I looked at myself in the mirror contemplating if I should really go, I doubt I’m gonna have any fun, plus I’d rather not spend my night glued to Liam. Doing a 360 in the mirror I realized that it would be a shame to let such a great outfit go to waste considering the fact I won’t ever wear it again. ‘‘Fuck it’’ I grabbed my phone and went back to take pictures because even if no one would see me in it at least I would always have proof that I slayed. I through my phone back on the bed and was attempting to take the dress off when the doorbell rang. ‘‘Perfect timing,’’ I mumbled to myself. I swung the door open and regret washed over me instantly. ‘‘hi….’’ Liam was standing at the door with a maroon t-shirt and black jeans and a gold chain, the most basic white boy outfit I think I’ve ever seen I was going to laugh at his need to wear a gold chain till I realized that he was still looking at me up and down, I immediately got uncomfortable and started snapping my fingers in his face ‘‘Earth to Liam, earth to Liam’’ His eyes shot back up to mine, and he smiled nervously ‘‘Sorry…==Ummm==…. I’ve just never seen you all dress up before.’’ ‘‘Well, don’t get used to it because I’m taking it off’’ I spun around on my heels and walked back up the stairs to my room, and I could hear Liam following close behind. ‘‘What do you mean you’re taking it off? The party started 20 minutes ago, and I’m late, and I’m literally the host,’’ I rolled my eyes and walked into my closet to change, ‘‘at least try and find something that isn’t just a sweater and sweats’’ I poked my head out the door ‘‘What’s wrong with a sweater and sweat pants’’ ‘‘Nothing, but this isn’t a sleepover. It’s a party’’ I went back into the closet and put on some black ripped jeans and a long-sleeved white cropped top. ‘‘Happy?’’ ‘‘I liked the other one better but we are late so let’s go’’ he grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the house. He parked his car in the driveway, and we both stepped out; the outside of the house was already trashed, and people were going in and out, I mean they all seemed to have every article of clothing, so that’s a plus.  ‘We’re gonna have a great time’’ he gave me a little smile before getting ambushed by his group of friends. I slipped through the door and was greeted with loud music and blinding lights. Well, this party experience is going great, I went straight to the bar I wasn’t planning on getting a drink but it never hurt to be surrounded by alcohol. I smiled to myself. I scanned the area, most people were on the dance floor rubbing up on each other, and some were drinking on the couches, and of course like every high school part, we have the face suckers in the corner. I burst out laughing imagining being the lucky couple to face suck in the corner of a party. I turned my chair around and faced the actual bar, I always wondered if bartenders ever actually make themselves drinks, and as luck would have it the bartender headed over to me. He was about 5’ 11”, and his skin looked nicely tanned. He had shoulder-length, dark brown hair, that seemed to fit his face shape nicely, he had a softly shaped jaw and big light brown eyes. His arms were nicely toned and fit snugly in the shirt he was wearing. As he got closer I could see the ==watercolour== tattoo on his knuckles, it was a skull tattoo with butterflies coming out, it was too dark to actually see it clearly but for some reason, I felt the need to trace it, and that comes from reading to many romance novels I shook my head. ‘‘Hi, can I get you anything?’’ I looked up from his hand to his face ‘‘==Ummm==…. I don’t really like alcohol’’ I gave him a little smile and started fidgeting with my hands, he let out a light chuckle and smiled at me, the music was still blasting random songs I doubt anybody actually listens to but for some reason, his laugh was the only thing I could hear at that moment ‘‘Well, luckily we do also give out water and I also have a secret stash of juice boxes,’’ he smiled and leaned in ‘‘but that’s just between us’’ I laughed at that, I looked around before leaning in playing along ‘‘What kind of juice boxes you got’’ he smiled  ‘‘Apple, Orange and Cranberry’’  ‘‘That’s not much of a variety is it?’’ ‘‘Well most people come to get alcohol,’’ he paused for a couple of seconds before continuing ‘‘ and I don’t often serve children’’ I put my hand to my heart faking being hurt ‘‘I’m taking that as a personal attack and you’ll be hearing from my lawyers’’ he smiled, just then Liam and his crew came over I rolled my eyes and moved closer to the edge of the stool. ‘‘DAKOTA!!’’ Liam swung his arm over my shoulder ‘‘I was looking all over for you ==where’d== you go?’’ ‘‘I just came and sat at the bar’’ I glanced at the bartender who was now wiping an imaginary spot on the counter ‘‘Bartender I would like an Aunt Roberta’’ the bartender nodded and started mixing the drink, Liam started talking but I was more concerned about the drink being missed than whatever Liam was saying. I noticed that there was literally only alcohol being mixed, I looked up from the drink and made eye contact with the bartender and I gave him a questioning look, he smiled and shrugged his shoulders. Liam grabbed the drink and chugged the whole thing down like it was water ‘‘Alright I’m going to go dance don’t be a stranger’’ he winked at me before making his way to another group on the dance floor. I turned my gaze back to the bartender who was whipping down glasses ‘‘So what’s your name?’’ he looked up from the cup and smiled at me  ‘‘Wouldn’t you love to know’’ I rolled my eyes, of course, he’s trying to be a fuck boy at this very moment ‘‘Well I’d rather not just refer to you as a bartender but I mean if that’s what you identify as go for it or should I call you a mixologist I hear that’s the new thing’’ he laughed at that he was about to speak till I was almost pushed off my stool, I turned my body to see the blind bat who managed to miss the whole human sitting right here and of course, it was non-other than Georgia ==Channing==. ‘‘Bartender, can I have 4 Margaritas for my friends and me’’ I scoffed at that, she whipped her head around and glared at me but quickly plastered a smile on her face. Georgia was short and athletically built, bronze-skinned with the neatest eyebrows. Her long, curly, dark brown hair is slicked back. She has a triangular face with bony cheeks. She has muscular arms, slender hands, and broad shoulders. She has a septum that looks new. ‘‘Dakota, ==OMG== it feels like ages since I saw you last. How’s everything going’’ I gave her a what the fuck are you even doing look but smiled  ‘‘Really that’s funny because I saw you yesterday you know in Art class, but you know what, that’s my bad you were really focused on the art of sucking face so that’s probably why you didn’t see me’’ I tilted my head to the side innocently the bartender scoffed but covered it with a cough as he continued mixing the drinks ‘‘Yeah anyway, how’s your mom doing haven’t seen her in a minute,’’ at that moment my face went hard and I lost my good mood as I stared back at her in disbelief ‘‘==Omg==, I’m so sorry I forgot she passed away it must have slipped my mind’’ she put her hand on her heart giving a ==pouty== face. To think that I was ever friends with her I don’t know what rock hit her but this is not the best friend I once had. I got up from the stool and walked away whatever game she was playing wasn’t my cup of tea. I started rooming the house looking for something to do besides body rub and drink, I thought about heading back to the bar to finish talking to the bartender and maybe get a juice box but when I went back he wasn’t there and Georgia and her clan were still sipping there margaritas. I decided to head upstairs and turn on a TV or something to pass the time till I thought it was reasonable to head back home. When I got up the stair there were about 5 different rooms 7 plus the 2 bathrooms that were obviously needed on the same floor I walked to the second last room at the end of the hall that seemed to be ==Liam’s== parent’s room, it was probably rude to go snooping in his parent’s room but if there was one room no one would come in it was 100 percent this one. I closed the door behind me and grabbed the remote and turned the TV on I flipped through multiple channels trying to find a good one, you would think with how rich they are they could afford the better channels. I turned the TV off and started walking around the room, there were some cute baby pictures of Liam and family pictures with other people I’d never seen. I picked up one of the pictures, it was of ==Liam’s== parents I assumed was on their wedding day. I’ve only seen ==Liam’s== parents once or twice before but never together and they genuinely look happy, I put the picture back and the door flung open ‘‘What the f… oh Dakota what are you doing in here?’’ he closed the door and headed over to me his eyes were red which means he was probably high out of his mind I internally rolled my eyes  ‘‘Sorry I just needed a bit of silence’’ I looked around the room awkwardly. He got closer to me running his hand up and down my arm, I slowly took a step back. ‘‘Liam, I think we should go back to the party’’ I attempted to head to the door but he grabbed my waist and pulled me in front of him, ‘‘Liam please…’’ before I could finish he grabbed both my hands and pinned me against the wall I let out a little yelp when my head came in contact with the wall.  ‘‘Liam what are you doing?’’ he leaned into my ear ‘‘I’ve wanted this for such a long time’’ ‘‘Liam your drunk, please let go of me’’ ‘‘That’s what you want to believe’’ he mumbled. He began kissing down my neck as I struggled to get out of his grip. Tears started welling in my eyes but I kept trying to push them back trying to understand what the fuck was going on then he started grinding his body on mine that moment my mind went blank, and tears started streaming down my face in waves ‘‘Please. I’m begging you. Liam, stop,” I cried out in pain as I twisted and turned in his tight grip continues to pin my arms down and rip at my clothes “SHUT UP !” he yelled as he continues to pin my arms down and rip at my clothes he threw me against the wall again chuckling sarcastically, “You want me to stop?”.  I began nodding my head frantically, “Alright. I’ll stop” he looks at me up and down still holding my wrist.  