JENNIE

The dice game resumed as the residual laughter died down with Jackson's departure. I blinked and watched Lisa's empty seat quickly become occupied by a fresh-faced boy who looked entirely too young to be here. Walking around to where I was sitting, merrily sipping away on my fruity drink, Lisa extended her hand out to me.

"Dance with me, beautiful girl?" Lisa cocked an eyebrow after she asked, and I swear I heard someone sigh…or maybe I did. My hazed brain couldn't really tell anymore.

Nodding, I grabbed her hand and let her pull me up. The alcohol already in my system seemed to rush to my head as I changed positions. I'd been feeling pretty buzzed sitting at the table. Suddenly standing, I felt blitzed.

I giggled and stumbled a little as Lisa wrapped her arms around me. Stumbling some herself, she asked, "You all right?"

I laughed and nodded again as she helped me take a few steps away from the loudly cheering table. The poor, fresh-faced boy had rolled the dreaded pair of ones, and was cringing as he stared at the amount left in his plastic cup. I felt instant sympathy for him, since that roll had sort of done me in. Oddly enough, I wanted to give him a big hug and tell him that everything would be fine. I even made a drunken step towards him before Lisa pulled my arm in the other direction.

"This way, sweetheart."

Leaving the youth to his chosen fate, I twisted back to Lisa. Giggling, I tangled my arms around her waist. With stumbling, erratic steps, we both made it to the center of the packed living room. People wished Lisa luck whenever they came upon her, but Lisa's eyes never left mine as she acknowledged them. It was like we were alone in this house swarming with strangers.

As a heavy beat thumped out a seductive rhythm, Lisa's hands slid up my back, then down to my hips. My extra-sensitive body felt every section that she touched. It was nearly like she was dragging a mild electric current over me; a tingling sensation lingered long after her fingers passed. When she put one of her legs between mine, forcing our bodies to straddle the other's, I gasped. The tingle had shifted to a full-on fire.

Our hips moved in time to the beat in such an intimate way that I should have been embarrassed—should have been. One of the wonders of mind-altering substances…pesky little things like inhibitions flew out when alcohol flew in. As Lisa's hands continued to caress my body, her palm even running up the front of my red Pete's shirt, she rested her forehead against mine. More grinding than dancing, we lightly breathed on each other. It was maddening, and the rest of the world fell away.

When her hand blatantly stopped on my breast, her thumb running back and forth over the dangerously sensitive spot, I whimpered. She smiled at hearing it, even over the music. Feeling numb and incredibly turned on, I reached up and buried my fingers in her thick hair, closing the distance between us and pulling her head down to mine.

Whatever Jackson had been complaining about was beyond me—Lisa was fabulous with her tongue. As her lips melded with mine, our light breaths became nearly frantic pants. She squeezed my nipple between her thumb and finger and I groaned…loudly. She hissed in a breath, her other hand sliding inside my pants to rest over my cotton-covered backside.

I wanted her hand on the other side. I wanted all of her body on the other side. Jerking her head down so I could moan in her ear, I whispered, "I want you…now." Well, I think I whispered it.

Lisa pulled her head away and stared at me. The heat in her eyes was glorious. Those I-want-to-have-sex-with-you eyes had a way of turning my insides into molasses, warm and gooey…delicious. Her eyes darted down my body as she adjusted the way our hips lined up. She didn't have to say a word; I could feel the hardening mass in her jeans that was telling me that she wanted me, too…right now.

Licking her lips, she looked up at where we were—surrounded by a bunch of dancing, drunk people in the middle of Lucas's living room. Bringing her eyes back down to mine, she reached up to disentangle my fingers from her hair. Lacing our hands together, she nodded her head towards the hallway.

Leaning into my body, she growled into my ear, "Come with me."

God, I nearly did.

Clutching her hand with both of mine, I bit my lip and eagerly nodded. I had no idea where she intended to take me or even what exactly we were going to do once we got there, but I really didn't care either. I just wanted to be with her, alone with her.

