“Come on, you don’t just wanna hang out here all night, Brianna. Come to the party with me.” She had only been there maybe two hours and she was feeling more relaxed than she had in the past week. She was rolling and life was good. Maybe going out with John wouldn’t hurt. They used to party together all the time, what was one more time?

**Sigh ** “Alright, I’ll go if it’ll keep you from bugging me about it all night. Besides I think a fun crowd is just what I need.”

“That’s my girl. Come on; let’s get a move on then.” And just like that she was out the door and off to another party.

Usually she knew where she was going and who was going to be there, but it had been quite some time since her and John had actually hung out together and she didn’t know who his friends were anymore. They ended up at some house on the far North West side of town. She had never been to this particular house before and realized once inside that besides John she maybe knew only two or three other people in the entire packed house full of people. Brianna hadn’t even found a spot to sit yet when John was handing her a drink.

“Here, you should like this.”

“What is it?”

“Just taste it, trust me.” He had that ever-present smile on his face.

Sniffing the shot glass she wasn’t too sure about the contents, but decided she had come here to party and party she would. John’s grin grew as he watched her down the shot and then sputter and cough from the burn of it.

She barely choked out, “What the hell was that?”

He handed her a bottle of beer before answering, “Its a little drink called a Surfer on Acid.” Then noticing her eyeing the beer warily he urged on, “Just drink it Bree, it’s not gonna kill you.”

She said one word before guzzling half the bottle. And that one word was simply, “Brianna.” Hearing someone call her Bree reminded her of Nick, and right now she just wanted to forget about what ever it was she had done wrong to make him back away.

“Oh, so we’re back to that again, huh? Still your precious Backstreet Boy’s pet name? So, what does he think about you doing all this partying while he’s in rehab?”

“Don’t. Don’t even start with me about Nick. And Nick is not the one in rehab, okay? And leave AJ out of this.” She finished the rest of the bottle trying to swallow her temper with its contents. God this stuff is nasty! “Get me another drink.” Brianna tried to wave John off, but instead he leaned down and kissed her on the cheek.

“I’ve missed you.” He laughed before walking away, presumably to get her that other drink.

“I just bet you have.” She muttered under her breath questioning why she was out with him again.

<~ Chapter 47 or Chapter 49 ~>

In the End

Karina 2003