Blue Moon: (Blue Raspberry Series #2)

by D. K Lake

  Pathetic. I know.

  I see Phoebe following closely behind Amber, and her eyes land on Mitchel, then they follow the stairs all the way to the top and stop on me. She gives me one of her famous scowls and quickly pushes a couple of girls out of the way to get to Mitchel. She gets in front of him just before he makes it to the bottom of the stairs.

  She throws her arms around his neck and it looks like she's going to pull him over she's so determined to stop him from going anywhere. Mitchel looks up at me as though he's conflicted and doesn't know what to do.

  "Yeah, have fun with that." I mutter to myself and walk away.

  36

  I lock myself in Nessie's room. Most people know to stay out of this room, but then you get some people that are so drunk they don't even know where they are and they're just looking for a bed to sleep on or bang each other on.

  I get stuck into my homework and find a bag of gummy bears hidden in Nessie's nightstand that I finish off for her. The chicken korma has fallen off the perch and it's left me with a dry mouth, too much salt.

  There's a knock on the door.

  Drunk people don't knock.

  I quickly note the time and see that I've been up here for an hour and thirty minutes. I climb off the bed and stand next to the door.

  "Who is it?"

  "Uh, me." Stephen replies with a chuckle.

  I unlock the door and lean against the door frame.

  "I thought I saw you sneak up here." he says, holding out a can of Dr. Pepper and a plate of snacks.

  "You read my mind." I snatch the can and plate from him and go back over to the bed.

  "Well, I know how much you like to fill up on food when you come over. So where's my sister? She still hanging out with Cole?"

  "Yup, it's movie date night."

  "So what ya doing up here on your own?"

  "History and shit."

  "Sounds like fun."

  "It's not. I'm actually finished. I was just looking at Facebook and then I was going to watch a movie."

  "I thought you were grounded still?"

  "I am. But my mom's on vacation."

  "What?"

  "No. Seriously. She went to visit my Aunt in Nebraska."

  He frowns at me, trying to figure out if I'm telling the truth.

  "Really. She's in Nebraska. Paige is at Emily's and I've been left on my own."

  "You wanna come down and have a drink with me first?"

  "I don't know."

  "Oh, come on, Kelsey. One drink, and a quick game of pool and I'll leave you alone."

  "You promise?"

  "One drink. One game. You need to live a little." I shake my head. "Please."

  "One drink?"

  "One drink."

  "Fine." I stomp over to the door and Stephen looks down at my feet.

  "Nice, shoes?"

  "Slipper boots. And they're warm."

  "Huh, might have to get me a pair in my size."

  "Yes, the pink will totally suit you."

  "Ha ha." Stephen pulls the door closed and we head downstairs.

  "Hey, Stephen." I grab his sleeve halfway down the stairs.

  "What's wrong?"

  "I don't really want to get into a fight with Amber or Phoebe tonight so can we avoid them, please?"

  "Don't worry they're all outside by the pool. And they won't touch you while you're with me." He puts his arm around my shoulders, gives me a little squeeze, and smiles at me.

  I know I should shrug him off but I don't want to hurt his feelings.

  "Thanks, Stephen, you're a good friend." I say.

  It's the truth, he is a good friend to me. I know he wants more but that is never going to happen. His smile drops a fraction but he quickly recovers and removes his arm from my shoulders and picks up my hand and leads me through the crowded living room. Numerous people call and shout at him but he just nods his head and waves them away.

  "So what do you want to drink?" he asks.

  "Um, I'll just have a Co-"

  "No soda allowed. Only alcohol."

  "Fine. I'll have a beer."

  "Good choice."

  Stephen pops the lid off a beer and hands it to me and gets one for himself.

  "So how 'bout that game of pool?"

  "Lead the way." I say as Richard bursts through the kitchen door.

  "Stephen! Stephen! You gotta come and look at this."

  "Look at what?"

  "Just come on! Come look!" Richard urges.

  "At what?"

  "Jenna and Sara are wrestling in their bra and panties."

  "What?" Stephen laughs.

