Falling to Pieces (12 page)

“Perfect.” I nod in agreement and make my way to the dance floor,
ready to shake my ass a little bit.

Reaching the small circle of girls dancing, I notice a familiar face across
the floor and smile, waving him over. Normally I would try to avoid him, but
tonight, I surprisingly welcome Trent’s company.

Trent and I met last year and ended up hooking up one night when I was
drunk.

Yes, I know…surprise,
surprise.

He was different than the guys I generally hooked up with, though. He
had the whole hot nerdy thing going on with his black frame glasses. My first
impression was a quiet shy vibe from him, but the moment we closed his bedroom
door, another side of Trent came out. Definitely a better, and more memorable
experience than I had with Sean.

Trent’s only downfall was being too nice of a guy. It just doesn’t mix
well with a girl like me. He tried hard, though, and I knew if I let it go on
more than the one night I would have a problem on my hands, so I cut him off
early on. He took it well, but continuously showed up whenever I came to
Penny’s or would ask Preston and Lilly about me when I wasn’t there. I would
have been worried if I didn’t know he was completely harmless
;
just hooked on Chey.

It has been awhile since I had seen Trent around here. I throw my arms
around him in an innocent hug. “How have you been?” I ask pulling away and
stepping back.

“Good, real good. I am actually here with my girlfriend, Jess.” Trent
points in the direction of a table on the right.

There are two girls and another guy sitting around laughing, and the
fact that the guy’s arm is around the brunette, I am guessing the pretty blonde
is Jess.

“She’s cute! Nice job, Trent.” I say, patting his arm. He has done
well for himself.

“How are you? It’s been awhile.”

“I have been good. Busy with school, like always. Definitely happy to
be finishing this year.”

“Yeah, I hear you on that.” Trent says, glancing back towards his
girlfriend.

“Listen I don’t want to keep. It was good to see you, Trent.”

 
“You too, Cheyenne. Take
care.” He gives me a quick hug before walking away, back to his table.

He is such a sweet guy. Trent seems like the kind of guy who would
treat any girl like a princess, just happy to be in a relationship. In theory,
most girls would love that. But me, I wanted someone to argue with and tell me
when I am wrong. He can’t let me walk all over him, because that is exactly
what I would do.

One of my favorite things to do with Sam was argue, nothing serious,
but a good lengthy debate to get our blood flowing. The fact that he always stands
his ground and is so assertive can be such a turn on. That is probably why our
arguments tend to usually end with us ripping each other’s clothes off.

Such
fun times.

I will admit there were times that I purposely would start a fight,
just so we could have make up sex.

I am on the dance floor, moving around and dancing in my own world
when I start to feel a little dizzy. I stop mid dance move and try to focus my
eyes, but my vision is blurry. I try blinking a few times, thinking it will
clear it up, but it’s not working.

What’s wrong with
me?

I know I am not drunk. I only had one shot and haven’t finished my
second drink. No way could that impair me this much, especially working on a
full stomach.

So why do I feel
like the floor is about to fall out beneath me?

It’s becoming difficult to keep my eyes open. Maybe they wouldn’t mind
if I just lay down and took a little nap.

The room starts spinning and I feel like I am floating in the air.
It’s a strange sensation and I almost want to laugh, but have forgotten how.

 
Without warning my legs
give out and I feel a pair of warm arms wrap around me tightly before
everything goes black.

The lids of
my eyes feel as though they have been glued shut. My head is pounding like a
marching band performed inside of it all night long and the dryness of my mouth
has me dying for water to quench my thirst.

How much did I drink last night?

I remember my
first drink when I got to the bar and then doing a shot with Chad, but I don’t
even remember finishing my second drink, much less recall the rest of the night
after walking onto the dance floor.

With my eyes
still closed I reach towards my nightstand in hopes of finding my phone to gain
some clarity on the night. It’s not there, my nightstand is missing and my hand
is met with empty space.

What the hell?

Who moved my furniture?

Shit!

My eyes pop
open and then close with pain, through a tiny squint they attempt to scan the
strange room.

Shit. Shit. SHIT. What did I do?

My plan was
to have a couple drinks, nothing crazy. I most certainly did not want to end up
going home with anyone.

So much for
changing my ways to become a better person for Sam, guess I ruined that. And I
am now certain that he deserves far better than me. I hate myself right now.
How could I have been so weak to let his happen, and why can’t I remember any
of it?

I have no
clue what time it is, but judging by the darkness, I would guess
it’s
still late night or rather early morning.

In a slow
attempt to sit up, I nearly fall back over from the dizziness bracing myself with
both hands on the bed while my eyes are closed waiting for the room to stop
spinning. After a brief moment, I begin blinking away the fog that is still
filtering through my sight and I open my eyes fully, needing to get out of
here, wherever here is.

