18

At the age of eighteen I had managed to never get drunk. While all the kids my age had been probably drunk more times then they could count I had yet to have more then a few sips of a drink. Whenever my older sister would drag me to parties I was never the one that would end up drinking. We would go to the parties and Vera would tell me that I could drink that she would be DD, I would always hold out on drinking and about two hours in I would find her doing shots with some cute boy.

The summer I spent two weeks in Boston had quite a few first for me. That summer was the first time I ever got drunk, it was the first time I had an actual relationship with a boy even if it was short and it was the first time I fell in love.

I had been in Boston about four hours when my cousin Serena and my sister Vera we telling me about a party that we could go to. After first turning them down on going to the party they continued to beg me until I finally caved and agreed to go to the party. I assumed that I was just going to stand around with either of them while they got drunk and talked to boys.

Standing in the guest room I was sharing with Vera at our aunt’s and uncle’s house I looked in the mirror to see the short dress Serena had suggested I wear. I was never somebody to wear to a dress that sat two inches above my pale knees. I looked over at my sister and Serena that sat on Vera’s bed and gave them a disapproving look.

“I can't wear this,” I said as I messed with bottom of the short mint colored dressed. “It's way to short for me.”

Serena just shook her head my comment while my sister spoke up, “you look amazing in this.”

Shaking my own head I continued to fidget with the bottom of the dress. Even if they thought I looked good it still didn't make me feel anymore comfortable in the dress. “Can I just wear jeans?” I asked wishing they would let me dress myself.

“No just wear this,” Serena said looking over at my sister.

Vera stared at me for a long moment as if she was trying to judge my reaction. “I agree with Serena,you look amazing and should wear the dress,” she stood up and walked towards me as I looked back into the mirror.

“Fine,” I left out a heavy sigh knowing this was a losing battle.

After they had convinced me that I should wear the mint dress they then went on to curl my hair and put my make up. We walked into the party of one of Serena’s friends from college, the house was packed people and all the sudden I became very aware of the fact I only knew two people there. I followed behind my sister and my cousin as they led me off towards the kitchen where I assumed they planned on getting drinks. I stood by the kitchen counter looking over and watching as Serena stared mixing to drinks. She pour a full shot of rum into a red cup and then filled it to the top with somebody type of juice. I glanced away for a second before looking up to her holding the red cup in front of me.

“So you’re drinking to tonight and your sister is DD,” she smirked.

“I'm okay I'll be DD,” I said not really wanting to get drunk at a strangers house. “Vera you go ahead and drink.”

I hesitantly took the drink from her and followed them around as they talked to random people. After finishing my drink Serena quickly put another in my hand, before the hours was up I had another drink in my hand and was definitely feeling buzzed. I walked out in the front lawn by myself and attempted to walk straight. I kept telling myself that I wasn't drunk even though I knew I wasn't fooling anyone let alone myself. I took little steps towards a double swing that was sat on the green lawn next to the porch. I sat down slowly and looked around at the crowd of people outside.

I must only sat there five minutes by myself before I look up see a guy standing in front of me with a red cup of his own in his hand. “Hi I don't think I’ve ever met you before,” he said putting his hand out for me to shake.

“Hi I’m Rowan,” I smiled. I couldn't help but smile even more at the warm and fuzzy feeling the rum was giving me or maybe it was the fact a cute boy came over to talk to me.

He looked at me for a long moment before sitting down next to me on the swing. “Rowen is definitely a name I’ve never heard before,” he said looking over at me as he got comfortable on the swing. “My name is Tyler.”

“I’ve never met anyone with my name either,” I said wondering if he knew I was drunk. My brain started over thinking everything and I couldn't help but wonder if he knew. “So what brings you over to talk to me?” I asked out of the blue not really using the filter between my brain and my mouth.

“I saw you sitting here by yourself and I thought I should come to talk to you.”

I watched as his hazel eyes moved to my pale thighs where the mint dress too short for my liking sat. He must of stared for too long, because I became aware of how uncomfortable I was with my thick thighs.

“I like your dress,” he said looking back up at my dark eyes.

Blankly staring at him for a few moments I was trying to figure out if my sister and Serena sent him over to talk to me or he actually came over on his own. “Thanks you’re really attractive,” she blurted out and then was left with an intense feeling of embarrassment. My cheeks burned red and I looked down at the dumb mint dress.

I could bring myself to look at him as he said, “thanks I think you’re really attractive too.” His words made me feel better about what I had just said. Glancing up I saw him smiling at me.

“Well you’re the only one who thinks so,” I said feeling oddly comfortable around him, I wasn't sure if the the alcohol was making me feel that way or his charm.

Giving me an odd look his eyes traveled up and down my body making me very aware of the dress I had grown to hate that I was wearing. “You’re pretty why would I be the only one that thinks you’re attractive?”

I looked down again at the green grass wishing that I wasn't having this conversation a boy who I only knew his first name. “Don't you think this is all a little personal for somebody who I don't even know their first name?” I asked not even sure if what I had just say made any sense.

“It's Seguin,” he said as I gave him a look of confusion. He must of realized how confused I was because he then said, “my last name is Seguin. What’s your last name Rowen?”

“Huntington. Like the city I coincidently live in.”

“Are you from California?” he asked tilting his head to the side.

“Yep I'm from Huntington Beach.” I couldn't help but wonder if I should really be telling a stranger all of this.

“That cool. So back on topic, why would I be the only one that thinks you’re attractive?”

