The week had gone far to quickly considering my classes liked to weigh down my days. Heather reminded each day about the party at the end of the week. The banter between her and Cam about the night's events only seemed to grow as the week came closer to an end.

Sitting cross legged on my bed, I watched as my friend threw clothes out of my closet that I would have to clean up tomorrow. This was her territory though. Fashion. Make-up. Really all things you could find in Cosmo or Vogue.

"Can't I just wear jeans and cute top?"

"You will not be making your big debut looking like yourself. No offense, but the grungy tomboy look is out of style. You have such cute clothes and you never wear them." She held up a denim skirt and I knew instantly what she was thinking.

"No way," I shook my head.

"Consider this part of the experience," she threw the skirt at me. Returning to my closet she searched for a top. She held up a black beaded tank and nodded approvingly. "Get dressed so we can do your make-up."

Two hours later and we were finally arriving to the party with Cam in tow. Heather waved to people who called her as we weaved our way through the house. She blew kisses to a few boys who whistled at us. I could feel Cam rolling his eyes as he brought up the rear. We entered the kitchen and Heather waved her hands at the rows of alcohol displayed on the counter.

"Ladies and gents, choose your poison."

"I'm driving," Cam stated grabbing for a bottle of water. Heather looked at me with a mischievous smirk.

"And you my dear?"

"She'll have water, too," Lucas' voice boomed. I spun around and stared at my brother who looked disapprovingly at me. His neck turned red as he looked at me, "What the hell are you wearing?"

"Doesn't she look stunning," Heather answered. I could hear liquid splashing into a cup as she poured a drink.

"Not exactly," he muttered.

"Calm down, Luke," I whispered, trying to appeal to his kinder side, "We aren't going to be here long. Just a few hours. Nothing can happen in a few hours, right?"

"Who you talking to, Luke," Shane slung his arm over my brother's shoulders before squinting at me. "Lainy? You look..."

"Like you're going home, now," Lucas growled.

"Come on, bro. Let the girl have some fun," Shane shook my brother before letting him go and grabbing my hand. "What do you say to a dance?"

"I'm terrible at dancing," I shied away at the idea.

"I remember," Shane nudged my brother out of the way as he tugged me back to where people had formed a dance floor. Parting like the Red Sea, onlookers watched as the quarterback dragged me to the center of the mob. Girls shot me dirty looks, while boys leered at me. I mirrored his motions before I felt like a complete idiot and laughed. He chuckled and grabbed my hands in his, using them guide me.

A finger tapped my shoulder and I found Cam smiling down at me. He held a red plastic cup to me which I took with little concern and took a swig. The burn scorching my throat passed as quickly as it appeared. I shot a look to Heather who held up her own glass. A guy was whispering in her ear causing her to giggle and turned her attention back to him.

I had lost track of the songs we danced to, and the number of drinks Cam and Heather has snuck me. Fanning my face with my hand got Cam's attention. He gestures toward the kitchen and I nodded. My legs felt like jell-o and I had no doubt I resembled a baby deer taking its first steps. My friend laughed at me making, a joke that I ignored as the stuff fall breeze slammed into me.

Grabbing hold to the railing, I leaned forward and closed my eyes. That was a mistake. The room I couldn't see anymore was spinning twice as fast and my thoughts were muffled. Cam rested a hand on my back and said something before he disappeared. I groaned as I rested my hand on my crosses arms gangling over the rail.

"Laine," Cam nudged my shoulder as he stepped in place beside me. "You should drink this."

"No more," I muttered as my stomach churned.

"I promise it's only water." I peeked at him from the corner of my eye. Positioned between us on the railing was an unopened bottle of water.

"Lucas," I asked fearing my brother's wrath as I open the bottle.

"Haven't seen him for a while, but his minions have been watching."

"Shit," I slurred as I stood straighter. The quick movement sent a ripple of throbs across my brain. I curse again as my hand shoots up to cup my head.

