“This better not get back to my dad.” Eli warned Sinclair, they’d been driving for almost an hour now, and the area was getting more and more packed with buildings, looking like a city rather than a town.
“Trust me, nobody at this party will be saying anything to your dad.”
“Uh huh.” Eli wasn’t convinced about this whole thing. “You never did tell me why the others aren’t here.”
Sinclair shifted uncomfortably behind the wheel. “It’s a bit… rougher than the places they’re used to.”
“Rougher?” Eli repeated, “Why is it rougher? There’s drugs, isn’t there? Sinclair please tell me we’re not on our way to a drug party.”
“It’s not a drug party.” Sinclair pulled into a residential area. “But I’m not going to lie, there will be drugs present.”
“Why do you want to go then?” Eli groaned.
“There’s someone I have my eye on.”
Eli stared at her, waiting for her to continue. She didn’t. “He sounds terrible.”
“I haven’t said anything about him yet.”
“He’s a druggie.”
“His friends are into that kind of thing. And his brother.” Sinclair explained slowly, “But he hasn’t touched any of it. He’s just… there for them. He’ll always have their back.”
Eli shut his eyes and sank even further into the car seat. “This isn’t going to end well.”
“We’ll be fine.” Sinclair insisted. “I just didn’t want to come alone.”
Eli fought down his annoyance. “It would have been stupid to come alone. And dangerous.”
“I know.” Sinclair pulled up next to a house. There was music blaring, and people spilling out of the doorway. Eli could feel the vibration of the bass from the car. He doubted there would be people sleeping at this party.
“How long are we staying?” Eli asked.
“Midnight.”
Eli checked the time. That meant they would only be there for two hours. He could survive two hours.
“So…” Sinclair drummed her fingers on the steering wheel. “I have a plan.”
Eli narrowed his eyes. “A plan?”
“Kal is very protective, and he looks out for his friends. I know that he won’t go for someone who just flirts with him, he needs to be interested. And I figure if he sees me looking out for someone the same way he does for others it’ll make a good impression.”
“I am not drinking, or getting drunk at a party where— "
“You don’t need to be wasted,” Sinclair interrupted, “just look like you are. Plus, we’re only here for two hours so you won’t have enough time to get drunk anyway.”
Eli gnawed on his lip as he stared out the windscreen. If she’d told him all this before they left he would have said no. He thought of the job he’d be starting tomorrow. He needed that. “You owe me.”
“Thank you.” Sinclair gushed, then reached into the back of the car and pulled out a half empty bottle of vodka. “Be drinking this as we go in.”
Eli crinkled his nose. “I’ll pretend to be drunk.”
“You’ll convince nobody if you don’t even have a drink in your hands.” Sinclair lowered her voice as they trotted up the final steps to the house.
Eli cast a glance over the crowd at the door. They showed no interest in either of them, and Sinclair led them inside. Eli tightened his grip on the vodka and followed after her. Sinclair immediately shot him a glance, mouthing the words ‘drink it’. Eli had no idea whether ‘Kal’ was one of the dozens of people in the room or not. He unscrewed the lid and took a swig.
It burned his throat and tasted disgusting.
Eli’s eyes watered as he lowered the bottle. The glossiness would help him look drunk at least.
“Ah.” A tall guy bumped into Sinclair. After she’d moved into his path. “Sorry—” the guy spun around. His eyes went downward and took her in. “You‘re…”
“Sorry about that.” Sinclair said sweetly.
Eli pegged him as Kal. He moved his gaze around the room, looking for somewhere he could blend into the wall. There was enough smoke it would be possible anywhere.
“—my friend.”
Eli turned his attention back to the two of them, to find the guy‘s assessing eyes on him. How do drunk people respond to people staring at them?
“What?”
“Eli!” Sinclair squealed, and either her surprise was genuine or she was just that good an actor. “I’m so sorry, he’s had a bit to drink, and he just gets angry when he’s had a few.”
“It’s fine, love.” Kal reassured her, not giving Eli any more attention.
“Hey.” A girl came through with a tray of shots. “Who wants a drink?”
They were a series of ‘yeahs’ and ‘heres’. She made her way through the room offering a shot to everyone in her path. “Kal, you want one?”
“I’m fine, thanks Laura.”
“Knew you’d say that.” Laura moved her attention to Sinclair. “How about you?”
“Oh, no thanks.” Sinclair declined politely, “I don’t drink.”
Laura raised an eyebrow, “You lost?”
“No, I…” She glanced at Eli.
Eli sighed internally and stepped forwards, taking one of the shots off the tray. They were blue, and he had no idea what they were. “Well, Sinclair, if you’re not up for it I’ll take your one.” He snagged a second one off the tray. He braced himself, then knocked back the two of them.