Giggling, I pressed into her back as she worked us through the throngs of people. Most clapped her on the shoulder as she walked by, some of the girls being brave enough to drag their fingers down her arm suggestively. I glared at those girls but Lisa ignored them, focused on her task of getting us alone. As one trio of women blatantly stared at her ass, I nearly yelled, "Stare all you want, I'm the one she's about to screw!"

Thank God Lisa jerked me forward right as I was about to say it. Stumbling a little, I forgot to. Smiling back at me as I readjusted my footing, she laughed as she managed to finally get us into the hallway. Twisting to face me, she brought her free hand around to cup my cheek. Pulling my head into hers, she found my lips again. I groaned as the sweetness of her breath hit me. I normally didn't care for the smell of beer, but Lisa could make anything sexy.

Lisa walked us down the hallway backwards while we made out, occasionally running us into a few partygoers that didn't move aside fast enough. She stopped beside a closed door. I didn't know whose door it was or where it led, and as her tongue flicked along mine, I didn't care, just so long as she opened it soon.

Missing the handle on her first attempt, Lisa had to try again. She finally got the door open on her third try and we hurried inside. She closed it blindly, flicking the light switch on afterwards. As Lisa locked the door, I briefly looked at what room we were in. My light-as-air head hoped it wasn't Jackson's. Luckily it wasn't…it was the bathroom.

Frowning, I looked up at Lisa. "This is a bathroom."

She nodded, her mouth parted as she eyes locked on my lips. "Yeah, I know."

I wanted to object or something, but her mouth came back to mine and the only sound I made was a moan of delight. Wanting her so bad I ached everywhere, I threw my hands back into her hair and pressed my body against her. Our lips were frantic as the passion within us boiled over.

Nearly overcome with desire, I growled, "You always make me feel so good…I'm going to make you feel good, too, Lisa. I want you so much."

She nearly panted as my lips shifted to her neck. Lisa closed her eyes and let her head drop back. "Oh God…I love it when you're like this."

Breathing heavy myself, I peeked up at her. "Like what…drunk?" I started to laugh, but her skin was calling me and instead, I drug the tip of my tongue along her throat.

She hissed in a quick inhale, then swallowed. "No," she breathed. "Confident…like you finally get it."

I pulled back to look at her and she brought her head back down to stare at me. "Get what?" I whispered, licking the edge of her lip as I pressed my aching body into her clearly strained one.

Her eyes fluttered for a second before she refocused on me. "That I'm yours…that you can take me…anywhere, anytime, anyway. That you own every piece of me."

Heat and desire pooled in me. "If I own you, then I want to take you…now…here. I want to make you come," I murmured, surprisingly myself.

As she smiled crookedly, I pushed her against the counter, grinding my hips into her and yanking her head back down to mine. I wanted her so bad that it didn't even bother me anymore that we were in a tiny bathroom, making out in the middle of a raucous party. I moaned in her mouth, panting with need as her tongue brushed mine. Her breath was equally fast as she cupped my bottom, pulling me tighter into her fully ready body.

"God…yes. I need you, Jennie," she breathed into my mouth. "Can you feel how much I need you?" I could only whimper in response, my fingers brushing down her chest to pull feebly at the denim looped around the one button holding her jeans closed.

People knocked and banged on the door, but we ignored them and they eventually walked away, grumbling something my buzzed mind couldn't make out under the loud music streaming in from the living room. Breaths and hearts racing, our mouths attacked each other's. While my numb fingers tried unsuccessfully to unfasten her jeans, her slid up my ribs, sweeping my t-shirt with it. Giving up on the button, since my drunken fingers never could unfasten them, I helped her remove my shirt over my head.

My hands came down to her shirt as the beat boomed on through the door. Within seconds her bare chest was before me and I pressed our stomachs together, relishing the similar heat. Tangling my hand back through her hair, I forced her lips back to mine. Her fingers slid across my necklace, feeling the symbolic representation of her on my skin. Then they slipped into a bra cup, pinching a nipple. I cried out, the sound echoing in the tiny room.

"Uh, Lisa? You in there?"