"Maybe we should get out of here," Cam suggested taking the water from me.

"Before Luke sees," I nod cautiously.

"Who knew you would be such a lightweight." I shoved Cam, only for him to grab my shoulders and steady me. He wrapped one of his arms tightly around me as he guided me into the house and in the direction of the front door. We had to dodge a pair playing beer pong, and side step a couple too busy to notice us passing by. Cam's hand remained on my back, even when we were forced to walk single file.

The breeze from the backyard was calmer than the one out front. Cam helped me to sit in the grass as he went to go get the car. He mumbled something about not being able to trust me walking two blocks in my condition. Big baby, I thought as I combed my fingers through the lush grass. A sudden burst of cinnamon caught my attention, then the feet beside me. Tilting my head back, I stared quizzically at the guy beside me.

"Hello there," I smiled lazily as I battled my heavy eyelids.

"What are you doing out here," he asked sitting beside me.

"Waiting for my ride." I watched him as he scanned the street.

"Is it Wonder Woman's jet?"

"No," I snorted while giggles bubbled inside. "Cam went to go get the car."

"How much did you drink?"

"Too much." A wave of disappointment crashed over the giggles. My shoulders slumped as my head fell. "Luke is going to kill me."

"I doubt it. He cares about you too much to kill you." I raised my eyebrow at him and that knee weakening smile curled onto his face. "You should have heard him and Shane going at it."

"He doesn't fight with Shane," I looked away from him.

"He did tonight," Finn took my queue and looked at the street. His arms were resting on his bent knees. "Something about you making a spectacle."

"All I was doing was dancing with friends," I groaned, then my head throbbed. My voice was softer when I asked, "How is that a spectacle?"

"There were too many guys watching you for our comfort."

"Our?"

"Come on, you know we all think of you as our sister. We like to protect family, you included. And some of the guys in there, they aren't the ones you want attention from."

"I wouldn't mind a little attention," I whispered.

"Then find a chess club member and watch sci-fi flicks on the weekends."

"Since when do you get an opinion?"

"Carefully, Lainy. You're sounding too much like an independent girl. That won't go over well with your brother." His arm wrapped around my back and he lazily hugged me. It felt strange to have him this close. Everyone else my brother hung around with were always invading my space, but never Finn. He kept a safe distance outside of the circle. My thoughts were fogged as the alcohol swirled through me. Sleep was calling to me and I couldn't stop myself as I rested my head on his shoulder.

"Independence sounds nice," I muttered as I closed my eyes.

**~~**

Covered in the cloths that Heather had removed from my closet, I sat up slowly in my bed. I have no idea when I got home, or how I got to my room. Images from last night rushed through my head causing it to ache. Easing myself out of bed, I changed out of the clothes from last night and pulled on a pair of cotton shorts, a tank top then a hoodie. The nausea that was rolling around in my stomach had faded away when I passed out, but the rest of me was sore.

Taking a breath, I left the sanctuary of my room and ventured down the hall to the kitchen. There were voices getting louder the closer I got. My hand was midway through my hair when I froze in the entrance of the kitchen. My brother and his friends were huddled around the breakfast bar. I groaned as Joseph saw me. The wide smile growing on his face spelt trouble and I wasn't in the mood.

Lucas looked at me and grabbed one of my favorite mugs from the cabinet. Shane patted his lap, offering me a seat. I shook my head and gestured with my thumb for him to vacate it completely. He let a low chuckle as he slipped off the stool. I jumped up and grabbed the mug Lucas was pushing toward me. He had also shoved to white pills in my direction.

"How are you guys awake right now," I grumbled before throwing back the pills and chasing them with a big gulp of black coffee.

"We never went to sleep," Shane smiled proudly.

"It's the perfect hangover cure," Joseph teased as he ruffled my hair. I swatted his hand away.

"No way," Shane shoved him, "A greasy burger from Dillon's is the perfect cure. Want to come with?"

