Rules Of Love

I could feel my throat drying up as I got closer to Caleb. It felt like a crappy movie scene as he chatted to someone and threw his head back, laughing. It was like some kind of spotlight shining behind him made him glow and there might as well have been a fan blowing his hair.

Just to finish it off he should have just ripped his shirt off and started posing for a camera. Not that I’d have minded if he fancied doing that, that is.

The fact he was talking to someone made this a little more difficult though. I couldn’t quite just go up to him and say ‘hi, I’m not a crazy snorting person or a giggling teenager. I just thought I’d let you know that in case it put you off asking you to marry me’. I’m pretty sure that wouldn’t have gone down well.

Luckily, just as I got to the drinks nearby him, his conversation ended when a girl wandered over to his companion and whispered something into his ear that he seemed more than happy to have been asked. Caleb smiled knowingly when his friend winked at him and then proceeded to wander off with his hand dangerously low on her hips.

I grabbed hold of a nearby bottle of vodka and began to make myself a drink, glancing up at Caleb. Feeling a sudden wave of courage, I spoke up.

“Aren’t you wondering what she just whispered in his ear?”

Caleb looked around over his shoulder before turning to face me with a small smile, “I am a bit yeah but at the same time I don’t know whether it would make me want to throw up or not,”

“For him to have walked off and not given it a second thought, I’m pretty sure I can make an educated guess,” I chuckled quietly as I filled up my glass with lemonade.

He nodded in agreement, “Me too. Kev only leaves a conversation with a friend for nothing less than a guarantee of some form of sex,” he said bluntly.

I shrugged, “A fantastic educated guess on my part then,” I smiled at him, “It’s Caleb isn’t it?” I’d remembered his name, of course I had, but I was trying to sound cool and nonchalant.

“Yeah,” the smirk he sent me told me that he knew what I was doing, “Maddie, right?”

“Yeah,” I nodded.

“I can do the being cool thing too,” he teased, briefly raising his eyebrows.

“Am I that obvious?” I winced.

“Only a little- I only noticed because I do the exact same thing,” he took a large gulp of his beer.

I grinned in amusement, “I’ll be sure to keep that in mind. Have you been here long?”

“Right here?” He pointed to the floor sarcastically, “No, only about ten minutes. I think I actually preferred it over there, it wasn’t so draughty,” he gestured over to the dining room.

“Oh you think you’re funny,” her eyebrow quirked challengingly, “You know what I meant,”

He tried not to smile, “I know. I’ve been here a while but obviously not long enough because everyone else seems a lot drunker than me,”

“That’s not necessarily a bad thing, you get to witness all the stupid things happening and embarrass everyone with tales from the night before,”

“A bit like Leanne does with the story about you and that squirrel?” He suppressed his laughter.

I rolled my eyes, “Is there anyone who doesn’t know about that story?”

“I wouldn’t get your hopes up,”

“Fantastic,” I sighed, swallowing half of my cup in a very unladylike way, “I suppose it’s better that than what Lyss did,”

“When she jumped on the back of the bouncer and yelled mush?” He laughed.

My mouth dropped open, “Shut up! She didn’t,” I giggled.

“Was that not what you were talking about?” He frowned lightly.

“I was talking about the time she straddled her boyfriend’s best friend in bed thinking it was him. Were you not supposed to tell me about the bouncer incident?”

He shook his head, “I try to avoid telling these stories because those girls have a lot of ammo that they could use against me. I try my best not to give them reason to fire,”

“Oh. I won’t tell her you told me,” I crossed my heart.

He sent me another of those indescribably beautiful smiles, “Thanks,”

It was taking a lot of willpower not to stare at him. It was rare that I ever saw someone that gorgeous and it was really hard.

“So are you having fun working with Lea?” He asked.

“It’s okay. She can be a bit crazy and she drinks tea like it’s nobody’s business but she is fun to work with,”

“Very hard to satisfy when it comes to making her tea though,” he let out an overdramatically burdened sigh like he knew what it was like.

