I was in the middle of my own little extreme makeover when Grace and Sophie came in.
“Whoa, what’s going on in here, Carmindy?” Sophie asked as they came over to survey the spread of makeup on my desk.
“I’m going to battle,” I said, swiping some dark gray shadow over my lid.
“And you chose war paint in the form of Maybelline eye shadow?” Grace asked, picking up the container. I snatched it back from her and continued to apply.
“It’s the only way,” I said, moving my mirror to accommodate the change in light since they’d turned on the overhead fluorescents, “Taylor’s having people over tonight, including Brooklynn, and I’m going in.”
“Are you invited, Cam, or is this some sort of guerrilla mission?” Sophie asked.
“I’m invited, mostly because I demanded it. Taylor and I had a fight today. Pretty nasty.”
“And you want to hang out with him tonight because…” Grace attempted, obviously trying to find my logic.
“I can’t let Brooklynn have one more night alone with them. She’s trying to steal my friends. She’s the devil, and I’m going to make sure that she doesn’t infiltrate any more into my life,” I stated, finishing my mascara and tossing it back into my makeup bag.
“Aren’t you going to be miserable all night?” Grace asked. I just shrugged and stood.
“It doesn’t really matter if I am. I have to see what’s going on. And if it’s really awful, I can always just leave, right?”
“Do you want us to come with you?” Sophie asked. Had everyone completely changed personalities in the last two days? They’d never wanted to come hang out with us before.
“No, I’ll be okay. I have Jackson and Chris to keep me sane, at least. And I promise I’ll leave if it’s too uncomfortable.”
“Okay, now let’s pick you out a great outfit. Something skanky but subtle, I mean, you’re just hanging out up in their room, right?”
“Yeah, as far as I know. What do you think? A tank and some jeans, the usual?”
“That’ll work, but wear this tank top. Some cleavage’ll do ya good,” Grace said. After they finished dressing me we did a final once-over in the mirror.
“You look great, Cam. Now go put that bitch in her place!” Sophie smiled at me before pushing me towards the door. I looked at my phone and saw that it was 10:15. Perfect.
My journey up the stairs felt much longer than usual, and I tried to calm my breath the entire way. Voices were already coming from inside and I let myself in. Chris and Jackson were sitting on the futon while Taylor was standing next to his dresser where all the alcohol was located talking with Brooklynn and two other girls I didn’t recognize.
“Cameron!” Jackson and Chris yelled in unison and I made a beeline over to them. My path was blocked by a hand holding a glass shooting out in front of me.
“Thought you might want this,” Taylor said, pushing the drink in my direction. I gave him a half-smile and took the red cup from his hand.
“Oh Cameron, I didn’t know you were coming. What a surprise,” Brooklynn said nicely enough, but the glare in her eyes spoke volumes.
“Yeah, well, here I am. Excuse me,” I said, leaving that group and going over to the comfort of Jackson and Chris.
“I’m glad you came,” Jackson said, “It didn’t feel right without you here last night.”
“Yeah, well you should be really glad I’m here because Taylor and I got in a big fight today and I basically had to tell him that I should be invited when he asks Brooklynn over.”
“Now was this a real fight or were you two just bitching at each other like usual?” Chris asked.
“No, it was a real fight. I’m only here because I’ll be damned if I let Brooklynn accomplish what I’m 99% sure she’s trying to do.”
“She’s not going to steal us,” Jackson stated.
“It’s not you two I’m worried about,” I replied, my eyes burning holes in the back of Brooklynn’s head, “Let’s get blitzed, boys.”
“Now you’re speaking our language,” Chris said, pulling a flask out of his pocket and handing it to me. I sniffed the contents and made a face.
“Smells like whiskey. I should know, it’s all my dad drinks.”
“It’s just our good friend Jack. It’s good for you, have some.” I allowed the strong liquid to pour down my throat, trying not to let my gag reflex kick in.
“Oh, that was horrible,” I said, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, “I can feel it burning the whole way down.” Taylor came bounding over and took the flask from my hand.
“Is it Jack? Yeah, it must be based on the look on Cams’ face,” he said, taking a long sip, “Now, that’s what I’m talking about.”