I let out a shaky breath, attempting to call my heart rate  “What a fucking slut” he sneered spitting in my face as he spoke He roughly pulled the dresser drawer open and pulled out a knife without any warning, he slowly started running it over my skin causing me to shriek in pain. At that instant, I stopped all movement, but he continued to press the knife deeper into my arm, and the blood started flowing out like a river, never-ending. He started smirking, my pain bringing him satisfaction. “Hey, Liam ==where’d== you g…..” at that moment the door swung open and the bartender from earlier came in, he stopped in his tracks at the door as he looked from Liam to me processing what was going on, I begged him with my eyes for him to save me from Liam. He looks up at me, eyes full of confusion before realization takes over him, his face switched to full anger as he charged at Liam throwing him to the ground. As soon as Liam was off of me my legs gave out and I fell to the floor bringing my knees to my chest my breathing was coming in gasps, and my whole body was shaking. I got up and ran out of the room and down the stairs I started pushing past people trying to get out of there and trying to blink black all the tears that were on the edge of falling out. As I was pushing past people to get to the door I knocked a drink out of someone’s hand and he spilled it on Georgia. I paused for a split second to look at her facial expression instantly soften when she looked at my probably tear-stained face but I continued to head for the door before anyone could say anything. I ran out the door and down the street, I didn’t know where I was going but all I knew was that I had to go, I kept running until my legs gave out and I fell to the floor I was trying to focus on calming my breathing, I started to hear footsteps I closed my eyes and held my breath to try and be as small as possible I was scared Liam was going to come to look for me. After a couple of seconds, I felt a hand on my arm  “No no no please” I begged  ‘‘Hey hey it’s me’’ I looked up at him he had concern written all over his face with a small sad smile. ‘‘No please ‘' I balled my fist up still hitting him ‘‘Leave me alone’’ he slowly wrapped his arm around me making sure I was comfortable before bringing my body closer to his. I relaxed into his body trying to keep my mind blank. ‘‘Come on let’s go’’ he slowly picked me up from the ground helping me onto my own feet ‘‘I’m just gonna take you to my car so I can drive you home is that okay’’ I didn’t know anything about this man, not even his name but anything right now was better than being found by Liam, I just wanted to go home. I nodded my head, he led me about a block down from where I was to his car. I got in and put my belt on, he closed my door and got into the driver’s door he started the car before we started driving he turned to me, my breathing had calmed but my heart was still rapidly beating.  ‘‘Dakota,’’ he hesitated before continuing ‘‘your still bleeding, maybe I should bring you to a hospital first’’ the car was silent for a moment I turned towards him and shook my head and turned back and continue looking straight ahead. He sighed and started driving. I was lost in my thoughts as I was replaying everything that went down in the past 2 hours when the car stopped.  ‘‘Dakota we’re here’’ I looked out my window and saw my house. I tried to hold it in but I couldn’t any longer and I burst out in tear  ‘‘I let him into my house’’ I mumbled to myself ‘‘I let him into my fucking house’’ I don’t know when he got out of the car but my door swung open and I was being taken out of the car ‘‘No please just leave me’’ I was put down at my front door and then he when back to the car. I assumed he was just trying to go home and all my crying was preventing that so I unlocked the door and was about to walk in but I turned around to say something before he left, but he locked his car and walked back toward me  ‘‘I’m only gonna come in if you let me’’ tears were still flowing out of my eyes but i nodded and turned back toward the door and walked in with him behind me. I walked up to my room and headed straight to the bathroom, when I looked at myself in the mirror I was disgusted. My hair has all over the place my shirt was ripped and stained with blood, I ran my hand over the area where liam stuck the knife, It was still bleeding but I had more important things to worry about than whether my hand was bleeding. I grabbed my brush and attempted to brush my hair but the brush kept getting stuck, I started getting frustrated and hit my head with the brush and screamed. The bartender came into the bathroom and grabbed my hands and held me until I calmed down. He grabbed the first aid kit that was on the side of the sink and sat with me on the floor he grabbed the needle and thread and some wipes and bandages, ‘‘I know how to stitch a cut’’ he looked up at me with a soft look ‘‘I’m not going to argue with you but if the brush didn’t do any harm his needle sure will’’ I sighed and gave up and let him stitch me up,  ‘‘Alright get to bed’’ I stared at him for a minute I chose not to argue and just stood up and walked over to my bed and jumped into it, I stared up at the ceiling trying to block out the flashing images of ==Liam’s== parent’s room and forcing the tears back. ‘‘Do you need anything’’ I could feel his presence beside the bed but I knew if I looked at him I would cave ‘‘No’’ it came out as a mumbled whisper but I hoped that he understand and would leave. He stood there for a couple of seconds longer before turning off the lights and leaving my room. I waited for a bit then I heard the front door close, I rolled over onto my side and ==lt== the rest of the pain from the night flow out of me. I don’t know how long I cried for all I know before I fell asleep I heard glass breaking but I was too drained to do anything about it so I drifted off either to sleep or to the end of the line. but either way, anything was better than this feeling.