I stood up from the swing and stood in place and started messing with the bottom of my dress again. “I guess because I’ve never had a boyfriend,” I sighed in pure embarrassment at what I had just admitted that to a boy I really didn't even know.

Looking at him I was trying to judge what was going on in his mind after admitting I had never had boyfriend. He gave me a smile before standing up in front of me and grabbing my hand with the hand that wasn't holding his red cup he had been taking drinks from. I blinked a few times trying to get my brain to process everything that was going on.

“How is that possible you’ve never had a boyfriend?” he asked finally breaking the silence that had formed between us. “I mean you’re pretty and you seem really sweet.”

Glancing down at my hand that he was still holding I then brought my gaze up to his golden eyes. “Boys don't tend to like girls with my body type,” this all felt too personal to be telling a guy I had just met. I don't know if it was my intoxicated state that was letting me speak freely to me or it was the fact that he was just friendly.

“Boys are stupid,” his words caused me to smile at his comment. “Anyone would be a fool not to date you,” I felt my cheeks burn red as his eyes stayed locked onto my dark ones.

“You don't even know me,” I whispered not really sure how to take his comment. I wasn't used to random attractive guys complimenting me out of nowhere.

“I have been talking to you long enough to know you're a sweet girl, and you’re obviously pretty,” he said causing me to blush.



I had a agrees to go Jimmy’s party because Carly was suppose to be there. I had no interest in going to the party other then to hook up with her like I did at every other party I went to. Going to parties at Jimmy’s during my time off before the season started were losing the fun aspect of them. I was growing bored of getting drunk with the same people, who all seemed to drink just to hook up with each other.

I was getting ready to leave the party after I walked in on Carly naked in bed with my friend Sam. My relationship with Carly was nothing we just tended to sleep together at parties and at random times, but I would be lying if I said I was shocked she was having sex with Sam. I really had no emotional attachment to her so I wasn't hurt at all, her sleeping with Sam just allowed me to ended thing faster then I probably would have been able to when I was done with her.

My intentions were fully to leave when I saw the lonely girl sitting on the swing set by the porch. I don't know what possessed me but I walked over to talk to her.

As I we talked I started flirting with her I could tell she had been drinking like everyone else at the party, but I learned quickly she was very different from all the girls here. She had no interest in hooking up with random guys just for the hell of it. She was sweet and it seemed to be innocent. For some reason her innocence intrigued me, and there was a part of me that wanted to take her innocence away even if it made me an asshole.

We stood there talking about how she had never had a boyfriend, and the whole time my stupid hormone driven brain kept screaming at me that she was a virgin. I kept trying to keep my mind away from my dirty thoughts as she started telling about how she was in Boston visiting her aunt, uncle and cousin Serena. At the mention of her cousins name I remember when Serena had gone on a few dates with Jimmy and then became friends with the group.

Looking down at my hand I noticed I was still holding on to Rowen’s hand. I licked my bottom lip and looked back at her dark eyes to see she had a confused look on her face.

“How about we exchange numbers?” I said knowing that if we hung out outside of this party we could probably have a good time.

Pushing her eyes brows together she had a look on her face like she was trying to see if I was joking or not. “Okay,” I watched as she reached into the top of her dress and pulled out her iPhone.

As I took her phone I just stared at it for a moment just at the fact it had been in her bra all along. I swallowed before I typed in my number into her phone. I handed it back to her then reached into my jeans pocket and pulled out my black iPhone and handed it to her. I stared at her as she typed away at the keyboard before handing my phone back.

“You don't actually have to text me,” she said as she took a step back on the grass.

Before I could say anything to her she managed to fall on her butt on the grass. I guess she had had more to drink then I thought. I quickly stepped towards her and helped her up as her cheeks burned bright red. “I can't believe I managed to tell you I thought you were attractive then I fell on my ass. I just keep embarrassing myself with you,” she sighed as she messed with the bottom of her dress.

“Don't be embarrassed,” I wanted to let her know it wasn't a big deal.

“It's a little hard not to be,” she let out another sigh.

After convincing her it wasn't a big deal we must of stood on the front lawn for another hour just talking about random things. I watched as she slowly sober after I quickly went inside and got her a bottle of water. She told me all about her dreams of traveling around the world and how one day she wanted to be a journalist. I managed to tell her about how I achieved one of my dreams by being drafted into the NHL and now all I wanted to do was win a Stanley Cup. There was something about Rowen that she was just so easy to talk to, she was unlike any girl I had ever met before.

When her sister and cousin came outside to get her so they could head home I really wanted to kiss her goodbye but instead decided to just give her hug. If I was going to kiss her I didn't want it to be when she had been drunk.

I left the party shortly after Rowen did, and I decided to text and let her know I enjoyed getting to talk to her.

Tyler: Hey I hope you remember me in the morning, but maybe we should grab coffee tomorrow.

It was simple text and I hoped she would say yes. There was something about Rowen that seemed like a challenge to me and for some reason it was a challenge I wanted to win.



I woke up in the morning to see I had a ton of texts. There were a few from Carly telling me I couldn't be mad at her that she’s not my girlfriend. I could care less about Carly sleeping with Sam, I texted her back telling her I didn't care. Then there were some from both Sam and Jimmy asking where I went last night. I scrolled to the top to see a text from Rowen.

Rowen: I surprisingly remember everything from last night, every embarrassing moment. And I'm always down for coffee.