“Say man, they are calling it a good year for snow this winter. I can't wait to hit the slopes this year,” Keenan said, as we entered the kitchen. He was practically bouncing with excitement.

"Why? You aren't tired of sucking back my snow, yet?"

"The only thing getting sucked is my dick tonight – Aargh, damn it, girl! That hurt!"

"Don't look like that's happening either," Keiran snorted. Keenan was now bent over in the seat protecting his crotch. He looked as if he would faint. Sheldon winked at me and I grinned.

"Anyway, Lake, it's really fun. We do it every winter over Christmas break. The slopes overlook Lake Tahoe and it's gorgeous. Just like you, right Keiran?" She grinned at him slyly.

Keiran grunted, but said nothing. He grabbed a shot glass and poured amber liquid into, quickly tossing it back and reaching for more.

"Have you ever been skiing?" Sheldon asked.

"No, I uh…don't know how."

"S'kay, we can teach you," she offered.

The guys had grown silent when Sheldon extended her invitation. Keiran stopped drinking and Keenan was no longer moaning in pain as the awkward silence descended. "Um...no that's okay. I usually just visit my grandmother at the nursing home in Red Rocks."

My maternal grandmother was stricken with Alzheimer's disease five years ago and was unable to stay with us despite my aunt’s protests. “Is that where you are from? I remember you moving here in the second grade.”

“Yeah, actually. It’s about two hours east.”

“Do you miss it?”

“No, I barely remember it,” I lied.

Talking about Red Rocks meant thinking about my parents and how I ended up here in the first place. My grandmother’s health was failing even then and my mother never knew her father so my aunt Carissa took me. I felt eyes on me and looked up to see everyone’s attention on me. Keiran was staring a hole through me and I felt exposed so I quickly averted my gaze.

“I swear if you boneheads make her cry, I’ll castrate you both!”

I chuckled, grateful for Sheldon. We barely knew each other but she was becoming a friend. Her fierce desire to stand up for me was winning me over. I can’t handle Keiran. I was too afraid of him. He’d shown me who he really was on that playground and I knew that boy was still inside – buried deep and waiting to come out.

* * *

The deafening blare of the speakers and Keiran’s gaze seemed to always find me no matter where I hid. The party had been in full blast for over an hour. I watched the swing and sway of half-naked girls in short skirts and the raucous, hormonal males stumble and party, drunkenly from room to room.

Being a teen, I may not have found this so bad if I had a single friend here. I was isolated to a corner of the room and directly across from me I could see Keiran surrounded by other kids though he didn’t seem to be paying much attention to them. Instead his gaze would find its way

back to me. I’m sure if he gave his group much attention he would notice the hot brunette, who I was sure was one of the girls I saw on campus earlier, checking him out.

I looked around for Sheldon but didn’t immediately see sign of her anywhere. Anya had dragged her off somewhere much to Sheldon’s annoyance which she didn’t try to hide. I didn’t understand why she put up with Anya since she clearly didn’t care for her or the rest of the cheerleaders. They all seemed to band together and didn’t like outsiders. Oh, well. It was Sheldon’s issue, not mine.

I began to brainstorm ways to sneak out of the party and go home without Keiran noticing. He didn’t appear to be drinking beyond the two shots he had earlier. He didn’t even look as if he was having fun, which was strange considering he threw the party.

My thoughts must have been transparent when a suspicious look passed over his face before he headed over to my corner. I tried burrowing deeper into the shadows thinking I could miraculously become invisible.

“Why aren’t you partying?” he asked gruffly.

“I told you I wasn’t interested. You are the one who wanted me here.”

“You’re here because I told you to be.”

“Why are you so angry about this? I did not want to be here,” I stressed yet again.

“Get up and follow me,” he ordered.

“I’m fine right here.” I patted the seat. “The view is great you know. I can see everyone make a fool of themselves and trash your uncles’ place. He must be so proud,” I said sarcastically.

I looked at him feeling smug as I watched his jaw clench and his nostrils flare. I was pissing him off and loving it. There were too many witnesses for me to be afraid.

“I can have everyone out of here in three seconds, flat. Don’t think for a second that you are safe, Monroe. You will never be safe from me.”

I slowly rose from my seat not wanting to draw attention to me. The smug look on his face was meant to provoke me further and it was working. He led me over to the counter that was littered with the illegally purchases alcohol. He grabbed the same bottle of amber liquor I saw him drink earlier and poured a shot. I stared at the glass when he handed it to me.

“I don’t drink.”

“I didn’t ask.”

After a short staring contest of wills I snatched the shot glass out of his hand, spilling some on my hand. He raised an eyebrow but otherwise said nothing. I sniffed the drink quickly and hated the strong, revolting smell. I fought not to gag as I brought the glass to my lips and took a tentative sip. My face tingled, from the strong taste and I reluctantly took another sip.