It wasn’t till after that the taste hit him. He scrunched up his nose. “That’s rotten.”
Sinclair had a ‘worried’ expression, and Kal looked unimpressed. Laura laughed. “It is bad. What’s your name?”
“Eli.” He supplied, catching a signal from Sinclair as he did. Really? “But,” He reached for a third one, “if nobody else is going to drink them—“
“Eli.” Sinclair hovered closer as if she were going to stop him taking it. He wished she would. He didn’t want another one.
“Actually,” Kal took the shot Eli was picking up, “I think I’ll have one after all.” He took down the last shot with an effortless swig.
Eli brought his hand back to himself, unsure how to react. Not with the glare he was getting. Laura stepped between them, deliberate or not, and put two glasses into his hand. “you mind carrying those to the kitchen for me?”
“Sure thing.” Eli answered quickly. He tucked the vodka under his elbow and followed after Laura, leaving Sinclair alone with Kal. He’d give them five minutes before making sure she was okay.
“Wow.” Laura said the moment they were out of earshot, “Getting on Kal’s bad side is a big no—no, nice job.” She elbowed his ribs.
Eli stumbled and recovering his balance was a lot harder than it should have been. “Those went straight to my head.” he said.
Laura chuckled. “Lucky you didn’t have the third.”
“Yeah.” Eli agreed.
They stopped in a kitchen where every surface was lined with trays of dirty glasses, as well as trays of clean ones waiting to be filled. The kitchen island was being used to make new drinks. “This is very… organised.”
“We’re being paid.” Laura explained.
“Straights are done.” The guy by the kitchen counter said. Eli looked at him and did a double take. He could have sworn it was Cameron. He squinted at the guy. He had the same black hair, and the same green eyes. They settled on him. “What?”
“You’ve been recognised.” Laura said with a sing-song voice, “I told you hiding back here wouldn’t help.”
“Your Cameron’s…. younger brother?” Eli asked.
“Yes, so what?” He turned away from Eli and spoke to Laura. “Tell Jack to hurry up with the spirits.”
Eli leaned on the counter opposite Cameron’s sibling. “I haven’t seen you in school before.”
“I don’t go to the same school as him.“
Eli raised an eyebrow at the way he said ‘him’. “You don’t get along? I mean, I can totally see that, he’s controlling, I’m on the fence about thinking he’s just an asshole or whether he’s got some good sides too him as well.”
“I didn’t ask.”
“You two are definitely related.” Eli murmured. The sibling glowered at Eli. Clearly, he didn’t like the connection. “I’m Eli.”
“Again, I didn’t ask.”
“What’s your name?”
“Listen here guy—“
“Eli.”
The siblings jaw clenched. “Eli.” he practically growled, “I’m trying to work, and you’re in the way.”
“I think I’m drunk.” Eli mumbled back. The hand he was leaning his head on felt like it was supporting a ton.
The sibling rubbed his mouth. Eli got the impression he was about to get hit. “If you tell me your name, I’ll leave”
“Evan.” he said shortly, “Now get lost.”
Eli straightened up slowly. Giving his hair a violent shake before leaving down the vodka. He was tipsy. He glanced back at Evan as he left, but only got a glare. Sinclair wasn’t standing in the doorway anymore, but near the fireplace next to Kal.
Eli made his way over and slung his arm over her shoulder. “Did you know that Cameron has a little brother?”
Sinclair turned to him with a ‘concerned’ look. “You’re drunker than I thought.”
“I’m serious, Evan, who is the spit of Cameron is in the back making drinks.” Eli insisted, “He’s hot.”
“Eli,” Sinclair was trying not to laugh, “Are you sure you didn’t just see Cameron?”
“Come on, lets go see him and you can decide whether or not it’s Cameron.” Eli tugged her away from the crowd. Their feet tangled together. Sinclair yelped, but they still fell back. Thankfully there was a couch. Not so thankfully there were people on it. A shot of something cold went down his back.
When the world stopped spinning, he was squishing a girl, one who wasn’t Sinclair, and there was a spilled drink between them. Wide, amber eyes stared up at him in surprise. There was a glossy sheen to her vision. “I’m sorry.” He mumbled.
She giggled.
Someone smacked his side. “Get up.” Sinclair ordered.
“On it.” Eli climbed to his feet. Sinclair took a hold of his wrist and dragged him into the hallway.
He readied himself for an earful, instead Sinclair gave him a thumbs up. “Good job, you’re a better actor than I thought.”
Eli twisted his head back to look at his shirt. He only caught a glimpse of pink on his pale blue shirt. “I’m glad you’re happy.” He muttered, “I’m going to find a towel. Are you coming with or going back?”
Sinclair titled her head, seeming ponder the answer. “I’ll keep my distance for a bit, let’s go sit outside.”
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