Chapter 61

Chapter Sixty-One

Maddy

" W hat's he going to do?" Zak asked, his arm around me, and his thumb softly rubbing my shoulder.

We were at the party of some boy Liam knew from his football team. Even Ana had come with us. The atmosphere was still a little bit frosty, but she'd thawed enough to agree to come out.

"He said he's not going to do it, but I know he's starting to feel guilty."

"You can't just give a kidney to someone you don't know." Zak frowned and shook his head. "It's flipping bonkers, isn't it. I bet your dad's head must be mashed."

"His dad turning up is one thing, but him asking for his bloody kidney is…" I shrugged, unsure how to find the words for what was going on.

"You wouldn't offer yours would you?"

I couldn't help but laugh at his worried tone and the deep crease between his brows. "No way. I don't want Dad to do it, it's too dangerous." I leaned in and gave him a quick kiss. "So, stop worrying."

"Want me to speak my dad and ask him what he thinks?"

I hadn't thought about that, but it was a brilliant idea. "It might make me feel a bit better, just in case he says yes."

Zak hugged me closer. "I'll do it tomorrow. And for the record, I don't think you or your dad should feel guilty."

I narrowed my eyes on him. "How did you know I felt guilty?"

"I just know," he chuckled. "It's who you are."

And I loved that he knew that about me. It was one more reason to make my little heart sigh.

It was like I knew that when he rubbed his temple with one finger, he was about to say something that he thought might upset me. Like now.

"What?" I asked.

"About you feeling guilty, you shouldn't with Ana." He flashed a glance across the room to where Ana was scowling at a boy who was chatting to her. "I know you think you should be the one making the effort and feel bad that you're annoyed with her, but you shouldn't. All you've tried to be is a good friend. She's the one who?—"

"I know," I said, cutting him off, not wanting to argue, but knowing we would if we continued talking about Ana. "I know, Zak, but you know she's my oldest friend and I can't just cut her off." Irritated, I sat forward so that his hand fell from my shoulder.

"Mads." His fingers wrapped lightly around my bicep. "I'm sorry okay, but you have no idea how scared I was for you. You know, after what happened to Ruby."

Turning to face him, I was surprised at how worried he looked. His eyes were hooded, and he was chewing on his bottom lip as he watched me carefully.

"Zak, I was never in any danger. It was just vodka, babe."

He started to spin one of his rings around and there was no denying the tension and worry on his face and in his eyes.

"It might not have been. Plus, Ana had no idea whether you would have a bad reaction or not."

"She's seen me drinking vodka before, Zak. She knows exactly what I can and can't drink." I cupped his face and he leaned into it. "She was never going to put me in real danger, but I understand your worries, especially after what happened with Ruby."

His hand moved down my arm until our fingers linked and he pulled me back against his chest. "I promise not to mention it again."

"I do appreciate you worrying about me." Kissing him quickly, it felt good to feel his lips lift into a smile. "Fancy a dance, I love this song."

Zak tipped his head back and listened as Snakehips' All My Friends started to boom out. "Yeah, okay, let's go."

Taking his hand in mine, with his arm draped over my shoulder, we made our way onto the makeshift dancefloor in the conservatory. It was heaving with people and smelled distinctly of sweaty bodies and weed. Emma and Liam were in the midst of the crowd, slow dancing and necking on like they'd run out of oxygen. Liv was standing and talking to a couple of girls who left our school the year before, but she gave us a wave as we looked over.

Zak took hold of both my hands, lifting them and moving them and his hips in time to the music. Dancing was something else he was good at, the way he moved made me feel all hot and gave me butterflies deep in the pit of my stomach. He had great rhythm that wound its way through his whole body as he mesmerised me with every single move. I followed his lead and when he put a hand against the small of my back and pulled me closer, we were practically joined. I loved that with each sway and thrust he grew harder against his jeans his gaze growing more intense.

As the song built up towards its end, Zak's hand moved to my bum, and he pulled me even closer so I could feel the outline of his erection.

"Do you know how much I like you," he said close to my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. "You're like no one I've ever met before."

"Is that a good thing?" I asked, pushing my hips forward and rubbing myself against him. It earned me a groan, and his grip on my backside tightened.

"Very." His teeth nipped my earlobe, and I could feel myself getting wetter with every single second.

"Do you think there's somewhere we could go?" I asked, raking my fingers through his hair, gently scratching his scalp. "I really need to be alone with you now."

Instantly his lips were on mine, and his tongue pushed inside, slowly seducing mine with every sweep. Without saying anything he lifted me up, and my legs wrapped instinctively around his waist as he pushed through everyone, all the time his lips on mine.

"Seriously."

I would have ignored the comment and carried on to wherever we were going, but a hand in the middle of my back stopped our progress.

Zak groaned and sighed heavily. "What, Ana?"

Dropping my head to his shoulder, dread swirled in my stomach. I knew from her tone that she was not in a good mood. It was hard, angry and drunk. Tapping Zak's back, I dropped my feet to the floor and turned to face my friend.

"What's wrong?" I asked her.

She rolled her eyes and growled as somebody jostled her from behind. "Fuck off," she snapped before turning back to us. "Do you two always have to be so fucking gross, sucking face all the time."

"It's not really hurting you is it," I retorted, feeling around for Zak's little finger and linking it with mine. "So, I don't know what the problem is."

"Do you know how disgusting you look, mounting him like some cheap tart on heat?"

"Oi, watch your mouth," Zak warned. "Don't speak to her like that."

Looking up at him, I saw his jaw tense, the muscles popping as he ground his teeth. He took a big breath and then turned to me.

"Let's go and get a drink, babe."

