Letting My Brother's Best Friend Take My V-Card

WINE LAURA

This party was already living up to my worst expectations. The living room was packed with people pressed too close together, music pulsing so loud it drowned out my thoughts. If I could just get a decent buzz, I'd find a quiet spot and let the night pass without incident. I wandered through the house, dodging clusters of people in letterman jackets and cocktail dresses. They leaned against walls, perched on furniture, and sprawled over counters, laughing and shouting over the music. Everywhere I turned, someone was either pouring another drink or taking another shot.

Freddy's house was insane, I had to give him credit for that. His parents had a decorator's taste-or maybe just money. Chandeliers gleamed overhead, and the polished floors

reflected the light in a way that seemed almost too perfect for a party like this.

This party was going to be horrible, but if I get enough alcohol into my system, I can go find an empty room and hide there while Jess and Sam... get it on or something.

I wander through the room, watching pretty girls fawn over well-built jocks, and fight the urge to roll my eyes. This house is insane. I have to give it to Freddy. His parent shave good taste.

I spot a bottle of red wine that everyone seems to ignore

WINE

the kegs

of girls who give my purple dress more than once over, I wipe it off the table and smile at myself.

the stairs. The stairs, I assume, lead to a room upstairs... I don't even want

the corner of my eye, I spot Sam chatting with a few guys, a massive smile plastered on her face. I wish I had her

bottle, firm hands clasp around my waist. "This dress!" Someone laughs behind me, and I feel his hands trail lower. I shimmy out of his hold and turn

I look over my shoulder to see Josh staring at the guy I just bumped into. "You good?" He finally

could see the blue hues from here, and all I could think of was trying to paint that color. "What?"

trans.

my head. "Was just looking for a

12.23

WINE

288 Wouchert

a formal dining hall or something." Josh rubbed the stubble on his chin and looked behind me to the entrance I was about to head into before I got sidetracked. Folding my lips in, I exhaled through my nose. "Thanks." I spun around before he could say anything else. I found the dining hall three doors down. It was dark, but there was enough light that I could make out the table. I found a switch,

different styles: oils, acrylic, realism, and abstraction. A pastel one caught my attention first. It was of a city filled with lights, and I could see the Eiffel Tower-Paris. I leaned back, lifted the bottle to my mouth, and took a swallow before signing. "Paris..." I mumbled, thinking about all the art and