Shortly after the heartfelt reunion, we were ushered into the gates by security. I walked next to Barry and Zach, feeling rather short. To me, they all seemed so tall. Eric had gotten Dad's height, and I had gotten Mom's. Sometimes, life was cruel, but being short had its perks.

"So, Ana..." began Zach, and I knew by the playful tone that whatever he was about to say would probably be embarrassing, "do you have a boyfriend yet? Break any hearts recently?" I rolled my eyes at him... Dork.

"No, I don't. Men are nothing but trouble," I commented, winking at Eric. He had glanced back at the question, apparently interested in the answer.

"Come on, darlin'; little spitfire like you and you don't have anyone on the fence?" asked Barry. "You were just in college!"

"College guys are out for one thing, and I am not a toy," I mumbled. Never once had I even considered someone from school. Listing "Parties!" under interests on the school Building Friendships forum was a giant turn-off. Sure, drinking was fun around the right people, but not when those people were begging for more alcohol simply to get into my pants.

"Good girl," I heard Brent mumble to himself, and I couldn't help but smile. Eric nodded his head in agreement.

There had been one guy two years ago that I had brought home, not knowing that the boys had all been hiding in my room to surprise me. Riley and I had made a date nearly two weeks in advance, making sure schedule-wise that he and I could work with it, and he had had a handle of whiskey in his car that we had cracked open. I wasn't even eighteen yet at the time, and trying to impress the older guy, of course, I had gotten far too drunk to say much more than "okay." So, with Riley in tow, we had made our way upstairs to my room as quietly as we could.

March, two years ago

The date had gone well, to say the least, and I was confident that there would be another one scheduled in the future. Riley had been a a gentleman as best as any college student could. He had bought dinner, though I had not had much to eat, and we talked about interests.

I had learned that he was into automotive mechanics, which was fitting. It had been a dream of his to own an old Chevelle within the next five years and he was saving for it. I had told him how I loved music and was learning to be like one of my brother's best friends (Barry, of course.) All in all, dinner had been short. Truthfully, I was ready to get home, as I had not paid much mind to what Riley had been saying. There was something about him that seemed off, but first dates are first dates and I wrote the gut feeling off, something Eric had always told me never to do.

In the car, I sat in the passenger side warming up. Riley had crawled in with a smile on his face before reaching into the back seat and pulling out a paper bag.

"What the..?" I asked him.

"You like whiskey?" he asked me.

"Er, yeah! Of course I do!" God, I was lying through my teeth. I had never had more than a beer, and beer wasn't the best either. I couldn't imagine what hard liquor was going to taste like.

Riley cracked the seal and handed the bottle to me. "First pull's all yours, baby."

I internally cringed at the pet name. I hated being called that by most people. One man in particular, though...

I steeled my resolve, not wanting to wimp out on him. I wanted to impress him, show him I was just as good as any ol' college girl. I took a short drink and had to fight the gag reflex it triggered. God, it tasted like acid... It was awful! So I handed it back to Riley, trying not to get sick, and block the rancid taste from my memory. Riley took two massive gulps, or so I had thought, and handed it back to me. Again, trying to impress, I took a champion's pull and nearly spit it out. And, being that I had never been drunk before, it hit me like a ton of bricks.

Before I could register what was all going on, I was leading Riley up the stairs to my room, stumbling and fumbling up the stairs and even stubbing my big toe hard enough to make it bleed. That... that had been painful, even drunk. We finally reached the landing of the stairs and I swayed to my door. My head spun terribly, and I was giggly and all weird-feeling. I opened the door, Riley right behind me, and fumbled for the light switch. What greeted me, I was not expecting.

"Surprise!" was all I heard as the lights flipped on. I was met by three out of four of my boys, Barry and Eric standing while Brent occupied my bed.

There stood my brother in his basketball shorts and a cutoff, face twisted in confusion. Barry had his hair tied back and he looked rearing to go around. And Brent... Brent, who had been lying on my bed in a tight undershirt and sweats, was off of the bed in a second with a deadly look on his face.

I was a mess, and Riley...

"Holy shit! Shinedown!" he managed to fangirl before Barry pulled me away and Eric and Brent had Riley pinned against the wall.

Barry had never been a fighter. It didn't mean he didn't believe in it. As Eric and Brent...

"Are you okay, darlin'?" Barry asked, but I was staring in shock at Brent, who had Riley pinned against the wall by his neck. Eric was staring him down from what I could see. And I was shaking. I had somewhat sobered up, but my stomach was twisting uncomfortably.

"Who the fuck are you?" asked Eric, his voice scaring me.

"R-Riley," came my terrified date's voice.

