"You ready?" Chrissy's melodic voice broke through my dissociative state as I stared out the window towards Annie's house. I nodded, "Lets go get the love of my life back." A flame was flickering deep in my soul, itching to find out what was really going on, did Gareth come between me and Rain with those lies - and if he did - why? What did he want with Rain? I knocked on the huge door, it opened instantly and I could already see large crowds of people all over the place as music pumped through the air. "YOU'RE HERE! I KNEW YOU WOULD COME!" was all I heard before a blonde bullet hit me in the chest, Annie squeezed me. "Uh, hey, yeah thought since everyone else was coming, I should too. Nice place." I mumbled, turning to introduce Chrissy. "We haven't met properly - I'm Chrissy - this is a really nice house!" Chrissy reached out to shake her hand. Annie looked like the main slutty villain out of a corny chick-flick, but Chrissy complemented her outfit anyway. She led us to the kitchen island that was being used as a bar, and started talking about cocktails, but I drowned her out as I scanned the place for Rain or Gareth, but I couldn't see well through the swarms of people constantly moving. Someone came over and led Annie away in conversation, so I turned to Chrissy, "Lets split up and try find them - meet back here in 20 minutes." Chrissy was wearing a long sleeved baby blue blouse and ankle grazing white jeans, her hair plaited behind her head. She nodded, tapping her wristwatch before flitting away into the crowd, then I plunged into the bodies gyrating to the music. Eventually I spotted Steve Harrington, then heard Robin Buckley's unmistakeable cackle, leading me to Rain laughing with their head thrown back and Vicky's arm around them as she laughed too. The sight of Rain stopped me in my tracks though, their denim jacket was slung over one shoulder and the tight PVC red dress with the bullet belt had me breathless. I needed to be near them; the last couple of weeks without them had left me needy and starved, and here they were just a few feet away looking like that...keep it together Munson. As if sensing me watching them, Rain turned and made direct eye contact with me, we stood staring at eachother for what felt like eternity but was probably less than ten seconds before Gareth nudged them and followed their eyes to find me. Whilst looking at Rain my mind had turned blank, nothing but pure lust vibrating through my veins. The second I saw Gareth beside them, too close for my liking, my mind filled with rage. When I headed towards them a barricade in the form of Steve Harrington shot up in front of me. "I'd say its nice to see you, but that would be a lie. Don't bother, Eddie." I snorted and bared my teeth at him in return, trying to shove past him, but Vicky and Nancy appeared outta nowhere, arms crossed, "Keep your distance." Shaking my head in irritation I said "or what?" Nancy glared at me, "Or we'll scream bloody murder and your white shirt will be covered in your own blood." I wouldn't put it past Nancy to signal a dogpile on me, and I didn't want tonight to go that way, so I backed off.

I tried another three times to sneak over to Rain and each time I was forced away like a dog with his tail between his legs. "They're acting like fucking bouncers or something - I literally can't get through to Rain." I hit my fist against the hallway wall I waited in line with Chrissy to pee. "I got pretty close earlier - then Vicky caught me and gave me the stink eye. Sorry Eddie, this isn't exactly going to plan." Whilst waiting for Chrissy outside the bathroom, I watched Rain again. Each time I tried to get close they would look at me as if daring me to come closer, but also fearing being anywhere near me. I also caught them each time they snuck a glimpse at me before necking another drink; they were drinking quite a lot and I had an instinctual feeling it was to try and forget about my presence. The more I watched Rain, the more I saw Gareth flirting with them and putting his hands all over them as they danced. I'd crushed multiple cups without realising, ending up with alcohol pooling over my hand each time I saw him rub against them. I got my answer. Gareth wanted Rain, and though I didn't know why, he definitely caused the rift between us. "CHRISSY?! hey girl, where have you been? omg I have so much gossip for you, c'mere." A girl I vaguely recognised from school grabbed Chrissy's arm as she stepped out of the bathroom, giving me a disapproving sneer when she saw me waiting. Chrissy turned her head and mouthed the word 'sorry' as she was being led away, I lifted a hand and smiled to let her know it was okay. Once again I marched over to try and get through to Rain, once again Steve and Robin held their hands up to stop me. "I really need to talk to Rain, stop acting like dicks, its important!" I was truly pissed off and fed up of being iced out by them, beginning to reach the end of my tether. "Fuck off freak, they don't want you near them, and neither do we" Steve pushed me back, making me bump into the guy behind me. My vision started going blurry with anger as my fists curled at my sides and I leaned in to sucker-punch him and yell, then suddenly Annie was clinging to my elbow and whining, "Eddieeee no scenes at my party please...Or I won't be a happy bunny! C'mon big boy, lets get a drink." I could tell people were watching us, the atmosphere so tense it could be cut with a knife. Rain swallowed visibly, anger in their own eyes as they glared at the back of Steve's head, then their eyes turned to me and deep sadness filled them. I stepped away and let Annie lead me to the bar. "I know the freak of the town and the king of the town are expected to have an intense rivalry that ends in fisticuffs in all the movies, but I'd like this movie to be different, thank you." Annie popped her tongue as she poured us drinks. I necked it back and she looked me up and down, "Nice t-shirt, white suits you actually. Y'know I've always wondered how heavy those jackets are..." she pointed to my denim over leather combo and gave me a flirty smile. "Thanks, and they're not that heavy really." I replied evenly.

