Invisible String

Reid's Pov: Night of the Party.

"I'm just saying Josie is kinda hot, my dude." I rolled my eyes at my hornball of a friend. I'd been friends with Grayson since kindergarten; unfortunately, he was my neighbour, and there was no way of escaping him or his hormones.

We both arrived at the party 10 minutes ago. I was constantly searching for my girlfriend Hannah everywhere. I did, however, come across Jaden, Josie's ex, who appeared unbothered that he had just cheated on his girlfriend.

All I wanted to know was the truth: Was it Hannah?

"I was wondering when you would finally arrive!" Ingrid, another one of my childhood friends, walked behind me while linking arms with Jamie.

"We went to the gas station for this." I held up the crate of beers and handed it to Jamie. He unlocked his arm and accepted my beers.

"You know we already have plenty, right?" Jamie was roommates with Miles—the guy throwing this party. Jamie and Miles didn't go to the same college, but they did happen to be cousins.

"I just thought I'd replace whatever I drink." I replied with a shrug. I have always been that kind of person.

Ingrid joined me, handing me a red cup containing an unknown liquid. I brought the cup to my nose, and it immediately burned my nostrils—tequila

"You looked like you needed it." She patted my chest before leaving. I followed her body through the crowd, eventually stopping in front of Hannah. Finally!

I approached Hannah, hoping what I had heard was not true. I hate to admit it, but Hannah was the first girl I dated, and I was a fuckboy who refused to settle down. But she changed me, or so I thought.

"Hey Han." I wrapped my arm around her waist and drew her closer. I could feel her body tense up as I moved. "Are you ok?" I looked down at the redhead.

"Yeah, I just didn't expect you to be here-" I wrinkled my brow. I was invited last weekend; did she forget? "-you don't even go to my college; it's just a surprise, that's all!" She sipped her drink in an awkward manner. I could see her panicked eyes searching the room.

"I'll leave if you want me to." I know when I'm not wanted, but I wanted to know the truth. "But before I go, I need you to tell me the truth."

Her gaze shifted from the bustling living room to my face. She appeared nervous, as though I knew something I shouldn't have.

"I don't want you to leave. I just want you to stop acting like this." She was riling herself up. "Ever since you've arrived, you've been acting weird towards me."

"What are you talking about? You're the one acting so hostile towards me?" All I've done is walk over to her. I knew she was guilty of something; I could tell. I mean, that used to be my behaviour.

"I can't do this right now; there's a lot that happened tonight, and I just don't have the time for it!" She drew herself away from me. As she started to leave, I caught her arm and tugged her to my side.

"That's the thing you won't talk to me." I groaned.

"You do this every time. I open up to you time and time again, but you just shut me down. You weren't like this when we first got together; you've changed, and I can't say it's for the better." She flipped her hair over her shoulder with her spare hand.

"Looks like she's getting herself into another situation." A bystander commented on our conversation. I glanced between them and Hannah.

"What are they talking about? Just be honest with me." She sighed and pulled herself away, shovelling her cup against the bystander's chest, before taking my hand and pulling me out the front door.

She released my hand, propelling me forward so that I was facing her and away from the house. It was either make or break.

"If you already know the truth, why are you pressing me for it?" Hannah brushed her hands through her hair and then examined me.

"Because I want to get it from you." She focused on her feet. "Did you sleep with Jaden?" With a sigh, she finally made eye contact with me.

"We haven't had sex yet, but we've done other things." I could feel my heart fall out of my ass onto the grass below me. I knew the truth, but it still hurt.

"It's been happening for a while now, and I'm starting to get feelings for him. I mean, it wasn't supposed to happen this way." I scoffed.

"It wasn't supposed to happen at all, Hannah! I am your goddamn boyfriend, and he is a piece of shit who is cheating on his four-year-long girlfriend for a virgin." I spat out; I was filled with rage, and all I could see was crimson.

"Fuck you asshole."

"You know what, Hannah? You're probably just a joke or a game to him. He's a fuckboy, just like I was. I know his type; I was him before you came along!" As I ranted, Hannah's eyes welled up with tears.

"You fucking ruined me; I should've never dated you; I should've just done what my friends said—fuck and chuck!" I continued.

And with that, her hand connected to my cheek. Once I finally stopped, it took me seconds to realise what I had done. Did I truly mean what I said? Maybe, maybe not.

"You Reid are a piece of shit! I would've never given myself to you anyway; you don't even care about yourself—yet alone care about my needs and wants." Storming back towards the house, she ran into Jaden as she entered.

"I thought I heard arguing at my party." Slowly, I turned to face him. I could feel the heat rising in my veins as he approached me. He was wearing his football jersey, and all I could think of was Hannah wearing it to the next game.

"If you're going to fight, I suggest you head to a boxing ring because we don't do that here." I rolled my eyes as his boys backed him up and surrounded me. I could spot Jamie, Ingrid, and Grayson making their way outside.

"I heard you cheated on Josie." I spat as he patted his friends on their backs. He paused and fixed me with his intense gaze.

"Oh shit!" He covered his mouth. "You're Hannah's boyfriend, right?" He grinned. "Reid Williams, Midtown's star quarterback."

"Yeah, and you're Jaden Johnson, the guy who can't even fuck a virgin." That's when I could see his eyes beginning to fill with rage. "I mean, I guess the dry humping is going well, right?"

"You're one to talk? You've been dating her for two months, and you haven't even fucked her yet." I guess he did have a point, but I was holding off for her. I wanted her to do it when she was ready.

"The Reid William I heard about used to bang girls left, right, and centre. He never cared about being a virgin or not; it was all a game to you."

"Exactly, it wasn't a game with Hannah. But you had to come and take her from me." I spat out.

"Sorry, I guess I learnt from the best." He gestured towards me, drawing everyone's attention. "I do hate to tell you that I've been with her since June—technically, you came along and just hitched a ride in our situationship."

"Since June? You've got to be shitting me." I groaned; she'd been with him for 3 and a half months.

"If you wanna know a little secret?" He edged towards me. I was close enough to feel his beer-stained breath on my face.

"I'm only with her to get her virginity." My heart began to race. "Once I got it, boom, I would dump her ass." Was this what it was like when I was screwing around with various girls every weekend? I felt so repulsive and dirty.

"You can have her then. I bet you any money she'd come running back to you." He laughed with his friends. I could see Ingrid shaking her head in disbelief.

"Guess you'll be having my sloppy seconds then." I clenched my jaw as I watched him raise his hand and rest it on my shoulder. "I'll let you know if she's any good."

I finally lost it, and my fist instantly came into contact with his jaw. He hit the ground like a sack of potatoes. His friends reached down to grab him, but the people around us had other plans—to launch a full-fledged war.

What have I done?