She nodded, “Definitely. I’ve been there three weeks now and I still haven’t made a cup of tea that’s been compliment worthy,”

He laughed, “Well Lyss has known her at least ten years and she refuses to make her tea because she’s never got it right before,”

“Wow, I didn’t know they’d known each other that long,” I said.

“Yeah, Lyss has known John for almost sixteen years and he introduced them I think,”

“Jesus Christ, sixteen years?”

“Don’t tell me that Lea hasn’t told you their whole love saga,” he had a relatively shocked expression.

“No she hasn’t. I didn’t think love saga’s existed in real life,”

“Neither did I but get Lea to tell you about it. It’s like old movie shit mixed in with a Jennifer Aniston rom-com. Honestly. It’s incredible. It’s one of those stories that makes you believe that no matter what gets in the way, you’ll always end up with the person you’re meant to be with,”

“I didn’t think those existed in real life either,” I mused, “But when I’m feeling thoroughly depressed about boys I’ll get her to tell me the story to make me feel better,”

“Oh God,” Caleb said suddenly.

I frowned, slightly scared, “What?”

“Leanne’s got shots,”

As soon as I heard those words, my head snapped round to clock where she was. When I saw her heading towards us I groaned inwardly.

“Do you want a shot?” Leanne asked but Caleb and I both knew it wasn’t a question or an offer.

“No thanks,” I replied immediately.

She stared at me with unwavering eyes and shook her head, “I think you may have misheard me- Do you want a shot?”

Caleb laughed and threw back three of whatever liquid was in the small glasses. He spluttered slightly at the after-burn but he stayed strong.

“I only said one,” she smirked, “But I’m impressed. Good man,” she then began waving the tray towards me, “Come on Madeline, sort it out,”

“I don’t want one,” I said defiantly.

She raised an eyebrow at me, “Come on, don’t be a coward. What’s the worst that could happen?”

“That’s what you said on the night of the squirrel incident,” I folded my arms over my chest and heard Caleb chuckle quietly beside me, “Thanks for telling the world and it’s mother about that though,”

Leanne smiled guiltily, “It was funny...” She responded as though it was some kind of defence.

“It was but if I start getting called Squirrel Girl then it really won’t be,”

She pressed her lips together to prevent herself from saying something she would’ve found thoroughly witty and hilarious that probably wasn’t to me. “Shut up whining and have a shot. Last time I made you drink seven in a row and they were tequila, this isn’t that strong. Man up,”

“Honestly Maddie, they’re not that bad,” Caleb reassured.

I glanced up at him before sighing in defeat, “Fine,” I took one of the glasses, “But if I get drunk I’m blaming you,”

He let out a husky chuckle and the alcohol in my system made my body’s reaction stronger, “I will not be held responsible for any woodland creature episodes that may occur,” he held his hands up defensively.

I sniffed the liquid. It wasn’t pure vodka but it was close enough. I vaguely shook my head at Leanne, not believing I was letting her do this to me again. “Cheers,” I murmured before I knocked it back, feeling it burn all the way down.

“See, not as bad as you thought it would be was it?” Leanne beamed at me.

“No, I still have one kidney left,” I spoke hoarsely.

She and Caleb laughed, “You’re so dramatic,” she snorted, “But that’s why I love you and why it’s so much fun to embarrass you,” she smirked.

“I’m beginning to wonder why I haven’t quit,” I responded.

“Because you can’t imagine life without me anymore, obviously,” she began to walk away but stopped and took a few steps back to us again, “Oh Caleb, by the way,” she said and he looked up at her expectantly, “Maddie thinks you’re hot,”

My face dropped, “Leanne!” I hissed.

“Adonis was the word you used, wasn’t it Mads?” She simply beamed at me and winked, “Have a good night, kids!” She saluted before darting off to other people.