"Could I try?" she asked, batting her lashes. I sighed and removed my jackets for her to try, only for a few moments before I held my hand out for them back. Annie took my hand and pulled me into the lounge again, starting to dance so close to me she may as well be trying to climb me. "One dance and you can have them back!" she shouted over the music. With another heavy sigh I shook my head and started throwing out lame and half assed dance moves. Once the song was over and I had my jackets back, Annie leaned into my ear "Y'know what really looks good on you though? A smile. C'mon gimme that big smile!" She stuck her fingers into my cheeks and forced a smile onto my face, giggling and biting her lip. I entertained her presence for a few more moments as I searched the crowd for Rain, but I couldn't see them anywhere. I did see Gareth standing alone though - swaying on his feet. "Gotta go." I said, unknowingly cutting Annie off midsentence, and headed towards him. Before I reached him though I felt a warm tiny hand clasp my wrist. When I looked behind me and saw Chrissy's desperate face, I gripped her hand and headed in the opposite direction of Gareth, towards the staircase. "What's up?" I asked, concerned. Chrissy chewed the inside of her cheek and replied, "Patrick was just asking me a bunch of questions at the bar, trying to flirt and it was really icky... That's not the thing though - Rain was there too - I could sense them listening and watching. None of their friends were with them - go go go!" she pushed me off in the direction of the bar and I caught sight of Rain's purple hair swaying behind them as they carried two drinks away from the bar. If there weren't so many people between us getting in the way, I would've reached them in thee seconds, but I was blocked by people traffic and the music was too loud for Rain to hear me calling out to them. "Eddie! I NEED YOU!" Annie appeared from nowhere, gripping my shoulder and spinning me round. "What is it?" a little more venom in my voice than thee should have been, "Sorry I just need to talk to -" Annie yanked on my shoulder and cut me off. "Doesn't matter, I need help." We reached the foot of the stairs and I shrugged her off me; Annie stood two steps above, looking down at me with an innocent expression. "One of the speakers blew - the music sounds weird now - there's another one in my room but its too heavy for me to carry by myself. You gotta come help me with it." My body grew more agitated with each second that passed where I wasn't with Rain, fixing our relationship. "Can't you get another guy to help - there's plenty here" I called up to her, waving my hands around at all the guys in our vicinity. Annie hopped down, landing right in front of me and she leaned up to my ear "I know, but I don't trust any of them to be in my room and not try anything. Please, Eddie, it will only take a few minutes." She was doing her best puppy eyes at me and I exhaled, giving in and mentally counting the seconds as I climbed the stairs with her. At the top of the stairs I quickly leaned over the banister to find Rain and make a note of their exact spot so I could get to them quickly after carrying the speaker down. What I saw made a fuse inside my head burst. Gareth was pressed against Rain, stretching his neck up to kiss them, his hands roving up and down their spine. Rain didn't back away or hit him or anything, they leaned down into him and reciprocated it.