A voice behind the door broke through our growing moans of passion, but I was far too drunk to care. I ignored the irritated person just as much as Lisa did. Her mouth broke away from mine, sweeping the cup of my bra aside to lock around a nipple, her tongue swirling around the rigid peak. Groaning, I held her head to me and ground my hips into hers, needing to feel that wonderful hardness, that connection full of erotic promises.

"Dude, Lisa, I know you and Jennie are in there…people saw you two head that way. Open the door."

Cursing, Lisa separated from me. I instantly went for her mouth, but she pushed me back a little and unlocked the bathroom door right next to us. Cracking it open, she scowled at the person on the other side of it. "What, Lucas?"

I laid my head on Lisa's chest and stared blankly at Lucas looking at us through the slit in the door. He didn't look happy. "Are you about to have sex in my bathroom?"

Without missing a beat, Lisa responded with, "Yes," and started closing the door. My hazed mind found it funny and I started laughing.

Lucas stopped the door with his hand. "Lis, we only have one bathroom. I don't want people peeing in my kitchen sink."

Sighing in irritation, Lisa opened the door wider and glared at Lucas. Lucas looked down at Lisa's body, then my half naked chest, then snapped his eyes up to Lisa's eyes. Lisa shook her head and shrugged. "Bedroom or bathroom," was all she said.

Lucas scrunched his brow and Lisa repeated herself, raising her eyebrows. "Bedroom or bathroom? You pick, Lucas."

Sighing, Lucas rolled his eyes. "Fine, but make it quick."

Grinning, Lisa slammed the door shut and locked it again. I giggled as my mind swam. On the other side I heard Lucas slurringly yell, "And clean up when you're done, damn it!"

Already ignoring him, Lisa and I resumed attacking each other. My amped-up body responded instantly to everywhere she touched me. I was on fire as her fingers traveled around to unsnap my bra. I moaned, "Yes," quite loudly, as her mouth took me in. Pushing against her, I tried undoing her pants again. She laughed when I still couldn't.

"You never could do drunk undressing," she murmured, loosening the button and shoving her jeans down.

Not answering her, my hand slipped right into her boxers. Grasping the thickness I wanted more than anything, I squeezed the base. She whimpered and pushed me against the wall. My head thudded as I lightly bumped into it. I heard myself murmur, "Yes," again, but it nearly felt like someone else was saying it. Panting in my ear, her fingers worked on removing the rest of my clothes. As I slid my hand up and down the hard length of her, she ripped down my jeans, shoving them harshly off my hips.

Backing away from me, she disengaged my hand from herself so she could slip off my shoes and rip my pants and underwear off my legs. Completely bare before her, and way too drunk and horny to care, I ran my fingers up my own body. Cursing under her breath, she slipped off her own shoes, then the rest of her clothes. Licking my lips at the sight of her, I moaned that I wanted her in me. It echoed around the room and I smiled.

Grinning devilishly at me, her own eyes unfocused, she shook her head. "Not yet."

I frowned as I leaned against the wall, watching her standing before me, but way too far away for what I needed. Then she dropped to her knees in front of me. My slow head couldn't figure out what she was doing, especially when she grabbed my leg and pulled it up over her shoulder. I realized right where her head was now lined up, when she brought her mouth right to my aching core.

Crying out, I smacked my head against the wall again. It felt incredible, and as she sucked, swirled and stroked the most sensitive part of me, I made noises that would have had me burying my head in embarrassment on a confident day.

Just as I was groaning her name, rocking my hips against her, she separated from me. Stumbling back a step, she brought her mouth back up to mine and shoved her tongue inside. I tangled my fingers in her hair, pulling her flush to my body.

It seemed deathly quiet in the house. I couldn't even make out the thump of the music anymore, but I could not have cared less—I needed her so bad. Groaning, I grabbed her throbbing mass and tried leading her to where I needed her. She stubbornly removed my hand…tease. "I want you inside me…now," I begged out, panting.

Pulling me away from the wall, she stumbled back a step. Her finger came down to swipe across my wet flesh and I cried out. "Oh God, please…take me, Lisa."

