Page 65 of Surviving Slater

"Why are you taking these?" Her eyes were alarmed as she held the bottle.

"Things have been stressful lately." I shrugged. Revealing my childhood demons wasn't going to happen.

"Why didn't you say anything?" she asked, looking a little hurt.

"You've had your own stuff to deal with." She'd been through hell and was still trying to recover.

"You can talk to me anytime," she said, handing me the bottle back. "No matter what I have on my plate I always have space for you."

Her words made me tear up and we hugged.

"Sin's going to come looking for you if we stay here too long." She nodded, knowing I was right, before she released me.

"Next time you need someone, you call me," she insisted.

"I will."

I checked my makeup one last time before I left the bathroom, following Taylor back to the living room.

I smiled at Levi as I sat down. His hand touched my back and I felt reassured by the action. The medication kicked in and I didn't feel like I was trying to suppress a flood of emotion I couldn't stop.

For the first time I could look at Slater and not feel like the air was sucked out of my lungs and there was no pain in my chest. Cathy laughed. Slater's gaze met mine. This time I could show him the same indifference he'd shown me and I felt like I would be able to walk away from the evening not feeling shattered.

Tomorrow, when my pills wore off, I could fall apart. Cathy smiled at me and I smiled back with more ease than before.

When we left Sin and Taylor's place, I allowed Levi to lead the way to his car with his hand holding mine.

"How're you doing?" he asked as he backed out of the driveway.

"I've been better," I admitted, unable to stop myself from watching Slater open the door for his date.

I didn't know what hurt more: the fact that he clearly looked like they were on a date, or that all I had ever been was a satisfying screw.

"So what happened between the two of you?" he asked.

I studied him for a while before I said, "I wanted more than he could give."

My words surprised me. I gave a hollow laugh. Look at how it had ended up for me.

When we pulled up outside the party, the music was blaring. It made me want to dance. I don't know if it was the medication or alcohol or the combination of the two but for the first time that evening I felt lighter.

"You okay?" Levi asked as he led me into the party with his arm around my waist.

I nodded as I beamed at him, my emotions feeling lighter.

He smiled, shaking his head slightly. "I think you need to slow down on the drinking."

I didn't answer; instead, I leaned my head against his arm.

When we entered the room, I caught Slater looking back at us. It was only for a few seconds but before I could read his expression he looked away and back to his date.

Had I imagined it? I refused to analyze every look from him. His actions spoke volumes and that was what counted.

Inside the party, I dragged Levi onto the dance floor. He was usually shy but he stayed with me. I lifted my arms into the air and swung my hips in rhythm with the beat of the song. Levi danced beside me, keeping his hand loosely on my hip. I turned to face him and grinned at him.

Taylor and Sin danced beside us. And as I turned to face Taylor, Cathy joined us. I tried to be as friendly as I could so I didn't show my true feelings. It didn't help that she was beautiful, and I felt frumpy beside her. It only deflated my confidence.

It also didn't help when Slater stood behind her. I promised myself I would only stay for an hour or two and then I would go home.