Twist of Fate (22 page)

"I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!" Those were the last words I heard before she slammed the door in my face.

Meanwhile, the party in our place was still going strong minus a few people. I was too pissed, and tired for anything else so I grabbed a pillow, a blanket, and made a very uncomfortable bed in the tub to ignore the blond and her friends.

The next day I woke up to Tommy taking a very long piss. I pulled the curtain all the way back just as he was zipping up. He sighed heavily, looking down at me. "I know you like Paige, Ben. But, you're only driving her away when you act like you own her, or something. You need to chill out, man."

I threw my head back, hitting it against the cold tile wall. I din't flinch even though it irritated the headache I already had. Grabbing the bedding, I hoisted myself out of the tub, throwing everything out of the bathroom. I propped my hands, leaning up on the counter to just stare at my reflection in the mirror for several hard judgmental seconds. "You need to get your shit together, Ben," I mumbled to myself.
 

Once dressed, I was ready to go apologize for something I really didn't feel sorry for. I knocked on the door, but no one answered. The curtains were pulled closed tightly, so I couldn't get a good look in to see if they were even in there.
 
I couldn't hear any movement in the room, so I tried the knob, turning it slowly to find it unlocked. Fucking great! Something else to worry about. Caroline and Ellie were passed out sans clothes, and Paige was not in bed with either of them.
 

I was about to walk out when I heard a familiar retching noise. I stepped closer to the bathroom, the door was shut, when I heard Paige hacking up whatever she drank last night. I rapped my knuckles on the door, and whispered, "Paige? Are you okay in there?"

She kicked the door. "Go away, Ben."
 

I dropped my head back, balled my fists to get the courage to say what I came to say. "Let me in, P. Please?"

I heard her dry heaving once more, and I felt like shit. I slumped in front of the door, leaning against it. "I'm sorry, Paige. I really am. I had no intention of ruining your night, it's just that guy. Do you understand what he was going to do to you when you brought him back up here?"

"You mean, what I was hoping he would do."

My head dropped into my hands. I hated when she talked like this. It wasn't her. "You don't mean that. So stop talking like a piece of trash. You're not that girl." I heard her slump against the door a second later, soft cries coming from inside. "Paige, don't cry over some guy. He's not worth it. It's Spring Break, he only came up here to sleep with you."

She sniffled. "I'm not crying over him."

"Listen, I can't stand talking to you through this door. I know you have no money for food other than hot dogs and bologna, so let me take you out for breakfast." I knew she had limited funds, because even though she didn't know it, I paid for her plane ticket. She thought Tommy had been feeling generous when she admitted to not having enough money, so I paid, and begged him not to tell her.

"I'm not hungry."

"You're lying and you know it." I stuck my fingers under the door, feeling for her. "Please, Paige, open the door."

There I was sitting with my fingers under a door, my head lying back trying to make sense of everything when I finally felt the soft tips of her fingers latch onto mine. "I'm sorry for being a total bitch last night," She apologized between whimpering.

My shoulders relaxed, and I let a breath out. "The only thing you should be sorry about is making me talk through this door. Come out and talk to me." Her fingers slipped out of mine.

I heard the faucet turn on, and her electric toothbrush spinning for several seconds before she unlocked the door. I poked my head inside to find her staring at herself. "C'mere." She didn't hesitate, she jumped straight into my arms, and I held onto her for dear life.

She had her faced buried in my chest, and my chin was resting on top of her head. "Better?"

She looked up, and all I saw were those huge green eyes that killed me."Yeah, but you promise you're not mad at me?"

I closed the bathroom door, so we didn't wake anyone up. "If I'm being honest, I'm mad that you brought some stranger home, not about what you said. Paige you need to be careful. What if I didn't see you, what if he raped you?"

She dropped her head into her hands, and shook it several times back and forth. "I know, I know, I know. It was stupid."

I shrugged. "I just thought after." I looked back at the door to make sure no one was there beside us. "You know, you'd be more careful."