Muttering, "Yes," to herself, she kissed down my neck, down my collar bone, and down to my breasts again. I swiveled against her hips, desperate for more. I was nearly ready to climax from the anticipation alone.

Walking backwards, she stumbled into something and sat down. she looked around, surprised, then laughed when she realized she was sitting on the closed toilet. she smiled, looking up at me, but I couldn't smile anymore. I had an ache that I needed her to finish satisfying.

Straddling her hips, I lowered myself onto her. She stopped smiling when she penetrated me. Closing her eyes, she sucked in a quick breath through her teeth and dropped her head back to a stack of towels behind her. "Oh God, Jennie…yes."

Watching her closely, I rocked my hips. The feel of her in me was the most fulfilling thing my drunken body had ever experienced. She cringed in ecstasy, biting her lip. I smiled, loving how I affected her, and loving how she affected me. Rocking against her again, I arched my back and cried out her name. She opened her eyes and looked up at me. "You're beautiful," she murmured, caressing my chest, my hips.

I bit my lip at her words, rocking against her again. The sensation heated up my numb core and I quickly felt the desire rising to a nearly painful level. Dropping my head back, I cried out repeatedly in an ever escalating rhythm. I couldn't stop myself…it felt so good. I was so close.

"Fuck," she muttered, sitting up to suck on my breast again.

I moaned at how delicious that word was, but frowned on principle. "Don't swear," I muttered, pressing into her harder so she slid even deeper inside of me. Standing slightly, I used my body weight to slam myself against her. It was hard, deep and intense.

She cringed and panted, grabbing my hips encouragingly. "I'm sorry…fuck, I'm sorry…just please don't stop." She pulled my hips into her body in a faster rhythm than I was going and I matched her.

Feeling wild and uncharacteristically unrestrained, I bucked against her, thrashing my body into her. She was moaning just as hard as I was as I felt the buildup approaching. By the look on her face, I knew she was there too and I begged her heatedly to come with me.

She opened her mouth, her breath halting as I felt her starting to explode. She groaned low and intense right after, but the sound was lost in the cry I made. I clutched her head to me as I hit my peak. I swear my vision phased in and out, and not because I was wasted. Every fiber of my body tingled with pleasure, starting from my belly and expanding outward. My toes even curled as I rode out the sensation with a chorus of, "Yes, yes…Lisa…God…yes."

As we panted against each other, holding the other tight, I thought I heard a strange sort of clapping and laughing from the hallway, but I was way too far gone to care. "I love you," I murmured, burying my head in her shoulder.

Sighing contently under me, she rested her head in the crook of my neck. "I love you, too."

We stayed like that for a minute more, until I started to shiver and people started knocking on the door again. Stumbling and fumbling around, we managed to get dressed with everything we'd come into the room wearing. At least, I hoped so. I'd hate for Jackson to find anything of mine that I might have missed.

When Lisa opened the bathroom door and we stepped through it, every eye turned our way. I blinked, my head swimming as I wondered why everyone was staring at me. Then the whistles started and people nearby clapped Lisa on the back. Thinking they were still congratulating her on her upcoming trip, I shrugged and smiled. People laughed even more at my reaction.

Biting back a smile, Lisa led me into the living room. Once we were in the center, Jackson approached us. I naturally took a step away from him, but grinning broadly, he stepped right up to me, handing me a bottled beer.

"Jennie, I think I love you," he gushed. Cringing, I took the beer and drank it, just so he'd back up a step.

Laughing, Jackson smacked Lisa on the chest. "You are the luckiest fucking son of a bitch." Handing Lisa a beer from his other hand, Jackson playfully scowled. "I mean, I hated you before, but now, I really can't stand you."

Lisa started nodding and pushing Jackson's shoulder away, repeatedly glancing at me like she was worried I'd start to flip out. My fuzzy mind was too hazed to know why. Shaking my head at Jackson's odd comments, I tipped back my beer again. The alcohol had just hit my lips when Jackson said, "That was so hot…like, off the scales hot. You guys should make a porno…I'd totally buy it!"

The people around us laughed at his comment and I started choking on the beer I'd just swallowed. Wait? What was Jackson talking about? What was hot? Wait…did he say porno? My drunken cheeks flushed at just the thought.

