and the fun.

  When that song dies out and Pierce is done laughing, he excuses himself to get a drink. I continue to dancing to the next song that comes on, not ready to stop any time soon. Carson sees me and waves. "Carson!" I shout out, so he comes over, looking a little skeptical.

  "Having fun?" He looks back and forth between Aubrey and me.

  "Fuck yeah! All thanks to you!" I hug him tight then pull back, his face looks purely amused.

  He laughs lightly, "I'm glad to know that. Where's uh, where's Avery?" My heart starts pounding just at the mention of his name.

  I shrug, playing it off the best I can. "Fuck it! Who the hell knows! Leah or some bitch like that could tell you, I can't." He looks sad for me, so I just smile, trying to pretend to be okay. "Uh, whatever. I don't wanna worry about it tonight. Let's party!"

  Carson laughs and shakes his head. "You ladies have fun. Be safe! If you need my room to pass out in let me know, okay?"

  I nod my head as I start dancing with Aubrey again, and Carson walks back off. Another song starts up and it almost makes me want to cry, as Bruno Mars sings about a break up and the girl moving on. I don't care right now though, I just want to dance and have fun. Two hands grip my hips from behind and pull me close to a rock hard chest. I look up and see Pierce looking down at me, not giving away any emotions, not happy, sad, nervous, nothing. Kind of how I feel right now. I lay the back of my head against his chest, and sway with him to the music.

  "-too dumb to realize that I should have bought you flowers, and held your hand. Should have gave you all my hours, when I had the chance." the words are so sad, but having Pierce dance this song with me makes me feel special. I feel good right now. "Take you to every party, 'cause all you wanted to do was dance. Now my baby's dancing, but she's dancing with another man."

  "The fuck you think you're doing?" I hear Avery's voice rip through the room and my eyes fly open. Oh the irony that this song is playing while I am dancing with Pierce.

  Pierce's grip only tightens on my waist as we both stare at Avery, who is seething, reminding me of a pissed off bull. "Dancing with a friend because her boyfriend was too much of a prick to show up for her birthday party." Oh shit, that is going to piss Avery off even more.

  I pull away from Pierce and walk towards Avery. "Outside, now!" I scream.

  "Not unless THAT fucker joins!" He points at Pierce and I shake my head no.

  "Absolutely not, this is between
you and I! NOW!"

  Aubrey comes and stands behind me, Mason behind Avery, and Pierce standing off to the side a little. We're all just staring at each other and most everyone's eyes are on us now. I raise my eyebrows at Avery and walk past him so I can go outside, and if he doesn't follow there is going to be a war.

  "What the fuck was that?" Avery calls from behind me, but I don't stop until I'm out in the middle of the lawn, away from the house. I really didn't want a scene and hell, there wouldn't be any kind of scene if he just stayed away, or showed up in the first place. Or even answered his own phone.

  I turn around and face a very pissed off Avery, but I let it known I'm just as upset. "Hm, let me see. That is me, smashed, dancing with two of my friends that actually bothered to show up to my party! Two people, that if I called, they'd answer my God damn phone calls or messages! Why don't YOU explain to ME what you think that is?"

  His face reddens. "I'm sure he would answer your phone call, when you're calling him to whore yourself out. Is that why you're dressed like that?"

  I swallow the vomit when I hear him say that. I lower my voice some and take a step closer to him, my entire body shaking with anger. "You know what Avery? That is twice you've called me a whore, but I've been nothing but faithful to you! You can't say the same, can you? Who the fuck is Leah? Huh? Wait, I don't want to know who she is, all I want is for you to get the fuck out of this house and leave me the fuck alone. I hate you." My shoulder shoves into his arm as I storm past.

  "Wait!" Avery yells out behind me, "get back here Cassie! Let me explain."

  I whip my head around. "Why bother? We're done!" I turn back around and run inside the best I can without stumbling. Avery doesn't bother chasing after me, and when I get in the house, both Aubrey and Mason are missing. I see Pierce who is standing away from me, staring at me hesitantly.

