Chapter Seventeen - The Shock Waves

Considering how shitty everything was going lately, I think it was fair to say that the only good thing to happen in my life was me finding a little kitten in my garden after school.

It came out of nowhere. I was dragging my exhausted self up the stone path after my friends dropped me home when I noticed a movement in the bushes. I'd walked closer to investigate and suddenly, a little orange tabby cat had jumped out of it.

"Did anyone show up for him?" I asked Mrs. Brooke in a whisper, careful not to wake the kitten napping on my outstretched legs.

"Not yet." She placed a bowl of spaghetti for me and a bottle of milk for the cat next to it on the nightstand.

"I'll ask mom to keep him if no one does."

"Really?" She smiled. "That is great! He's really warmed up to you in a couple of hours. Look at him, so cute."

"I know, right?" Every few seconds, I had to resist the urge to squish his adorable little face so I wouldn't wake him up.

"Hey, Mrs. Brooke." Meera beamed over Facetime. "You made spaghetti! You know how much I love your spaghetti."

"Hello, Meera, Cheryl. I'll make some the next time you girls come over." She gave them a warm smile.

"Can't wait! I miss it so much." Cheryl pouted.

I rolled some spaghetti around my fork and ate it, grinning at the screen just as Mrs. Brooke quietly shut the door after her. "It's delicious." I smacked my lips.

"Fuck off." Meera smiled sweetly.

"How's the cat doing?" Cheryl asked.

"Still napping on my legs adorably." I pointed the camera towards him.

"Aw! He's so awsknimkaq..." she cooed something incoherent, pretending to squish his cheeks through the screen.

"I know I know." I chuckled.

"Can we call him Garfield?"

I stared down at the kitten pensively while grabbing a Cheeto and my eyes instantly lit up. "How about Cheeto? He looks like one."

She gasped and stuck out her bottom lip like she was gonna cry. "Yes, he does. I like Cheeto."

I gently stroked the kitten's head. "Hey, Cheeto."

He was sleeping so peacefully, one could easily mistake him for a nice little charmer but I knew he was a feisty little thing when awake, biting almost everything within his reach—even tried one of my fingers once. Ever since I'd found him, he'd kept me and Mrs. Brooke busy petting him, running after him and feeding him until he'd finally decided to nap half an hour ago.

"Guys," Cheryl wiggled her brows. "What are we wearing to the party?"

"Actually." Meera sighed. "That's why I called. I had to let you guys know I'm not going. Sorry."

"What? What happened?" we blurted out at the same time.

"My parents." She rolled her eyes. "They won't let me go on a school night."

I wasn't sure mine would've allowed either but it wasn't like they were going to find out. I'd be in bed way before they could come home and even if I wasn't, I was certain they were not going to stop by in my room to kiss me goodnight after the kind of tiring days they'd been having lately.

"Is there any way you can convince them? Try puppy eyes and go 'this is the first junior year party. Everyone's gonna be there. Please, please, please let me go'," I suggested.

"You think I haven't tried all that?" she scoffed. "I even offered to clean out the garage but they're determined to ruin my fun. God! I can't wait to turn eighteen and move out."

"For today, you can sneak out. We'll help," Cheryl offered.

She laughed bitterly. "That's really nice of you but if they find out, which they will, I'm immediately grounded. So, I think I'll pass. Next time, I'm simply gonna lie and tell them we're having a sleepover at one of yours and if they find out, they'll realize I did it because they left me no choice."

I sighed.

"But you guys go ahead."

"You won't hate us?" Cheryl pouted.

"I already do. Now, get out." She wiped a fake tear. "Tell me everything tomorrow, okay?"

"I'm really gonna miss you there," I said, "third wheeling these two love birds."

Cheryl smiled sarcastically.

"Aw don't miss me too much, Becks. I don't wanna get hiccups," Meera joked.

I rolled my eyes. "Okay! We'll see you tomorrow, Mee. Bye."

"Bye!"

I had half a mind to not go anymore now that Meera wasn't going. We always did everything together and I was going to attend our first junior year party without her.

I spent an hour finishing my homework and checking Instagram simultaneously. Cheeto woke up in a total play mood and at one point, I had to secure him within a books barrier on my bed so he wouldn't jump off.

"And smile." I kissed his tiny head and clicked a selfie, then I lifted the milk bottle to his lips, watching him drink hungrily with large gulps.