“Taylor, you’re going to get wasted before it’s even eleven,” Brooklynn said coming over to sit in one of the chairs next to the futon. Her friends followed silently, looking incredibly uncomfortable. I could feel the heat from the alcohol start to spread throughout my body. It was good stuff.
“Give me that,” I said, snatching it back out of Taylor’s hand and taking another drink. Only copious amounts of alcohol would get me through the evening. Two random guys I didn’t know came in a few minutes later and joined Brooklynn and her friends. I didn’t know where Taylor had met these people, but they were quiet enough that they didn’t really bother me too much. They were keeping to themselves talking and it suited me just fine.
After Chris, Jackson, Taylor, and I had finished off the flask and I’d finished off my drink, I was feeling pretty good and drunk and was becoming somewhat more liberal with my speech.
“Let’s play a game,” I suggested.
“What, like Never Have I Ever?” Brooklynn asked.
“No, like Mall Madness,” I spat out before I could stop myself. I got a hold of myself before trying again, “I mean, yes, like Never Have I Ever.”
“I thought you hated this game,” Jackson said. I just shrugged and chewed on a piece of ice.
“I’m in the mood tonight, but I need a refill first.” I had expected Taylor to get up and fix my drink like he always did, but he was too busy talking to one of Brooklynn’s awkward friends, so I got up and took care of it myself. Before I had even finished pouring the Coke into my glass, the door swung open and a very red-faced Hunter entered.
“Hunter!” Jackson and Chris cheered. Now the night was going to be very interesting. I didn’t know how to act with him in front of people who didn’t know about what we had been doing all week. He motioned with his hands for them to calm down and came over to stand by me.
“Jackson and Chris invited me,” he blurted. I looked at him and tried not to laugh.
“How drunk are you?” I asked, unable to help it as I smiled at him. He turned around to lean against the dresser and started gesturing a lot with his hands.
“You know, how they make checkers boards that have, you know, shot glasses for pieces?” he managed. I nodded and turned to face him. “I am awesome at that game! I won twice!” I resisted the urge to smooth down the front of his shirt which was currently looking very rumpled.
“And why do you look like you just took your shirt out of the hamper?” I cocked an eyebrow at him and took a sip of my drink. He put his hands of my upper arms and leaned in close to me.
“I know what you’re thinking. But I was not having sex with anyone, I promise,” he whispered rather loudly. Thankfully, I was the only one who heard him.
“Good. I wouldn’t want you to be too tired later or something,” I whispered back, “But see, no one here knows that we’ve been hooking up all week, and I think we should continue to keep it a secret, don’t you?” He smiled and nodded at me before grabbing a beer out of the cooler on the floor. He caught my questioning gaze and smiled.
“If we’re playing drinking games, I need something to drink, Cameron,” he said before going over to sit in the spot I had just been occupying on the futon. Little adorable drunk bastard. Taylor finally noticed that Hunter was in the room and immediately started in.
“Cameron, are you babysitting again this Friday night?” he asked.
“Fuck you, Taylor! I’m nineteen,” Hunter exclaimed triumphantly from his place on the futon.
“That’s right, Taylor. He’s only a year younger than us. And we invited him, not Cameron,” Chris said.
“I’d say not, because Cams hates being uncomfortable, don’t you?” he asked me as I crossed the room to squeeze myself in between Hunter and Jackson.
“I’m not uncomfortable. Are you uncomfortable, Hunter?” I asked him.
“Nope, and Taylor. If you think that all people who hook up have to be uncomfortable around each other, how can you stand to go anywhere on campus?” Hunter said. God this was great.
“Whoa, wicked burn!” Chris said.
“I knew there was a reason why we invited him,” Jackson stated, pulling another beer out of god knows where before handing it to Hunter, who’s own beer had somehow disappeared already. Taylor just shot a look in the direction of the futon before trying to start the game.
“I have never currently been a freshman,” he said.
“Aww, Taylor!” one of the random girls said. He just shrugged. Oh, so that was how it was going to be. Since I was technically next to Taylor since Jackson had gotten up and I was now on the edge of the futon, it took a full rotation to reach me.
“I have never had a younger brother,” I said. Taylor flipped me off before drinking.
