[A few minutes ago]
Sitting on a couch next to Chad, Jonathan looked around carelessly.
It had already been a while since he arrived, but the only thing he did in the meantime was sit there, watching the others while randomly joining in on the nearby conversation.
The thing is, he really had no interest in parties. Dancing wasn't his thing — at least not in front of so many people — or without a good reason. So he was just there, existing.
Feeling like having a drink, he turned to Chad. "I'm gonna grab myself a drink. Do you want one?"
"No, thanks. I'm good." Chad replied, shaking his head before turning his focus back to the conversation he was part of.
Jonathan then stood up from the couch, moving through the crowd of people coming and going in different directions.
With the music reverberating in his skull, he pinched his nose shut as he passed by a group freely smoking weed for everyone to see.
Frowning at the group, he shook his head. "Looks like those sons of bitches want to get everyone high here." Luckily, the house was pretty big and that group was far from where he was sitting, so the smell only hit him when he really passed close by.
Finally reaching where he wanted, a table with jugs full of different colored liquids and bottles and cans inside ice-filled boxes, Jonathan walked up to one filled with red liquid.
He looked at it curiously, knowing full well that liquid wasn't just alcohol, there were definitely a lot of other things mixed in there.
And, as if on cue, a girl came wobbling over, yelling happily, before opening an energy drink and pouring it straight into the punch bowl — all while still dancing.
Jonathan just watched silently as the girl emptied the whole can, then turned to him and winked before leaving, still shouting and dancing.
"Someone's definitely gonna have a heart attack later." Not touching that heart-problem-causing concoction, Jonathan simply grabbed a beer can, popped it open, and took a sip.
He turned, intending to head back where he came from, but right in front of him a familiar female figure with black hair and blue eyes appeared.
"Hey, Jonathan, how are you?" With a smile on her face, Melissa greeted him, holding a beer can in her hand.
With the strong smell of alcohol hitting his face, his expression twitched slightly as he leaned back. "Damn… how much did you drink?"
"Hahaha, not much, just like three of these." The girl chuckled lightly, acting carefree.
He looked at her face but didn't notice anything that showed she was drunk. "Right. Hi and bye." He gave a slight wave before stepping to the side, intending to walk past her.
But, as expected, she blocked his way again.
"Wait, I just want to have a little chat with you. No need to run away that fast."
Exhaling through his nose, Jonathan gave her a tired look. "Look, we both know you're only talking to me now because Elizabeth isn't around. So how about we both stay in our corners, you stop bothering me, and that way I don't call her over? Deal?"
Melissa's expression turned amused when she heard that. "You really think I'm afraid of your sister, don't you?"
"Aren't you?" He raised an eyebrow in response.
"Of course not, I can smash your sister's face whenever I want." Melissa replied confidently.
But Jonathan just gave her a sideways look.
"…If you say so. Anyway, stop bothering me." He took another step aside, trying once again to leave.
Still, Melissa blocked him again. But, unlike before, she ended up grabbing his arm. "Come on, Jonathan, don't be like that. How about we go upstairs to one of the rooms?" She then said, leaning closer and whispering near his ear. "I can make this night unforgettable for you… What do you say?"
Jonathan gave her an impassive look, until a faint smile appeared on his face.
And, just when Melissa grew hopeful, her hope was mercilessly crushed by him.
"Go upstairs for what? For you to show me your incredible ability to last only five seconds? No thanks. Your reputation for being premature is already well known, I don't need to see it myself to know. Now, if you'll excuse me."
Pulling his arm away, he started walking again, but once more she grabbed him.
"Wait! Who spread those rumors about me? Where did you hear that?" Melissa asked, frowning.
Looking at her over his shoulder, Jonathan shrugged lightly, with a faint smile. "I don't know, just heard it around. Now, if you grab me a third time, I'm gonna punch you in the face. So, for the last time, excuse me."
He tried to walk away one last time, his feet carrying him farther.
