Chapter Twenty Three: "Pinky."

"YOU REALLY WANT to go to a pub?" I questioned at eight o'clock for the fifth time. We had watched a movie and ate while I tried finishing up assignments.

Caleb walked ahead in front of us, having no idea where he was going. He grabbed a pole and swung himself around it, nearly getting hit by a car. "Yeah. Why not?"

"You sure you don't want to go to a club mate?" Peter asked behind Sam and I. "I'm definitely all for getting drunk but I figured you would want to get-"

"Laid." Sam finished off, fixing the beanie on his head as the light snow fell down around us.

"I know I was thinking that too right? I could probably get with three-"

"I don't want to hear about your possible adventures." I said, cringing.

Caleb grinned, rolling his eyes. "I could get laid any night but this is the first time I could actually drink, legally. Think about that!"

"You might not want to say that close to a cop car." Peter laughed, pulling Caleb along as he led us in the direction of his favorite pub.

"Why is it called a pub?" I could hear Caleb ask Peter.

"I have no idea. All I know is that it means public house."

"Why couldn't you people just call it a bar like Canadians? Wait some of you do right?" Caleb asked.

"Caleb?" Sam asked.

"Yeah?"

"Shut up."

"Never." Caleb scoffed, waiting a bit to pull Sam away from me. "Why should we ever shut up Sam? We're eighteen. We're still young. We're at the top of the world."

Sam glanced at his friend before looking over at his cousin. "You didn't give him any beer before we left, did you?"

Peter shook his head. "Nope. That's all him."

"You say that like it's a bad thing." Caleb pointed out.

"Here it is." Peter said, opening the door to a small building.

We walked inside and I could smell the alcohol and the sound of people laughing around the place. I kind of figured that Peter went to one of those really crusty looking bars but this-this was way off from what I was talking about.

Caleb sat down at the counter and I took the seat next to him, Peter on my other side. The girl at the counter immediately turned her attention to the three boys I was in between. The girl took her lingering eyes off of Sam once he had put his hands on my shoulders, standing behind me and she focused on Caleb.

"Hi there."

"Hello." Caleb's eyes lit up and I could hear Sam sigh equally with me.

"What can I get you?" She leaned over the counter, her turtleneck crop top rising up even further.

Caleb's eyes flickered down. "You're not going to have ask for ID because according to my health card I have officially turned eighteen today."

"Congratulations birthday boy," The girl grinned at him. "You can anything you want. On the house." 

"Actually..." He used his index finger for her to lean in closer and whispered something in her ear.

"One sec." She winked, walking away.

"What did you say?" Peter asked amused.

Caleb looked over at Sam behind me. "Just wait. Macy, hand me your camera would you?"

I shot him a look and he pouted, batting his eyelashes at me. "Please. I won't break it. I promise."

I sighed, taking the strap off my neck and handing it over to him once the girl came back. She held a shot glass filled with liquid in her hand and pushed it over towards me. I glanced down at the drink before looking up at her then at Caleb. "Um...why do I have this?"

"Because you're going to drink it."

"What? No." I laughed. If Caleb thought I would be doing this, he thought wrong.

"C'mon Macy. I've never ever seen you drink before. Neither has Sam. One shot. Just one."

"No." I told him.

He turned my camera on. "Please Mace."

"No." I said again.

"C'mon Mace," He jutted his lip out and it was then I could hear that accent he always hid come out. "It's my birthday. Please princesa."

I took a deep breath, reaching forward for the small glass. "I can't believe this."

"Holy shit." Sam stood beside Caleb, flickering down to the screen on my camera before glancing at my face.

"Macy, Macy, Macy, Macy." Peter started chanting and Caleb eventually joined him banging on the table. I rolled my eyes when Sam started chanting with them, getting louder and attracting attention. It got even worse when some of the people-mostly guys- started chanting my name as well, banging on the table like maniacs.

It reminded me of high school during soccer.

"Oh my god," I yelled making everyone quiet. "It's just a shot. Calm down."

I looked down at the drink. "Here goes nothing."

I lifted it up to my lips and I almost spit it out, instantly feeling the burn on the way down to my throat I couldn't help but cough loudly once everyone started to laugh and clap for me, Caleb whooping half the time.

