Disclaimer: I've said it before, but here I go again. I own nothing. Enjoy

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Seduction of Summer

Chapter 14: Partay Baby!

"I talked to bluebird, she said 'Why walk when you can fly?'
And she told me baby life tastes better when you're high"

-Cassie Steele, Bluebird

Biggest event of summer my ass. I thought as Ric and I walked towards what looked to be an abandoned warehouse.

So I got all dressed up to impress no one. Typical, just fucking typical.

"Is this where the fire is at?" I asked Ric skeptically, raising an eyebrow and stopping dead in my tracks.

He looked the place up and down slowly before turning to me.

"This is it,' he began. 'Maybe we should just go home. I mean, it can't be that good if it's here, can it?" he finished nervously.

Either he's scared, or he's trying to protect me.

Wanting to protect Ric's already fragile manhood, I decided to go with my second thought.

"Aww its sweet that you want to protect me, oh adopted big brother of mine,' I joked, pulling his cheeks like an old grandma would 'But I'm in desperate need for this Ric. I was watching The Hairy Bird yesterday. You know that only comes out when I need the ultimate cheer up session. So please, please, PLEASE… let's just go and see what all the fuss is about." I finished, pulling my puppy dog eyes out.

He rolled his eyes at me before taking my hand in his. Apparently he was taking this protection thing very seriously. It felt kind of good though, knowing that I would be safe no matter what. Even though it didn't feel like it used to with Luke.

Why did I always have to bring him up?

It was like he was ruining my night without even being there.

But then again, he is always there, in my head. Haunting me or watching over me. At least, that's what I like to believe.

That's what I dreamt, to say the least.

Ric held onto my hand tighter as we walked towards the warehouse, which jolted me out of my thoughts. I could hear some kind of noise coming from the inside, and could only imagine it to be music. It drowned out all noise around us, so I couldn't tell if Ric and I were the only two souls in this place, or whether there were actual other people here too.

There was only one way to find out, I thought to myself as Ric knocked on the door that led into the building.

I shielded my eyes momentarily from the bright lights that escaped the room.

Apparently this was the event of summer.

There was a vapor around the room that was accentuated by the strobe lights that had been hung from the ceiling. Fast paced music blared through the giant speaker that's had been attached to the wall, as I felt it pulsate through my entire body. Everywhere, people were dancing against one another, creating thin layers of sweat that glimmered under the lights.

This was my definition of a party. This was my definition of summer.

Smiling to myself as the old song merged into a new one, I grabbed Ric's hand squeezed myself through the crowd to get to the middle of the dance floor. Turning my back to him and placing his hands on my hips, I began to move to the music, letting everything go…

He smiled behind me, and did the same.

Tonight was ours.

That much I was certain of.

I had followed Maddie and Ric as far as the dirt road that led to a solitary warehouse. Here I stopped, not wanting to follow directly behind be for fear they would see me alone. As soon as I saw them disappear into the building, I sprinted down the road and got to the building, shoving the door open and shut quickly, hoping to hide inconspicuously from them while I simply watched.

Turning around I was shocked by what I saw. It was beyond any backyard party. The constant light changed created effects that seemed entirely out of this world, while the hundreds of bodies crammed up against one another had created a mass of hot, sweaty colour that could never be forgotten.

This was a Rave, through and through.

And it was breathtaking.

Momentarily, I shut my eyes and escaped into a world where music ruled and there was nothing else to worry about.

Then, as the beat changed, I snapped them open and searched for the only two people I cared about. Ric wouldn't do anything with Maddie, but he wouldn't keep watching her if she convinced him she was all right by herself.

And Maddie could be damn convincing when she wanted to be.

Noticing two figures on the dance floor, I strained hard to see if it were Maddie or Ric, but I couldn't tell. They were joined, dancing in close proximity, both looking as if they were enjoying themselves thoroughly.

Sighing, I pulled up at chair at the makeshift bar and kept my eyes on the pair.

For now I would just have to go off my gut instinct that said that was Maddie, and watch and wait for my chance. Waiting would be a problem, when all I really wanted to do was go out there and dance with Maddie, keep her all to myself.

Knowing I could watch over Maddie much better without her knowing I was here, I resigned to stay where I was, and simply watch the spot on the floor where they continued to dance, in sync with one another, lost in another world.

Lying on the couch, my eyes were fixed to the screen of the TV, which was currently showing my favourite movie.

"Tell me something true."

"Something true... I hate peas."

"No, something real, something no one else knows."

"Okay, you're sweet, and sexy, and completely hot for me."