 
She was crying, and I wanted so badly to take the pain away from her. "You are right. I know you are. I just hate having to look over my shoulder all the time. It's not fair. It shouldn't be like this. Every other girl here is having the time of their lives, while I'm left thinking about every little move I make."

I reached around pulling her to my side, "No, it shouldn't be like this, but it is."
 

She wiped her last tears away, then smiled slightly up at me. "I think you promised me some food."

I opened the door, gesturing her to go past me. "Lead the way."

PAIGE

Chapter 27

It was the last night of Spring Break before we had to get back to reality. The whole week, apart from the first night, Ben had been ridiculously cute. I wasn't sure why, but he'd barely left me alone. I felt bad, but secretly happy since he didn't get to have a great Spring Break like Tommy and the rest of his brothers. I swore they teased him relentlessly about not hooking up with someone, but he'd brush them off like it was no big deal. Maybe he was changing.

My phone dinged with a message just as I was about to finish putting on my last coat of mascara. I smiled seeing Ben's little message. I typed back in that I was ready.

We were all trying Chaos tonight. It was this huge place with six different clubs in one building. The majority of people were meeting us there after they attended a pre-party they'd been invited to, but I had too much sun today, so my nap took precedent. And, Ben insisted on waiting for me.
 

The line once we got there was crazy long, but after a half hour of waiting, and Ben paying our cover, we were finally inside. He grabbed my hand leading me toward the bar, when I spotted my girls dancing on the floor already. Their hands were up in the air, waving around like crazy, rocking out to an Usher song.

Ben tapped my shoulder with a drink for me. "Alright, listen. I'm going off to find Tommy. You going to be okay with Ellie and Caroline, or do you want to come with me?"

I sighed, loving how sweet he was being. "Nope. You go have fun." I pointed to the dance floor with my eyes. "I'm going dancing."

He looked at me sternly, but softened it with a smile. "Behave and watch out for assholes."

"You mean like you?" I teased.
 

"Exactly." He leaned over, brushing a soft kiss across my cheek. "I'll be back soon." He grabbed both of my shoulders, turning me toward him.
 
"If you don't see me in one hour, text me where you are, okay?"
 

"Yes, Dad."

He smacked my behind. "Very funny." He started to walk away, but turned one last time, winking at me, then jogged off in the other direction.

Ben didn't return an hour later, and I didn't text him. The three of us were having too much fun, and besides they wouldn't let me call him. "He'll ruin our fun." Ellie said. I concurred, so there we were four beers in, and at least thirty dances under our belt. Caroline was dirty dancing with this adorable boy with a Texas State shirt on, and when I said dirty, I meant dirty. You could practically see her underwear, he had her dress so hiked up. Ellie was making out with the same guy she met the first night, which made me kind of proud in a weird way. I wish she'd find someone to settle down with at school. At least for a month or so.

I tapped Ellie on the shoulder. "I'll be right back. I gotta pee."

She didn't break away from the kiss, she just moved her head up and down, acknowledging me. The line for the girls room was crazy long as usual. I was hopping from one foot to the other trying not to wet my pants, when I felt the painful, but familiar slap on my butt. "C'mon, P. I'll slip you in the boys room."

I peeked over his shoulder, and sure enough there was only a few guys in line. "I don't think so."

He laughed watching me do a little dance to keep from wetting myself, then looked over his shoulder. "Yo, you guys mind if she jumps in there real quick?" One grunted, two shrugged, and the last one just shook his head.
 
Ben took my hand, pulling me to the right. He opened the door, letting the last one out, then looked at me. "I'll guard the door."

I ran inside, and stopped. It was disgusting inside. There was pee all over the floor, the urinals had this yellow ringed stain running through them, and the only toilet had puke up to the rim inside it.

The door opened. "P, hurry up. They're getting pissy out here."

"Ben, I can't. It's so gross."

Ben walked inside, did a quick scan, making a face. "Nasty!" He looked at my face, then said something to the guys outside, locking the door.
 