I put the glass down, shaking my head. "Never, never again." I managed to rasp out. "What the heck was in that?"

"I'm pretty sure it was a bit of soju bomb." Caleb laughed and Peter joined him laughing loudly at my drinking innocence.

"What is that?" I asked, trying to bring back my voice.

"A shot of soju and beer. If Jon Ming was here, he would tell you that soju literally translates to burning liquor."

"I wish that was water because ugh that burned." I leaned back on Sam who wrapped his arms around my shoulders.

He chuckled. "Honestly I didn't think I had it in you."

"It's this idiot's birthday plus life's all risks right?"

"That was not a risk." Peter laughed again and Caleb joined him, ordering drinks as we made our way to a table.

"Shut up." I swatted Peter in the stomach once he had taken his jacket off.

"So I'm guessing you aren't drinking with us tonight?" Caleb asked me, handing me back my camera.

"Nope. What part of 'never again' will you understand?" I said.

"I'm not either." Sam said beside me and I gave him a questioning look along with Caleb.

"It's okay you know?"

Sam shrugged, just as the girl came over with a tray full of drinks, setting it down on our table. Caleb grabbed one, taking a sip. "Not to be all into peer pressure Sam but I think you'll be good. I mean it's just us. And if you want to have a good time have a good time just don't drink too much like I'm about to."

I watched Sam think to himself, taking his jacket off and placing it behind him on the seat. He hesitantly took a bottle, bringing it to his lips. When he pulled away, he ran a hand through his hair, looking at the bottle before flicking his green eyes towards Peter. "This whiskey?"

"Yeah."

The girl came back and she flashed me a small smile, handing me a glass with a clear liquid. Caleb looked down at it, almost laughing. "You're giving her vodka?"

"No, it's water," She turned to face me. "Figure you'd need it while the rest of them are drinking."

"Thanks." I said to her, returning the smile as she walked back to her place.

Caleb held his glass up. "Although it is my birthday I want to make a toast. Thank you all for coming but a toast to Macy taking a shot. To Macy!"

"To Macy." The boys said and I rolled my eyes, clicking my glass of water with the rest of their bottles.

The rest of the night was pretty funny. Although I didn't get drunk, it was hilarious to see the rest of them drunk. Sam didn't drink as much as Peter and Caleb did but the night consisted of them showing me the different types of alcohol they knew while I tried eating. This place wasn't even that bad, they sold good food as well as the alcohol. 

I was eating a salad when Caleb shoved shots in front of my face. I flinched, pushing them towards him. "Nope."

Caleb laughed."I know but look-" He pointed to one glass. "This is Sierra Tequila Silver. This is Bacadri 151. This is Absinthe."

"No you weirdo this is Absinthe." Peter said in the middle of eating his burger, pointing at another shot.

Sam sighed beside me, moving his arm from around the back of my chair to hover his hand around the one Peter had mentioned. He took it and drank it quickly, shaking his head as he cringed a little before. "This is definitely Absinthe."

Caleb twisted his mouth to the side. "Yeah you're probably right."

Sam scoffed, pointing to the rest of them. "This is John Crow Batty Rum and that is Devil Spring Vodka. Am I right?" he asked Peter.

"You're right. Wow Samuel for a person who hasn't drunk in a very long time you still know."

"Shocking right?" He said just as Caleb brought a couple of people near our table, allowing them to sit and take the shots from us. He made them sit down and it was then I realized what types of drunks my boyfriend and his friends were.

Caleb was overly happy. Like more so than usual. He was chattier than usual too. He told constant stories about things that happened in Italy to the newfound strangers and us, laughing at parts that didn't need much laughing but because he hiccupped when he laughed it made everyone laugh anyway.

Peter was emotional.

"It's just I want to be there for her right? But she's not letting me in anymore." He told Me and Sam a half an hour later as the alcohol really got to him. "We've been together since we were thirteen. Thirteen! I feel like she's going to end it but she keeps assuring me that she still loves me."

He looked up at us and I was surprised to see tears pricking at his eyes. "What if-what if I'm not good enough for her anymore?"

"Talk to her Peter." I told him. "I think it'll be best if you actually talk to her about this."

He sniffed and I patted his hand in comfort. "Thanks Mace. You're a good friend."