Melissa stared at his back in silence, frowning, until her face suddenly relaxed, a smile returning as she called out. "Jonathan!"
Right when he was about to look at her, he once again felt a third touch on his arm. His other hand, holding the can, clenched instinctively, ready to react and hit her with the can in his fist, but unlike before, she grabbed his hand and moved it.
Turning fully, Jonathan froze, his hand stopping midway. He stared, unreactive, as Melissa forced his hand to touch her breast.
'…What the hell is this? Reverse harassment?' Jonathan questioned internally, surprised.
Melissa smiled confidently. "So, what do you think? Still sure you don't want to come with me?" Her gaze then dropped slightly, aimed at his crotch.
Seeing her look, Jonathan reacted quickly, pulling his hand away. It was brief, but during that short moment it was enough to cause a reaction.
And she definitely saw the bulge growing under his shorts at his hip.
He shoved his closed fist into his pocket, casting her a suspicious look.
Seeing she didn't try anything else, Jonathan simply walked away, still throwing one last suspicious glance.
Melissa kept smiling, chuckling to herself. "I knew it…" she said as if she had just confirmed something to herself.
With Jonathan heading back to where the others were, he sat down on the couch again, Chad turning to ask with a curious look. "What happened? I saw you and Melissa talking, did she do something?"
"It was nothing, just her bothering me again." Jonathan replied, taking a sip of his beer.
In that brief interaction, he was sure some people nearby had seen, which didn't bother him at all. He doubted it would turn into big gossip, and if it did… well, he'd just have to explain to Elizabeth and Marianne, nothing more.
And, speaking of her, he looked around for Elizabeth. Not seeing her there and not wanting to search, Jonathan chugged the rest of his beer, set the can on the nearby table, and stood up.
Walking through the noisy crowd, he went looking for her, glancing around and passing through other rooms.
Passing by an open bedroom door, he ended up seeing a group of teens playing with an ouija board. Looking at them strangely, he just kept walking.
He remembered Elizabeth was probably with Brenda and the basketball girls. So, searching for her, he asked a nearby girl where they were. She answered they were outside, near the pool.
He then headed toward them, but right as he passed in front of another room that looked like a kitchen, he stopped when he spotted the girl in question grabbing something from a cupboard.
"Elizabeth." He called out, approaching.
She looked over her shoulder at the sound. "Jonathan." recognizing him, she went back to trying to get a glass from the cupboard.
"Need help?" He asked with a smile, stopping close to her.
"And how are you gonna help me? I'm taller than you." She smiled at him, raising an eyebrow while keeping her arm stretched.
"Oh, it's easy, like this." Jonathan then bent down slightly, grabbed her thighs, and lifted her up.
The girl let out a small startled yelp, but other than throwing him a look, she did nothing else, grabbing the glass she wanted.
Setting her down, he commented. "You're taller than me, but I still had trouble getting that glass."
She gave a slight shrug in response: "Not my fault. That glass was in the back. As you can see, there aren't any others besides this one."
Indeed, looking inside, he saw the cupboard was now basically empty. "So, what are you doing here? Where's Brenda?"
Heading to the nearby fridge, Elizabeth opened it and grabbed a bottle of water. "She's outside, at the pool, with the rest of the basketball team." She replied, pouring water into the glass.
Moving away from her and glancing out the nearby window, Jonathan could see Brenda with other teens, split between guys and girls, chatting cheerfully in one corner of the big pool.
After seeing that, he stepped away from the window, going back to Elizabeth's side.
"And you? Why aren't you with Tyrone?" She asked before taking a sip.
"I was with them, but then I felt like seeing you, and here I am." He leaned on the nearby table, smiling at her.
But she just raised an eyebrow, not reacting much to his words.
Unbothered, Jonathan stared at her silently for a moment, until the girl raised both eyebrows. "What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"It's nothing, I'm just admiring your beauty. By the way, did I already tell you how pretty you look today~?"
She rolled her eyes. "Don't start, Jonathan."
"Don't start what?" He asked back, a sly smile on his lips.
