"Carol, Tina?" Andie questioned briefly as the two continued to drag her through the crowd of alcohol reeking dancing teens.
"Hey girl! Listen we seen you trying to leave, and we just had to grab you!" Carol said with a suspicious smile.
"Me? But why?" Andie seemed genuinely puzzled by their sudden gesture.
She hadn't spoke to either of the girls since middle school. They had become self absorbed and more preoccupied with boys and booze the older they grew, finally outgrowing their friendship with Andie who didn't share those same interests obviously.
"Listen, we know we haven't talked in ages but you have to stay for the best part of this party. We're about to start the games." Tina said letting go of Andie's arm and tossing her hair out of her face. "You look like a babe tonight Andie, that's why Carol and I decided you had to stay. We know you haven't had a boyfriend in ages. We wanted to play matchmaker." She gave a small wink, as if to suggest that Andie needed more excitement in her life.
"I'll only stay if Robin plays too." Andie says with a small panic in her voice.
Although this was her first party, she knew the games didn't consist of monopoly and candy land.
"Alright, deal." Tina said with a small smirk. "Carol go grab Robin and I'll start setting up the games." Tina directed.
Andie stood quietly backed against a wall, as the world slowly turned by in front of her. A million excuses ran through her brain on how she could escape the situation. Maybe say she needed to get homework done? That her grandmother that lived two hours away was sick, and needed someone to take care of her. Yet everything she thought of, had a loophole somewhere. Without a genuine phone call or someone to back her up claims, she wouldn't be able to leave willingly, without being ridiculed first.
Andie bit her bottom lip wishing she wouldn't have been talked into coming in the first place, just as Robin came strutting through the crowd.
"What the hell? What in the world has possessed you to want to play games?" Robin said with a confused look on her face. "Did you end up drinking something when I wasn't around?"
"What? No. Look Tina and Carol pulled me into this, I was just about to come outside and look for you to get out of here." Andie said pulling Robin to the side and lowering her voice.
Robin finally understood, as she slapped her hand to her forehead.
"I know that look Robin. What's wrong?" Andie said as her eyebrows furrowed together.
Robin gave a nervous glance at her genuinely innocent friend, and shifted her feet uncomfortably.
"Well, I overhear some guys talking to Carol and Tina about you and how they wished they could get you to talk to them...and we'll I never thought to come tell you. Honestly I didn't know that Tina and Carol would pull out games to appease some drunk asshole boys." Robin said rubbing the back of her neck.
Andie thought back to how Tina and Carol mentioned the word matchmaker, and everything clicked into place.
"Robin, we have to get out of here now." Andie said as she looped her arm through Robins and started towards the door.
"Alright girls and guys, I know everyone is having fun, but if you wanna have some real fun come join us girls in the pantry for some party games!" Tina's voice boomed as she caught Andie's arm and tugged her to rest by her side.
Andie gave a nervous smile as a crowd of teens eyes were suddenly on her and the other three girls.
"Now Andie, your going first. So no trying to escape now." Tina said with a fake smile and a shake of her index finger.
Dragging her behind, Carol and Tina headed to the pantry as several teen boys followed behind them. Andie could feel the stares and the whistles of cat calls swarming her again as she drug Robin alongside her desperate to not be alone with Carol and Tina.
"Alright boys. Who wants a chance of being locked in a closet for 7 minutes with Ms. Andrea Sullivan, step right up and write your name down and place it in this cup." Tina said loudly as she cupped her hands around her mouth to project the message.
Andie's heart dropped.
"Tina, listen. I've never...I've never even...I can't..." Andie stuttered as she clutched Robins arm in panic.
"Oh Andie, stop being a prude. It's just seven minutes, you won't lose that precious virginity of yours in a closet." Tina winked as she watched countless guys throw their names in a cup she was holding.
Andie felt the tears prick the sides of her eyes, as Robins voice became a small whisper in her ear.
