Drugs. Alcohol. Sex. These three are always glorified in the world of teenagers. To us, a good party is impossible without these elements.

Red cups are scattered around the house as well as the front yard, bass echoes throughout the whole main room, and the smell of sweat and hormones almost overpowers the smell of alcohol.

Rodney, the host, is grinding against a chick on the dance floor while downing some kind of alcohol right from the bottle. Unlike me, Rodney drinks to celebrate and not to drown sorrows. The game went so well that the scout from Yale personally congratulated him and told him that the school could really use someone like him.

Since both his mom and step-dad were out for the weekend, he threw this party. Plus, we won the game - another reason for celebration.

I lounge on the wraparound couch with Brett and Bradley. Charlette is sitting with us as well, her legs propped up on Bradley's. Her older brother is nowhere to be found, though; Harry never goes to these kinds of parties, so it doesn't surprise me.

"Come on, Brad," Charlette whines. "Please dance with me."

It's more than obvious that she's drunk. An above-the-influence Charlette is never one for begging.

"Why don't you be a dear and get me a drink instead?" Bradley asks, adding a sickeningly sweet smile afterwards.

Charlette makes a face at him. "Seriously? You're the one who knows so much about mixing drinks."

"Oh, get me one, too!"

She sends me the same glare. "You two are lucky you're cute."

We smile in satisfaction when she starts to walk towards the kitchen.

"So where's Sabrina tonight?" Brett asks.

I sigh and say, "She went home right after the game. She's not a big party girl."

"It's good to know that you still haven't been able to poison her mind after all this time, Griffin." That sarcastic tone can only come from one source.

"Amber, how nice of you to join us." My voice is laced with sarcasm in return.

"Hey, Am!" Bradley waves to her and I glare at him. He sees my distaste, but only shrugs at me, sending me a 'what?' look.

"Hi, Bradley." She sends him a genuine smile. Apparently, she doesn't think that minute of her being around is torture enough and decides to sit down.

"What, no hi for me?" Brett complains. Placing his hand over his heart, he feigns a pained expression.

"You know I can't forget about my favorite Chemistry partner." Her and Brett high-five and I roll my eyes.

I want her to just leave, already. She's ruining my night and she only just got here.

When I can't take it anymore, I get up and leave for the kitchen to see what's taking Charlette so long. All questions are answered when I see her propped on the counter with Carson wedged between her spread legs, feeling up her shirt. His tongue is shoved halfway down her throat, nearly choking her.

I grab a bottle of rum, making sure to ignore the makeout session going on a couple feet away, and empty some of it into a red plastic cup. Then I grab the Coke that sits on the counter and fill the rest up with that.

After taking a sip, I realize it's a little strong, but that's better anyways.

Life's so much easier when I can just forget for a little while. Forget about everything. That's exactly what tonight it all about - letting go and having a good time.

Bradley and Brett are now dancing in a big group with Rodney and a few others. I shake my head. They all look ridiculous staggering all over the place while still trying to dance. Passing Rodney's bottle around, they each taking a swig as they swing to the beat.

I down the rest of my rum and coke, ignoring the burning sensation running down my throat. My feet stumble over each other in an attempt to get to my friends, the effects of the alcohol kicking in.

The bottle is now on Rodney's lips, but once he takes it away, he forces the bottle to mine. Little drops of the liquid spill from the corners of my mouth when he finally pulls it away. My sight turns fuzzier than it was before and I howl over the music. Brett chuckles and pats my back in encouragement.

More friends of ours join the group as we continue to dance. Caroline, Sammie, Madison, and Stacey outnumber the one guy in that group, who is our Kicker, Jameson.

Caroline and Sammie start grinding on each other, making all the guy's gazes wander. Our eyes don't leave them once their lips meet. They've been known for getting really intimate with each other while drunk.

"Stop gawking and dance, you perverts," Sammie yells over to us, then continues to grind her body against her best friend. At least, that's what they call each other.

Stacey grabs a hold of Bradley's hand and he smiles uncomfortably at her, but she doesn't seem to notice. He starts to relax and dance, but it's almost like he isn't really there. It's obvious that he'd rather be somewhere else in the moment, which is surprising since Stacey has supermodel good looks.

"Awe, Austin doesn't have anyone to dance with!" Brett mockingly points out.

"Yes, he does." Madison Jones, my best girl friend since middle school, grabs my hand. When I smile nervously at her, she rolls her eyes. "You don't have to look at me like that. We've been friends, for like, ever. It's just a dance, Aussie. I'm sure Sabrina won't mind."

Sabrina would mind. I know that for certain, but she isn't here and I'd look like an idiot if I'm the only one dancing alone.

A smile stretches on my lips as I pull her to me. She grins at me and flips her red hair as her body moves with mine. Moving my hands up her thighs, I grab onto her waist, pressing her body tighter against mine.

Just when I'm getting into it, I see Amber holding up her phone in my direction. My line of site turns red as I let go of Madison and storm over to the bitch who constantly ruins everything.

"Smile for the camera, Aussie." She mocks Maddie's nickname for me from earlier as she turns the screen towards me, showing me a small portion of the video she had been recording. "Man, Sabrina's not going to like this."

I grab Amber by the arm and drag her to the empty hallways that lead to the bedrooms. Once we are out of sight from everyone, I slam her into the wall, making her wince. "What game are you playing, Reid?"

She looks up at me innocently, but she doesn't keep up the act for long. A satisfied smirk breaks out on her face as she takes pride in how mad she's made me. "I'm not playing a game, Griffin. All I'm doing is proving to Sabrina who you really are."

"We've been down this road before. None of your little stunts to 'save' your friend from me ever work."

"We'll see about that. I wonder what she'll think about her precious Austin after seeing him dry hump another girl." Amber raises her eyebrows at me as she waves her phone in front of her. When I reach to grab it, she moves her hand just out of my reach. "Nuh uh uh."

I can feel my body temperature starting to rise as I glare at her.

"Oh, if looks could kill," she mocks.

A low growl escapes me when I hit my fist against the wall, not even an inch away from Amber's head. Her body immediately tenses as her eyes squeeze shut. For the first time, she appears scared of me.

This is good. If she's afraid, maybe she won't risk angering me anymore.

When Amber finally opens her eyes, I say: "This video will not make it to Sabrina's attention. You got me?"

She nods, but when she looks down, I follow her gaze. Realizing she is attempting to text the video to Sabrina, I grab the phone from her and chuck it against the wall. A gasp escapes her, but it serves her right. She is trying to start a fight between Sabrina and me, and I don't want that.

"You asshole!" She raises her hand to strike at me, but I catch her wrist before it hits my cheek.

"Nuh uh uh." I smile at my returned mockery, getting her back for earlier.

"Let go of me," she whines as she tries to pry my hand from her wrist.

Without letting go, I pull out my wallet and take out two crisp one hundred dollar bills with my teeth. Once I put my wallet back in my right back pocket, I put the money in the palm of her trapped hand. "Here. Buy yourself a new one."

After I let her go, I send her a wink before walking back to the party.

Madison is the first to walk up to me when I get back. "What was that about?" She asks curiously.

"Just wrapping up loose ends."