Chapter 35: Blurred (Alex's POV) I walked into Abby's house with Hannah beside me, both of us immediately spotting the guys. Carter, Connor, and Zach were all standing together with Abby going around and saying hello to some people and making sure everything in her house was the way she had always kept it. I stared at Carter speechlessly the way I always do. He was talking to the guys, saying something but stopped when his eyes landed on me and blinked twice, his mouth slightly ajar. "Come on," Hannah tugged me towards them, snapping me out of my daze. "Fucking hell," I heard him whisper under his breath. "Hello to you too," I smiled while standing beside him. He looked me up and down before his eyes met mine again. "I hate you," he mumbled. I grinned at him, linking my arm with his. "Drink?" he asked while pulling me away and into the kitchen. "No bartender?" I asked tauntingly. "I can bartend, all right. What do you want?" he asked, standing behind the counter with all the drinks lined up in front of him. "Margarita," I grinned while sitting in front of him, holding my chin in the palm of my hand. "A margarita coming right up for the sexy lady," he smirked. I laughed while he made the drink before sliding it over to me. "Thank you," I said, spinning in the barstool to face him as he walked up to me. "You're welcome," he grinned before leaning down at kissing me. "You look handsome, as always," I smiled up at him. "You look stunning, as always," he smiled back. I puckered my lips and he leaned down and kissed me again. We moved around her place throughout the night. We played beer pong, truth or dare, never have I ever, some more drinking games, as well as dancing. Which I was currently doing. I was talking to Carter while we danced. He would always say something witty or stupid and make me laugh, or maybe I was just laughing a little extra from the alcohol, but my life felt complete. I felt like I was having the best night of my life like I was on top of the world. I have everything I could ask for. My home life has gotten a little better since there was no arguing, my best friend as always, is amazing, I've made new friends who are great company and I love hanging out with them, and I have a boyfriend who I am head over heels in love with. He pulled me in and kissed me before spinning me around. I giggled while dancing with him, our legs and hips moving in sync. After about two hours of dancing, my feet started giving out. "Can we take a break?" I asked. I was tipsy, not drunk, not even close to being wasted, nor did I plan on letting that happen tonight. He grabbed my hand and led me to the kitchen where we sat on the barstools, both of us flushed and a little sweaty. "Margarita please," I sang. He chuckled but got up nonetheless and made me another one. He placed the glass in front of me, sharing it with me while we talked. "Do you have any college plans?" I asked. "Not yet, I haven't thought much about it. But I don't know where I'd even go," he shrugged. "You should decide on the coast. East or west and then look through," I said. "Do you have any ideas?" he questioned. "Probably California," I answered. "Really? You're gonna leave New York?" he asked, surprised. "It's been a long time since I've been back home. College there doesn't sound like a bad idea. Unless I find a place to go here in New York first. Not that I know what I'll study," I sighed. "Keep your options open, I'm sure you'll find something that interests you," he shrugged, bumping my shoulder with his. "You interest me," I turned to him, "What about that?" He knew I was indirectly asking him what would happen. We still had our senior year left, but there's no harm in talking about the future once in a while. "Whatever you want it to be," he shrugged. "What is that supposed to mean?" I asked. "If you want me there, I'll be there," he replied. "You'll be there? If I choose to go to California, you'll leave New York and come with me?" I asked, astonished. "Yeah, why not?" he shrugged. "Because your entire family and all your friends are here," I stated. "All your friends are here too. And apart from my dad, my family is just…" he trailed off, "At least there I'll have you," he smiled. I stared at him in awe, shocked that he would do that for me. He would go that far to be with me. "Carter!" We both looked to his right where Zach and Connor appeared to be calling him over. He turned to me and sighed. "Go," I laughed, "You're supposed to have fun with your friends too." He kissed me quickly before leaving. I sat there and observed the party for a while, slightly moving to the music. I faintly heard someone yell something that sounded like my name, but when nobody repeated it, I just ignored it. "Alex!" I stood up and walked over to the stairs where I heard my name coming from. "Yeah?!" I called back out. "I can't find my ph- got it!" Hannah yelled. I laughed and shook my head before walking back into the kitchen and sitting in my seat, getting back to my drink, and slowly sipping it. I took my time finishing the drink and a little less than an hour had gone by and Carter still hadn't come back. I grabbed my phone and stood up to go look for him, only for my knees to nearly give out under me. "Whoa, shit," I grabbed the countertop and focused on keeping myself up. My legs felt like jello. My head began spinning and my vision began fogging up. How much tequila did Carter put in that one? I sat back down and closed my eyes while focusing on taking deep slow breaths. I saw one of the guys from the lacrosse team walking past me and grabbed onto his arm. "You all right?" he asked. I nodded. "You're Carter's girl. Right?" I nodded again. "Have you seen him?" He looked around before shaking his head, "No, but I can pass on a message if I do. Anything you want me to tell him?" "Could you just let him know I was looking for him? And that I'm still in the kitchen." "Sure thing," he nodded before walking away. I sat there, blinking frequently as my eyes began watering for no apparent reason. They began stinging and it was becoming harder and harder to keep them open. I thought I'd give up on waiting and just call him myself. I held my phone and tried unlocking it but it slipped right through my fingers as if I was air and it flew right through my hands. I huffed, looking down where it lay screen down on the floor. I hope that didn't crack. I began bending down to pick it up but that made my head pound even more. I whined and put my head down on the counter. I could feel the dizziness taking over and my vision getting darker. "I think you dropped this," I heard someone. I looked up at the counter where my phone was placed right in front of me."Yeah, thanks," I mumbled, and then whoever it was went away. I forced myself to sit up and look around, hoping Carter would show up and I could ask him to take me home to his house. I wasn't feeling very well at this point, and I didn't want my dad freaking out thinking I downed an entire bar on my own, so I was hoping I could stay at Carter's tonight. That is if I ever find him. I grabbed my phone and blinked hard, trying to unlock my phone. I finally managed to get it after a hundred tries and opened the phone app, beginning to type his number. I was typing slower than a snail. My fingers weren't moving and the weight of my body felt a hundred times heavier than it was and normally feels. I ran my fingers through my hair and let out a sigh, typing out the last few digits. I was about to tap the call button but before I could, I felt myself falling backward. Like I was falling off the top of a building. Someone's arm went around me and pushed me up so I was sitting upright. "I got you," I heard someone whisper before my phone was taken out of my hands. "Carter?" I slurred, my alphabets and vowels all jumbled up. He didn't answer as he picked me up and began heading to the front door. "Tuck me in when we get there," I mumbled. He didn't respond, once again. The last thing I remember was being placed in a car and then my vision blurred. Everything blurred. And I slipped into darkness.