Some Way

by Tiffany Jade

  "I don't know guys, I'm pretty tir—" Liv starts but is quickly cut off by Jenna.

  "We will be here, see you boys in a couple hours!" She pushes Liv out the door and both D and I laugh as the door shuts behind them.

  "She wants me," Dax says, getting off the floor and throwing himself across the couch.

  "You better be talking about Jenna." I chuck my empty water bottle at his head.

  "Both of them," he says smirking at me. I get up and head for him and he instinctively covers his head. "I'm kidding bro! Of course Jenna."

  "That's what I thought," I scoff as I walk past him and head for my room.

  "Why do you care anyway, you're supposed to be staying away from Liv." Dax gets up to follow me down the hall.

  "Doesn't mean you get to fuck her, she's off limits." I shut my door as I say it, not giving him a chance to argue with me.

  Why the fuck do I care? I've never told him he couldn't get with a girl before, even if I'd been with her. It just never mattered.

  I throw myself onto my bed. I gotta get this done so I can get her out of my system, I can't do this weird feeling shit.

  I just glare at Jenna as we walk into our apartment.

  "Oh don't even, you want to go." She laughs at me as she shuts the door behind her.

  "You're the one who has been telling me to stay away from him, why the hell do you want to make me go to his party?" I grab myself everything I need to make myself an iced coffee. If I'm going to stay awake for this I'm going to need a lot more caffeine.

  "Well, them moving in across the hall kind of takes away the whole staying away from him thing. So you need to learn to be his friend. Maybe seeing how he is surrounded by a bunch of other girls will help you see what a bad idea he actually is." Jenna grabs herself a glass so I will make her some too. I nod my head as she explains. Yeah, I'm sure that'll work. It has to.

  Chapter 5

  "Liv, get the door!" I hear Jenna shout from her room after a hard pounding on our door sounds through the apartment. She must still be getting ready. Assuming it's just one of the boys checking to make sure we are coming, I yell out that I'll be right there.

  I stop in front of my mirror and check my outfit. Jenna insisted we dress up a little bit so I had decided on a body con style black dress, it hugged my curves just right and looked super cute with my strappy black heels I had just bought and had been looking for an excuse to wear.

  I run my fingers through my freshly curled hair and check my makeup once more. I couldn't wear a dress and not do up my face a bit so I'd actually pulled out my foundation and had highlighted and contoured until I looked Insta worthy. A simple wing and nude lip completed my look. Shooting myself a grin in the mirror I finally headed for the door right as whoever was on the other side pounded again.

  "Calm down! I'm right he—" I started as I opened the door, only to be met by Aaron's surprised face. Him and Max walk into my apartment. Aaron looking pissed as he sits down at the kitchen table.

  "Why didn't you tell me they moved in across from you?" he demands. I walk into the kitchen and cross my arms.

  "Well hey to you too!" I reply. Max clears his throat. Aaron just continues to stare at me. "They just moved in today, how was I supposed to know?"

  "You could have texted me."

  Max decides to bail and heads for Jenna's room.

  "I'm sorry, I wasn't aware I had to give you a play by play of what happened at my apartment complex. The girls below us got a new cat last week, the boys next door had a rager last night and I woke up to a stripper, covered in body glitter, pounding on my door to use the restroom cause theirs had a line. Hmmm, I think the people in the apartment on the other side—"

  "That's not what I meant Liv," he interrupts me, smacking his hand on the table. My eyes widen in surprise.

  "I would suggest you chill out Aaron, or get the hell out of my apartment." He had never talked to me in this way and he was not about to start now.

  "I don't know what the hell has gotten into you but I am not going to play this game with you." I watch as he takes a couple of deep breaths and collects himself. Still standing with my arms crossed I wait.

  "I just don't like the way he looks at you," he mumbles as he begins to play with his phone on the table.

  "Who?" I ask, knowing full well who he is talking about.

  "That Grayson guy, he watches you. I just want you to stay away from him." Aaron looks up at me as he continues, "I don't trust them, we don't know them. I just don't want you around him."

