Cheap Shot by Brittney Mulliner
Haley
Sadie checkedwith each of us as we weaved our way into the front room. “No splitting off without telling one of us first, okay?”
Krystal took my hand and put her other on Ella’s back as we formed a train to cut through the crowd and in the hallway.
There were people crammed together in every room, and I could feel my anxiety rising. This was bigger than the football party and the first party we went to together combined. At least at those, there was space to breathe.
“Let’s get drinks and dance!” Cassie led us into the kitchen where a keg was set up next to a wide selection of bottles on the counter.
I grabbed a cup and slipped over to the sink to fill it with water, grateful for Linc’s tip to keep something in my hands. By the time I wiggled my way back to the girls, they each had a cup in their hands, and we went to the attached room where music played from speakers mounted on the ceiling.
It was probably a living room, but there was no furniture left. It seemed like a lot of effort to move everything out for a party, but from what I’d heard, this house took partying very seriously.
We formed a tight circle and moved our hips and shoulders to the beat, the most movement possible in the confined space. After one or two songs, I started to relax.
This wasn’t so bad. Dancing with my friends was exactly what I needed after another long week of classes.
Cassie bumped her hips into mine and winked before doing a move only someone as confident as her could pull off. I whistled, and Ella cheered. We were pulling the attention of those around us, and within moments, a group of guys surrounded us. I locked eyes with Sadie, silently asking if this was okay, and she smiled and nodded along to the music in response.
We were fine. This wasn’t a bad thing. The guys mirrored our minimal dancing. One spun Cassie around, and she giggled before falling against his chest. He held her up, and I could practically see her swoon.
A hand touched my shoulder, and I turned enough to see who it belonged to. He had thick blond hair cut short and parted on the side and was wearing a white blazer and neon button-up, looking very eighties.
I smiled and pointed at his outfit. “I like it.”
He shot me back a perfect smile. “I like yours. You look like a Charlie’s Angel.”
I nodded. “You got it!”
I was surprised we could hear each other over the music. He held out his hand, and I hesitated for half a second before putting my palm in his. He tugged me a bit closer and put his other hand on my hip.
He leaned in, and I had to keep myself from flinching. “What’s your name?”
“Haley.” Our cheeks were nearly pressed together.
“I’m Jay.”
I pulled back and smiled so he knew I heard. I checked on the others. Cassie was dancing close to the guy that spun her. Sadie and Krystal had moved closer together, clearly not interested in the guys struggling for their attention. Ella had her arms wrapped around a guy’s neck, looking up at him as if he hung the stars and moon.
The song changed to a faster beat, and Jay dropped my hand to put both of his on my hips, tugging me impossibly closer. Our bodies were pressed together, and I didn’t know what to do with my hands. Did I want this?
He was nice, so far. Dancing wasn’t a big deal.
I mirrored Ella and looped my arms over his shoulders, gripping my fingers.
He gazed down at me with an easy smile. He wasn’t leering or creeping me out.
This could be fun. It should be.
I sucked in a breath and smiled back.
This was normal. This was what people did at parties. I was perfectly safe with my friends around me.
Nothing was going to happen.
His hands roamed up and down my sides, stopping at my lower back.
A sudden wave of nausea hit me, and I pulled back. His brows furrowed, and he said something, but my brain couldn’t understand.
Everyone was too close. It was too loud. Too hot. I needed to get out.
“You okay?” Ella whispered in my ear. Her eyes showed her concern, but she kept a smile in place.
I stared back at her, and she somehow understood.
“We’re going to get some air,” she called over the music.
She pulled me to the back doors and pushed through until we stood out on the back lawn lit with dozens of light strands.
I closed my eyes and took in several deep breaths. I looked around as I relaxed enough to take in my surroundings. It was much less crowded back here. There were a few small groups, but no one pressing in on me. Once that set in, my body loosened.
“Thanks,” I told her.
She nodded and glanced behind me. Jay and the other guy were watching us. Jay stepped toward me, looking worried. “Are you okay? I didn’t realize you needed a break.”
I waved him off. “Yeah, just got a little too hot in there.”
The other guy huffed out a laugh. “Tell me about it. I swear there has to be a hundred people in that room alone.”
“This is better anyway,” Jay said. “It’s easier to talk.”
I nodded, though I still focused on calming down. I’d been so close to having a panic attack, something I hadn’t experienced in a few weeks. I wasn’t sure how Ella knew I needed to get out, but I’d have to explain later.
“Do you guys live here?” I asked.
They both shook their heads. “No, we live on campus.”
“Us too,” Ella said. “Henry Hall.”
I wanted to nudge her for giving away information unprompted. I wasn’t sure I wanted these strangers to know where we lived. I wasn’t really interested in Jay, and I didn’t want to accidently see him again.
“Oh, we’re in Granger,” Jay said. At least that was on the other side of campus. Little risk of us running into each other getting food.
“What are your majors?” Ella asked.
“Business management,” Jay answered.
“Same,” the other guy said. “What about you?”
“Prelaw.” Ella grinned. She told me she liked telling guys this to see their reactions. If a guy was intimidated or didn’t believe her, she knew to dump him immediately. If he was supportive, he passed the test.
“Really?” He eyed her and I bit my bottom lip, waiting for his next words. “You didn’t strike me as the attorney type.”
“Why not?” she asked, sounding curious rather than challenging.
“You seem nice.” He laughed.
Her lips slowly curved into a smile. “Fair enough.”
I laughed and knew she liked him now.
“And what about you, Haley?” Jay asked.
“I’m undecided.” I didn’t really want to give him any more information about myself. He hadn’t done anything wrong, but I kept my guard up.
“Still taking generals?” He rolled the sleeves of his blazer up his arm.
