WANTING YOU

Tell No Tales

Astrid's POV

The party was in full swing but I soon felt all alone. The bass of the music caused waves of vibration to rock my chest. I casted my eyes all over the place to locate Keri. She was giggling and flirting with a guy on the football team and I didn't want to interrupt that. I knew she always had a crush on Anshan Nickles. He was tall, dark and handsome.

~

As more words got out about the party, other students arrived and joined in. Soon, it became too crowded for my liking and I decided to step out of the room for a breath of fresh air.

I was lucky to find the door which led to the outdoor pool. I removed my sneakers and dip my feet into the water. I still heard the music but it was much better out here than it was in there.

"Enjoying the night?" his voice came. His voice was always coming from somewhere.

I looked behind me. He stood against a supporting column wearing his usual smirk with folded arms.

"You could say that," I responded. I checked the time on my phone. The night sky held its stars and it was beginning to get late.

"Feels good stepping out of your comfort zone, huh?" he asked another question, each word he took a step closer in my direction.

Then, he was sitting next to me at the edge of the pool, his feet in the water too. My heartbeats suddenly increased after being aware of our close proximity, and the butterflies from the pit of my stomach erupted knowing that he was looking at me.

"It's better out here," he said.

"That's what I told myself," I said back.

"How did you enjoy your first cheer-game, it was a pretty big day for you too?"

"I'm just happy that I didn't fall on my face. Annalise would have had my head had I made her look bad out there."

"Ah.. she can be brutal like that."

"But why though, I mean, it's only cheerleading?"

"It's not 'only cheerleading' for her. The last head cheerleader made a mess. She stole routines, cheerleaders got hurt often during practices... some real Bring It On type of drama. When Annalise was elected, she cleaned it all up and restored their reputation. It was a lot of work, especially on her path, so she's taking pride and she's going to go hard to protect her squad," Trent explained.

"Oh. I wasn't aware of that. That's impressive. You do see her for who she is."

"Yup. She is my girlfriend," he responded. A silence fell between us. I wiggled my feet in the water a bit too much and water accidentally splashed on Trent's feet. He didn't hesitate to splash my feet and legs and before we knew it, we were having a water feet war going on.

~

"What's happening?" a voice cut in. Annalise was looking on, and by the expression displaying on her face, she wasn't pleased by any of it. Trent and I leaped away from each other and stood up from the pool, "Since when are the two of you close friends?" she asked.

"We're not," I answered in defense.

"Oh really, because by the looks of it, it appears that way to where I'm standing!"

"Annalise, let's not get carried away. She and I take some of the same classes so we're only familiar," Trent said. He was standing in front of her and by means to calm her down before she blew out of proportion, he planted a kiss on her lips. Annalise moaned as it deepened and I watched as Trent's hands traveled to her backside, squeezing as it gets there.

I excused myself and made my way back into the party.

"Hey, I've been looking all over for you, even thought you left. Where have you been?" Keri asked once she found me.

"Was getting some fresh air," I answered.

"Okay. Are you good?" she questioned with a giggle afterwards.

"Yes.. but are you?" I asked, studying her face and slurred vocabulary.

"I'm *hiccup*.. *giggle*.. I'm fine. I'm good," she somehow managed to answer.

"Keri, are you drunk?"

"Nooo *hiccup*...no.. I'm not drank.. I mean.. I meant.. I'm not drunk. I drank like three drinks," she said but held up five fingers.

"Oh no. We're leaving. We should leave," I told her.

"Nope! I'm not ready to go home.. *hiccup* yet. I'm not even sleepy. I want dance."

"Dance? Keri, you can barely stand. We're leaving right now. Give me the keys to your car," I spoke up.

Keri reached for the keys but Annalise appeared and snatched it out of her hands.

"You're not leaving until we play The Game," Annalise said and the room erupted in cheers like it was a football game all over again.

"What game?" I asked her.

An unpropitious smile played on Annalise's lips and a dread feeling ran down my spine.

"Follow me," she instructed. Almost everyone followed behind her to the outdoor pool. We gathered around and a large bottle of alcohol displayed on a table nearby.

"Truth or drink," Trisha Storm said the name of the game to the group.

"Each of you would be asked a question. You can tell the truth to answer or you can drink to avoid. Any questions... good, let's begin," Annalise explained and drove right into the game. Her eyes found mine and I gulped.

"First question is to one of my new cheerleaders. Astrid Beltown," Annalise said.

I awaited her question.

"Are you a virgin?" she asked.

All eyes were on me.

"That's nobody's business," I tried to deflect.

"You can drink to skip the question," Trisha said.

"I don't drink," I answered her.

"Then answer the question," Annalise told me.

"I don't want to answer your question. I want to forfeit," I said.

"Trent, please tell her what she has to do to forfeit the game. Perhaps she wouldn't mind because she was enjoying it earlier," Annalise said, looking at Trent then back at me. I looked at him next and he held a sorrowful face.

"You're to jump into the pool to forfeit," he informed.

"Fine. If that's what it takes to get the hell out of here," I said.

"You didn't let him finish," Annalise said and I felt another dread. I knew I shouldn't have come here. I shouldn't have lied to my mother and I should have went straight home after the game.

"What else is there?"

"In your panties and bra," Trent finished.

"What?"

"Oh, you want to get in with your uniform on.. is that how you shower too?" Trisha asked and earned some laughter while I flushed with embarrassment.

"Fine! Yes.. I'm a virgin. There, are you happy that you know that now?" I answered. Laughter erupted and Annalise handed me back the keys to Keri's car.

"Get out of my party," she stated.

"Gladly," I responded. I took Keri's hand and took her to the car with me. Tears welled up and rolled down my face as I put the keys into the ignition. The car started and I prayed to make it to Keri's house in one piece, after all, I only had a learner's permit.

~

Upon arrival to Keri's, as we walked through the door, Keri's parents and my mom were standing there.