"You're so cute. You know, if it wasn't my first junior year party, I would totally ditch it to stay home with you." He nibbled on my finger. "Aw but right now, I gotta go get ready."

*****

"Your curfew is 9. Be home by then or I'm done keeping your secrets," Mrs. Brooke instructed while I looked out of the living room window a third time for a sign of Mack's car.

My jaw dropped. "I said I was just going for burgers down the—"

"Please," she scoffed. "No burger can get your ass out of this house after school. Especially with that furball to keep you company now." She pointed at Cheeto who was now napping on the living room couch.

I laughed and gave her a quick bear hug. "Thank you so much."

She patted my back. "Now go. Stay away from drugs and—"

"Give you a call in case I get in any trouble or need a ride back home. I know I know." I nodded as just Mack's car pulled up in the front.

"Good. Take care."

"I will. Bye." I left the house.

"Ah someone looks yummy." Cheryl rolled down her window and whistled as she eyed my clothes—a white bustier with thin shoulder straps matched with black skinny jeans. Earlier I was wearing a black skirt but I'd outgrown the old thing; it literally curved over my ass and gave a peek of my underwear if I moved a certain way, so I went for jeans instead.

And here I was wondering how Mrs. Brooke caught my lie. Why would I put on makeup for getting a burger down the street?

"I'm gonna pretend my girlfriend didn't just say that to someone else." Mack raised a brow and Cheryl stuck her tongue out at him just as I got into the backseat and he started driving.

We made it to Chris's house in half an hour and the place looked packed from the outside with at least twenty people out in the lawn itself. The alcohol reek got to my nose even before I'd stepped on the porch.

"I'm so rubbing it in Meera's face for missing this." Cheryl grinned as we walked inside.

The house was dark except for those colourful spotlights going off in all directions. All the living room furniture was pushed to the sides to create a makeshift dance floor right in the middle.

"Wow!" I muttered under my breath.

"Our first junior year party!" Cheryl squealed.

"And we're making it count." I grabbed the signature red party cups from the table, having no clue what was in them but just hoping something intoxicating.

"Easy there, girls." Mack made a face as we chugged the entire thing in a go.

"That was a mocktail." Cheryl laughed. "Come on! In a red cup? Who does that?"

"Real stuff's in there, sweetheart." A drunk senior I'd only seen in the halls between classes was leaning against the wall up ahead, grinning at me and Cheryl. "Can I fix you a drink? A real one?"

"Knock it off, Steve. Taken," Mack told him.

"Both of them?" He wiggled his brows.

"One, yes. The other, out of your league."

I grinned at Mack.

"Whoa!" Steve let out a laugh, raising his hands in surrender before walking away. "People be breaking hearts at parties."

Poor Steve.

"Thanks, Macky!" I patted his back and Cheryl pecked his cheek. "My hero."

His lips pulled back into a big goofy grin as he led us to the kitchen. "Are you guys ready for the real stuff?"

"Hell yeah!" I said, just as Cheryl threw her arm across his shoulder. "Bring it on!"

And just like everyone else around us, we, too, forgot it was a school night as we went crazy with the drinks and on the dance floor.

"Another drink?" Mack hollered over the loud music.

"Boy! You two have got some capacity." I chuckled when Cheryl nodded and they started heading towards the kitchen for their fifth... sixth or whatever number drink it was. I'd lost count.

"Come on, Becks," she called over her shoulder.

"I'm good. Meet me back here."

Don't wanna spend the night spilling my guts after all.

"Becks! Hey, Becks!" Someone shouted up ahead, waving an arm to catch my attention. I smiled at Chris who was perched high up on some furniture from where he could look down at everyone. "Are you having a good time?"

He bent forward and cupped his hand around his ear, expecting my answer over the loud music.

"Yes!" I shouted as loud as I could, barely hearing my own voice over the noise but he heard it and grinned.

"Then, can you tell this dickwad I'm the best host ever?" he shouted, swallowing his drink while pointing at Chad beside him, who was shaking his head at him.

"Hey, dickwad," I hollered, laughing and when a few guys started hooting for me, I mouthed a sorry to Chad, grinning. He waved his hand in amusement, urging me to go on so I continued, "Chris is the best host ever. You don't tell him otherwise."

Chris brought his fist up to his chest in respect before holding it out in my direction. "You're the best."