Just as comments and the crowd's stares and laughter slowly began clicking into place for me, Lisa shoved Jackson away from us and made her way to the stereo. Turning it up loud again, she hopped onto a nearby coffee table. With Lisa dancing up there like she was at a club downtown, I stopped trying to piece together the mystery that was Jackson. I really didn't want to think about him and his rude comments anyway.

Lisa extended a hand out to me as a group of girls immediately started encircling on the floor around her. Giggling, I joined her on Lucas and Jackson's sturdy furniture. Laughing, Lisa and I finished our beers as we danced. Lisa sang all of the fun, anthem songs to the crowd, riling them up to party more, but she sang the sweeter songs directly to me, moving our bodies together in a rhythm that was both beautiful and erotic. I finally felt equal to every gorgeous girl in the room with the way she stared at me, moved with me, sang to me. For several wonderful, hazy-brained hours, we were all able to put aside the painful moments that were quickly approaching with the dawn, when the band would be leaving, and we danced the rest of the night away. Well, the rest of the early morning.

My head felt like someone was banging on a gong when I groggily woke up the next day. My mouth was dry, too. So dry, it hurt. I wanted water, but I was too afraid to move. I didn't want my banging head to turn into a spinning stomach.

Peeking an eye open, I risked a glance at my environment. I really didn't see anything, other than the body I was smashed against. A t-shirt filled most of my vision and I froze, trying to remember how and when I'd fallen asleep. Everything from last night was so blurry that I wasn't even sure where I'd fallen asleep.

Hoping against hope that the body lying underneath me was Lisa, I attempted to lift my head. The gong increased in volume, my vision flexed in and out. Finally, I was able to focus on a pair of perfectly plump lips. Exhaling in relief as I took in the familiarity of Lisa's face, I focused on the rest of my body.

Sore and a little achy, I was lying on top of Lisa, nearly head to foot. The two of us were cuddled up on a long, narrow couch, Lisa just inches away from the edge of it. It wasn't my garish couch or Lisa's lumpy one either. My arms were heavy as they rested on her chest. My legs felt leaden as they were tangled up with her. Even my girly parts felt overworked…although, I wasn't sure why.

I was sure I'd be feeling the overindulgence of the previous evening for the next three days. Groaning softly, I felt the warm arms laced around my waist tighten. "Mornin'."

Flinching a little at her soft words, I shut my eyes. Peeking just one open, I looked up at her. "I'm right here, you don't have to be so noisy," I whispered.

Chuckling as she stretched her body beneath mine, she opened her eyes to gaze at me. Bringing a hand up to run a finger back through my hair, she quietly whispered, "How do you feel?"

Cringing, I leaned into her hand and she obligingly held my head. I was immediately grateful, since I didn't have the strength to keep it up anymore. "Like a marching band took up residence in my skull."

She grinned, looking tired but in much better shape than I. Her eyes glanced down my body. "How's your stomach?"

Not wanting to give my stomach the opportunity to revolt by giving it any attention, I shrugged. "It's fine…for now." Grimacing and trying to swallow with my completely parched throat, I added, "I'm mainly thirsty."

Lisa nodded, like she'd expected as much. "Lucas's not up yet, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind you getting some water out of his fridge." She grinned a little devilishly, then added, "Unless you'd prefer the water from the bathroom."

My eyes widened at hearing that we were still at Lucas's. I supposed that was a good thing, since neither of us had been in driving condition last night. We must have literally danced until we crashed. I vaguely remembered being tired and sitting down with her. Sitting must have turned into lying, and that must have turned into sleep.

Lifting my head off her hand, I took in her devilish expression as she watched me. Shaking my head, very carefully, as it was throbbing, I furrowed my brows. "Why do you look like…?" My thoughts drifted off as her comment stung my ears. The bathroom… Even vaguer memories of a tiny, enclosed place echoing with heated sounds of sex filled my brain.

Forgetting my head and my hangover, I sat up straight on her lap. She grunted a bit as my weight shifted to her sensitive parts. My eyes wide, I said at full volume, "Did we have sex in the bathroom?"