"No problem." I told him.

Now Sam. Sam was kind of just himself...just more.

By more I mean more cocky, more confident, more flirty, just more.

I caught him staring at me when were all listening to Caleb's story. "What?"

"Have I told you how beautiful you are?"

"Yes. Many times." I reminded him. 

"I should be telling you every single second of every single day," He leaned closer. "You're beautiful, you're beautiful, you're beautiful-"

I laughed, pushing him back by the chest. "Sam."

"I mean it you know?" He rested his head on my shoulder. "I mean it. I really do. You see every single girl here right now?"

He gestured for me to look around and I did. Half the people in here were girls and I could see many of them eyeing Sam so I stared at him a little skeptical. "What about them?"

"None of them compare to you. None. At all." Sam grinned at me almost childishly and I couldn't help but laugh at his face.

"Thank you."

"Just speaking from my mind." There was a brief moment before he started talking again. "I remember I once told you that my looks could surpass a Greek god." I laughed at the memory and Sam furrowed his eyebrows at me. "You still don't think that's true?"

It probably was.

"Whatever you want to you think."

"I think I do," Sam said matter of factly and nodded slowly, agreeing with himself. "Yeah, yeah, I think I do. You're always putting me down Hazel."

He whined out the last sentence and I prop my elbow on the table, leaning my head against my hand and smiling at him. "You make it so hard not to."

"You make another thing hard but I'm not complaining."

"Oh my God." If the energy tonight was any different I possibly would have cringed but I laughed again, putting a hand over my eyes.

He pulled my hand away. "Damn I really wish I recorded that moment."

"What moment?"

"When you called me hot. It was a sacred moment. A special moment in our lives. I'm going to remember it forever," He sighed with a content smile on face, closing his eyes before opening one. "Wait. Can you call me sexy?"

"No!" I told him, knowing that that moment would have happened.

"Hazel, babe c'mon love, I'm not getting any younger." He whined out and I learned that drunk Sam was needy too.

"I noticed." I told him, reaching over to run a hand through his hair and I couldn't help but stare at him thinking how I managed to fall in love with him and could envision a future with him.

"What are you thinking about?" he whispered, leaning his head on my shoulder, slouching into a comfortable position so he could look at me with those green eyes. "Is it about me? It's about me isn't it?"

He gave me a toothy grin. "Yeah, I was thinking about you."

"Good, I'm always thinking about you," I heard him mumble before he sighed deeply. "This is great."

"What is?"

"This night. My cousin. My best friend. You wearing another one of my sweaters you are probably not going to give back to me-"

"Probably not." I mention still thinking about how he had my sweatpants.

"It's good. It's great. I feel...happy."

"Sam you idiot someone can't make you happy." Peter spoke up, finally off the phone. "Jenna made me happy. Hell she's my girlfriend of course she makes me happy. But even when I wasn't with her I was still happy that time. I'm just happier with her."

Sam squinted at his cousin, waving a hand. "And...?"

"He means that Macy doesn't make you happy. She only enhances your happiness." Caleb said before turning back to the large amount of strangers that surrounded him, edging him on to talk.

"Okay," Peter leaned his head back. "I need one more drink and then we can leave before I think I might drop before I make it to the penthouse. My poor liver."

"I'll get them." I rolled my eyes, getting out of my chair. Sam reached out for my hand but I only laughed. "I'll be right back." But he reached for me again, pulling me down to give me a loud kiss on the cheek making my face flame as I went to the counter.

Sitting down at the bar, I let the girl know that they wanted more when I felt someone sit beside me. "You're Macy right?"

I turned to face him, completely confused. This guy looked familiar, tanned skin, dark hair but the accent let me know that he was from around here. "Um...yeah. Sorry but do I know you?"

He laughed, putting the drink he had been taking a sip from down. "I'm in your Introductory Analytical-"

"Chemistry and Lab class. That's why you look so familiar."

He nodded, reaching a hand out. "I'm Matteo."

"Macy but you already know that." He grinned and I noticed how straight his teeth were. "So since you attend HDF, what's your sport?"

"Basketball?"

"Really?"

Matteo hopped off the stool, standing up and it was then I noticed how tall he was. "What are you? 6'5?"