  "Tony's filming it, you need to come see."

  Stephen turns back to look at me. "I'm just going to make sure they're not near anything breakable."

  "Uh-huh, you should go and check on that." I say and turn my back on them and look out the window and see Mitchel and Phoebe right outside.

  The window's cracked open a few inches and I can sort of hear them.

  "No. I'm sorry." Mitchel says, hands in pockets.

  "But why? I thought things were going well? Don't you like me?" Phoebe asks in her whiny voice.

  "It's uh...it's not you, it's me."

  "OMG!" Phoebe's mouth drops open. "You did not just say that?!"

  "Look, things aren't working out."

  "I don't get it. The other night you were all over me."

  I fake gag.

  "It's over, Phoebe. Just leave it alone."

  "Leave it alone? Are you kidding?"

  Mitchel tries to walk away but Phoebe grabs the back of his sweatshirt.

  "Hey! Don't you dare walk away from me!"

  "There's nothing more to say. It's over. Finished. I don't know why you're being such a bitch about it. It's not like we did anything."

  I try not to laugh at the little squeak Phoebe makes.

  "You're such a dick. I can't believe I even agreed to go out with you."

  "Actually, I agreed to go out with you after you practically begged me to, but then you didn't put out and I'm over you." Mitchel shrugs casually.

  Phoebe slaps him and I suck in a breath and watch him recover.

  "So you only went out with me to get into my knickers?"

  "Isn't that what all boys are after?"

  "No, not all of them. I thought you were different. I thought you actually liked me."

  "You thought wrong. What's there to like? You're dumber than Barbie."

  Is it bad that I don't feel sorry for Phoebe? Why should I? She's mean to everyone and no one dares say a thing back to her, the same goes for Amber, but clearly not Mitchel.

  "So is it true?" she asks.

  "Is what true?" he sighs, trying to get away from her.

  "That you've got a thing for Feta cheese?"

  Mitchel stares at her with a blank look on his face.

  "Did you hear me? I said-"

  "I heard you fine." he grits out.

  She laughs and it sounds more like a cackle.

  "So what? Kelsey puts out? Of course, she does, sluts normally do."

  I don't even get a chance to blink before he's got her pinned up against the wall.

  "Get off!" she screams.

  "You say one more bad thing about Kelsey and I will make your pathetic life a misery...just like you've done to Kelsey."

  "Why do you care about her so much?" she spits.

  "You stay away from her, you understand me?" Mitchel growls.

  "Whatever." Phoebe has tears rolling down her face. I think I would too if Mitchel was looking at me like he wanted to end me.

  "Just get off me. You're hurting me!"

  "Hey, is everything alright?" Boston asks, appearing from around the corner.

  "Everything is fine." Mitchel lets go of Phoebe and she runs off in tears.

  I stay frozen on the spot. Not able to move away from the window.

  "It's over. Tell JT he won. I don't care anymore. I don't want any part of this anymore."

  "Y
eah...I figured as much. You going to find Kelsey?"

  "Yes, but I don't think she wants anything to do with me anymore. I should have never agreed to go along with this in the first place." Go along with what?

  "I just saw her inside with Stephen." Boston says.

  "He better not even think about telling her, not unless he wants me to kill him."

  "Then you should go and get her away from him before he gets the chance." Boston says.

  "She already hates me, if she finds out the truth she'll never speak to me again." The truth?

  "Go and get her then." Boston urges.

  "Ok, where's JT?"

  "Finishing what he started."

  "He knows I wanted out, he doesn't need to go through with it now."

  "Yeah, but where's the fun in that?" Boston smirks.

  "You're just as bad as he is." Mitchel says with a slanted smile. "He can't go public with this shit." he quickly adds.

  "I know, we'll figure it out later. But she's going to pay, she's been picking on everyone and getting away with it for too long. I mean, you've seen what she's like."

  "Yeah, I have."

  "Now, go and find Kelsey. Apologize. I know she still likes you. Maybe it's the hair, should I grow mine?"

