Spencer

The music was so loud I could feel it in my bones. My eyes were closed and I swayed my hips to the beat. I had already consumed a large amount of alcohol so I'm sure I didn't look as graceful as I felt. Someone snaked their hand around my waist from behind and pull me into them as they too danced to the beat. I should probably shoo them from me and continue to dance alone but the alcohol in my system wrapped itself around my brain and told me it was okay, one dance couldn't hurt. I kept my eyes closed and my back to the man who now had his face nuzzled into the nape of my neck.

The song ended and finally I turned to the man and gave him a smile. The man was attractive with dark eyes and light hair but I had a boyfriend and wasn't interested in anything more than a dance. I gave him a small wave before walking from the dance floor.

At the bar, I ordered another drink and a shot of whiskey. I checked my phone, half expecting there to be a missed call or text but there isn't. He never was the type to text or call first after a fight, even if it was his fault. I put my phone down on the bar and took the shot and ordered another. My phone dinged and I looked down at it. It was from Matt, my best friend.

Zack was Matt's best friend as well and they were also in a band together. Zack and I have been dating for about two years and it’s been the two of the best years of my life and it wasn't because of the money or fame Zack held in his name. Zack and I grew up together, and then we met Matt in junior high school. In the beginning of freshman year in high school the three of us began to hang out with Brian and Jimmy a lot, and then once they started the band Johnny started to hang around. We've been family ever since.

My phone dinged again, bringing me back from my thoughts. Text number two from Matt. I unlocked my phone and read it. The text was blurry but I was able to make out the first text which said, "Where are you?" And the second one that said, "Zack's looking for you."

I sighed before taking another drink of my double gin and tonic. I took the shot of whiskey in front of me and tossed it to the back of my throat. My stomach quivered and I knew I would be hugging a toilet bowl within the next hour or two if I didn't stop drinking soon.

I focused hard on my phone in front of me and was tempted to close one eye so I would stop seeing double. I decided to reply to Matt. He considered me as his younger sister and I thought of him as my older brother so I didn't want him to worry about me. Not to mention, since Zack was with him I knew Matt would relay the message that I'm fine and not to send out a search and rescue party.

"I'm fine, just clearing my head." I typed into my phone. At least, that's what it was supposed to say. My drunken thumbs confused some of the letters and nearly every word was spelled wrong. I shrugged and sent it anyways, they'll figure it out - at least I think they will.

Either way, I knew I should get going. I finished my gin and tonic quickly and asked the bartender for my check.

He was an attractive man with a few tattoos and had his ears stretched. He had dark hair and I think his eyes were brown but I couldn't tell.

"It's on the house," he winked at me.

I narrowed my eyes at him, knowing my bill was pretty high. "What's the catch?"

He shrugged. "No catch but I get off in about fifteen minutes. I'd love to spend the rest of the evening with you."

I smiled at him but declined his request. "I have a boyfriend," I told him.

He smiled back. "Well, it was worth a shot."

I slipped a hefty tip in the tip jar. "Thank you, though." I told him before walking out of the club and into the cool night air.

I groaned and reached for my phone to call a taxi. Zack and I only lived a couple of miles away but I knew driving was irresponsible and I'd rather not receive an ass chewing from Zack or anyone once I stumbled into the house. The taxi company gave me an approximate time they'd be at my location which was twenty minutes.

My head began to spin and I instantly regretted downing the rest of that gin and tonic. I leaned against the brick wall and dug my pack of cigarettes out of my pocket. I only smoked when I drank, but I still hated the habit. Still, I stuck the rolled tobacco between my lips and brought the lighter to it. I sighed as I exhaled the smoke and lost myself in thought again.

Zack and I had gotten into a fight and that's how I wound up here. We didn't fight any more or less than your average couple, but when we did fight it was bad, real bad. It usually resulted in one of us storming out of the house, and tonight it was my turn. Now that I had cooled off, danced my heart off and drank more alcohol than I should have I realize how ridiculous I was being.

Zack was married to another woman before he and I started dating. He married his longtime girlfriend Gena in 2011, but eventually they divorced. The reason we had gotten into a fight is because I found out they were texting again. I knew he wasn't cheating on me, but I still didn't like what he was doing so I accused him of it. Gena was so pretty and they had so much history, I was just afraid that he was going to leave me for her. So, I threw a hissy fit and we fought about it and I stormed out of the house.