"6'4 but there's other guys on the team that make my height seem like nothing," He chuckled and once the trays field was with alcohol was pushed towards me, I stood up and his jaw dropped. "I never noticed how tall you were."

I laughed. "I get that a lot."

"Based on that I'm guessing you play basketball too?"

I shook my head. "I'm more of a soccer player." 

"You here with anyone?"

"Um, yeah. My boyfriend, his cousin and our friend. We're celebrating a birthday."

Matteo's expression turned into a thoughtful one. "Oh I heard you're dating Sam Cahill right?"

"Yeah." I drawled out.

"How's that?"

"What do you mean?"

"He's one of the many offspring of the richest man in Britain- of the world. I just figured dating him would be interesting considering how much interest he's getting from many people. Wasn't he on the cover of that magazine a couple days ago too?"

I sat down on the stool again. "Yeah, he's doing great."

A buzz sounded from Matteo and he took his phone out of his pocket, downing down the rest of his drink. He glanced at the screen before putting it back in his pocket. "I have to go back to dorms. My roommate is driving me absolutely insane. I'll see you tomorrow? In class?"

"Yeah, bye Matteo."

"Bye." He gave me a smile before walking out of the now crowded place. By crowded I mean majority of the people in the room were now around our table laughing like lunatics over what Caleb was currently saying.

I noticed that Peter and Sam were gone and Caleb slid over to me. "They went to the bathroom. Peter was complaining how he would've pissed into a cup if Sam didn't take him." Caleb said, slower than he probably would have.

"Can I say something?" He asked, stealing my fork to stab a piece of the salad, bringing it to my mouth.

"What?"

"But promise you won't tell Macy or Sam." Caleb grinned and I rolled my eyes. He wasn't that gone was he?

"I promise."

"Pinky." He held his pinky up and I locked mine with his.

"Sam and Macy? I kinda like what they have." I stared at Caleb, wondering where his mind was going with this. "I realize that they are not as intimate as some would think they should be but I think it's good."

"Elaborate."

Caleb paused, grabbing his bottle to take a swig from it before he put it down, shifting in his seat weirdly, one foot resting on the edge of the table. "Don't tell Sam I said this but my homeboy kind of thought with everything down there years ago. Now he finally thinks with the head above his shoulders."

I opened my mouth to speak but Caleb pressed a finger to my lips. "Shh, let me talk." He licked his lips, reaching for another bottle but I took it from him so he could continue.

Caleb pouted, staring at the bottle before looking up at my face, his eyes squinty. "Sam needs this. Abstinence. Think about it. He used to go around just sleeping with random girls and the man hasn't gotten laid for so long."

"Is that a problem?" I had to ask, so curious my head was spinning with the atmosphere in the room.

Caleb shook his head very quickly. "No, no, it's like... what's that thing they give you in school?"

"A test?"

"Yeah a test! Like a test. I believe that Sam loves her. Like he's so in love with her. I believe that. Him not having sex with her will be a good thing. They'll build a relationship based on an intimate level more than that. You know what I mean?"

Caleb hiccupped at the end of that question when I nodded. "Caleb I think you drank a little too much."

He laughed, leaning his head on my shoulder, his eyes looking up at the ceiling. "I'm not as...I'm not as think as you drunk I am."   

By the time we were making our way back to the boys' penthouse, Peter and Caleb had an arm thrown around each other, trying to help the other one up while giggling like idiots.

"Why is this so amusing?" I asked Sam watching him take a sip of bottled water. His eyes were a little more focused than they had been a half an hour ago. I think it was because in between drinking alcohol, he had taken water as well to stay hydrated and was making Peter and Caleb do the same they didn't really do much for themselves so I knew they would both get insane hangovers in the morning.

"Because my cousin and best friend are absolute twats."

"I-I heard that!" They both yelled at the same time.

Sam stifled laughter as Caleb tried jumping on Peter's back only for the two of them to end up collapsing on the snow covered sidewalk.

"I think I broke my wrist!" I heard Caleb yell but he was laughing the entire time and I took a picture, walking over the two with Sam in tow.

I found a lamppost and I thought of something. "Stand over there. Peter, Caleb get up and stand over there too would you?"

The two drunk boys did as I asked but Sam held back. "What exactly do you want us to