  "Well unfortunately for you, I'm a big girl and you don't get to tell me who I can and can't be around. They have been nothing but nice to me," I pause as the thoughts of Grayson's hands on my hips crosses my mind... one of them has been very, very nice... shaking my head I keep going, "and you don't get to judge them without knowing them. So grow up, and act like my boyfriend, not my prison guard."

  He stays silent as I head to the pantry to look for a couple bottles of alcohol to take over. Jenna and Max walk out of her room and walk into the kitchen. Jenna is fuming. Max clears his throat again.

  "Hmm, we ready to head over?" Jenna asks, coming to stand next to me. She wraps her arm around my waist and gives me a supportive squeeze, while glaring at Aaron.

  "I'm ready!" I put on my cheeriest smile, glancing over at Aaron still pouting at the table. "You comin' or going home?" I ask him.

  He stands up slowly and walks over to me, reaching out his hand. I know he wants me to hold it but instead I hand him a bottle of vodka. "Alright let’s go!" I walk out of the kitchen and open the front door waving everyone out. "Party time bitches!"

  "Where did all these people come from bro?" I ask Dax as I find him in the kitchen, filling the sink up with ice and liquor bottles.

  "I told Aaron and Max to invite their friends," he replies, glancing around.

  "Are they friends with half of L.A.?" I watch as a group of giggly girls start to walk past the kitchen but stop as they see my brother and I standing there. The giggling intensifies, fucking lovely. I roll my eyes, at least make it kind of a challenge girls. I look back over at D who's started setting up the beer pong table.

  "Dude, quit bitching and have fun. Look around, beautiful girls everywhere," he motions around.

  Yeah, lots of pretty girls. Liv isn't here yet though. Not that I noticed.

  I walk over to help him set up cups. Working in silence for a minute, I hear the doorbell ring.

  "I got it," I tell him, setting down the last cup and heading for the door. I feel some girl wrap herself around my waist as I reach out to grab the handle.

  "Hey handsome, I'm Trisha," she stares up at me with an already buzzed gaze.

  "Mhmm," I murmur as I open the door.

  Well shit.

  "Grayson!" Max walks in and pats me on the back, but my eyes are locked on Liv. Wearing a dress so tight I can see every inch of her shape, her hair is loose for the first time I've seen. She’s got on high heels that make her legs look a mile long. I meet her eyes and I start to smile but she quickly looks down to my waist.

  Fuck.

  I try to shake this Trisha chick off me.

  "Looks like you already got this party started," Aaron says with a laugh. "And already got yourself a clinger," he hands over a bottle of vodka and walks past me.

  "Um, I brought you this," Liv holds up a bottle of Jack. "But I can see your hands are, umm, full, so I'll just go put it in the kitchen." She gives me a small smile and heads past me too. I look up at Jenna, who’s the last one waiting to come in. She just shakes her head at me.

  Yep. Good move Grayson...good move.

  Well, Jenna was right. But I'm good.

  Totally good.

  SO good.

  I head into the kitchen and find Dax filling up cups at the beer pong table. His face lights up when I walk in.

  "Liv!" He comes over and gives me a hug, pulling away he looks at me. "What's wrong?"

  "Nothing! I'm fine." I smile at him an
d head for the table.

  "Girl, don't lie to me." He walks over to the table with me. Glancing over his shoulder I see Grayson walking by with the stage five clinger still attached to his waist. Dax turns to see what I'm looking at.

  "Ah, should have guessed." He motions for me to stand at the other end of the table from him, once I get there he rolls a ball towards me.

  "Look, I like you Liv, and not in my normal, 'Yeah I wanna fuck her,' like you way."

  I shoot him a glare as he rolls another ball towards me. "I mean I would if you would let me," he shrugs and starts laughing as I continue to glare.

  "Chill, you're hot and you know it!"

  "Shut up!" I start laughing at him which makes him wiggle his eyebrows at me. He picks up two balls of his own and motions for me to shoot with him. We both shoot at the same time, I actually miss. His goes in.

  "HA! I get to go first!" He shouts, quickly getting his ball back and getting back in position. "You are gorgeous Liv, but you're also a sweetheart, so I want to warn you. He's not good for you. Neither of us are 'relationship' material," he air quotes himself. He shoots his ball and curses as he misses the first shot.