“Yeah.” I hoped he’d leave it at that and not ask about me being a transfer.
Ella giggled, and I glanced over to see the guy whispering in her ear. Her head fell back, and she laughed while touching his chest. Oh wow. He hadn’t seemed like her type. He and Jay looked pretty similar, in that preppy college boy way. Generic. The opposite of my friend.
They took a step away, and Ella held up a finger. “We’ll be right back.”
“I should head back inside,” I said, turning back to the house.
“You don't have to run off.” Jay caught my hand.
“I want to keep dancing.” Not really, but I didn’t want to be alone with him.
“Why don’t we get some drinks first? That should help you cool down.” We got to the kitchen, and he took a cup from the tall stack on the counter and raised a brow.
“Water, please.”
He shifted toward the sink, and I scanned the room for any familiar faces.
“Here you go,” he offered me the cup before taking a beer from a cooler on the floor.
“Thanks,” I took a sip and realized I was thirstier than I realized. It was a bit sweet. Had he found lemonade too?
“Want more?” He asked.
I nodded and held out the cup and watched him fill it again from the tap.
“Feeling better?” he asked after I finished half of it.
I nodded and looked past him for the girls. I didn’t see them dancing, so I moved forward. Jay stayed with me as we made a circle around the room.
“Did we lose them?”
I shrugged. We agreed to stick together, and I broke that rule. If I didn’t start panicking, then we wouldn’t have split up. I needed to go find Ella.
“They’re probably out front.” He took my hand and led me through the hall.
Hands reached out and grazed me as we pushed through, and I grimaced. I hated this. Too many people. Too much grabbing. I pulled my hand away from Jay and went to the first stair to get a better view. He didn’t stop and continued deeper into the crowd.
I didn’t see Sadie, Krystal, or Cassie.
Where had they gone?
Someone shoved me into the banister, and I gasped. I needed to leave. This was too much. But I couldn’t just leave without telling anyone.
I scanned the room one more time and caught Jay staring at me. I didn’t like that look. Something in the back of my mind told me to get away. I jerked back and hurried up the stairs.
I didn’t have my phone. These pants didn’t have back pockets, and I could barely fit my dorm keycard into the front. It didn’t seem like it would be a problem since Krystal and Sadie had theirs, and we were going to stick together.
That was a mistake.
I shouldn’t have come. I should have left the second I saw how many people were here. I fought my way upstairs and found a line for the bathroom. Two girls were talking together, so I approached them.
“Hey, do either of you have a phone I could borrow?” I kept a small smile on my face, trying to look normal.
One of them nodded and handed over hers. I moved to the end of the hall where she could still see me, but I would hopefully be able to hear better.
I dialed Ethan’s number, but it went straight to voicemail. Was it turned off? The only other number I had memorized was Reid, thanks to Ethan’s encouragement. He said they were usually together so if I couldn’t get ahold of him, Reid was the next best option, and having a backup make me feel better about going out.
I called him next, but it rang several times before going to voice mail. Maybe he didn’t want to pick up if he didn’t know the number. I never answered calls from people I didn’t know.
It was my only hope, though. The panic was creeping up again. Even though I knew I was relatively safe now, my body was still freaking out. Too many touches. Too many people. Too little control.
I called again, and this time I heard him.
“Hello?”
“Reid?” I closed my eyes.
“Hello?”
Could he not hear me? I checked the phone. The call was still connected.
I choked on a sob. I needed him.
“There you are.”
I glanced up. Jay was marching toward me. He stopped so close to me, he was in my space. His chest was practically touching mine. It was too much.
My breathing was coming faster, and Jay smiled.
Something about him was wrong. I couldn’t pin point what, but my gut was screaming at me to get away.
“Leave me alone.” I didn’t want to talk to him anymore.
“Who is this?” Reid asked.
I shoved past Jay then turned and ran into the open bathroom before someone else could step in.
I threw my back against the door and locked it. Someone banged on it, but I ignored them and looked down at the phone.
The call ended.
No. I needed him.
I called him again and waited for his voice.
“Who is this?” he sounded worried.
“Reid, it’s Haley.”
“Haley?” He yelled at someone to turn off a game. “Where are you?”
“Alpha Gamma––”
“Are you okay?”
“No, I can’t find my friends, and there’s this guy.” I rubbed my forehead. I didn’t feel right. A memory was tugging at my brain, but I had to focus.
A door slammed in the background. “I’m on my way. Are you somewhere safe?”
“I’m in a bathroom upstairs, but people are yelling at me to get out because I cut in line, and the girl wants her phone back”
“Don’t worry about them. Just stay where you are.”
I nodded, looking around the small space. It was disgusting, but it was better than being out there with Jay.
“Thank you, Reid.”
“I’m coming.”
Oh no. He was going to tell Ethan, then both of them would yell at me for being stupid.
I was so stupid.
Such an idiot.
I shouldn’t have come.
I leaned against the counter. The room was rocking like I was in a boat on the ocean.
“Reid?”
“Yeah?”
“I don’t feel good.” I closed my eyes, but the gentle rocking continued.
“What do you mean? Did something happen?”
“I don’t know.”
“Are you drunk?”
I shook my head, “No, I only had water.”
He cursed. “Haley, did you ever set it down?”
“No, I was dancing.”
With Jay. His arms were around me. Then my cup was gone. Did I even drink it? I couldn't remember. I watched him get the water in the kitchen. I was inches away. He couldn’t have done anything. Could he?
“I’m on the street. Just hold on. I’m almost there.”
I leaned against the door. The cold felt good against my hot skin.
“Reid.”
“I’m coming.”
I closed my eyes and let the darkness swallow me whole.