People started to bang on it, making me jumpy. "Pee in the urinal."

"How in the hell am I supposed to do that?"

He rubbed his chin for a second, then grabbed my hand. "I swear I won't look. You can hold on to me for balance."

"Ben, I can't."

"Paige you need to pee, and the chick's line is even crazier long now."

I grumbled knowing he was right. "Okay. Just back up real close."

Ben shook his head, but moved in front of the urinal. It was one of those ones that reached all the way to the ground. I was mortified that I was about to do this, but the need to go to the bathroom overcame my embarrassment. "Plug your ears." I told him after grabbing a wad of toilet paper from the stall. I could almost see him rolling his eyes, but he put a finger in each ear. I grabbed onto his thighs, squatting as far as I could go. The banging on the door got louder, and louder. After what seemed to feel like a five minute permanent pee, I finally finished, pulling myself up.

I washed my hands, then checked my face in the mirror, noticing Ben staring at me. The door was still vibrating from the music and the banging from outside escalated. "You realize I would never in a million years do that for anyone else but you?"

I gave him a quick peck on his cheek. "You're the best!" I started to pull away but he grabbed a hold of my waist, leaning within a centimeter of my lips, and whispered, "Don't forget it." His eyes started searching my face, while I seemed to be only able to focus on his mouth, and how badly I wanted him to kiss me. He seemed to notice. His eyebrows shot up slightly as he gazed into my eyes, pulling me closer. He gave me one quick smile, then our lips pressed together. I had no idea who started it, but I didn't care. His hands ran through my hair, gentle slow strokes, swiping my hair to one side. His lips moved down my jawline, then he trailed kisses down my neck, as I tilted my head back. His mouth found mine again a minute later, his tongue slowly teasing mine. He grabbed me by the waist, lifting me up onto the sink. I was holding on to his shoulders, leaning my head back as his mouth peppered kisses down the side of my face, stopping at my chest. His hand moved up my shirt, his fingers digging into my back.
 
More banging at the door stopped him. He pulled back, looking all around. "Shit, Paige. I'm so sorry," he muttered several times. The door flew open, and one huge ass man stepped inside wearing a Chaos employee shirt. "This ain't no bedroom kids, get the fuck out of here now."

I cowered out of there, blushing. Right now I'd much rather be doing a walk of shame at school then to look at all the guys whooping and hollering at the two of us. Every single person thought we just had sex in the men's bathroom. And, I was pretty sure my grandmother was rolling over in her grave at the thought of her precious granddaughter almost doing it a sleazy bathroom.
 

"Paige." Ben tugged me away from the crowd, pulling me to the side. "I don't know what happened in there. I'm really sorry. I totally took advantage of you." His face flashed sheer panic, waiting for me to slap him, or tell him I hated it.

I cupped his face in between my hands. "Ben, stop."

"No, Paige. I shouldn't have kissed you in that bathroom." He dropped his head, then looked back into my eyes. "It's unforgivable."

I grabbed his chin again. "Look at me, Ben. Do I look mad?"

He leaned back, banging his head against the wall. "No, but you should be." He groaned loudly, but pushed himself off the wall. "Paige?"

"What?" I inched closer, looking up into his sad brown eyes.
 

"I'm not sorry I kissed you, just sorry where I did it. I thought you should know."

I slipped my fingers into the belt loop of his shorts, pulling him to me. "Kiss me like you mean it, Ben."

His eyes searched mine to see if I was serious, but I beat him to the punch. I stood on my tip toes, firmly pressing my mouth to his, grabbing a fistful of his hair. He stiffened, until I wrapped my arms around his neck. I could feel him giving in to whatever had been holding him back, then he yanked me in. My entire body shivered as his hands ran up and down my back. One hand cupped the back of my head, as the other ran down my side. I hooked my leg around his hip, trying to get closer. My head dropped back against the wall, as he trailed kisses down my neck that drew a whimper out of me.