Chapter One : Freshmen Year

Hello and thank you for taking the time to read my story! The beginning is somewhat boring but I promise it's full of drama and love and all that other teen stuff.

A/N this story is under construction/revision/editing. storyline and chapters may change.

"I don't know about this Dakota." I said as we climbed out of my bedroom window. My feet landed softly on the grass without a sound.

"This is our first high school party. We have to go! It's a must." Dakota chuckled and ruffled my jet black hair. He always talked me into stupid things.

"Okay, but what if my mom checks on us and we're not there." I said, desperately wanting to climb back into the safe haven that was my room.

"It's too late for that. I promise you. This is going to be good." He smirked.

"You better be right." I chuckled and shoved him playfully. We walked down the dark empty street. It had to have been past midnight. I looked around, paranoid that I'd find my mom chasing after us like some homicidal maniac chasing it's next victim.

The party wasn't that far from my house, which was why I was so paranoid. At the same time I felt the tiniest hint of adrenaline from sneaking out. I got it every time Dakota convinced me to do something stupid. It'd always been that way for us. For me.

🏈

I craned my neck as we ascended the brick stairs, staring at the decor inside as we made our way inside. The mansion blared upbeat music, making my ears ring. The house was full of freshman wannabes like myself. Teenagers of all ages were scattered about the room, chit chatting away with beer cans in hand. It was the norm for a small town like mine, a place where everyone grew up together.

"Some spoiled brat must live here." Dakota nudged me. I chuckled nervously, the huge crowd was putting my nerves on edge, add in paranoia and you can imagine how I felt.

"Hey, you're Dakota Moreau right?" A tall burly blonde came staggering up to us amidst the sea of bodies. His breath reeked of alcohol and cigarettes and I gagged at the stench of it.

"Yeah." Dakota grinned smugly, as if it was an honor to be recognized by a senior. I rolled my eyes, slightly annoyed. I could already sense how the night was to go.

"I've seen you at practice. You have a hell of a throw man. You'll definitely make the team this year." He gave Dakota a firm pat on the back with his meat hooks. I questioned whether he was truly a senior or if he was simply an old fella looking for a good time with high school kids.

"I know I will." Dakota grinned. He grinned because he knew he was good at football and he wasn't shy about it. He'd always been good. Dakota and I learned to play before we learned how to walk. Name any sport and he was good at it. But his father insisted on Dakota taking up football.

"Here, have a shot." The blonde handed the two of us a glass full of vodka.

"Thanks, man." Dakota clinked his glass against mine and took it in one go. I hesitantly took a swig of the clear liquid. My throat burned and I wanted to barf it up instantly. It was a wonder to how people were able to keep a straight face while chugging this stuff down.

"First shots as freshmen! This year's already going great." Dakota patted my shoulder. After nearly coughing my lungs out from the smoke cloud blown in my face, I smiled weakly. All I wanted to do was tail it back home but I couldn't leave Dakota here alone. Or perhaps it was just me that was afraid to walk alone. I sighed heavily, watching everyone else have a good time. If my mom knew where I was, she'd bury me ten feet under. She'd always been strict. I was in the same boat as Dakota in that department, grades, football, and nothing else mattered.

"Dakota Moreau! My man!" Another senior walked towards us with two identical girls by his side, bleach blonde hair, tan skin and blue eyes and I couldn't forget the hot pink bikini's they had on.

"You're popular tonight." I forced a chuckled and grabbed another shot. He grinned and nodded at the senior.

"Tammy loves fresh meat." The senior smirked and handed over one of the girls to Dakota as if she was a prize. I shook my head and grabbed a beer, taking in a big mouthful of it. I didn't feel the need to puke that time so maybe I was getting the hang of it.

Within the next ten minutes Dakota and the girl were all over each other, swapping spit. I didn't feel comfortable enough to wander off on my own but at the same time, I didn't want to watch my friend make out right in front of me. I decided to stick to drinking, hoping it'd help. I was on my third beer when the house started to rock, as if I was on a boat.

