64 - The chapter where Sky drinks

Rose

I noticed Cam grew tense with every step we took toward the entrance of the house, and in fact, many people were looking in our direction. Both by the presence of my parents — who no one imagined were actually my parents — and by her presence, who always excluded herself from any activity that involved human contact.

As usual, we had no difficulty entering the party, it had been weeks since we had visited that house. Camille shrank with each step, and when Theo leaned on her shoulder she almost jumped in fright.

" Let's split up, so we can find her faster," my father suggested.

" Stay by my side, there's no need to be afraid," Theo smiled at Cam, reassuring her a little.

But our tranquility didn't last, Chris and I heard an altered argument coming from the other room, and soon we headed there. Skyller was in the middle of the room, pushing away a Harry who seemed very frightened by everything that was happening. But most surprising of all, Skyller was completely drunk!

The music was interrupted and everyone was watching the discussion between the two, and in the background I could see Audrey with a satisfied smile on her face. If I could, I would wipe that smile off with my bare hands!

" Sky, let's go. We can work this out in private," Harry pleaded.

" And with my sister, when are you going to decide to settle things, Thompson? " Another girl shouted, causing my friend to let out a nervous laugh before she took another shot of whatever was left on the sideboard and grimaced.

" Sky, you've already had too much to drink," Harry ignored the other girl.

" Really? I thought that's exactly what you wanted, Harry. From the beginning, wasn't it? Isn't that why you got another girl pregnant? Because I don't know how to have fun at parties? Guess what, I'm having a great time! " she practically shouted.

" Here, Baker, I've got another one for you. How about a dance? I have some great friends to introduce you to," Audrey approached with another shot.

" What the hell," I muttered as I walked over to her.

Sky staggered, and before she could bump into anyone I caught her, slipping an arm around her waist, supporting her upright before taking the glass Audrey had handed her.

" Rose, what a wonderful surprise to find you here," Audrey chuckled, "I don't remember inviting you.”

" I don't remember needing an invitation," I returned, "Sky, I'm going to get you out of here.”

" Why don't you let your friend have some fun, Rose? " Audrey insisted with a smile. “Since when are you a controlling slut?”

I took a deep breath, flashing my best smile before turning to her, pouring the red liquid from the glass all over her face. The girl cried out in surprise, and I could hear some laughter in the background.

" She's not a controlling slut, she's an insane bitch. You better learn the difference," Christian winked at the sorority leader before helping me get Skyller out of there.

I started to guide her into the foyer, ignoring the stares we were getting. I just needed to get her out of here as quickly as possible.

" Wait, Rose... I need to talk…”

I didn't let Harry finish his sentence, I let go of Sky for a second, clenching my fist and hitting his nose as hard as I could. The boy brought his hand to his face, blinking dazedly a few times, and before I could take him back, I heard Liam's voice making its way through the crowd.

" Baker! Skyller, what happened? " he held her up.

My friend looked up at him, and soon her eyes filled with tears, making me hate Harry even more.

" Damn it, Rose. I can explain," the boy groaned, still holding his hand to his nose, from which a trickle of blood was trickling.

I lunged toward him again, but this time Christian stopped me, wrapping his arm around my waist and dragging me away.

" Let me go, Davis, I'm going to…”

" Now you're going to support your friend," he pushed me toward Sky, and only then did I notice that Liam was no longer beside her.

I hugged Sky again, looking around for Liam. The next scene seemed to happen in slow motion, Liam approached Harry, who was still confused. But the Brit's expression changed when he saw my friend.

" What is it, Van Derr Waal? Do you think I'm afraid of any threat that you might…”

Before he could finish his sentence, Liam landed a clumsy punch to his chin. It wasn't one of the best I've ever seen, but it was enough to knock Harry off balance and onto the ground.

" What have you done to her? Look at the state she's in! " Liam yelled at the boy who was still lying there, kicking him in the stomach.

Silence filled the room, probably because no one expected this attitude from Liam, who always avoided any kind of physical confrontation with anyone.

" Rose, I don't feel good," Sky moaned, and it was getting harder and harder to hold her by herself, but luckily for me, someone else soon came to help.

My mother put her arm around her waist, throwing her arm over her shoulder, preventing her from falling to the floor. I noticed Harry start to get up with an angry expression on his face, and Christian seemed about to get involved when my father's figure appeared behind Liam. He crossed his arms, staring at the other from above.

" Boy, if I were you, I wouldn't try to get up. Because if you fight back, it's not him you'll have to deal with, it's me. And I can assure you that I can't wait to take all my accumulated frustration from today out on someone else," my father warned.

Harry's eyes widened and he cringed again, trying to protect himself from another kick from Liam. I had never seen my friend as out of control as he was at that moment, but then again, no one had ever messed with Skyller like that. And I wouldn't want to be in Thompson's shoes.

Silence reigned

" All right, Son. That's enough," my father pulled him away from the boy who remained cowering on the ground to protect himself from the kicks, "we have to take the girl away.”

Liam's attention returned to Skyller, who was oblivious to everything that was going on around her, seemingly on the verge of unconsciousness.

