As much as I protested I actually liked parties. There was something the anonymity that came from dim lights and too much alcohol that had a kind of 1980s chick flick vibe to it. So nursing on my second beer of the night my hips slowly swayed to the throwback Ke$ha song that was playing over the din of the living room. There was a slight buzzing in my head that had the pleasant premonitions of lowered inhibitions; which may have been why it took me a second to register a pair of warm hands planted firmly on my hips.

“Why on earth are you doing this to me?” The voice was gruffy and slightly slurred but familiar enough to bring a half smile to my face as retreated away.

I didn’t have to look back to know he was following me as I ducked through the crowd of sweat and promiscuity. He always did. So once I was free of the cramped rooms and out beneath the stars I turned and met Conner with a kiss earning a protesting ‘mmmmm’ from him.

“But I wanted to dance.” He giggled from having one too many drinks.

“Conner,” my tone was warning that we were not going to talk about this again.

Conner and I had been going out for nearly six months and we weren’t yet public. He pestered me on a nearly weekly basis as to why and I was putting off telling him the truth was my neighbor, Liam Payne. For some odd and kind of messed up reason he seemed to have to butt into and ruin every single one of my relationships. But explaining butthead neighbor to adorable boyfriend wasn’t on my top 10 want to have conversations list.

“No, no, no I want to go in there and dance with you and kiss you in front of everyone,” Conner protested wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me into him while he gestured back towards the party, “I want everyone to know that you’re mine and there’s nothing they can do about it.”

The puppy dog look in his eyes nearly made me reconsider. The thought crossed through my head, maybe just maybe, if it was only a select few it wouldn’t get back to Liam. But I seemed to have hesitated too long as Conner’s arm dropped from me and he took a step back a look of hurt crossing his face. I could see the argument that was about to ensue and there was nothing, nothing, I could do to make it better.

“Do you not want people to know? Do you think I’m beneath you?” Conner’s arm gestures were getting more wild and I feared not only for his safety but our cover from the party, “Do I mean nothing to you? Huh, is that it?”

“Conner!” My tone was insistent this time and we just stared at each other for a beat longer than was comfortable.

“No you know what?” Conner shook his head before turning and walking away, “Fuck you! Fuck this!”

I stood paused for a second unable or unwilling to comprehend what was happening. Then the door slammed and it was like a stab through my drunken mind sobering me up much to my despair. I wanted to scream, I wanted to cry but how could I mourn someone no one knew was ever mine. I knew that tomorrow meant that we would have to talk about this, really talk about it.

Not wanting to risk a run in I moved around the side of the house to another door and was greeted with an unpleasant sight lounged against the wall a bottle of tequila in his hand. Seeing me he straightened slightly, took a swig from the bottle, and flashed me a smile.

“Drink?” Liam asked offering the bottle.

“No thank you.” I stated bruskly not in the mood for more alcohol.

“You look like you need one.” He said with one eyebrow raised.

Unsure if he’d just insulted me or not I decided to take the high road and pushed past him and through the side door. I couldn’t see much even in the empty kitchen so my hopes of finding the girls were slim, but I looked anyways for the better part of half an hour. But all I could seem to find were drunk band geeks and kissing couples. As I was pushing through yet another set of legs cuddled by the fireplace a whiff of perfume had me glancing at the couple I had just rudely interupted.

“You have got to be fucking kidding me.” I said not caring at this point who heard.

Conner’s blue eyes were wide as he pushed the brunette from his lap earning a ‘harumph’ from her and a glare. His gaze started as apologetic but I could see the emotions twist and I was hoping it was just from the drink.
“Oh, so now you care?” He sneered bitterly.

“Of course I fucking care, I’m your girlfriend and you’re over here kissing some spray tanned slut!” I yelled accidently earning the attention of half the room.

“Aren’t you afraid someone is going to hear you!” Conner yelled back gesturing at the sidelong glances we were getting, “Besides I thought we were over.”

I wanted to deck him, I really wanted to deck him. But as I stared at the glazed eyes that stared up at me without a fraction of the affection I was used to I was done. So, shaking my head I just left, back through the kitchen and out the door to freedom. Liam was still standing there with an arrogant cocky smile on his face.

“Still don’t want a drink?” He asked and this time I took the bottle from him and took a large swig the contents burning on the way down but leaving a pleasant warmth in my gut.

“Whoa rough night?”

“You have absolutely no idea.” I answered handing the bottle back.

“Want to take a walk and talk about it?”

---

The van was warm and the ground bumpy and to my hungover mind it took a second to process where I was. And even the realization that I was in the back of a van didn’t do wonders for my nerves or my confusion. The last thing I remembered was talking with Liam, which was surprisingly half pleasant, and falling asleep. Sitting up I ran my fingers through my hair before hearing a moan from behind me.

It was Mona, flesh colored tape surrounding her wrists and across her mouth as she appeared to be mostly asleep. The warning bells now at full blare in my mind I quickly crawled over and quickly checked her pulse before pulling the tape off of her mouth. A soft snore escaped and I moved to lean against the side of the wall, at least she was alive.

“Why the hell did we do this?” The question was harried, frantic, and the voice was very familiar.

“Don’t worry, relax, it’s all a joke.” Another voice answered and my mouth narrowed into a tight line with the realization of who was in the front seats.

“A joke? We have too girls in the back of the van! We could be brought up on kidnapping charges!” Liam hissed and I prayed that Niall saw some sense and stopped the car, it was getting uncomfortably warm back here.

“Relax, it’s all handled.” Niall said and as the van kept rumbling I was thinking that we were in some very deep trouble.

Notes

Hey everyone!

It's been a long time! But the three of us are all getting back in the writing swing and we figured we'd pick this story back up. To old readers good to have you back, to new readers welcome! I personally am really excited to be back writing this story and with these girls.

I hope you like the chapter and let us know what you think!

-A