Before I am
able to stand from the bed, the door is opening and I freeze waiting to see who
is going to walk in.

Fuck!

I didn’t.

Please tell
me I didn’t do this.

Surely, I would
remember hooking up with him of all people. This doesn’t just ruin my chances
with Sam, but will also kill a perfectly good friendship. I lower my head into
my hands and try to erase the last several hours, whether I remember them or
not. Please let me undo this.

“How are you
feeling?” Chad’s smooth voice asks from across the room.

“Like shit.”
I respond in a muffled tone, my head still down. “What time is it?”

“It’s only
about four in the morning. I wasn’t sure you would be awake, but I wanted to
bring you some water.”

I lift my
head and glance toward his direction. It is still fairly dark but I am still able
to take in most of his appearance. Leaned casually against the door jam, he is
still dressed in the same clothes from the night before. Come to think of it, looking
down I notice that I too am still fully dressed. Which, had we really hooked up,
would be rather strange.

“Would you be
totally insulted if I told you that I have no memory of what happened last
night?” I ask feeling embarrassed at my behavior.

Chad
chuckles,
“Trust me, babe, if we would have hooked up, you
would definitely remember.”

Stepping away
from the door, Chad walks towards the bed, hands me the water and takes a seat
next to me.

If we didn’t
hook up, then how did I end up here, in his bed? The mystery continues.

Still
embarrassed about the possibility for not remembering a night with Chad, whether
we hooked up or not, I keep my focus on the glass in my hands.

“Okay, so, if
we didn’t, then why am I in your bed and why don’t I remember leaving the bar
or anything else for that matter?” I look away from the water and when I meet
Chad’s stare, I notice his bruised eye and cheek. “What the hell happened toy
our face?” I ask fully concerned.

I missed a
lot apparently.

“I will start
from the beginning and tell you what I know.” He pauses and turns his body to
face me directly. I bend my right leg, bringing it up to the bed and sit so we
are now face to face. I feel as though this is going to be bad. “You looked
like you were having fun dancing, so I decided to let you blow off some steam
out there before taking you home. I was keeping my eyes on you, mostly to make
sure that creep didn’t come try to bother you again, when I realized you looked
completely wasted. Which didn’t make sense considering you barely had anything
to drink. I turned away to tell Jonathan I was taking you home and to get your
bag. By the time I looked back, your knees went wobbly and you just completely
fell out. Some dude barely caught you and was trying to walk out with you. I
ran over to help and he refused to hand you over.” Pausing, Chad points to his
bruises. “That is when this happened. He was claiming to know you and needed to
get you help, but I have never seen him before and it just wasn’t sitting well
with me. We both got a few hits in before James and Jonathan broke it up. They held
him back while I carried you out and I am telling you, he went crazy, it took
both big guys to hold him back. I think he may have drugged you. God Cheyenne,
if something would have happened to you...”

I reach over
and grab his hand, “It didn’t. You saved me. Thank you.” I am extremely
grateful he was there, but I can’t help but still feel uneasy thinking about
what happened and who would have done something like that. “What happened with
the guy? Do you know who it was?”

“I called
James once I got you into bed. They had to let him go, because there was no
proof. They told me his name, but shit I can’t think of it. I was watching you
sleep to make sure you were okay and was having a hard time focusing on what he
was saying. I want to say it started with an S.”

I cringe at
the thought. “Sean?” I ask and brace myself for the blow. Chad thinks it over
and looks unsure. “Dark haired-guy in a polo that just screams douche? He was
the one Jonathan saw at the bar with me.”

“No. This guy
was blonde. Looked like an all-American guy, maybe even surfer-
ish
.”

No, it
wouldn’t have been him.

“Was his name
Sam?” I asked hesitantly.

“Yeah, that’s
it. Sam.”

“Oh my god.
Oh my god.” Sam and Chad got into a fight last night. I can only imagine what
he must be thinking of me.

“You know
him? Don’t worry, we won’t let him back into the bar.” Chad says reassuringly,
misreading my anguish.

“Yes. He’s
my...” I don’t even know the proper word to use for him. “
..my
Sam. He didn’t drug me. He would never do that.”

“Cheyenne,
the guy went crazy last night.” Chad says pointing back up to his eyes.

“Yes, but in
his eyes, he was doing the same thing as you. Protecting me. Shit. I need to
call him. He must be freaking out.”

Sam doesn’t
know any of the guys at Penny’s except for Preston, who wasn’t there. He
probably has the same thoughts running through his head as Chad did. I need to
find him.

I jump from
the bed and hit the switch by the door, illuminating the room so I can search
for my phone.

“Sorry,
Cheyenne. I didn’t know. I had never seen him before and then there he was with
you passed out in his arms, trying to leave.”

I stop my
search and turn to Chad, who is looking regretful. “No, I get it. Thank you
Chad. Had it been anyone else...” I pause, shaking my head, not wanting to
think about the outcome, “But I promise you, Sam would never do anything to
harm me.”