Shaking her head, she decided to just ignore him, finishing her drink.
Jonathan kept watching her, until his eyes shifted slightly to the side behind her, catching a space between the fridge and the cupboard. Seeing it was hidden from both the doorway and the window, his smile grew more meaningful.
Just as she finished drinking, Jonathan pulled her in, grabbing her, making her let out a small surprised exclamation.
"What are you doing?" Holding his shoulder, she asked calmly.
— "What do you think I'm doing? I'm taking us into a dark corner to sneak in some kisses." He replied, wrapping his arms around her waist.
She lifted her head, looking around and realizing it was indeed a "dark corner," noticing how the outside view was somewhat blocked. "Right, this isn't the time or place for that kind of thing, Jonathan. Let me go." She gave him a light pat on the shoulder, looking back at him.
"So that means if we're in a more private place, it wouldn't be a problem for me to do this?" He asked, his gaze turning meaningful.
"You know very well that's not what I meant. Now come on, let me go." Her reply sounded calm, but only she knew how she was starting to get both nervous and aroused by it.
Jonathan's eyes narrowed, locking on hers. "You really think I'm joking?" His hands around her waist moved, one gently holding the back of her neck and the other lightly touching her butt.
Elizabeth could only frown in disguise, seeing that mischievous smile of his and realizing he was serious.
Guided by embarrassment, nerves, slight anger and arousal, she decided to strike back.
Her hands slid down to his waist, gripping firmly and pulling him against her. She grabbed the back of his neck, clutching a handful of hair and yanking his head hard. "You wanna play? Fine by me. But don't forget that I'm the woman here, not you." She said with a faint smile, bringing her face close to his.
With his head tilted back from the pull, Jonathan raised his brows, surprised. But then his smile returned, and he laughed.
"What's so funny?" She asked, narrowing her eyes.
Stopping his laughter, he looked at her with an amused gaze.
"It's nothing, it's just that…" He cut off, but his hands moved quickly, grabbing her legs and lifting her.
Before she could react, her back was pressed against the fridge, Jonathan placing her legs on his shoulders and pinning her arms above her head while grinding his crotch against hers, pushing firmly.
Elizabeth could only stare at him in shock, his smiling face just inches away, feeling his breath.
"You're right, you are the woman. Not me." Jonathan said with an amused smile, bringing his face closer and closer to hers, until their lips were about to touch.
Elizabeth was confused, a mix of emotions leaving her frozen, simply letting her body's desire guide her as her lips parted instinctively.
But, just as they were about to kiss, a shout echoed.
"Party! Woohoo!"
A feminine male voice rang nearby, rushing past the kitchen entrance.
At that, Elizabeth snapped out of her trance, pulling her arms free and lowering her legs, pushing him back.
"We shouldn't be doing this here." She said anxiously, trying to hide it by acting calm. But, realizing the possible meaning of her words, she turned. "Forget what I said. Never do that again." She finished, leaving the kitchen.
Jonathan shook his head slightly with a sigh. "I don't know why you still resist so much." He watched her back as she walked away, still smiling.
With her finally gone, Jonathan let out another sigh, "Cursed be the one who shouted and his whole family." Casting a casual curse on the culprit, he put the bottle back in the fridge and set the glass on the sink.
He then decided to return to where Chad and Tyrone were, planning to stay there until the party ended.
However, just as he was about to enter the living room, passing by a large group of people walking ahead of him, a girl he had noticed from the corner of his eye walked toward him. He thought she'd notice him and move aside.
But she kept walking his way.
In the end, since she didn't move, she ended up bumping into him. Reacting fast, he held her by the waist just as she took a startled step back and lost her balance.
Seeing her face, he recognized her as a chubby curly redhead who shared his Chemistry classes.
And she also recognized him, exclaiming in surprise, stammering. "J-Jonathan?!"
Seeing her surprised and almost frightened look, Jonathan smiled slightly, finding it cute.
"Hello, nice to meet you." He decided to greet her friendly.