The air was suddenly too thin for me to breathe, as if I was on the peak of a mountain. Before I could either fly down the stairs and break them apart, or crumble to my knees with despair, Annie looped her fingers through mine and pulled me towards her door. "In here - you don't need to turn the light on - I'll get the lamp" Annie chirped, placing me in the centre of her large bedroom. The place stank of sickly sweet perfume and was decorated with inspirational quote posters hanging in bold coloured frames on each wall. I swung my head around in the dim light, trying to locate this speaker. "Over here!" Annie called out. She was bent over her desk, reaching for a large speaker standing on the opposite side, her skirt was so short I could see everything at this angle. Looking away, I headed to the speaker but Annie shouted, "No, the lead is stuck under the desk leg, help me lift it." So i went over to her instead. "You lift and I'll duck underneath to get it out" she instructed, but I definitely didn't want another showing of her backside, so I cut in already getting on my knees, "I'll go under and get it - you might trap your fingers - break a nail or something." Annie looked up to me with wide eyes and a small smile. With the lead in hand, I backed up, only for Annie's hand to push me down to my knees again. Before I had a chance to wonder what was happening, Annie was straddling me on the carpet with her arms thrown around my neck and her lips attacking me. I fell backwards in shock, one hand shot out to stabilise myself whilst Annie lifted her chest against my face and ground her hips down onto mine. "What the fuck are you -" I grunted, trying to shake her off me, but she clung on like a koala. "C'mon Edward - just kiss me. I know you've wanted to since I arrived in this shitty town. Take your chance now" Annie's slurred voice breathed into my ear, sucking on my ear lobe and making me squirm. "What are you talking about? I haven't - I've never even thought - get off me!" I shouted, anger and frustration bubbling inside me. Annie didn't budge but I didn't want to push her off me and hurt her because then I'd be the bad guy. She continued kissing my face, rubbing against me, and sucked my lip between her teeth. "I mean it Annie - this isn't okay. You're drunk, you need to get off me and we'll go back downstairs and get you some water." I attempted to gently roll her off me, but she pulled me down on top of her, legs around my hips, "you're so kind and thoughtful, its such a surprise, I thought you'd be more commanding and devious."

Scraping myself onto my knees, I managed to create some distance. "Look - I'm not into you - never have been. You like to flirt with pretty much everyone, and there's plenty of guys here you could invite to do this with you, not me." I said assertively. Annie whined and gripped my T-shirt, pulling herself up to me and kissing at my jaw again, "flirting doesn't mean anything though...I want you inside me. I've waited so long..." I exhaled deeply, trying to keep my cool despite the growing urge to scream at her. With her fingernails digging into my neck, Annie whispered, "forget about Rain...she's no doubt fucking Gareth right now any way." My back snapped straight up instantly, all the hairs on my body standing up. Annie fell backwards. "What did you just say?" I quietly asked, dumbfounded. "Gareth and Rain are most likely screwing eachother raw somewhere - you need to let her go and come play with me." Climbing to my feet, I looked down at Annie, my eyes narrowed. How would Annie know about Gareth and Rain? they weren't friends. Why would Annie even think the two of them would be screwing? "What makes you say that?" I asked, cautiously, feeling in my bones that I was onto something. "Because he's been into Rain since high-school and never got the chance to fuck her before." Cogs in my brain were turning - if I didn't know Gareth was into Rain during high school - and I'm his best friend - how the fuck would Annie Leonards know? Events from the last month and a half scattered through my brain like a montage: Annie starting at the studio and being overly friendly all the time; Rain never liking Annie and making such a public display of us together in the studio in front of her before we'd even been on our second date; Gareth asking tonnes of questions about Rain in school and always encouraging me to talk about them; Gareth's odd reaction to Rain and I finally getting together; the way Gareth treated Rain when we were together; how Annie reacted to our break up by immediately cranking up the flirting attempts; when Gareth talked me out of going to find Rain when they ran away...I flew out of Annie's room, hearing her shouting after me and slamming the door behind her. Messed up jigsaw puzzles starting to come together in my mind, but there was still a huge hole in the middle of the picture. I bolted down the stairs to find Rain; they were nowhere to be seen downstairs or in the yard. Biting my teeth, I ran back up to the first floor, kicking open every door I saw, with no luck. Running up the stairs to the second floor, I took a minute to choose which direction to head in first, a bunch more doors all around me. Then I heard screaming.