“Because he’s
your Sam
?” Chad asks with a smile.

“Something
like
that.” I laugh. “Where’s my phone?”

Chad walks
over to the dresser and brings me my bag. “It fell out of your pocket so I
tossed it in here.”

Pulling my
phone out, I prepare myself for the number of missed calls and texts, when it
suddenly starts vibrating in my hand.
Sawyer
.
This won’t be good. I swipe my phone and bring it up to my ear. Chad walks out
of the room, giving me privacy.

“Hey friend.”

“Don’t you
dare
hey friend
me!
Are you all right? I have been worried sick and calling for hours!” I have to
pull the phone away from my ear to protect my eardrums from Sawyer’s yelling.

“I am fine.
My phone was on
vibrate
last night. I guess news
travels fast.”

“I was awoken
by Sam blowing up my phone, freaking out. When he gave me the rundown, I
panicked. Preston had to take the phone and talk to him. Then we figured out it
was Chad who Sam was prepared to murder. I felt a little better knowing you
were in good hands, but still out of sorts thinking someone tried to harm you.
Preston called the guys and he filled him in on what happened also. Are you
sure you are okay? I was so worried, Cheyenne.” Sawyer finally stops to take a
breath, giving me a chance to comment.

“Yes, I
promise, other than a killer headache I am all right. But I do need to call
Sam. I was just about to do that when you called.”

“Yeah, about
that. My guess would be that Sam should be there any minute now. Preston gave
him Chad’s address. We have been trying to reach both of you.”

“Shit. This
could be bad. They got into a fight last night. I have to go. Bye Sawyer, love
you.” I end the call before she can respond, drop my phone in the bag and go in
search of Chad to warn him.

I have never
seen Sam truly pissed off and out of control. Taking a second look at the
bruises on Chad’s face, I would have to guess last night he was both of those
things. Hopefully talking to Sawyer and Preston has helped to calm him down a
bit.

Walking is a
slight challenge for me. Still feeling the effects of being light-headed and
dizzy, I catch myself on the walls and make my way toward the front door.

I should have
had more of that water, but I am not retreating back to the room for it after
making it this far. A loud pounding comes from the door just as I make it to
the living area.

Chad gets to
the door and opens it a crack using his body to block the entrance. His back
goes rigid and his body takes on a defensive stance.

“Where is
she?” I hear Sam demand from the other side of the door, the anger vibrating in
his voice.

“Look man,
you need to calm down. Cheyenne explained who you are, but at the time you have
to know where I was coming from.”

Something
pounds against the door. “I don’t give a fuck. Where is she?”

My body becomes
alert at the tone and panic in his voice and I run to the door. Placing my
hands on Chad’s back I lightly push him out of the way and he moves easily. The
moment he sees me, Sam shoves the door open and rushes to close the space,
wrapping him arms tightly around me. I can feel him take a deep breath of
relief and I wrap my arms around his back, not wanting to let go.

“I’m okay,” I
mutter into his shirt, where my face is pressed against his chest. Inhaling his
scent, I feel safe and at home as all my emotions rush to the surface. Now is
not the time and I know if Sam sees me in tears or upset it will only make this
harder on him.

After a few moments
of just holding me, Sam pulls back and his hands go to my face. His eyes search
mine, as if making sure I am really here and not hurt. His eyes are bloodshot
and his hair is a ruffled mess. Even on a bad night and mask of stress, he is
still beautiful.

I run my fingers
over the cut on his lip and my breath gets caught in my throat. Seeing Sam hurt
and knowing it is because of me brings tears to my eyes, but I am able to force
them down.

“I have never
been so worried in my life. Watching you being taken away from me, not knowing
what was wrong with you.
I mean, you just collapsed.”
Hearing
the agony in his voice and seeing the pain written all over his face is my
undoing. The tears roll warmly down my cheeks.

“I am all
right.” My hands slide to his chest, where I can feel his heart beating
rapidly. “I am perfectly fine. It’s okay now, Sam,” I reassure him. He wipes my
tears before pulling me back into his arms, wrapping me tightly into his
embrace.

“What
happened? Your guys wouldn’t tell me anything.” Sam asks, gazing up over my
head toward Chad.

“Damn man, I
don’t even know. I feel like shit. She hardly had anything to drink.” Chad
pauses and I can hear him walking closer. “You didn’t get a drink from anyone
else did you, Cheyenne?”

I shake my
head into Sam’s chest. “No, I only drank at the bar with you.”

“Did you
leave your drink unattended?” Sam asks, rubbing his hands up and down my back,
soothingly.

“No.” I
pause, thinking about what all I do remember. “ Wait, I did go to the bathroom
to escape Sean. When I came back though, he was gone, but my drink was still on
the bar and I finished it.”