I shut my eyes, imagining a guy would come and sweep me off my feet like that. That we'd fall magically in love and live happily ever after. Of course, the guy in my dreams looked amazingly like Ric, with the same arms, and body… I trailed off happily, until there was a loud knock at the door.

"Drowing your sorrows?" A voice said from behind me.

Sighing, I opened my eyes to find Henry standing above me, rose in hand, smirking down at me.

"If you must know, I'm simply enjoying a quiet evening in." I said properly, hoping he would get the message and leave me to my misery.

No such luck.

"Well, that's great because I'm here to take you out. The message, remember? So chop chop, go and get ready." He said happily.

Groaning, I began to protest but was shushed by him, before he came around and literally picked me up from my laying position. Yelping, I begged him to put me down, before grumbling about forcing me out as I walked up the stairs and into my room.

Throwing on a pair of jeans and black shirt quickly, I re-emerged downstairs, twirling quickly before smiling at Henry.

"Happy?" I said, with less enthusiasm than my smile.

"Aww Cass, I'm always happy when I'm around you, even when you're cranky like this." He deadpanned before taking my hand and leading me out to the car.

The drive was slow, and it took me a while before I realised that we definitely weren't in Kansas any more. Henry drove down a dirt track and I could only guess our destination to be the large warehouse in the middle of the field.

Pulling up round back, Henry turned to look at me, saying "We're here."

"And what exactly is here, a sheep shearing competition?" I asked sarcastically.

Henry could only roll his eyes before jumping out of the car, leaving me to trail behind. Walking up to a door, Henry knocked loudly before taking my hand in his.

Now it was my turn to roll my eyes, before saying "I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself."

"Alright,' he sighed 'have it your way."

He dropped my hand as the door opened, bringing into full view a room crowded with hundreds of people. Loud music pumped through huge speakers, the beat pulsating through my body.

It was as though I was walking to a dream, a hazy, colourful dream where everyone forgot their past, their future, their cares and worries, and simply were.

It was beautiful, in a word.

Smiling sideways at Henry, this time I took his hand and led him to the dance floor. I remember how good he had been at dancing at the party, and wanted to be part of this group. I too wanted to forget, and simply exist in a state of bliss.

Just for one night.

Feeling Henry wrap his arms around my middle, he pulled me close, my back against his chest, and we began to move to the hypnotic beat.

It was easy to loose track of everything in this place. All senses were disoriented because of the heat, the lights, the noise, and the passions this Rave induced.

A thin layer of sweat had developed over Maddie's body, as it shone against the lights.

Guys around us had their eyes on her. I could feel them watching, waiting to make a move.

Apparently we weren't as convincing as we had thought.

Pulling her closer, I attempted to put a claim to her, to mark her as taken. Hopefully then they would leave her alone in her dream world. They would leave us alone, to forgot.

Closing my eyes, I willed everything to disappear.

But I could not get the images of those men staring at Maddie out of my head. They haunted me. Opening my eyes, I stared in the direction of my strongest feeling, but instead of seeing anyone watching us, I in turn began to watch someone.

Her hair was the same, her body was the same, but she was different. She was in his arms, her eyes closed, lost in time and space. Lost, because that's what happened in places like this.

Her body flowed in time with the music, moved along with his.

Everything about her seemed to be perfect. It was like she had finally found her place.

And suddenly I didn't fit in to her world any more.

Taking a deep breath, I yelled into Maddie's ear that I was going to get a drink, before walking off the floor over to the bar area. I was so wrapped up in my own problems, dealing with my own issues that I didn't see the person in front of me, and almost bowled them over.

Apologising profusely, I looked up and was met by a smiling face, which was trying not to burst into laugher.

"Shut up Luke." I said half-heartedly.

"Sorry man, it was just kind of funny. You looked like you were in another solar system."

"No kidding. Guess who is out on the dance floor with their arms wrapped around one another?" I said bitterly.

The look in Luke's eyes told me he knew whom I was talking about, and had decided to let me deal with the situation on my own terms. But before I did that, I had to ask, somewhat suspiciously

"Why are you here? How did you even know this was happening?"

Sheepishly looking towards the floor, he pointed to a couple of chairs and motioned for us to sit.

I could only assume he was about to tell me everything, which was okay, because right now I needed something that would take my mind off the situation.

So we sat, before he began his tale.

Ric had left me alone on the dance floor, however that had not worried me in the slightest. A few moments before he had left, his whole body had tensed, as if he had seen something that had made him want to hit something, or someone.

This thought had processed itself and gone five seconds after Ric let go of me however, as I was once again lost in the sea of people who were doing exactly what I was, living in the moment.