"Andie, it's fine. You don't have to do anything, just talk to them. Remember, your a strong women. Don't let them get in your head, you can do this."
Andie nodded in response as Tina finally cut off the names being thrown into the cup.
"Alright guys, here we go!" Tina gave a small dance and then a quick glance in the direction of Andie as she closed her eyes and fished into the cup, pulling a small piece of paper out.
Andie nails dug into Robins arm, as she held her breath.
"And the lucky guy is...Billy Hargrove." Tina shouted across the crowd of guys.
Andie felt herself becoming faint, she hadn't even seen Billy put his name in the damn cup...
Andie had no time to respond as she was again dragged into a nearby closet. She was getting tired of being pushed around tonight.
The only light being the doorway, as Billy was quickly shoved in behind her. Shouts of guys in the background yelling on how lucky he was, and "Go Hargrove."
"No worries, I'll be back in seven minutes." Tina gave Billy a small wink and then closed the door behind her leaving nothing but darkness.
Andie willed herself not to cry as she stood quietly pressed against a shelf.
Suddenly a small flicker of light caught her attention. She realized it must've been a lighter.
"Easy Kitten. I'm just trying to find the damn light." Billy's voice echoed through the darkness.
Some fumbling and taps could be heard before she could feel his breath in front of her.
A small click was heard, as the small closet lit up.
There was Billy, with the same attire from earlier standing inches from her face, arm reached above his head clinging to a small rope.
"Found it." He smirked as he set his eyes on her. "Much better. This game would've sucked if I couldn't see you. I gotta admit, for a nerd you sure as hell look sexy tonight."
Andie eyes took in his facial features again. His freckles, seemed to be from years in the sun. Those blue eyes and long lashes could make her go weak in her knees, if she would only give in to them. Tearing away from her thoughts she gave a small snicker and backed away further into the closet to give them space.
"I don't know what your expecting, but I'm sure as hell not making out with you." Andie said changing the subject.
"Whoa, I give you a compliment and that's how you respond?" Tsk tsk Billy said as he sucked on his teeth and gave a small laugh. "I never asked you to kiss me, believe me kitten I don't beg any girl to kiss me. They do that willingly."
"Stop calling me kitten, you don't know me." Andie said again, as her attitude and temper began to rise.
"That's exactly why were here." Billy said as he started to light a cigarette.
"Your gonna light that in here, are you crazy? Don't you know...wait. Did you just say that's why we're here? Did you freaking plan this?" Andie said uncrossing her arms and placing them on her hips.
"You know, I like getting you fired up. To answer your question, yes. It's honestly funny how much you can bribe someone with a couple cases of alcohol." Billy said as he moved the now lit cigarette away from his lips.
No wonder she never seen him put his name in the cup. This was all a gimmick to get her alone with him.
Andie gave a small groan, as she ran her hands through her teased hair. Turning to face away from him desperate to pass the time in silence.
"How you fit your ass in those pants by the way, princess?" Billy called from behind her.
She suddenly realized she was not in her normal cloths as she grabbed a jacket from behind her and tied it around her waist in attempt to stop his staring.
Billy chuckled obviously amused by the way she acted around him.
"Listen, I just wanted to know more about you. You won't speak to me willingly so I had to get creative." Billy said as he placed the cigarette to his mouth again.
Andie intrigued finally turned to face him again.
"Okay, since I'm here. You get five questions and I'll answer all of them honestly without hesitation. That way you can finally leave me the hell alone." Andie said as she flipped her hair over her shoulder, exposing a set of deep creased collar bones, making Billy's mouth water to just have taste of her neck and those delicate shoulders.
"Only five?" Billy said as he took the cigarette in between his fingers, smothering it out.
"Take what you get." Andie said, trying to hide her impressed glance, at the action he just performed.
"Why so into science and all that nerd shit?" Billy said ruffling through his pocket for another cigarette.