I could feel my face burning horrifically and I couldn’t quite bring myself to look up at Caleb. All I knew was that he was laughing very quietly.

“Wow,” he said simply.

“I could kill her. I’m sure she just lives to ruin my life,” I held my hand to my face and shook my head.

“She can be a horrific pain in the ass,”

“I’m sorry,” I winced, cautiously looking up at him and noticing he was quite pink the cheeks too, “This is going to very awkward. I’m just going to go quit,” I went to walk away but he grabbed my arm, laughing as he pulled me back.

“Hey, you don’t have to go. I’m the king of dealing with awkward situations. Besides,” he grinned at me, “The only thing that’s happened is a beautiful girl has called me hot. I don’t see much of a problem here,”

I tried not to react even though I’d just melted inside, “I suppose not,”

“How about we just forget the last five minutes, top up our drinks and then go watch some very inexperienced drinkers play beer pong?” He suggested.

I smiled coyly and nodded, “Sounds good.”

:::::

Garrett couldn’t help but stare at Maddie as she chatted and laughed with Caleb across the room. Over the past few hours he’d watched her slowly get drunk and now she was playing beer pong with several others, including Kennedy and Pat. He felt slightly creepy watching her but he couldn’t help himself. He couldn’t take his eyes off her.

He almost jumped when an arm wrapped around his shoulder, “Alright bud,” Alyssa smiled at him, “Still staring I see,” she gestured over to Maddie with her head.

“I’m not,” he denied, finally taking his eyes off the brunette in the corner.

“Liar,” she ruffled his hair and took her arm from around him, “Why don’t you go over and speak to her?”

“Don’t be stupid, as if she’s going to give me the time of day,” he scoffed.

“It’s nearly one-thirty, now go over there,” she urged.

He rolled his eyes, “Funny. I can’t and even if I did Leanne would jump on it. I’d never hear the end of it. You heard her before,”

“Leanne is very drunk; the only thing she’s good for right now is her usual biting and hugging activities. I feel sorry for Kenny sometimes but hey, I have her most of the year,” she thought aloud, “Just go over and say hi- have a conversation. It’s not like you’re asking her to marry you. The worst thing that could happen is that you don’t hit it off but it’s not like it’s going to ruin either of your lives,”

“What would I even say?” He was too insecure to even consider going over there without a plan.

“You’re both drunk enough that conversation will flow naturally. Maddie is a chatty person anyway; if you don’t talk to her then I’m pretty certain she’ll start talking to you. She’s here to mingle and make friends, not just because Lea forced her to come,” Alyssa explained very articulately considering how much alcohol was floating around her bloodstream.

“I don’t know...” Garrett sighed, his doubt crowding out any confidence he had.

“What’re we talking about over here?” John sat on the opposite side of Garrett, bunking himself up on the table like the other two.

“I’m trying to get Garrett to man up and go and talk to Maddie,” Alyssa updated him.

“Have you still not spoken to her? Come on man, grow some balls. I’m sure she won’t bite unless you ask her to,” John teased as he popped open the top on his beer.

Alyssa looked over at John out of view of Garrett with an amused smile but a look that told him he wasn’t helping.

“Thanks, that’s really making me feel better,” Garrett rolled his eyes.

“What he meant to say was that sitting over here isn’t going to help so you should just grab the chance to talk to her while you can,” Alyssa translated.

“No I didn’t,” John retorted, “What I actually meant was, go and make your move because I want to make out with my girlfriend and I can’t while you’re sat in the way,”

“Fuck you, man. I was sat here first, go and make out with her somewhere else,”

“Baby seriously, I’m trying to give him moral support here,” She gently reached over and punched John in the arm to which he responded with a whine, a pout and a return to silence. “Listen Garrett- Look at her,” she didn’t even need to say that because he already was, “She’s a lovely girl, there’s nothing you have to be afraid of. Even if you were about to proclaim your undying love for her, she’d be so gentle about it that you wouldn’t even realise that she was turning you down,”

“Really?” He looked up at Alyssa unsurely but she nodded.