  I stride towards him, trying not to cry. "Do you know where Aubrey went?"

  He shakes his head, "no I don't. You okay?"

  "Do I look okay?" I snap at him. I take a deep breath and close my eyes. "Sorry, I shouldn't snap at you, you're the only one who gives a shit about me." I open my eyes and smile up at him.

  Pierce smirks reluctantly. "I don't know about that. But it's your birthday, come, let’s get you a drink."

  I follow him into another room, and we each take a shot of tequila before settling on a drink for each of us. I pull him behind me and make my way to the makeshift dance floor. The rest of the night is a complete blur, and I fade in and out on different memories.

  Some girl in a pink tank top puts a shot glass between her breasts and just using my mouth, I manage to take the shot out from her cleavage, throwing the liquid in the back of my throat... I'm on top of a speaker, dancing to Taylor Swift, people all around watching me... Dancing with Pierce and Aubrey... Holding Aubrey's hair as she throws up in the toilet... Drawing on two frat boys that are passed out with permanent marker... Using whip cream bottles like they're silly string... Playing strip poker with a group of people I don't recognize besides Aubrey. Laughing insanely as I have to pull off my dress... Running around butt naked outside the frat house, Aubrey in tow... Someone holding my hair as I throw up in the toilet, wearing some oversized tee-shirt ... Getting carried outside, grey eyes staring down at me with worry.

  Chapter 16: Hangover

  I hear a buzzing noise and I groan out in pain as my temples throb with each buzz. My eyes remain close but everything around me is spinning, and I feel like I'm going to lose whatever still inhabits my stomach. I sit up as my eyes spring open and I jump out of the bed. Aubrey is on the floor, naked, with a blanket thrown over her, not covering a thing. A puddle of drool falling from her mouth. I look down to see I'm in a tee-shirt that hangs down to my knees, then back at the bed I just jumped out of to see a naked Pierce. Oh. Shit.

  It's then I realize that I'm in his bedroom. Oh my God, what did I do? I feel vomit start to rise again and I sprint to the bathroom, making it to the toilet just in time. Barely anything comes up, I'm mostly dry heaving. Tears run down my face each time I try to throw up. I get just enough energy to stand up and walk to the faucet, filling my mouth with water several times. Once my belly feels full enough, I walk back to the toilet and force myself to throw up, knowing it's the only way I'll feel better.

  Once I'm in the clear, I search the medicine cabinet and pull out the Tylenol, taking three tablets before putting the bottle back in there. There is fluoride too, so after I swallow the tablets, I rinse my mouth out with the fluoride. I close the cabinet door and stare at myself in the mirror. I have a massive hickey on my neck, my makeup is smeared down my cheeks, my hair is matted to my head, and I simply look like death.

  I walk over and fill up the bathtub, adding in some of Pierce's shampoo so I can have bubbles. I grab a towel and wash cloth out of his closet as the water fills up, and when it's to where I need it, I slide into the hot water with a small moan. Laying my head back against the cool tile, I close my eyes and try to replay what happened last night. The only things I seem to remember is the argument with Avery, dancing with Pierce, and Aubrey showing up at some point throughout the night again.

  Aubrey walks in a few minutes later, the blanket wrapped tightly around her, groaning out. That is exactly how I feel, so I know what is going on with her head. She walks over to the toilet and sits on the lid, staring at me with heavy eyes. "What happened last night?"

  I shrug my shoulders. "That’s what I'm trying to figure out. I'm a little scared it wasn't so good."

  She closes her eyes, groaning again. "My thoughts exactly. Why was I naked on Pierce's floor and why are we in his house?"

  "I wish I knew. I woke up in his bed, just in a shirt and nothing else. And he is naked. And," I point to my hickey, "I guess I proved Avery right."

  "Proved him right?" she asks, walking over to me and sitting on the floor next to the bathtub this time.

  I take a deep breath in, "he called me a whore last night, again! And apparently I am."