We both cringed at my statement and I rethought my assessment that Lisa was fine. Peeking an eye at me, she chuckled. My cheeks heated as I desperately hoped that no one else had heard me say that. Slow and seductive, Lisa murmured, "Oh…yeah."

My eyes widened and I hoped that nobody at the party knew about that moment. As Lisa smiled at me, a satisfied expression sliding over her momentary pain, memories fought their way to the surface. Memories of people clapping…whistling…cheering…Jackson…

My hands flew to my mouth as I started shaking my head. "Oh my God." Slowly lowering my fingers, my head suddenly felt fine in comparison to the dread in my veins. I whispered, "Did they all hear us?"

Looking anywhere that wasn't me, Lisa bit her lip. "Well…we really weren't being quiet and it is a pretty small bathroom…so…"

Groaning again, I dropped my head to her chest. "Oh my God," I muttered, mortified.

Chuckling under me, Lisa rubbed my back. "Don't worry about it, Jennie. Everyone told me they thought it was hot."

I jerked my head up, regretting the quick movement, but needing to glare at her. "Everyone?"

Twisting her lip, she shrugged. "Just the few I talked to after you passed out."

Dropping my head back to her chest, I whimpered. Good God, everyone at the party had listened to me having sex. And I was remembering it more and more now that we were talking about it. It had been good sex. It had been great sex. It had been loud sex! I could never show my face in public again, let alone ever go back to Pete's. "Oh my God…"

Still chuckling lightly underneath me, Lisa kissed my head. "You were letting go, Jennie…I liked it." As I collected my embarrassment, mixing that pain with my aching body, Lisa whispered, "Was that your first time in a bathroom in the middle of a party?"

Tilting my head at her, I lifted an eyebrow and pursed my lips. "Yeah, that was a definite first."

Fully smiling, she laced her arms over my back, pulling the rest of my body down to her. "Good," she replied spunkily. When I furrowed my brows, she shrugged and added, "I like giving you firsts, remember?"

Not able to help myself, I shook my head and smiled at her. Then, remembering something else, I frowned. "Did Jackson seriously say we needed to make porn?" Lisa twisted her lips and nodded. I groaned, sagging my head back down to her chest. "Oh, because he heard us…heard me. Goddamn it."

Lisa laughed at my seldom use of swear words and rubbed my back soothingly. "You'll live, Jennie. And on the bright side, it will be a night you'll probably never forget." I took a second to peek up and smirk at her before lowering my head back to her chest. She was definitely right about that…I would never forget Jackson telling me that he'd gladly buy my sex tape. "And don't be embarrassed…I'm not."

I lifted my head to look at her again and she happily shook hers. "You were hot, and every guy in that place wanted to be me in that bathroom. I don't feel the least bit bad that every man was jealous," she grabbed my hips, pulling me into her, "as long as you're only mine."

Smiling, I shook my head. "I am."

Lifting her head up to lightly kiss me, she grinned. "Good."

Snuggling back down with her, I tried to let the drunken evening go, so I could concentrate on the current moment. I had an eternity to beat myself up over the mortifying situation I'd put myself in at a huge going away party, but I only had a few hours left with the person who had my heart, the one who stole my breath.

Sighing, I snuggled my head into her chest and tried not to think about her leaving. I couldn't yet, it was too hard. Instead, I focused on what my body was telling me, I needed water…and aspirin. While she rubbed my back and kissed my head, I murmured, "Do you want some water? I could bring you some?"

Stretching underneath me again, she inhaled a big breath. "No, but I could use some coffee…I'll come with you."

I nodded and prepared my body to move. Lisa was so comfortable to lie on, my body rebelled, staying exactly where it was. Lisa chuckled a few moments later when I still hadn't moved. "Need help?" she whispered.

I smiled, my head still resting against her chest, almost above the tattoo of my name. her arms holding me close to her body, she sat up. I could feel her muscles flexing under her clothes and I couldn't stop myself from picturing that hard body in its natural state—completely bare.