“Honestly, go for it. There’s no harm in trying,” she smiled.

“You’re right,” he said, sliding himself off the table and too his feet.

“Atta boy,” she beamed at him.

“Go get her, cowboy,” John added and slapped Garrett’s backside.

He spun around and frowned, “Don’t let him drink anymore,” he advised Alyssa.

“I’ll try not to,” she laughed before Garrett wandered off and then she looked over at her boyfriend, “Cowboy?”

“It was the first thing that came to mind,” John shrugged, sliding closer to her.

“I’m beginning to worry about you. Have you been watching Brokeback Mountain again?” She smirked.

“No I was just thinking about you in a cowgirl outfit,” he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

“I don’t think that’s any better,” she murmured as he pressed his lips to hers.

:::::

I watched as Caleb downed another of the cups of beer. He was currently getting hammered at beer pong and it was extremely fun watching him trying to convince me he wasn’t that drunk.

“I thought you told me you were awesome at this game,” I threw his earlier words back at him and he shrugged which made him sway slightly.

“I am, I’m winning,” he grinned drunkenly.

I laughed, “No you’re not- you’re one cup away from losing,”

“Oh...” He trailed off, “Garrett, you should finish this game for me. You’re good at this, I’ve seen it before!” He shouted over my shoulder to someone behind me. I span around to see who he meant. I recognised him from earlier in the night and smiled warmly at him. Garrett looked just as shocked at Caleb dragging him over to us as I had.

“I can’t finish the game for you man, that defeats the object of it actually being called a game,” he chuckled, patting him on the back, “Good luck,”

Fortunately enough, Caleb got out of it when Leanne shouted him from across the room. He’d never looked happier to hear her voice and he excused himself before staggering off to meet her.

“I guess you win by forfeit then,” I announced to Charlie, the guy who Caleb had been playing.

Charlie simply raised his arms above his head in triumph, high-fived his friend and then wandered off in search of more beer.

“Fancy your chances?” Garrett said with a cheeky smile, “Cause I fancy mine,”

I recoiled slightly, “My chances at what?”

His smile suddenly fell, “At the game! Sorry, I didn’t mean at me,” he shook his head, “I probably should’ve thought about how that sounded,” he winced a little.

I chuckled, “Oh,”

“So, how about it?” He picked up one of the balls from the table and waved it about as though it would lure me in.

I smirked, “What kind of lady would I be if I didn’t take such a challenge?” I was won over by his endearing attitude and the cheeky sparkle in his eyes.

He chuckled and I noticed his cheeks flush a little red at my response, “I am so going to get you drunk,”

I laughed, “Are you actually trying to sound predatory or are you just a sex fiend?”

He pondered this for a second causing me to giggle, “A bit of both,” he winked at me and something fluttered inside me that unsteadied but thrilled me at the same time.

I bit my lip slightly as Garrett ordered Kennedy and Pat to set up the cups again before he passed me a ball, his fingers briefly touching mine. All of my nerves fired and tingles travelled all over my skin. I was well aware of the fact that alcohol intensified all my emotions and numbed my ability to think straight so I just chalked it down to that and thought nothing of it.

I carefully and unnoticeably took in every inch of the boy beside me and immediately put him down on the ‘no way’ list. It was harsh but subconscious. Just by looking at him I knew that he didn’t match up to my list.

Then he turned to look at me and flashed me a wide smile that I couldn’t help but return. It was strange but everything my subconscious thought was immediately pushed to the side.

Once he’d looked away, my thoughts returned and rationale came back to mind.

But I couldn’t quite shake that little flutter that happened when I saw him glancing over at me when he thought I didn’t know.

:::::

'I'm Never Sure Just What To Feel When You're Around'
Alexandra Burke