Suddenly, I felt someone's arms grip my waist and pull me back towards them. Truly past the stage of caring, instead of pushing them off me, I ground my butt into their groin, knowing full well the male behind me would enjoy that feeling.

"Two can play that game." The guy growled roughly behind me before placing one hand on my thigh, the other at the base of my shirt.

Knowing where this was heading, and knowing that things could heat up really fast, I decided to buy myself some time.

"How bout a drink first?" I asked seductively into his ear as my fingertips brushed over the slight bulge in his pants.

"Whatever you want." He replied, slapping me softly on the butt before walking off in the direction of the bar.

Panting slightly, whether it was from having another guys body against mine, his hands feeling me up, or from the constant dancing and heat of the rave I didn't know, but what I did know was that guy wanted me.

Looking at his back making it's way through the crowd, I wondered if I wanted him too.

He was no Lucas, but let's face it, no one was.

He was rather cute. And daring. And not afraid of PDA… not that anyone would notice in this place. So maybe, just maybe, I should go for it. Luke obviously isn't here, so he won't know about it, because I'll be the only soul to see it. Plus, we're separated. And while those magic words I've been dreading haven't come along yet, we're still technically not together.

The guy was walking back towards me, two drinks in hand, and as he smiled at me, I decided to go for it.

You're only young once, after all.

Downing the drink in one fluid motion, he smiled at me broadly before mirroring my action.

"Now we're talking." He said, discarding our glasses and reaching for me, spinning me around and pulling me close to his body. My hands moved back to their previous position, grazing over his bulge in a slightly erotic fashion, while his hands moved up my shirt, feeling against my bra, and under my skirt.

If we'd have been anywhere else, I would've taken this to a bedroom, but everyone else was absorbed in their own words. No one would be watching us.

At least, that's what I thought.

"Shit" Luke said, after I told him what I'd seen.

"Yea, I know. It's as hopeless as your situation." I began saying back to him before I realised he had stopped paying attention and was glaring at the floor.

I followed his gaze and spotted a pair of people who would've been inconspicuous if we weren't for the fact they were practically having sex amongst the sea of people. On closer inspection, my eyes widened when I saw that Maddie was the girl in the guys arms, feeling herself up against him, willingly letting his hands roam up and down her body.

Luke had begun to move, but I quickly stopped them. "Dude,' I warned 'Leave it be, at least for now. It doesn't look like she's protesting, so there's nothing you can do but keep an eye out for her."

He looked at me as if I was crazy for a moment, before sitting back down.

One major crisis avoided, I thought to myself as my eyes scanned the room for Henry and Cassie. Now that I knew Luke wouldn't take his eyes off Maddie, I thought it was okay to let my thoughts be consumed by Cassie and her wellbeing.

Henry is up to no good, that much I know. Now I just need Cassie to see it too. But she can't get hurt… not by him. I won't let that happen, I promised myself, as my eyes found the couple, dancing, to my satisfaction, a lot further apart than Maddie and her new partner.

Now, to take some of my own advice, sit and wait, because if Henry did something to hurt her, I was going to hurt him.

Looking back over, I saw something that made me think I wasn't going to have to wait that long to hurt him either.

Feeling slightly dizzy, I asked Henry if there had been anything in the water he'd just gotten me. Shaking his head, he pulled me closer, bringing out bodies in full contact with one another. I gasped when I felt something hard against my thigh, but when I looked into Henry's eyes, he just smiled, almost evilly back at me.

"I want you Cass.' He yelled in my ear. "I've wanted you since I first got back here. And you want me too, deep down, I know you do." He finished, sliding his hand roughly over my ass and bringing it to the front of my jeans where he began to unbutton them.

Trying to push him off, Henry responded by pulling me closer, and roughly holding onto my arm. Trying desperately not to make a scene, but also free myself from his grasp, I shut my eyes and willed my body to be still.

Henry, thinking he'd won, touched his lips to mine gently, and as I prepared to knee him in the nether regions, I felt something jerk him away and pull him off me.

Opening my eyes, I found Ric standing infront of me, with Henry scowling on the floor.

"Are you okay?" Ric asked quietly over the corner of his shoulder, but I could only nod in response as Henry quickly got off the ground and ran at Ric. But the months of playing around with Luke had heightened Ric's senses and reactions, and as Henry charged at Ric, he was punched quickly in the stomach and nose, and was once again sprawling on the ground again.

When Henry didn't move again, Ric turned to me quickly and took my hand, leading me over to a table where Luke sat, staring intently at a rather open couple on the floor.