Ridiculous, right?

Now I was ready to go home and go to sleep. I hoped to get home before Zack did so I wouldn't have to talk to him about my childish behavior while intoxicated.

I threw the cigarette to the ground and stomped it out just as a guy on a motorcycle pulled up. "Thought you went home, pretty girl."

"Waiting on a ride." I told him. "Don't you guys ever stop serving people when they're too intoxicated?"

The bartender chuckled. "Yeah, but you looked like you were having a rough night."

I nodded. "Yeah, you've got that right."

"Well, hey I'm heading home now. Can I give you a ride?" He asked me.

"I don't even know your name," I told him.

"Josh," he told me. "And yours?"

I replied, "Spencer."

"Well, Spencer I would really, really hate to leave you out here alone. Please let me give you a ride home?" Josh asked.

I nibbled at my lip for a few moments before deciding he seemed nice enough, and the sooner I got home the sooner I could sleep. I nodded before taking the helmet he offered me and threw a leg over the bike.

He grabbed my arms from behind him and pulled them around his waist. "I know!" He told me before I could protest, "You've got a boyfriend, but if you don't hold on you'll fall off."

I knew he was right so I told him where I lived and he pulled off in that direction. After a couple of minutes, I laid my head on his back and closed my eyes. My stomach began to feel queasy again, but before I knew it we were pulling into my driveway. I climbed off the bike and took the helmet off.

"Thank you," I told him. "For the drinks and the ride."

He smiled at me. "It's no problem," he replied. I handed him his helmet back and he took it. "Spencer," he called as I turned away from him.

I turned back and stumbled, his instincts were quick and he caught me. I blushed, embarrassed at my falter and stood up straight. "Sorry," I mumbled. Suddenly he jumped off the bike and pulled me in to his chest. "I have a boyfriend," I told him.

"I know," He whispered before pulling my mouth into his.

Before I could wrap my drunken mind around what was happening, we were inside the house, up the stairs, down the hall, and in bed. Clothes scattered the floor as our body parts tangled.

I didn't completely realize what was happening and who it was happening with until I was yanked back to reality. Literally.

Zack had apparently come home and neither Josh nor I realized it until Zack yanked me from the bed and threw me against the wall. Josh jumped out of the bed and Zack tackled him to the ground. Zack's fist collided with Josh jaw and I sobered up real quick.

"Zack!" I yelled. I tried to pull him away from Josh but he wouldn't budge. Josh was able to squirm free from Zack's hold and grabbed his shoes and shirt before running out the door.

Zack turned on me and for a moment I thought he was going to start swinging his fists again, but he didn't. "What the fuck, Spencer?" He yelled at me.

"Zack, I'm sorry!" I yelled. "It wasn't what it looked like..."
"You're really fucking using that line with me, right now?" He rolled his eyes as I pulled on a shirt.

"No, Zack...I didn't...I..." I was at a loss for words. I didn't know how to explain myself in a situation like this. “I've been drinking heavily” didn't sound like a reasonable excuse; “it didn't mean anything” didn't either.

"You fucking accused me of cheating and then decided to retaliate but fucking cheating on me? Are you serious?"

I shook my head, "I didn't mean for it to happen!" Tears began to fall. "Zack, I love you. You know that."

"Do I?" He asked. "Is this something someone does to someone they love?"

"It was a mistake! He didn't mean anything. He was just giving me a ride home, and then it happened." I cried.

Zack stared at me for a long time. "I can't look at you right now," he told me before exiting the bedroom. I followed him down our spiral staircase.

"Zack, please don't leave," I begged him. "Please, let's talk about this."
He shook his head. "I need to clear my head or else I'm going to say something to you that I don't mean."

"Zack!" I cried. He grabbed his keys and walked out of the house. "Where are you going to go?"

He shook his head. "I don't know, probably to Matt's or Jimmy's or something." He unlocked his car door. "Don't come looking for me, Spencer, I'm serious. We can talk tomorrow, but right now
I don't even know if I want to be with you."

"I love you," I told him. I needed him to hear it. I needed him to know that what I did was a mistake and he was the love of my life. I loved him; I wanted to be with him and him only.

He sighed before shutting the car door and backing out of our driveway.

Notes

New story idea, not sure if I'm going to keep it or not. What do you guys think?

Title credit: Halsey "Haunting"