  She starts to laugh, but it obviously hurts her head, so she quickly stops. "Ouch," she rubs her temples, "you're not a whore. It was your birthday and you had fun, while he was God knows where with God knows who."

  Pointing to the medicine cabinet, I tell Aubrey that is where the Tylenol is. She gets up and grabs a few for herself, then walks back over. I scoot over in the tub, since it's plenty big enough for two people, probably more. Aubrey drops the blanket and climbs in with me. Most people would probably find something like this weird, but we've been friends for so long, it's no big deal to either of us. When she is plunged in the warm bubble water, she lays her head on my shoulder. "I want to cry," she states softly.

  "Me too," I admit. "What happened with Mason?"

  I can feel her shrug against my shoulders. "He said they were with Mouse. He says Avery got asked to do some training thing, and that no cellphones were allowed or some shit. And when I asked who Leah was, he said Mouse's sister. Then he said when they were done, they came to surprise us. We argued because a lot of what he said seemed fishy, then when Avery found us he was flipping out, and I told Mason I was joining you. Carson and Joe both asked them to leave if they were going to start problems and they left, without so much as a goodbye to me."

  "Oh, I'm so sorry Aubrey. I know you guys don't ever argue. I'm not sure what to do. Are you going to call or see Mason later?"

  She groans, "I'm going to wait for him to call me. I didn't do shit wrong. Well, before he left. I don't know about after."

  I laugh quietly, "yeah, that’s how I feel."

  We both just lay in the tub together for several minutes, staying quite. I hear a knock on the door a few minutes later. "Um, Cassie, are you in there?" Pierce asks through the door.

  "Yeah, just taking a bath, I'll be out in a minute."

  I hear him chuckle through the door. "Oh really now? Well, I'm glad you made yourself at home. Can I join you?"

  "NO," Aubrey yells out louder than her head can even
handle.

  "Oh, you're both in there together?" I can only imagine the thoughts running through Pierce's head. "Anyways, I just wanted to tell you that your phone keeps going off. Mostly Avery, some Carson." Shit, shit, shit. I'm about to find out things I don't want to hear.

  "Okay, I'll be right out," I say back to him.

  Aubrey groans again as I climb out, and once I have a towel snug around me, I grab her one out of the cabinet. While she dries off, I wash my face in the mirror. I'm starting to feel better, I just need some extremely greasy food and coffee to really feel good. When we're both all set, I walk out of the bathroom and back down the hall to Pierce's bedroom. He is dressed in a pair of jeans, but his shirt is still off and I can't help but stare. I miss seeing him shirtless.

  "Shit," I mutter, "are our clothes here?" I ask him, realizing I have nothing to change into. Aubrey pulls her towel closer when she walks in behind me and I see her eyes take in Pierce's body with approval. Her cheeks blush pink then she looks at me, knowing she got caught starring, then looks towards the door ignoring me and Pierce both.

  Pierce chuckles, "as much as I'd love to see you ladies walk around in towels, I'm sure you don't. You're clothes aren't here actually," he laughs harder, "um, but here." He tosses two tee-shirts and two pairs of boxer shorts onto his bed. I grab one of each and tell him to turn around as I put them on, Aubrey doing the same as quickly as she can. I keep my eyes on Pierce to make sure he doesn't peak, and he doesn't even once. Impressive.

  When we're all dressed I give him the okay to turn around. "You two look pretty hot in my clothes."

  I scowl at him. "Ha, funny. Now. Any way you could explain anything about last night before I answer any phone calls?"

  He smiles full of mischief. "Oh, I'd love to replay last night. But you girls may want to sit down."

  Aubrey and I sit on the bed and Pierce sits in a chair opposite of us. He tells us everything he can remember about the night, all the way from us getting so incredibly smashed, to dancing and having loads of fun. He says we drew dicks and hearts and all sorts of weird things over some of people who had passed out before us. We had a whip cream fight that pissed some of the frat guys off because of the mess we made. Thus resulting to us to sitting down at a table and playing a game of strip poker, which is where we lost our clothes.