"And what are you doing with, Ana, Riley?" he questioned.

"Nothing, I swear!" he defended, his voice cracking.

That was when Brent interjected. "You're right. Nothing. Get. Out."

I had never felt so terrified of one man in my life. Barry guided me to sit down on my bed, trying to talk me through my fear.

"They're not mad at you," he assured, his arm around me. I was still petrified at the thought of Brent and Eric coming for me next with voices raised. "You drunk?"

"I was," I muttered. There was a slam before Riley peeled himself off of the floor and ran out of my house, never to be seen by me again. Now that he was gone, I knew that I was next. I kept my eyes at the ground, hoping to blend in somehow and to be left alone. Not happening...

I saw a pair of knees touch the ground before me, and I knew by the shorts that it was Eric. Barry was rubbing my back and I was fighting the discomfort in my stomach.

"Anastasia, look at me," said Eric in a calm manor. I knew that I was in it deep when he used my full name. I looked at him, a tear rolling down my cheek. I heard Brent on the phone, though I wondered who with at that hour.

"You been drinkin'?" he asked.

"Yeah," I mumbled.

"How much have you had?"

"Dunno. Not much. Just a couple pulls of whiskey..." I closed my eyes.

"He try anything with you?" Eric pressed. Barry tensed next to me and I heard a grunt from Brent. I assumed he was done, though he was the last person I wanted to make any eye contact with at this point. I didn't want to see the shame.

"No... not yet, anyways," I sighed. "Sorry, guys..."

"Shit happens, Ana." Eric scratched his head.

"Happy we were here, though," commented Barry. "This night would've ended much differently if we weren't."

I remained silent. I knew Brent was watching me. I could feel his blue eyes practically piercing my soul. I really hoped they weren't too angry, and couldn't tell if I wanted Brent to say something, or to stay silent. Another tear rolled silently down my cheek. I had not wanted the night to end like this. It was supposed to be a good night, and if I had just been honest and refused to drink... I would be down stairs with my boys.

"Ana, relax; we aren't mad at you," Eric assured. I wasn't convinced. I knew that there would be hell to pay later. I didn't respond. That was, until I felt my stomach shift and my mouth water. Once that happened, I flew off the bed, practically running over a stunned Eric and dove for the toilet. Once I got the lid open, it was all downhill from there. The acid of the whiskey burned my mouth.

It was only a couple seconds later before I felt my hair being tied into a quick ponytail. I lurched again, surprised at how little was left in my stomach after the first bout. Soothing circles were being rubbed on my back as tears streamed down my face. I flushed the toilet after spitting out the remnants of being ill. Surprisingly, I felt considerably better. I filled my mouth with mouthwash before looking in my mirror to see that it had been Brent to the rescue once again. I felt my face flush in shame. Why did he have to see me like this..?

I gargled and rinsed my mouth for over a minute before I spit out the burning, minty fluid. My mouth tasted much better, and I felt better, though the makings of a headache were steadily approaching. The light from the bedroom was too bright, and I cringed.

Brent took the cup I used for water from beside me, filled it full, and handed it to me.

"Water will fight the headache, sweetheart," he whispered. I eagerly chugged it down, though my stomach didn't take well to more fluids for the first few seconds. My stomach cramped and twisted, but soon it was over.

"Thank you," I mumbled, not making eye contact. Brent let it last for another few seconds before he walked close to me and stood between me and the doorway.

"Why did you drink?" he asked. Brent had been sober for some time now, and had dropped weight like a madman because of it. I knew he, of all people, would be disappointed.

I opened my mouth, but Brent interjected with, "The truth, Ana." I sighed.

"I didn't want Riley to think I wasn't... ya know, good enough." There it was.

"Sweety, getting wasted and stumbling inside with a guy you barely know is dangerous," he chastised mildly.

"Yeah, but I..." I trailed off. He was right. I had been a damned fool to think that there wasn't something going on when Riley had handed me the bottle.

"Anastasia, you're not even eighteen yet. You could've been hurt." He lifted my chin to meet his gaze and brought his lips to my forehead, keeping them there for a few seconds before pulling away. "There are billions of guys out there, Ana. And there is only one of you. Don't waste a precious thing for someone not worthy of the honor. You don't need some college guy trying to sleep with you on the first date, then having him run off with the next girl that comes his way. I don't want that for you. Eric doesn't, nobody does. You deserve so much better." He had a kind smile on his face, and I hugged him, resting my head on his chest. "And, between you and me, Eric was about to kill that little dickhead," chuckled Brent. I joined in the laughter, holding on tighter. I did not doubt his words for a second.