“I have a younger brother! His name is Grant,” Hunter said to me as if it was incredibly important information.
“Good, now drink,” Chris said to him before leaning over to ask me, “When did he develop Tourettes?”
“Two beers and a few shots ago, apparently,” I laughed.
“You look really pretty tonight,” Hunter said to me, interrupting Chris and I’s conversation. I tried not to turn bright red at the out of the blue compliment.
“Uh-oh, Cams. Looks like he’s aiming for a repeat,” Taylor said. To this, Hunter started cracking up and I had to put my hand over his mouth to get him to be quiet. “What’s his problem?”
“He’s freaking wasted and having a good time, so leave him alone,” I said.
“Or, maybe you wouldn’t mind a repeat,” he said with a smirk.
Even though my brain was clouded with alcohol, I knew what all of these comments meant. He didn’t know about my arrangement with Hunter. He had no clue. Taylor might have been an ass, but he wasn’t the type to put on fronts or to lie. He was none the wiser and that meant that his weird behavior had to do with something completely unrelated. Likely, something sitting in his recliner nursing a Mike’s Hard Lemonade.
“I’m bored,” Brooklynn announced and with that the game was over.
“We were playing a game,” I said under my breath.
“No, you were having a conversation that interrupted the game. And now, we’re all bored.” I looked at Taylor, hoping that he was looking at me, that he was acknowledging what a horrendous human being she was.
“I’m not bored,” Hunter stated.
“Me either, man,” Chris said, sneaking Hunter’s beer can out of his hand and hiding it alongside the futon. I leaned back and ran my hands through my hair. This evening was turning out to be pretty bad except for the random bouts of humor Hunter was providing.
“Well, then, what should we do?” Taylor asked no one in particular.
“I think I’m going to take off,” I stated, looking at my phone and finding that it had somehow become after midnight already.
“Cams, you don’t have to go,” Taylor said, looking at me almost sympathetically. Almost.
“No, it’s fine. I’m going to make sure that drunko here gets back to his room in one piece and then I’m going to pass out myself,” I said, standing and attempting to make Hunter realize that he was coming with me.
“Oh is that what you call it?” Taylor asked as he stood also.
“As if his drunk ass would be any good to me right now anyway,” I said, “Come on, Hunter, let’s go.”
“We’re leaving? Where are we going?” he asked as he stood.
“I’m making sure you get back to your room. Come on.”
“But that’s so far, can’t I just sleep down in your room?” he asked as we walked to the door.
“How does he know that you live downstairs?” Taylor inquired. Fuck.
“I have no clue. Maybe he’s stalking me,” I joked as I pushed him out the door.
“Night, Cams.”
“Yeah,” was all I said before closing the door. We were still not okay, and neither was Hunter. “Were you playing with hard liquor in the checker shot glasses?” He nodded and pushed me up against the wall.
“Alone at last,” he whispered in my ear before kissing me deeply. I tried to push him off but found my defenses waning. He was even good when sloppy drunk. “I want you.”
“I don’t think you could get it up right now if you tried, waste face,” I laughed. He pulled me tight against him and raised an eyebrow.
“Too late,” he stated. I almost kissed him again when I realized that we were practically leaning against Taylor’s door.
“Let’s go downstairs, but I’m warning you, my roommates are probably home. And you know what that means?” He sighed and followed me towards the stairs.
“Stupid roommates,” he muttered. Sophie and Grace were already asleep when we entered, so I sent him up to my bed while I went to brush my teeth. He somehow made it up without dying, and actually stayed awake until I joined him.
“Night Cammy,” he whispered, pressing a kiss to the back of my neck.
“Cammy? No one calls me Cammy, not unless they’re making fun of me,” I smiled, leaning back into him as he wrapped his arms around me.
“I’m not making fun of you, I like it. It’s settled. To me, you are Cammy.”
“Does that mean I can call you Hunty?” I asked, trying not to laugh out loud.
“Not a chance. Now shut up. Can’t you find a better use for your mouth than that?” he teased, mocking me.
“Yeah, snoring. Good night, Hunty.”
“You don’t snore. Night Cammy,” he mumbled as he started to pass out. And with that, I feel into a deep, alcohol aided sleep.