I stood up and staggered back and forth for a bit before finding my balance. If that's what you would call it. I made my way up the stairs in an attempt to find the bathroom. Senior girls winked and whistled as I walked by but I only smiled. I didn't know anything about girls, older girls much less, and I wanted to keep it that way. It wasn't that I didn't like girls, I just didn't find them as fascinating as the rest of the male population did.

The music turned mumbled as I stood a top the stairs and there wasn't a person in sight. I found one of the many bathrooms and drained my bladder. My head lolled from side to side, realizing just how intoxicated I was. As I washed my hands the thought of Dakota and his new friend crossed my mind, and a heavy feeling settled in the pit of my stomach. I couldn't believe he'd made out with a complete stranger. It wasn't like him. Maybe it was the alcohol.

By the time I got back downstairs Dakota was passed out on the couch and the random chick was now onto her next victim.

"Dakota?" I slurred, slapping his face in an attempt to wake him.

"How much did you have to drink?" I chuckled. I shrugged, giving up as I sat down beside him, trying to regain any sober cell in my body.

"You're Luka right?" A brunette headed girl slurred, clearly more intoxicated than I was as she stood in front of me.

"Yes." I nodded. She sat on my lap, taking me by surprise before sticking her tongue in my mouth. I hesitated for a moment, wondering if it was right. Dakota had his fun, so why couldn't I? I kissed her back, having no idea what I was doing but pretending like I did.

"Let's go." Dakota said, awake from his nap as he shoved the girl off me.

"Hey." She protested as she narrowed her eyes at him in annoyance.

"What the hell, Dakota!?" It was the only sentence I could spit out as I pushed myself off the couch. I attempted to help her help, almost toppling over trying to stand on our own two feet.

"You're drunk let's go." He said but it came out as one long slur that I could barely make out. I shook my head and shoved him. It was unfair to me how he could make out with a random girl and I couldn't.

"Screw you." I staggered out the door, pushing past the sweaty bodies crowding the exit.

"Hey, wait!" Dakota was staggering behind me like an injured puppy. I ignored him and continued walking down the street. I had to get home. I couldn't be there anymore.

"Luka, I'm too-" I turned around to find Dakota hurling on the side of the road, clutching his stomach. I groaned and walked over to him. I knew I'd end up babysitting.

"Come on." I swung his arm over my shoulder and dragged him home with me.

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"When did you get so heavy Kota." I grunted as I shoved him through my window. He landed with a soft thud but nothing too loud to wake my parents. This was my life, taking care of my best friend, while also trying to take care of myself.

I climbed in with as little sound as I could and shut my window, praying my mom wouldn't come barging in like the kool-aid man in those commercials on television. I looked down at Dakota who was still blacked out of his mind. My head was spinning as I did so, or was it the room that was spinning. Regardless I managed to get him safely and soundly on the bed.

I laid down beside him, not bothering to pull out the cot from my closet. As I closed my eyes, the only thing I could feel was the room going around and around as if I was on a ride at the carnival. I pushed the nauseated feeling aside in an attempt to get the sleep that I knew I desperately needed.

"Hey, I love you man." Dakota slurred, waking up beside me.

"I love you too Dakota. It's bed time."

He turned over to face me and all I could smell was the alcohol on his breath each time he spoke, making me feel sick to my stomach.

"No I mean I love you man."

"I know I lo-"

Dakota's lips cut me off mid sentence, taking me by surprise as my eyes widened in shock but at the same time I couldn't bring myself to stop. I ran a hand through his ashy dark hair and grasped his hand in the other.

This wasn't right, I thought. But it also didn't feel wrong.

My sober mind battled with my drunk mind and I didn't know which one to listen to. And I couldn't bring myself to stop. My heart pounded with angst and adrenaline, our lips still locked as his burned my mouth. I couldn't believe I was kissing my him, Dakota Moreau, my best friend since childhood. I had stop. It couldn't continue.

"I can't." I mumbled as my stomach churned with something other than nerves.

"What?"

I got off the bed in a hurry and ran to the bathroom, nearly stumbling to the floor. I could feel a lump creeping up from my stomach and before I knew it, my head was in the toilet. I clutched onto it for dear life. I collapsed on the tiled floor and closed my tear filled eyes.

That wasn't how I thought the night would go.

A/N vote and comment and tell me what you think :)