I chuckled, watching as he leaped off the furniture, grabbed a drink from a nearby table and offered it to me with a sweet grin. "For you. You look nice when you're not angrily barging into changing rooms and catching people off guard."

I burst out laughing and took the drink. "I'm sorry about that."

"You know, half of us in that room made a bet that you two were going to throw hands and end up in the principal's office again."

I scoffed. "Good you didn't have another bottle of ink handy for him."

"Did I need to, really?" He raised an amused brow. "I heard orange juice had you guys covered already."

I pointed finger guns at him. "Word sure travels fast around here."

He nodded. "I've also been meaning to thank you for getting that ink back for my collection. That one was my favourite. I'm never bringing any of them to school to show off again."

"Ah the precious ink. You don't have to thank me." I waved my hand. "After all, I'm the reason why it was gone in the first place."

"I can take a guess who said that to you."

"Only one asshole comes to mind, huh?" I smiled bitterly.

"Speak of the devil." He smirked somewhere behind me and I followed his gaze to find Matt just a few feet away, his eyes set on us—on me as he walked in our direction.

And suddenly, my mind started bringing up cafeteria flashes from the afternoon—him pinning me against the counter, his hands brushing on my arms and his eyes...the way his eyes had moved across my face. I was only used to seeing hate in them for me and that was something other than hate.

Of course, he had to look convincing to Rebecca.

I broke the eye contact and noticed his clothes instead.

What is it about him and solid white t-shirts? Maybe someone told him he looked nice in it and he couldn't let it go. Well, they didn't lie.

Wait, what, Becks?

The alcohol is definitely hitting.

We stared at each other as if calculating the other's next move. No frown. No smile, obviously. It was just another one of the stare downs, only this time, there wasn't any anger. Yet.

"Whoa!" Chris chuckled, making me blink out of my little daze and turn my head to him. "As much as I'm enjoying this raw tension between you guys again, let's keep it PG in here, okay? Try not to spill drinks on one another or worse, throw each other off the roof. And stay away from my inks."

I scoffed lowly.

"Well, I guess this is my cue," I said to Chris with a smile, feeling my enemy's eyes on me. "See you around."

"Enjoy." He waved at me as I walked towards the kitchen to find my friends without a glance back in Matt's direction.

Mack and Cher were near the counter, talking and laughing like lovestruck fools while sipping their drinks. When they saw me, they waved like I hadn't already seen them and Mack handed me a bottle. "You haven't had any, Becks."

"Damn right!" I snatched it and sat down on an island stool.

"Chug! Chug!" Mack started chanting, catching the attention of the few people in the kitchen, who joined him. I don't know how much drink was in the bottle to begin with but when I was done, it was empty to the last drop.

I slammed it on the counter and smacked my lips, bowing down to everyone who was cheering for me as Mack patted my back. "That was awesome!"

"Mad impressive." Cheryl blinked, recovered, then started pulling on our arms to drag us out. "Let's go dance now!"

"In a sec," I muttered, grabbing the beer bottle.

"Easy, Becks," Mack slurred with a frown.

"I'm fine." With a huff, I grabbed the bottle opener when the countless attempts of scratching out the beer cap failed.

"Need help?"

A deep voice made me look up, then do a double take and finally blink.

Am I just drunk or is it really him?

Once my shock settled, a little smile formed on my lips at the sight of my prince charming leaning against the counter. Wait! He was the one who'd been in the corner of the kitchen this whole time? Was he watching me?

"Wouldn't want you hurting your fingers," he added with a cute smirk as he took the bottle from me, uncapped it skilfully and handed it back.

"Thank you."

"Aw that is so sweet! Oh! Should we leave you guys alone?" Cheryl wiggled her brows at us, making kissing sounds. "A little privacy? Bet you'd like that, Becks."

Even in my drunken state, I could feel my cheeks heating up and I looked at Mack helplessly, who seemed to be a bit out of his alcoholic haze as he grabbed Cheryl's waist and pulled her out of the kitchen. "Let's go dance, babe."

I slowly turned back to Sean. He had a little knowing smirk playing on his lips as he watched them leave before averting his eyes to me.

Cheryl had literally exposed me. I had to do damage control. Think, Becks, think. Do something.

"Do I know you?" I blurted out with a straight face.

Oh, kill me now!

His smile dropped slightly and I realized how rude I must have come off. Oh baby, I do wanna smile at you. Just can't. Please bear with me. Please please please.