I giggled at first as she adjusted us both to standing, then groaned as my head loudly complained about the new angle; it had preferred lying down. Biting my lip, I swayed a little on my feet. Lisa's hands came up to massage my temples and I smiled at her gratefully; it felt wonderful against my throbbing skull. Her face was weary, but still perfect. She did not look like someone who'd been slinging back alcohol all night. With her hair all crazy from sleeping on the couch, she looked…yummy.

I looked away from her perfection, positive that I did not look quite so…yummy. Her warm lips rested on my forehead for a second, then she pulled me into the kitchen. We had to step around people lying on the floor. Apparently we were not the only ones that had slept over. Even in the kitchen, there were still partygoers. A pair of them was playing cards at the table, poker, from what I could make out. Thankfully, not strip poker, since the guy and girl were still dressed.

Lisa nodded at them as they blinked and looked around, like they'd just now noticed it was light outside and the party was over. You'd really think that the person snoring at the end of the table would have clued them in to that fact.

While I rested my tired head on her back, Lisa went about making a pot of coffee. Since she'd probably woken up here on several occasions, she knew exactly where everything was in Lucas's house. When the pot was finally percolating, Lisa got me a glass from the cupboard and filled it with water. I inhaled it I was so thirsty.

Lisa smiled at me, kissing my head as I sputtered on some of the liquid going down the wrong pipe. As I was trying to cough soundlessly, which just isn't possible, Lucas shuffled into the room. Yawning as he scratched his chest, he nodded at the pair of us. Remembering that he'd seen me half naked last night, I looked away from him, my face flaming as it probably went beet red.

"Hey, guys…good morning," he mumbled. Cautiously, I peeked back at him. Lucas had been pretty far gone last night, maybe he didn't remember?

Leaning against the counter with me in her arms in front of him, Lisa nodded her head up. "Mornin', how do you feel?"

Lucas ran a hand back through his wildly disorganized hair, then massaged his own temples; I figured his head was throbbing too. "Peachy," he muttered sullenly, opening a cupboard to get a glass.

Lisa chuckled as she held me tight, looping her thumbs through my belt buckle straps. Lucas looked over at his friend as he ran some cold water into his glass; the running faucet made my head scream and I laid it back against Lisa's shoulder, wishing I could fast-forward through the painful part of recovery.

"God, it's annoying how chipper you are in the morning," Lucas muttered, taking a long gulp of his H2O. Lisa only smiled wider, rocking me a bit in her arms. When Lucas paused, he added, "I hope you're not like that on the road…it would really get on my nerves."

Lisa laughed and I frowned. I didn't want to think about that part yet. Lucas made the moment worse by adding, "Bus leaves in a few hours, so we should start getting people up…especially Jackson."

Lisa sighed and nodded. I bit my lip; I really didn't want to think about this yet. Finishing his glass, Lucas frowned at me. "You okay, Jennie?" Adjusting my face, I gave him a small nod. He smiled back warmly, then his lips twisted. "You, uh…have fun last night?"

He asked it innocently, but his face flushed a little when he said it, and I knew that he did indeed remember. Wanting to bury my head in the sand and never come out again, I only gave him a small smile and squeaked out, "Yeah…thanks for…letting us come…"

My voice trailed off as I realized what I'd just said. Lucas's light flush turned as red as mine probably was. I quickly added, "Over, thanks for letting us come over," but it was too late…I'd already said it in a horribly embarrassing way. Lucas mumbled something about needing to get ready and quickly fled the room.

Lisa behind me struggled to not laugh, but as soon as the poker players started busting up, she gave up trying to hold back. Twisting around, I smacked her repeatedly in the chest. It only made her laugh harder. Wiping her eyes, she shook her head at me. "Oh God, Jennie, you're so damn cute."

I crossed my arms over my chest and tried to walk away from her, but she held onto me tight, pulling my body back into her. Turning me around, she wrapped her arms around my waist, holding me in place. Sighing at the look of total embarrassment on my face, she shook her head. "I'm gonna miss your adorable awkwardness." She sighed again, sadder this time. "So much," she whispered.