  "Why are you telling me this, D?" I ask him as he gets ready to throw again. He glances up at me and pauses, a confused look comes onto his face.

  "I actually have no idea, I guess I just don't want to see you get hurt." He shrugs as he throws the ball and throws his hand up as it lands in a cup. "Woo!" I jokingly give him a little round of applause. I take my drink and chug it. Slamming it down when I'm done I look over at him and smile.

  "I'm good, Dax, but thank you." I wink as I throw both of my balls rapidly and sink them both. "Now, I'm just gonna go ahead and kick your ass again okay?" We both start laughing as he grabs out the cups and rolls the balls back to me to shoot again.

  The shouts coming from the kitchen catch my attention as I try to pawn Trish off on some other guy for the night. Not having much luck, I lead her to the bathroom and tell her that she has lipstick on her teeth. As she quickly covers her mouth and slams the door in embarrassment, I run.

  "The hell?" I murmur out loud as I come to the kitchen and see a huge crowd gathered around the table.

  My brother against Liv.

  Tie game, two cups left on each side.

  I push my way through the crowd and slide up next to D. Liv's face drops a little bit as she sees me, but she recovers quickly and sends me a fake friendly smile.

  "Don't worry Grayson, I can kick your ass next," she teases me over the table as she waits for D to take his turn.

  "Why wait?" I ask with a smirk. "Celebrity Shot!" The noise level rises as Dax hands me the balls. I motion for everyone to quiet down. "Liv, choose your celebrity," I tell her as soon as it’s calm enough for her to hear me. She starts glancing around trying to pick someone. She pulls one of Aaron's friends towards her and whispers something in his ear, the guy shakes his head and raises his shoulders in an IDK motion.

  She glances around again, Aaron must be missing. I'm sure there's a girl around here who knows exactly where he is.

  Right as she begins to start looking nervous, Jenna appears at her side with a smile. They do the usual girly drunk hug thing and Liv hands Jenna her pong balls.

  "Tell ya what, I'll be a gentleman, and let you go first Jenna," Dax, Jenna, and Liv all crack up in laughter.

  "A gentleman?" Dax coughs out. "You?"

  "Yeah yeah, just go Jenna," I motion towards the cups. She steps up and lines up her shot, and surprise the fuck out of me, makes them both. Her and Liv both wink at me.

  "What the fuck?!"

  "I was her partner before Aaron came around," Jenna admits with a smirk.

  "Well that would have been good info to know!" I shake my head as the girls celebrate.

  "Take your redemption shot and quit pouting," Liv tells me with a twinkle in her eye. Fuck she's cute. And there's that word again. I smile at her and maintain eye contact as I shoot.

  Right in.

  "Uh oh," Dax claps me on the shoulder as he taunts the girls. I line up again. Liv and Jenna look at each other with devilish grins on their faces. They are planning something. I try to focus on the cups but they have each started walking around a side of the table, coming right for me. I watch Liv out of the corner of my eye.

  "Fucking shoot the ball!" Dax yells at me. "I bet money on this game!" I get ready again and right as I'm about to shoot, little Liv rushes to stand right in front of me and I feel Jenna behind me. The ball leaves my fingers as Liv's backs her ass right up against me adding in a small grind and Jenna's hands land on my waist to hold me still. It makes a pitiful little bounce across the table and stops right in front of the cup I was supposed to be aiming for.

  "INTERFERENCE!" Dax yells. "That's not fair!" Jenna and Liv start laughing so hard their eyes start to water. They both step to the side and hold onto each other. My hands grip the edge of the table as I try to forget the feeling of Liv in that tight little, no fabric having, fucking dress.

  "What do you think Gray?" Liv asks me sweetly, I glance up at her, and that little girl has the audacity to bat her eyelashes at me.

  "Congrats girls." I walk over and stick out my hand to Jenna to shake. I can hear Dax swearing behind me and the crowd around us cheering.

  "Sorry, old trick, works every time," Jenna laughs as she grabs my hand.