Ric yelled something in Luke's ear and Luke responded by nodding and then doing their little handshake thing. Then my own hand was in Ric's as he led me outside, then began walking down the dirt path.

There was so much that I wanted to tell Ric. So much I wanted to say. But nothing would come out right, so I settled for tightening my grip on his hand, before putting it around my waist, and allowing me to be pulled in close, protected by his arms.

We walked on like this, into the hot summer night.

Suddenly, I didn't feel so right any more. The room was spinning, which it hadn't been doing ten minutes ago, and his hand was going further and further up my skirt at an alarming rate. Pushing him off me, I felt to my neck where he had been sucking for the last five minutes.

"No," I said, but what I heard was a long, drawn out "Nooooooo" which was almost baby like. He thought I was kidding, and pulled me closer to him once again. I was going to fight, but suddenly I was so tired, so very tired, that all I could do was rest my back against his chest, and once again allow him to put his hand up my shirt, this time under my bra, as he roughly gabbed at my breasts.

Something was very wrong about this. I haven't ever let Luke do this in public. Luke wouldn't have tried to do this in public, but this guy, he felt wrong. I could smell lots of alcohol and smoke on him, and well as other smells that began to make me feel very sick in the stomach. Trying to push him away again, he held onto me tight as his hand reached my underwear and began stroking the outside.

That didn't feel right. It was supposed to make me feel as though I could explode, instead it made me feel as though I wanted to be sick, as though I was dirty and gross.

It was all-wrong.

One more lame attempt at pushing him away proved to me that nothing was okay any more. But then I felt him being pulled off my, and the room spun even harder. I could hear noise in the background, but there were these pretty lights, that were spinning like I was.

Then, I was put over the shoulder and brought out into the hot summer night. A bottle of water was shoved into my mouth, and I drank it willingly, until I could drink no more, because it all wanted to come up once again.

Running onto the roadside, I felt my hair being pulled out of my face as I threw the entire contents of my stomach up. Retching the final part out, I stood there for a minute, calming my breathing, letting the air cool my face, before everything went black.

Putting Maddie into my bed, I wondered for how much longer she could do this to herself. Or how much longer I could do this to her. It was clear to me that I needed her, as much as she needed me, so why did my pride keep getting in the way. Changing into a pair of boxer shorts, I slid into the bed next to Maddie, as she finally stirred.

Trying to face me, her face still groggy, she smiled at me and put her arms around my neck, pulling me closer and closer, then kissing my lips softly.

Sighing to myself, I knew she wouldn't remember this in the morning, and that technically this was using her. But she kissed me deeper and I gave into everything. I for six days I had gone without her touch, without her kiss, and I needed this. I needed her.

Rolling on top of her, I kissed her passionately, my hands finding her sides, her body, safe and untouched, waiting for me. I knew I wouldn't go that far tonight, but tomorrow when she woke up, I would make this all right. I just hoped she was willing to forgive me for being so stubborn.

Sighing as I turned off the engine infront of her house, I waited for her to come outside.

Everything we'd done had been in vain. Their relationships were indestructible, even when they weren't together. Alcohol hadn't worked; neither had creating a huge amount of tension between them.

Maddie and Ric had kissed for god's sake, and yet, Ric had still managed to be Cassie's knight in shining armour, while Luke had rescued Maddie from what could've been the loss of her virginity, via force.

Coming back to summer bay had been a mistake. Because in the end all I'd gotten from the trip was a bashing, and being so damn hot, that's something I really didn't need.

Beeping the horn once more, I waited for five seconds before a petite brunette appeared at the car and quickly jumped in before turning to kiss me slowly, softly and seductively. As she pulled away I groaned, I had really been getting into that kiss.

"Well?' She asked expectantly, 'How'd it go?"

"Let's just leave it as summer bay is a dead loss, and I'm glad that I'm leaving this hell hole once again." I sighed, sinking back into my seat and closing my eyes.

"That bad huh?' she said, as her hands moved closer to my fly. 'In that case,' her lips almost on my own 'I'll just have to make it up to you, wont I?" she finished right before her lips crashed onto mine.

Kissing her back hungrily, I vowed to myself that I'd only ever return to the bay to ruin my sister and her friends lives. Cassie and Ric had made a mockery of me, while Luke and Maddie had made a mockery of the love of my life.

I swore to myself to make them pay for this. One day they would. Now I could only focus on leaving, going back to where Hilary and I belonged. With real people. And away from here.

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AN: Done and done… Hilary and Henry… anyone guess? I'm sure you did, I didn't exactly hide it. Anyways, two chapters and an epilogue to go. Sighs Summer is coming to an end. Kinda sad isn't it? Read and Review as always!