I bit my lip as I searched her face, feeling the impending goodbye in the air. I wasn't ready for it. I didn't want to say goodbye to her. Slinging my arms around her neck, I held her as tight to me as I could. I'd hold her near me forever if there was a way to, but I knew there wasn't. I had to let her go. I had to give her her dream, no matter how much it hurt.

Eventually the rest of the partiers woke up and shuffled off, all of them wishing Lisa and Lucas a great time on their adventure. As the poker players were blinking at the sun in the doorway, Evan and Somi stepped through it. Feeling grimy and tired, I waved at a fresh-faced Somi. She and Evan clearly hadn't celebrated as hard as I had.

Seeing my worn features, she walked over to the couch to give me a hug while Evan excitedly clapped Lisa on the back. "You all right, Jennie?" she laughed out.

Groaning, I laid my head back on the cushions. "Yep." Looking over at her, I frowned. "I don't remember you and Evan leaving last night?"

Her cheeks flushed a little as she glanced at the guys standing a few feet away from us. "Yeah, well, you were a little preoccupied at the time." Lisa glanced her way mid-conversation and she chuckled at her.

I covered my face with my hands. God, this embarrassment was going to last all friggin' day. Laughing a little harder, Somi pulled my hands down and gave me a warm smile. "I'm glad you had a good time, Jennie." Shaking her head, she added, "Evan and I were afraid you'd spend the whole time moping."

I smiled and looked over at Evan, the tatted, buzzed-cut, punk, rock star with a heart as big as Somi's. Meeting my eye, he nodded at me warmly and I let the lingering discomfiture fade. These people loved me, they wouldn't purposely make me regret a moment of letting go with my girlfriend. Especially since the release was a much needed one, in light of today's upcoming emotional goodbye.

Rachel quietly joined us on the couch while Lucas took a shower. I longingly listened to the water flowing from the hallway, wondering if I could take one next. Feeling clean again might help my head stop thudding. Then, of course, hearing Lucas in the bathroom reminded me of being in that bathroom myself. Just as my face was flushing, Lisa turned from her conversation with Evan to grin at me, like she knew exactly where my head had been. Biting my lip, I looked away.

"Jennie, when Lucas is done, what's say you and me go suds up?"

Frowning, I glanced over at the last band member to enter the living room. Jackson was smiling at me in a way that I didn't care for, his eyes clearly already imagining me in the scenario he'd dreamed up. Giving me a kiss in the air, he added, "I want to hear you moan my name like you did Lisa's."

I was just about to walk over and pummel the man when he was hit by about four different people. My sister, sleepily shuffling up behind him, smacked him over the head. Somi beside me chucked a couch pillow at him, hitting him in the face. Rachel even got into the mix by tossing the TV remote into his gut. But Lisa was the one that probably fazed him the most.

Striding the few steps over to him, Lisa grabbed a thick section of his chin-length hair and jerked Jackson's face into hers. "Knock it off, Jackson, or I'll knock it off for you." Her brown eyes dark and cold, Lisa searched Jackson's face. By the chill in her voice, I knew that Lisa wasn't joking. She'd finally had enough of Jackson teasing me, sexually assaulting me with his comments.

As tension built up in the room, Evan placed a hand on Lisa's shoulder, trying to calm her down. Jisoo even tried to push Lisa back a pace, but her face stony, Lisa kept Jackson about an inch away from him. Jackson's light blue eyes looked scared for a moment…then he started laughing.

"Did you want another kiss, bro? All you had to do was ask."

Rolling her eyes, Lisa finally released the idiot. The tension in the room immediately dissolved as Jackson doubled over. "Dude, you should have seen your face! That was awesome! I really thought you were gonna hit me." Lisa grunted and walked away as Jackson stood straight and draped his arm over Jisoo. Pointing at Lisa's retreating back as he walked into the kitchen, Jackson laughed out, "Say it again, Lis!" Mocking her voice, Jackson growled, "Knock it off, or I'll knock it off for you."

Jisoo smacked him in the chest, but laughed a little too. Sighing, Jackson shook his head. "Ah, that was classic."