  Mitchel laughs and pats him on the chest.

  "Kelsey!" Stephen calls, looking for me as he walks into the kitchen.

  My eyes go wide as Mitchel and Boston both snap their heads in my direction and I spin around and collide with Stephen.

  "You ready for that game of pool?"

  I quickly pull Stephen out of the kitchen just as Mitchel walks in through the back door.

  "Uh, where do you want to play?" I ask, tugging on his sleeve.

  There are four tables in the main house, and one in the pool house.

  "Backroom." Stephen shouts over the music and leads me through the dancing bodies and over to a door that leads through to the back.

  When we walk into the room there's already a pair of boys playing pool but Stephen nods his head at them and they soon disappear out through the sliding doors to outside.

  "You know I'm going to win, right?" I say, placing my beer on the side.

  I had grown up playing this game with Nessie and I've always been better than Stephen.

  "Or maybe I'll win for once. I've been practicing." he grins.

  "Ha! Wanna bet on it?"

  He smirks and lifts his head as he sorts out the balls.

  "Something tells me that would be a bad idea."

  "Afraid you'll lose?"

  "I only lose because I let you win every time."

  My mouth drops open and I laugh.

  "Whatever! I've always been better at this game. I'm just good with balls." I say and we both burst out laughing. "Ok, that didn't come out the way I wanted it to."

  "Too late now. So you wanna break?" he asks.

  "What, your balls?"

  "Yes. I mean, no. The ones on the table." He picks up his beer and tips it back.

  "I'll let you break, I know you love that cracking sound."

  Stephen grins and picks up his pool cue.

  "So...what's it like?" he asks.

  "What's what like?"

  "Being a badass."

  "Badass?" I lift my eyebrow at him.

  "You got suspended for fighting, that's totally badass."

  "Not entirely my fault. Amber and Phoebe just know how to wind Nessie and me up."

  "What started it anyway?"

  "What do mean? Amber's always hated me."

  "No what started the fight off on Monday?"

  "Just the usual girl stuff."

  "So it wasn't over a boy?"

  "No." I lie.

  "I heard Vee upset Amber, saying Amber wasn't satisfying JT enough."

  "Oh, um, I can't remember, that day is all a blur and I've erased it from my memory."

  "So is it true?"

  "Is what true?"

  "Are JT and Vee messing around?"

  I take my shot and avoid him for a minute.

  "Kelsey?"

  "I don't really know. She pretends to hate him, but I know that's not true."

  "She wouldn't...you know?"

  "What?" I say, confused.

  "Sleep with him?"

  "Why are you asking me this? Go and ask Nessie."

  "You know Vee's not going to tell me."

  "No, she wouldn't do anything like that." I say, but I'm not so sure when it comes to JT.

  JT seems to push all her buttons and she seems to like it. I know Nessie is still a virgin, we both are, and I'm sure she would mention it if she was thinking about losing it. But I doubt she would do it with JT. She's not stupid. She knows boys like that are only after a one-night-stand and then they're onto the next girl.

  "So she hasn't...?"

  "Ew. No. She hasn't. And as far as JT is concerned you have nothing to worry about, she's not going to jump into bed with him, ok?"

  Stephen looks relieved.

  "And what about you?"

  I miss the shot and glare at him.

  "What?" I ask.

  What is wrong with him? He's never this weird.

  "You're not thinking about sleeping with the other one?"

  I stand up and lean on my pool cue.

  "Why do you want to know?"

  "I just don't want you to do something you'll regret."

  I look over at him and see Mitchel and Boston outside on the patio. Mitchel is watching me and Boston is talking to him.

  "Don't worry. I won't." I tell Stephen, remembering the way Mitchel has behaved and the lies he's told me.

  Stephen takes his shot, pots the ball and continues to pot all the right ones, while I stand there watching him, wondering what happened. I think all the 'sex talk' put me off.

  "I can't believe I just won. We're so taking a photo to remember this moment."

  Stephen whips out his phone and puts his arm around my shoulders and takes a photo.

