Chapter Four: Escape (part 1)
IM BACK and I have decided that book is going to be pretty long!
It might share a few things with guardian angel but there will be new twists to the plot!
...
I'm going to absolutely murder Calum.
"Luke! Come on, come on! Luke! What a fu-funny name Luke. Lukeyyy! Hey Lukey!" He laughs uncontrollably, "Luk-Lukeeee. It's like puke, like wha-" Suddenly his amused expression drops as he hurls himself away from our groups' view.
Ashton with amused smirk observed, along with the rest of us as the raven haired boy fled from us, trying to find a trash can near by.
Once Calum was out of view, we all remained quiet. The only sounds were from the crackling fire in front of us.
"You know what's cool?" Michael asked, staring into the embers.
"What?" Ivy wrapped her arm around him to which Michael greedily responded.
"This, this is cool." He titled his head to take a quick swiping glance at us. "Just us being here this late, talking about whatever, having a good time. I wish we could do this more often."
"I agree." Ashton lifted up his beer bottle, "To good friends and good times."
"To good friends and good times." Everyone raised up their own alcoholic drinks and tapped their own to everyone else's bottle. I took a long sip already finishing my second one. As I set down my empty can, I noticed Cayden wincing at the taste of her drink.
"Do you not like alcohol?" I nudged her while everyone else made conversation around us.
She shrugged and looked around everyone to make sure no one was listening. "Can I tell you a secret?" She whispered, only loud enough for me to hear.
I nodded and she glanced around one more time. "Th-this is my first time trying any alcohol." She sheepishly admitted. If it wasn't so dark, I could have swore she was cutely blushing.
"It's okay." I reassured her, the last thing I wanted her to feel was any embarrassment. I wanted her to be comfortable around me, not cowering away. "Do you at least like it?"
Cayden slowly shook her head, "It's not very good."
"Here." I extended out my hand to her nearly full bottle, "I'll take it."
She stared at me as if I had sprouted three heads and a tail, "Wouldn't this be your third bottle?"
"Two and a half." I tried to joke but she puckered her lips, contemplating whether or not to hand me the can.
"I don't want you to drink especially if you are driving home." She admitted, refusing to pass over the alcoholic.
"I didn't drive. Ashton did." I pointed over to the curly headed boy who was vividly re telling a story to an intoxicated Ivy and Michael.
"How much has he decided to drink?" She questioned, the worry etched on her face made me want to kiss it away.
"Don't worry, he's only going to have one. We already decided he was going to be the designated driver." I promised but that didn't want her concern disappear.
"It's okay Luke, I can finish this." She took a long drink to prove her point but I could tell she wasn't enjoying any of it.
"Are you the one that's going to drive Ivy and Michael?" Uneasiness filled my system, I absolutely didn't want her to be driving and drinking at all, not even if it was just one drink.
"No." She answered putting the now empty bottle to her side. "One of Ivy's dads will come." I internally sighed in relief, "Wait, won't her dad care if his daughter was plastered?"
"He will but he trusts her enough to know her limits." She sighed, "She's lucky."
"Why?"
"She gets a home to go to." Immediately, her features hardened as if she wasn't meant to say that at all.
"What do you? Do you not have anywhere to go to?" I had to restrain my hand from touching her shoulder. We didn't know each other that well and I didn't want to creep her out.
"No, I do. I live with my aunt but it's just different." She attempted to explain in the most vague way possible.
"How?"
"W-" But before she could even utter the first word, Calum came back screaming. And shirtless.
"GUYS! GU-GUY! I THINK I FOUND SPONGEBOB!" Right when Calum reached us, he tripped causing him to be in a full on fit of laughter.
The rest of the group laughed at Calum's off state. Calum was always the type to never take anything seriously but when he has a little too much alcohol, his playfulness intensifies to the point where no one knows what he is saying.
"Mate, I think you left your brain at the sea." Michael managed to say through his chuckles.
Calum looked up with wide eyes, "I HAVE TO GO GET IT BACK!" With the speed of lightening the kiwi boy picked himself up and hurled toward the cold water.
"Do you think someone should go get him?" Cayden asked after the laughing calmed down a little.
"GUYS I FORGOT HOW TO SWIM! IS THIS WATER?" Calum's voice shrieked as if he was trying to make himself stay afloat.
"We forgot the boy doesn't know to swim." Ashton cursed under his breathe. With his hands on his knees, Ashton lifted himself up from the log he was sitting on.
"Come on Luke, let's go get him." Ashton pointed with his thumb to the sounds of piercing screams.
"I THINK AN OCTOPUS IS DRAGGING ME DOWN!"
I shook my head, "I done it the last three times helping him. It's Mikey's turn."
"Okay, okay. I'm coming!" Michael giggled. While trying to stand up, he fell causing him to laugh even more. "Help me up babe!" He grinned to which Ivy drunkly nodded. When she tried to grab Michael's hand, they ended up collapsing on the sand in more laughter.
Ashton shook his head causing most of his hair to go out of place. "Here." He tossed me his keys and phone.
Getting Ivy and Michael was not an easy task especially since they refused to cooperate and Calum started to loudly sing the national anthem.
I wanted to help, I really did. But hearing Cayden laugh from all the problems was worth it. Throughout the hours we spent together, I would notice when no one was paying attention to her that her face would drop. She wasn't the kind of girl who needed attention but it was like she needed a distraction away from something that was upsetting her.
It's not my place to ask her what she's hurting about, at least not yet. I want to make sure she's okay but I can't pressure her or else she will never confide in me.
"You weight more then an elephant." Ashton huffed, dragging Mickey up. Once he was finally able to get the two on their feet, they all headed to find Calum who was mumbling something about losing his pants.
It was just Cayden and I in the moment. Just us two, left in our dwindling thoughts and unsaid words.
But something changed.
And I don't remember how or why, maybe it was the alcohol speaking for both of us, but all I can remember is grabbing Ashton's keys and starting the adventure of a lifetime.