"Oh, let's go and get a drink, babe ," Ana mocked in a bad copy of his accent.

"Ana." I stamped my foot, trying to get her to listen. She whipped her head in my direction, a sneer on her face. "What the hell is your problem? You're being a complete bitch, again ."

"Better a bitch than a slut, hey, Maddy?"

"Right, that's enough," Zak said, pointing at her. "You do not speak to anyone like that, least of all Maddy. She's been nothing but good to you, helping you as much as she can, and all you've done in return is to be exactly what she said, a bitch ."

"Oh fuck off, Zak."

"Ana, what the hell." I grabbed her wrist, not hard, but she instantly snatched her arm away.

"Leave me alone, don't touch me."

"Why are you being like this? What's going on? Is it your mum again?"

"I've told you, no. Stop sticking your nose in to my business." She turned in a flash and started pushing people out of the way.

"Ana!"

"Leave her." Zak tugged on my hand. "She's just going to give you more shit."

"You don't think I should check on her?" I got on my tiptoes, looking over the heads of people trying to spot her. "Because there's clearly something really wrong with her."

"Yeah, she's fucking awful." His nostrils flared. "She's leaving." He nodded towards the general direction of the door, out into the garden.

"She's not walking home on her own is she?" Anxiety washed through me as I looked up at him. "She can't do that, Zak. Maybe I should go with her, make sure she gets home okay.

"She's not your responsibility, Mads." He heaved out a resigned sigh. "I'll go and check on her. If she's going home I'll make sure she calls for a lift. Unless you want to go, and we can both walk her home."

She was my best friend and she'd been going through a lot at home. "Should I come with you to check on her, make sure she calls for a lift?" She had been awful, though, vile to me and Zak, in fact. "Then again, why should she spoil our night?"

Zak nodded. "Okay, you stay here." He reached through a couple of people and grabbed Liam by the shoulder. "Lee, just stay with Mads for a minute will you."

Liam nodded and dragging Emma with him joined us. "What's up?" he asked with a chin lift.

"Ana has kicked off with Mads, and now she's stormed off. Maddy is worried she's walking home on her own."

Liam frowned and Emma rolled her eyes. "I'll come with you. Stay with Maddy, Em, we won't be long."

"Well, I'd leave her to it," Emma complained. "She told me I looked fat earlier."

"She what?" I asked, my eyes almost popping out of my head.

Emma linked my arm. "Yeah, said I looked fat in this skirt. Normally I'd let it go, with all the shit she's got going on, but I've had enough of her, so I told her to piss off."

Emma was right, Ana had gone too far. "Maybe we should leave her to it, like Em said."

"No, it's fine. We'll be back in a minute," Zak said, clearly frustrated.

As he and Liam made their way out to find her, I spotted a couple getting up from a sofa, pulling up the lad who was sitting next to them. He was only semi-conscious but awake enough to be able to stumble along with them.

"Quick, free sofa," I hissed, grabbing Emma's hand and dragging her with me. When we got to it, we both flopped down with a sigh.

"She's a fucking nightmare," Emma groaned. "I thought Liam was going to blow a gasket when she called me fat."

"Same with Zak. He was fuming."

"What did she say to you?"

"Called me a slut and told me to stop sticking my nose in her business."

"A slut? Wow, she really is an arse."

I sighed heavily. "I know but am I bad for not wanting to go after her?"

"God, no," Emma scoffed. "Your night shouldn't be spoiled just because of her. You tried to help her. You sorted out her house, got your dad to help her mum. Then she got us absolutely wasted." She shrugged. "So…"

"Yeah, you're right," I replied with a determined nod. "I've tried and if she's not willing to meet me half way then that's her problem, not mine."

"Exactly." Emma lifted her bum and pulled out a pair of boxer shorts. "What the hell?"

Holding them up we both stared at them. They were huge and slightly stiff. With a screech, she threw to over her shoulder, and we both burst out laughing.

"Where's Liv anyway?" Emma asked, wiping her hands on her skirt.

"Talking to Millie Johnson and her friend. You remember Millie, she left last year. The girl who went out with Chris Dickinson."

"Oh yeah, I remember her. Didn't know Liv knew her."

"I think they used to go to dance classes together when they were little." I looked to where Zak and Liam had disappeared, hoping to see them coming back, but there was no sign. "I think Millie is at Manchester Uni, so they're probably talking about that."

"Ah yeah, probs. Fancy going running tomorrow?"

I frowned. "Running? When did you start running?"

"Tomorrow." She burst out laughing. "Liam has amazing stamina. I think I need to get fit."

"No," I cried. "That's gross, he's practically my cousin."

"You know we're having sex," she exclaimed. "So, what's the big deal?"

"You saying about his stamina has made me queasy."

She rolled her eyes, and we continued chatting for a few minutes until she pointed behind me. "They're back, but no Ana."

I looked over, and Zak shook his head with a shrug. My stomach rolled because he didn't look happy, and I wondered what else she'd done.

"Nowhere to be seen," Liam said, sitting down next to Emma.

"I think she's gone, babe." He took my hand and pulled me up, took my place and then patted his knee. "We couldn't find her anywhere. My guess is her mum picked her up."

Hesitating to sit down, I looked out towards the garden, but Zak tugged on my hand.

"Jack Grayson said she went through the gate after yelling at Marcus to fuck off."

"Christ," I groaned. "What the hell is wrong with her?" I finally sat down. "Do you think we should go after her?" I asked half-heartedly.

"No," Zak said sternly. "She'll be fine, besides she's been horrible to all of us tonight."

"He's right," Liam said. "Let her cool down and then speak to her tomorrow."

They were both right. She had been awful, and she did need to cool down, so I wasn't going to let her spoil my night any further.