  "I don't know why you're so excited. I only lost the game because I let you win." I say and smile, finishing my beer, and then I steal Stephen's and finish his off for him.

  "Another drink?" he asks and I glance out the glass doors at Mitchel. He looks pissed off. I don't get why though it's just a game of pool. I don't understand why he's so jealous. He's so confusing it hurts my head.

  "Sure, why not? And how 'bout another game so I can kick your ass?"

  Stephen smiles and walks over to me and takes the empty bottle from me.

  "One question, beer or something stronger?"

  "I'm gonna say something stronger."

  Why not? I'm not going home tonight and I don't have to get up for anything. And I like the reaction I get from Mitchel when I smile at Stephen. I think the phrase is 'if looks could kill'.

  I think it's time to have some fun. Mitchel thinks he can just mess with my feelings and then snap his fingers and get what he wants. I think I should give him a taste of his own medicine and see how he likes it. I know it's a bad idea, and I don't want Stephen to get the wrong idea but the small amount of alcohol I've consumed is already affecting the way I think. Don't judge me, I'm only small, I don't drink very often, and alcohol goes straight to my head.

  And I've had a crap week and alcohol is meant to make everything better, right? At least that's what they say.

  37

  I try to focus all of my attention on the game as I attempt to pot the ball.

  "Do you need a little help?" Stephen asks, coming up behind me and leaning over me.

  "I can do it." I laugh and refocus but it's hard to think of anything else other than the fact Mitchel is sitting on the couch on the other side of the room getting drunk with Boston, pretending to watch whatever is on TV, but I know he's really spying on Stephen and me.

  "You better not miss this one." Stephen whispers close to my ear.

  "And why is that? I have to do another shot if I miss?"

  "Nope. You have to kiss me." he says just as I ta
ke the shot. And miss.

  I straighten up, holding onto Stephen's shirt to steady myself. My coordination left the room two games ago and I had been losing terribly. I blame it on the number of shots I have consumed and the distraction on the other side of the room.

  "Whoops." Stephen says.

  "I meant to do that." I say, falling onto Stephen.

  My legs are also failing me.

  "Another shot please." I smile.

  "Nope. No more shots. I think you're close to your limit."

  "Oh...I see! Was that your plan all along, to get me to kiss you?"

  "Well, the thought had crossed my mind. More than once."

  "Uh-huh, and what else has crossed your mind?"

  I blurt before I realize what I'm saying. What am I saying? Even I don't know. Stephen runs a hand down his face like he's embarrassed. I giggle. I don't even know why I'm laughing. Alcohol does strange things to me. I slide up onto the pool table and sit on the edge. I grab his sleeve and pull him closer. I know I'm dicing with death. Mitchel has been giving Stephen the 'evil glare' since he came in here. I lick my lips and smile at Stephen.

  "You still want that kiss? You know, before I throw up." I joke.

  I think I'm joking. Why is the room spinning?

  I let my gaze drift to the other side of the room. Bad idea.

  Mitchel has some girl I don't know sitting on his lap.

  Where did she come from? Why is she on Mitchel's lap? I can't think straight with this much vodka inside of me. Mitchel catches me looking and holds my gaze for a few seconds before it shifts back to the girl on his lap. Whatever.

  "Come here." I tell Stephen and take the bottle from him and place it on the side and pull him closer to me until he's standing between my legs. Stephen takes over and before I know what's happening his lips are on mine. He wraps his arms around me and cocoons me and I slide mine around his neck and kiss him back. The kiss feels a little sloppy and Stephen's tongue is all over the place. I feel like I'm getting a bath from a drooling dog as gross as that sounds. This kiss lacks technique or coordination of any kind. Or maybe it's me.

  I'm so drunk I can't even tell how long we've been kissing for. It could be seconds, minutes...or days I feel so out of it. I am vaguely aware of Stephen's hands on my bare skin, and they slide under my t-shirt but I don't properly register it until I feel them losing their grip on me and they're gone. I open my eyes to see a drunk Mitchel dragging Stephen away from me.