I think I might have officially lost my mind. Honestly, what is wrong with me? I refuse to admit it. But the way I acted earlier and the words that came out of my mouth… no! I am not jealous of Charlie’s friend. Why on earth would I be? I need a drink. Fast.

I’m only halfway to the bar when I feel a light tug on my arm. Of course, when I turn around, I’m met with Charlie’s wide eyes. It’s like I could feel him coming from a mile away. I briefly take a look around, noting that his friend isn’t anywhere near him. That alone makes me less tense. 

“Is everything okay?” Charlie asks, breaking my trance momentarily.

I give a stifled nod. “I’m fine.” 

Charlie’s eyes narrow, clearly intending to push further. He opens his mouth only to shut it again when a high-pitched tone crosses us. I turn to my left and see that a girl, along with her friends have gathered around us. 

“Blake, come dance with us!” the blonde one says, her tone obnoxiously high. 

I don’t even know these girls. I’ve seen them on campus once, asking me for my number. Despite having her hand on my arm, I don’t push her away just yet and look over at Charlie, who I find has been captured by her brunette friend. My jaw clenches. 

While he looks so damn clueless, the brunette has the audacity to sling an arm around him, pulling him further into the dance floor. Charlie doesn’t even look back at me and just follows her like a lost puppy. I grind my teeth together, watching as the two disappear into the crowd. 

A tug on my arm forces my eyes to look down to stare at the blonde girl. “Blake?”

I should go dance with her and have fun. That’s what I came here for. But my eyes keep darting back to the crowd instead, searching and contemplating. 

Screw this. 

“Sorry, not tonight,” I mutter, gently prying the girl’s fingers around my arm and rushing off. 

My eyes scan the area, desperately trying to find him as the rhythm of the music is being overshadowed by my heartbeat. I shove and push the people around me, I couldn’t care less about their responding stares and snarls. I eventually pass Jay and Louis on my way, but I end up ignoring them. 

“Charlie!” I call out when I finally spot him. 

Moving to his side, I note he’s stiff and still awkward as hell standing next to the brunette. He doesn’t even notice me at first. I pay no attention to the girl, who’s glaring daggers at me as I snatch Charlie away from her and drag him to a more secluded sitting area. We plop onto an empty bench and I release my hold on Charlie’s wrist. He stares at me, hard and unrelenting. 

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. “Sorry. But if we’re being honest here, I know you didn’t want to dance with her.”

“That’s not the point,” he grumbles under his breath. How cute. 

“Just stay with me. Please?” my voice is unusually soft, almost vulnerable and I’ll be damned if anyone except this guy next to me hears me talk like this. 

Charlie’s expression softens and he inches closer. “Of course!”

My breath hitches and I’m resisting the urge to wrap my arms around this guy and hold him tight. I don’t even know what’s happening with me anymore, but we stay like this for a good while.

“I need a drink,” I huff, standing up. Giving my cheek a firm slap, I order a round of shots meant for a group. 

Charlie eyes the tray with a hint of suspicion. “Are you going to drink all that?”

I down the first shot. “Yeah. Unless you want to join me?”

His throat bops, hesitating briefly before he takes a shot. Charlie grimaces, and I bark out a laugh at his stupidly adorable face. 

“You don’t have to take the shots with me,” I say, drinking a few more. “Just stay here with me.”

God. Was I beginning to beg now?
Don’t know and don’t care as I order two more rounds of the party-sized shots. I don’t stop even as the world starts to spin. Usually, I know how to hold my liquor, but tonight I’m feeling all sorts of things I want to drown out. 

“Blake,” a sweet voice breaks my focus, and I blink. “I think you’ve had enough.”

Charlie tries to pry the glass from my fingers, but I shove him lightly. 

“I know my limit,” I breathe, sipping the last shot before plopping down to sit. My butt meets the cold, hard surface of the floor. I almost curse out loud when steady arms haul me back up to my feet and Charlie guides me to sit on an actual bench. 

“Wait here! I’ll go get you some water!”

But before he can leave, I grab his wrist, pulling him back to me.

“Stay,” I growl, making him sit on my lap. I’m somewhat aware this looks weird, a grown man perched on my lap, but I’m not sober enough to care and all I need right now is him to be near me. 

“But Blake,” Charlie breathes, yet he doesn’t make an effort to move. He fidgets around, his eyes darting at our surroundings, but all I can think about is how good he looks. Flustered and sitting on my lap. 

Charlie tries to speak again, but I reach out to cup his face in my hand and lean closer. My eyes scan his, then his nose and lastly down to his lips. They look extra rosy tonight. I lick my own as everything else around us is drowned out by my thoughts. I just want to kiss him right then and there, and if I were truly wasted, I would’ve done so in a heartbeat. But I’m still rational enough to let go of his face and plop my forehead to his chest instead. 

“Blake? Are you okay?” Charlie calls out softly, and I can feel his hand running through my hair. 

“I’m fine.” Please continue touching me. 

As if he heard my thoughts, Charlie cups my head and runs his other hand over my back. I could totally fall asleep like this, but I don’t close my eyes just yet.

He speaks again, “Should I take you home?”

This time, I just nod, daring to shut my eyes.