"I...I don't really know. I guess because it's something I enjoy, it's my safe place. Everything in science has a logical explanation, sometimes you don't get that in reality." Andie said as she shrugged her shoulders.
"Alright. Second question, have you ever had a boyfriend?" Billy said intrigued.
Andie shifted uncomfortably, as she regretted making such a proposition.
"Once, in middle school." Andie said somewhat embarrassed.
Billy raised his eyebrows in surprise, he knew she was quiet and a nerd but he never suspected of how innocent she truly was.
"Bummer for him." Billy scoffed as he pondered on his next question.
"Why haven't you dated anyone else?" Billy said lighting another cigarette.
"You know those are really bad for your health, heard they stunt your growth." Andie said as she waved the smoke away from her face.
Billy raised his hands to his side in offering. "Come check me out princess. No stunt in growth anywhere to be found on this body." He ended with a wink.
Andie rolled her eyes and cleared her throat. "I haven't dated anyone since middle school. All the guys here are pigs, not worth my time."
"So you believe in all that love bullshit, huh? Billy said as he waved his cigarette in the air.
"Yeah I do." Andie said boldly making sure to meet his eyes as she answered.
"Hmft." Billy took a few steps closer. "So you waiting for the perfect guy to sweep you off your feet? Or are you just gonna be and old maid for the rest of your life?" Billy said with a small smile, amused at all the fun he was having toying with her.
"I'm just waiting for the right guy. One that understands me. One that I can give everything to and not regret it. I don't want someone who just uses me." Andie said sharply, before trying to push her way past him. He had used all his questions.
"Whoa, princess. I get one more question." Billy said as he held his arm out to stop her. He rolled the cigarette through his fingers again to put it out, and then used his other arm to pin her against the wall.
Andie didn't fight this time, as his familiar scent swarmed her again.
"I'll allow one more question." Andie said quietly, as her thoughts and body became still and unresponsive, as he pressed even closer. Andie could guess there wasn't more than an inch between them.
Reaching one hand to her face, Billy ran his fingers down the side of her jawline. Causing Andie's breath to hitch and her eyes fly up to meet his.
Never breaking eye contact, Andie watched as words spilled from Billy's mouth. "Andie have you ever even been touched, let alone kissed before?" They were laced with seduction, as his hand found the way down her neck to her collar bone, tracing the outline.
Her voice lowered to a whisper, but she couldn't form words.
Softly he pushed her hair, over her shoulder as he leaned down slowly to her neck, placing a single kiss next to her earlobe.
Her whole body jolted in response, she was unraveling underneath him as she felt his soft lips against her skin.
She felt him smile against her neck as he placed another kiss just a few inches lower.
Her breath was coming in pants now, as she used one of her own hands to steady herself on his arm. Taking note of how muscular it felt underneath the heavy leather jacket.
Another kiss followed, with small smack of his lips. The sound alone, drove Andie to the edge even more.
Finally his lips reached her collar bone, tracing it with his fingers and placing another kiss there as well. Andie bit her lip to stifle any moans that were sure to escape if he continued.
He suddenly stopped and moved back to her face, his hand traveling back to her jawline.
"I'm waiting for your answer, Andie."
"No." Was all she managed to say in between breaths.
His eyes flickered to her lips, and Andie pushed all rational thoughts away, as her body finally pressed against his fully. Her other free hand slipped underneath his jacket, placed on his bare side. Skin to skin.
Her head was spinning, he felt to damn good.
His free hand traveled to her hip, removing the jacket she tied there earlier, setting fire to her core. His breath was close to her lips, and she could feel her eyes fluttering, almost closing as his lips came closer to her own.
But before they connected, the door to the closet flew open and Tina stood in the light.
Andie's thoughts came back to her as she pushed away from Billy, pushing herself past him and Tina. Ignoring their voices behind her, to find Robin and leave.
Her face was flushed and she ignored the comments from everyone in the crowd outside the closet, grabbing Robin they headed towards her mustang parked in the driveway.