"We also talked in the hallway when you helped me with that stupid vending machine." I smiled nervously.

"Right. We haven't met properly. I'm Sean."

I know.

He extended his hand and I brought mine to it casually. Normally, I would be shaking in my boots in this exact situation but thanks to the alcohol, I was super fine. His grip was firm and warm, and gave me butterflies in the stomach.

"Hi, Sean. You don't happen to be Sean the quarterback, do you?"

"That's the one." He clicked his tongue. "So, you've heard of me?"

"Yes. I watch the game sometimes." I shrugged. Casually.

"But you've never noticed me specifically." He nodded.

You're all I notice, I wanted to say but ended up shaking my head. "Sorry."

"That's fine." He waved his hand dismissively and it could have been my overactive imagination but his blue eyes gleamed in the most beautiful way I could imagine when the ceiling light reflected in them.

Blushing, I lifted the beer bottle to my lips.

"Will you be able to handle it?" He pointed at it with his chin. "I mean, you just had a quarter of tequila all at once."

That was tequila? No wonder I was drunk enough to not feel the taste anymore.

"Why? Are you concerned for me?" I asked sweetly.

He crossed his arms on the counter and leaned forward with interest. "Of course, I am. I wouldn't wish hangover on a school night upon my worst enemy and you, Rebekah, are far from that."

Please don't say my name like that. You'll never know the reason why I suddenly dropped dead.

I smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "Right. I completely forgot it's a school night—Oh my God! What time it is?"

"It's..." He looked down at his watch. "...8:45."

"Shit! My curfew."

"You have a curfew?" He raised a brow, surprised, probably seeing me as a boring, disciplined teenager. So, I instantly eased up.

"Um no. Of course, not. Who has a curfew these days?" I laughed nervously.

"But you just said...my curfew." His eyes narrowed playfully.

"My-my curfew so I could go back home and feed my cat but it's okay. Someone must have fed him."

"A cat?" He rounded the counter and sat down next to me with interest. He sat close enough to have his arm touching mine and I blinked down at it in confusion. Where is the electricity I was supposed to feel from his touch? I concluded that the alcohol was messing with my nervous system. "I've always wanted a cat."

"You can come to my house sometime. Play with my...cat." I choked on my words. Shut up, Rebekah.

"That's an offer I can't refuse." He winked and I almost melted into a puddle. "Anyway, I just came by to say hello to you. And to tell you that I'm rooting for you to win the challenge."

Aw! He was so kind and so cute. Just like with Cheeto, I had to resist the urge to lean forward and squish his cheeks. Dammit, Becks, control yourself.

"Whoa thanks, Sean. No pressure at all."

He chuckled. "You've got this. You know, I was backstage helping a friend when I heard your voice. Let's just say I had to drop everything and rush back out to see who it was and it was worth it."

I fought back a smile, failed and finally chuckled. "You're just exaggerating."

"I mean every word of it. I promise."

Oh, stop it, heart. I'm just talking to my crush, not running a marathon.

"That's really sweet," I sighed dreamily, placing my knuckles under my chin. "I'm glad you liked it."

"Sean!"

I turned around to find Chris motioning for him to come over. "Sorry, Becks. I'm gonna have to steal him for a while."

With a nod, Sean got up and walked past me too fast for my drunken self to comprehend. "See you around, Rebekah."

"No! Come back," I whispered, drunkenly following him out of the kitchen but he'd just vanished in the crowded living room. My shoulders slumped in disappointment. It was going so great. Why did it have to end?

Sighing, I looked around the dance floor for Mack and Cheryl and spotted them on the staircase.

They were going upstairs, hand in hand, still laughing like fools. Cheryl saw me and winked right before they disappeared in the corridor. Ooohh somebody's gonna get some.

I chuckled at them until something else caught my eye and my smile vanished. It was my enemy. He was coming downstairs and he wasn't alone. Rebecca trailed behind him like a happy puppy who'd finally got its treats after begging for so long. Or pets, in this case.

I couldn't help but notice their dishevelled appearances. She was adjusting her dress over her boobs while Matt was running a hand through his messy hair. Did they...?

Was he serious? He'd just used me to get rid of her not more than twelve hours ago. What was I, a joke?

Maybe that was the reason why he wouldn't help me with music. Because he really liked Rebecca and obviously did not want to go against her, no matter how much he said he disliked her.