"She's staying here," Lucas answered for me earning himself a stare from everyone in the room. He leaned against the counter with his arms crossed. "I think you should stay in today and get some sleep."

"I want food," I challenged, "I'm going with."

"The least we can do is feed the girl," Finn added. It was his turn to have all eyes on him, including my wide ones.

"Finn's right," Shane wrapped his arms around my neck from behind. I laughed as he pouted at my brother. "She's too itty-bitty."

"No," Lucas frowned.

"Who wants to drive me to get food," I asked ignoring my brother. Joseph laughed as my brother's annoyance started to show. I tilted my head at him.

"Food then you're coming straight back here."

"Let's go," Shane released me then grabbed my hand and dragged me to the front door.

"She's not going like that!" I had already slipped on my sandals and was out the door by the time my brother made his final threat. Shane got in the driver seat of his Jeep and started it up. The top was off and I pulled myself up into the passenger seat. I stuck my tongue out at Lucas as he came around the side. "Back seat."

"I'm not a dog," I frowned.

"Back seat or you're staying here." With a huff, I climbed over the center council and sat on the bench seat. Finn climbed over the side and sat next to me. Joseph frowned as he eyes the tiny back seat. I grabbed the roll bar and pulled myself up, waving my hand at the now open space. He quickly smiled, climbed up just like Finn had and sat down.

I thought for a second about how this was going to work when the car started moving. Losing my balance, I fell onto Finn's lap. The corner of his mouth turned up as his eyes studied me. His shoulders moved as he bit back a laugh and wrapped his arm around my waist. I smacked his chest, as I relaxed.

"It's not funny," I bit my lip to stop the smile trying to stretch across my face.

"I can't help it. Your face was priceless," he teased. I heard Joseph's booming laugh and shot him a warning look.

"What is with you Lester's. Such angry, scary people," Joseph faked cowering away from me.

"Blaine is scary," Shane called out as the wind ripped through the open Jeep. He threw me a glance over his shoulder. "Look at her, Joe. She's harmless, just like a little kitten. Isn't that right, Lainy."

"Kittens bite." I clicked my teeth together and that only made them break out into another chorus of laughter. The subtle shift of Finn's hand across my hip sent a shiver up my side. I looked down at him to find his head tilted back with his eyes closed. The Jeep jostled as we hit a bump and I rested my hand on his chest to stop myself from crashing into him. Through his shirt, I could feel his heart racing.

Recoiling my hand brought Finn's eyes to me. He looked thankful, but also disappointed. My brother mentioned practice on Monday and the conversation took off. Finn kept his eyes on Shane or Joseph as they talked. Anywhere that wasn't at me. The fluttering that had started in my stomach died off and I focused on the road ahead of us.

We pulled up to the hole-in-a-wall restaurant and climbed out. I was the first out, trying to avoid anymore awkward touching. Lucas smiled at the hostess and held up his hand. We were out in a corner booth and Joseph fragged over a chair to sit at the opening.

"Are you going to come out next weekend, too?" I looked to my brother before looking at Joseph.

"I think one was enough for me," I forced a smile. My brother relaxed against the booth's back. I had given him a hard time this morning and he deserved a break.

"Maybe I should host a party," Shane grinned at the thought. "My folks are going out of town next week, and the house will be empty."

"Remember the last time you threw a party," Lucas shook his head. "People were jumping from the balcony into the pool."

"I'll look all the doors this time."

"And we got stuck on cleanup detail," Finn shuttered.

"We'll hire someone. Joe, can your cousin hook us up again?"

"Shouldn't be a problem," Joseph nodded as he eyed the plates being set on the table. Lucas reached for my fries and I smacked his hand.

"What was that for?"

"Eat your own before you steal mine."

"See she's evil," Joseph held his fingers up in the shape of a cross. I stuck my tongue out at him then took a bite of my burger.