“Not interested, so doesn’t matter,” I tell him before glancing in Elizabeth’s direction.
“Well, she definitelyisinterested,” he snickers. “Shit, Ry, you shoul-,” but he’s interrupted by Maria as she runs over, pulling Elizabeth and Hailey behind her.
“I’m so going to get drunk tonight!” Maria shouts.
“That’s not something you want to be announcing to everyone here,” Elizabeth warns her as several boys’ heads turn our way after Maria’s enthusiastic announcement. “Besides, Mar, you’ve never been drunk in your life.”
“Oh, please, chica. You never drink. But tonight’s the night that I am going to let loose. I’ve got you and Mav to back me up and protect me,” she winks at me. “Oh my God!” she screeches, distracted by a couple making out against the abandoned warehouse like they were filming a porno. Maria shields her eyes with her hand. “I really do need to get drunk to get that image out of my head.”
Jayson grabs the beer he recently handed to me and steals it for himself. “Get used to it. Shit like that is normal at these parties,” Jayson informs her.
Since it’s Maria’s first bonfire party, I give her a couple of important tips. “Ok, Goose. There are two rules to remember.”
“What, like don’t talk about fight club, or what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas?”
“Close, but good try.” I hold up my index finger, “Rule #1: Don’t accept a drink from anyone,” then lift my middle finger, “and Rule #2: Just say no to drugs.”
Maria snorts and pulls the fingers I'm holding up to her head and gives me a mock salute using them. “Yes, sir!”
Elizabeth has been watching our exchange, a scowl on her face, and opens her mouth to say something, but Maria once again interrupts by squealing loudly. Jesus, this girl is loud.
Someone has brought Bluetooth speakers and hooks up their phone to blast out music. “Hell yeah! Let’s dance!” She and Hailey run off and begin dancing around the bonfire.
Jayson kisses the side of Elizabeth’s cheek and tells her to join the girls. “Nah, I’m good here,” she replies, taking a sip of her water.
“Lizzie! Get your ass over here!” Maria shouts, jumping up and down rocking out to the music.
“Baby, go have some fun. Besides, I want to see your sexy ass wiggle.” He gives Elizabeth a nudge. We both know she’s dying to get out there. Her hips are already moving to the beat of the music.
A girl passes in front us carrying four beers. Jayson reaches out and snags two causing the girl to yelp out “Hey!” before she sees it’s Jayson who was the one who took them, then goes “Oh!” before blushing bright red.
“Hi, Jayson. Hi, Ryder,” the girl says to us. Elizabeth frowns. She’s been doing that a lot tonight.
“Thanks,” he winks at the girl and turns back around completely ignoring her. We hear ahumphas she stomps off.
“Lizzie! Come on!” Maria and Hailey both shout out.
“Elizabeth, seriously. Go dance,” I tell her.
“Are you sure?” she asks me, looking warily between me and Jayson as Jayson pops the top off one of the bottles he stole.
“Elizabeth, get over here!” Hailey calls out.
I can see Elizabeth hesitate, not sure on what she should do. I feel bad for her knowing she’s more than likely going to be nursing Jayson’s drunk ass later at the rate he’s going.
“Go, Elizabeth. I got him,” I assure her.
She links her pinky with mine and squeezes before leaving to join the girls.
I turn to Jayson after she’s out of earshot. “You need to slow down,” I motion to the bottle in his hand.
“Whatever, man. I don’t need a babysitter,” he slurs slightly, somewhat buzzed and heading toward tipsy fast.
He’s starting to piss me off with his surly mood, so I shrug and ignore him and watch Elizabeth dance around the bonfire, her braid bouncing, eyes closed, head tilted to the side, mouth slightly parted. Maria backs up to Elizabeth so their asses are touching. Both girls giggle as their bodies slither up and down, hands raised, slightly bent, fingertips reaching for the night sky. Something stirs inside of me when I hear Elizabeth’s voice belt out the lyrics to the song she’s dancing to. God, I love her voice.
“She’s so fucking sexy,” Jayson groans. I couldn’t agree with Jayson more. “You should hit up Maria.”
For the second time tonight I reply, “Not interested.”