I only realized I was staring when Matt's eyes fell on me like he knew exactly where I was in the crowd and I blinked away, a little embarrassed to be caught watching but a lot more furious.

"Outside," I muttered to myself and weaved past the dancing people to step out into the backyard to clear my head.

I was expecting a garden with some plants growing here and there but what I came across was a freaking swimming pool with an amazingly lit wooden deck. There were also these really comfortable looking chairs next to the pool and big ceramic potted plants in random places behind them.

"Whoa!" I muttered, looking around. The lounge area was decorated so beautifully with light strings adorning the plants and spelling out YOLO in big shiny letters across the wall.

I was really enthralled by the beauty of it all as I walked on the deck, completely forgetting about my anger at my enemy. I wanted to sit in one of the chairs and relax but they were all occupied by people who'd drank too much and passed out.

I set my sling bag down on a small table and walked closer to the pool with the intention of just dipping my feet in it. But as I doubled over to roll my jeans up, my head spun and I lost my balance. For someone watching me, it must have looked like some drunk idiot had head dived into the pool but only I knew I'd just been so embarrassingly clumsy.

My face hit the water with a splash and for a moment, everything just went silent. My head was spinning but I was spinning more. I forced my eyes open and looked at the blue tiles below me, puzzled, as I extended my fingers to touch them.

It's the ocean floor, I told myself and my eyes widened.

I shook my head, exhaling a trail of bubbles around me. I wanted to inhale so bad but thankfully, my swimming instincts kicked in and told me I couldn't breathe in yet. I moved my arms to swim up.

I need to breathe. I can't breathe.

Just then, someone gripped me firmly and pulled me up to the surface. Suddenly I could feel the air around me again and I inhaled with a gasp, then coughed a few times.

"Rebekah." A very familiar voice snapped me back to reality and I looked up at the person who'd pulled me out. He appeared as a blur and I blinked to clear my vision, finally recognizing him.

It was my enemy, staring down at me with furious eyes but that was not all. There was something else, too. Was that concern...for me?

Breathing heavily, I looked down at myself and then, around me. I was in a pool. At Chris's party. Why did I think I was drowning in an ocean?

"Hey," Matt whispered and something about it felt so foreign. His voice was unexpectedly soft and what was even more unexpected was the gentleness in his touch when his fingers touched my cheek and he tipped my chin up with his thumb. "Look at me."

I did. And that's when I felt it. The electricity.

The electricity that I was supposed to feel from Sean's touch had suddenly decided to strike me the moment I looked into my enemy's eyes. It started from my chin with his touch and went all the way down to the pit of my stomach, sending shock waves across my entire body.

Wrong timing, wrong guy, body. I started to chant in my head.

Is it, really? My inner self was looking at me like she knew something I didn't.

My chest was heaving up and down for air and I realized he had his arms around me firmly. He was holding me close like I was going to slip back under the water the moment he let go, and instead of pushing him away, I was holding onto his arms like my life depended on it.

His wet t-shirt was giving a clear outline of his packed body and I inhaled shakily, madly flustered for some reason. I wanted him to let go and keep holding me at the same time. What was wrong with me?

"I'm fine," I told him quickly and the little frown on his face eased off.

He swallowed just as a single drop of water dripped from his hair and got lost in the pool. Then, his lips pursed. "Of course, you're fine. Did you seriously think you could drown in a four feet pool?"

Now that I realized, I was able to stand in it without getting up on my tiptoes. I opened my mouth to defend myself but he cut me off with a shake of his head. "Pathetic."

And suddenly I felt stupid for telling him I was alright. He didn't care about that. He was only looking for a chance to insult me, even if it meant having to rescue me.

Feeling a little disoriented, I pushed at his chest and made my way out as clumsily as I could manage but at least I didn't stumble and end up under the water again.

"You're welcome," he called after me.

"Stay away from me."

I shook my arms dry before grabbing my bag in a hurry and sprinted inside the house without looking back.

Once I was inside, for a moment, I just leaned against a wall, shut my eyes and breathed. Why is my heart fluttering like that when Sean isn't even around me?

It has to be the fear of almost drowning, right?

That's it, I told myself with a fierce nod and opened my eyes. It has nothing to do with my enemy.

I placed my hand over my chest, feeling how fast my heart was racing.

"It has nothing to do with him," I whispered to myself, then said it again, a third time and a fourth. "He means nothing to me."