Before he could act, my father took the lead, picking up my friend easily.

" Mr. Campbell? " She frowned.

" Hey little girl, let's get you home," my father winked at her, and for a second it looked like he was actually talking to his daughter, making me smile.

Our group left the party the same way they came in, drawing stares wherever they went. My father carried her to my mother's car, placing her on the ground. Liam materialized beside her, supporting and caressing her face.

" Liam?”

" I'm here, Sky. We're going to take care of you.”

" how can you do it? " she mumbled.

" Do what?”

" Drink that every day? I sound like I'm on a fucking... merry-go-round," she added, her voice choked with drink.

I widened my eyes, covering my mouth with my hand as I heard Skyller swear.

" I don't know how I do it either," Liam smiled, seeming to find it as funny as I did. “Let's get in the car, I'll go…”

But before he could complete his sentence, Skyller leaned over, vomiting everything in her stomach. Liam closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, not having the courage to look at his own clothes.

Once again I tried to stifle my laughter with my hand, but Christian next to me was not so discreet, laughing openly, leaning on the Brigitte's bodywork.

" Sorry, I threw up on you," Sky stood up again.

" This is more common than you think," Liam ignored the laughter that surrounded him.

To return to the dorm, Cam joined us in the car, so I preferred to take advantage of this and ride in the back seat, lying on Christian's lap while he stroked my scalp, paying attention to their conversation.

" So, you graduated  from high school early? “

" Only one year, I don't have many friends, and the girls in the dorm usually pick on me," she reported.

" Used to, believe me, that will change," I reinforced.

" I'm sure it will. Especially after your first party was as hectic as this one," Christian teased the girl.

" I didn't expect to go to parties," she sighed.

" Then you picked the wrong gang to join, girl, they love a party," my father remarked.

" But I didn't," she sighed.

" Don't even try to argue, I didn't choose either. One day they sat at my table and gave me no peace," Christian returned, "and now, I'm constantly tormented by this demon in the form of ....”

Before he could finish his sentence, I turned my face away from him and grabbed his leg close to his knee, causing him to scream in pain.

" What was that? " Cam turned back in fright.

" Why did you bite me? " Christian complained.

" You called me a demon!”

" And that's what you are! What do you expect me to call you? An angel? " he returned.

" I expect you to come up with a nice nickname for me once in a while," I muttered.

mumbled, sitting up.

" You want a cool nickname? I'll get you a bunch of them, Rose," he stared at me.

" I think you're going to regret this request, Rose," my father pointed out with a small smile, stopping Brigitte in the doorway of the women's dormitory where Cam lived. “it's delivered, pretty one.”

I held back my laughter as I saw the girl turn as red as a tomato, only to mumble a goodbye and get out of the car.

" She's cute, I hope you guys take good care of her," my father complimented.

" You're talking as if we just got a puppy," I mocked, jumping into the front seat.

" In a way that's what happened. You got a good pet," he winked at me, making me laugh.

We soon arrived at the villa. Liam texted me to let me know that everyone was in my room, which made me regret sharing the place where I had hidden my spare key.

Alex and my mom were waiting for my dad in the foyer, and said goodbye to Christian and I shortly afterwards, we watched the three of them drive off before making our way to my room.

" So... everyone found out about us," I commented after a few seconds of silence.

" Rose, they knew from day one, we were trying to fool ourselves by pretending they didn't," he shrugged.

He was right, each of them knew, we just liked to pretend we didn't. Maybe now things would be simpler, after all, our friends finding out or not, didn't change our situation at all. It was still a colored friendship, that's all.

As soon as we reached the room, we found Theo and Liam stuck in an impasse. Skyller was in a deplorable state, she definitely needed a shower and was in no condition to take one on her own. In the end, I led her to the shared bathroom where the showers were, taking care to help her take the coldest shower possible, putting on one of the old t-shirts I was wearing as pajamas before leading her back to my room.

My friend seemed a little more sober, but I wasn't sure that she would remember everything that happened that night and I knew that it would be difficult to face everyone the next day.

When we returned to the bedroom, only Liam was left, and he was lining the bed that Allie had left vacant with some sheets that I didn't know, and from the looks of them I could tell were expensive.

" What are you doing? " I frowned, leaning Skyller on the bedroom door.

" Here, Baker, let me help you.”

" Thank you," she smiled, seeming to struggle to keep her eyes open.

He laid her there, then carefully covered her up while I watched with a small smile on my face.

" I hope you don't mind, Rose. I don't want to leave her alone with her roommate and I don't want to scare her, she might freak out if she wakes up in my room tomorrow, she's sure to have some trouble remembering what happened.” He explains, stroking the girl's face that seemed to have already fallen asleep.

" I'll take care of her, Liam. You can trust that," I picked up the wastebasket, placing it beside her bed in case she needed to vomit during the night.

He took a deep breath, getting up before saying goodbye, promising to return the next morning. Once again I found myself watching my friend, wondering how much shit she would have to deal with the next day. I just hope that now she and Liam will stop wasting their time.