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CHAPTER NINETEEN. normal girl.
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DON'T TELL RAFE I SAID THIS but, with every second that passes, I'm growing to be more appreciative of him forcing me to drink tonight. The intoxication has finally seeped into my system, pairing with my empty stomach to create the harmonious match of a numb face and overbearing confidence. The first part is specifically useful since Jason doesn't know how to not hit me, and the second because JJ is now taking me to his friends and, considering the state I'm in and the reputation I have, none of this is bound to end well.
Discomfort takes me hostage as the blood pour continues from my nose, soaking through the sleeve of JJ's hoodie and dampening further areas of my skin. My other hand remains clasped with his, relying on him to blindly guide me past the sea of deck chairs and popcorn buckets. In hopes of distraction, I tune into the sound of the movie, lost in the plot seeing as tonight has contain maybe 10% movie watching and 90% unnecessary displays of toxic masculinity. It's a shame too, part of me wanted to actually pay attention.
The pad of JJ's thumb rubs the back of my hand, though pauses when we reach his friends and he focuses on saying quietly, "Guys, I uh... have to take Cherry— Carmen home."
Regardless of how adorable I find his slip up, I keep my smile at bay after noticing the displeasure of the curly-haired girl sat next to Sarah, "Cherry? Well she's not the sweetest in the bunch for sure."
"Kie, don't start." JJ sighs, "Just pass me the keys."
"And how are we gonna get home? Gonna leave the four of us stranded for her?" the girl continues. I'm used to people submitting to any and every command regarding me, I wonder what vendetta she has that's causing this.
I speak from behind my hand, "This is kind of an emergency. I'll book y'all a Lyft, I just—"
"I drove here." Grace suddenly chimes in, "Uh, it's only a four-seater, but we can squeeze. Right?"