  "I'm sure," I respond with a nod and smile. I walk over to Liv, she sticks her hand out with a huge grin on her face. I take it and pull her towards me, bending down I whisper in her ear, "Game on baby girl." I feel her shiver as the words leave my lips. "Game on." I let her go and turn to walk back to Dax.

  "Game on baby girl,” he whispers in my ear, a shiver runs through me at his words. "Game on," he winks as he backs away from me and heads over to his brother.

  I shake my head to clear it. Aaron, I need to find my boyfriend.

  I head out of the kitchen and begin glancing around the packed room. A few couples are cuddled up on the sectional couch, oblivious to the fact that they are in public. Ew.

  The music has been turned up and a bunch of people are dancing to the G Eazy song that’s playing wherever they can find some room.

  I glance through the sliding glass doors that lead out to the large deck, but it looks like just a group of girls taking pics. I turn to head down the hall only to be met by Max.

  "Hey!" I exclaim. He realizes it's me and grabs my arm, stopping me from walking any further. What the hell?

  "Uhh...hey," he replies a weird tone in his voice and a nervous look in his eyes.

  "What's up?" I pull him over to the side. He glances behind him back down the hall.

  "Nothing! Nothing at all!" he replies with a fake cheeriness, completely different than how our conversation started. "Let’s go to the kitchen!" His hand lands on the small of my back as he tries to guide me out of the room.

  "I'm actually looking for Aaron," I tell him, sidestepping his hand. "Have you seen him?" I tilt my head at him as he starts to stumble over his words.

  "Yea—well no—I mean yeah, I saw him earlier," he glances down the hall again. Okay, something is so up. "I think he left or something!"

  "Mhmm," I shake my head at him. I go to walk around him and head back down the hall, but I'm stopped as he grabs my arm again.

  "I'm really sorry, Liv," he gives me a very apologetic look before he bails towards the kitchen. What in the actual... as my eyes land on the door that opens at the end of the hallway, it all makes sense.

  "You suck at listening to me," Dax scolds me from across the counter as he pours himself a drink.

  "Huh?" I take the bottle from him to pour myself a drink too.

  "You act like everyone in here can't see what's going on between you two." Dax leans up against the counter and looks out to watch the people enjoying themselves.

  "There's nothing goin' on bro, we talked about this already, we are just going to be friends." Dax chuckles as I lean up next to him and take
a drink.

  "You don't know how to be friends with a girl," he shakes his head at me.

  "True," I agree with a laugh, "but I'm going to try." He gives me a look stating he clearly doesn't believe me, but keeps his mouth shut.

  "YOU HAVE GOT TO BE FUCKING KIDDING ME!" A break in the music reveals the shout of a very pissed off girl in the apartment.

  "Oh, someone fucked up," Dax says, raising an eyebrow. The speakers around the house crackle as someone pulls the aux cord and everyone freezes in confusion.

  "Liv, NO!" another girl's voice yells out. Shit!

  Dax and I both push people out of our way as we run towards the sound of the girls.

  Getting to the hall I see a girl with her arms wrapped around an obviously pissed off Liv, holding her back. Looking past her, my eyes land on a smug looking Aaron and the Trish girl from earlier. They had obviously just walked out of the bedroom behind them, and Trish was finishing buttoning up her shirt. I continue to push my way through the crowd of people that has gathered around the drama.

  "You can't blame me can you?" Aaron's voice rings out, making sure he is speaking loud enough for everyone to hear. "We've been together for a while Liv, and you haven't put out once. A man has needs."

  A chorus of, "Holy shit,", "He did not just—", and "Oh my God," rings out around the room.

  I finally get behind Liv, just in time to see her shoulders drop. The girl holding her slowly lets her go. Jenna, who had apparently been trying to get through the crowd too, pushes her way up and stands beside her. I feel Dax come up behind me. Aaron walks slowly up to her and reaches for her.

  "Touch her and there will not be enough pieces of you left behind for them to bury." Grayson's deep voice rings out over the crowd. His large hands land on my shoulders, gently pulling me back a step. Jenna appears at one side and wraps an arm around me. Dax steps in front of me, roughly shoving Aaron's hand out of the way.