Someone Else's Life Read Free Page A

turn and squint into the crowd, but the dark mass of writhing bodies twine into each other anonymously. I turn back to Andy, confused, and am suddenly shoved headfirst into his shoulder, beer slopping over my back.
    “Hey!” Andy pushes the guy who knocked me. “Watch it, okay?”
    The guy staggers away and collapses on a sofa.
    “Ow …,” I moan quietly, the taste of fresh blood salty on my tongue, the scent of Andy’s aftershave tickling my nose.
    Andy looks down at me, concerned. “You okay?” He brushes my lips carefully with his thumb, and my head swims with more memories.
    “You’re soaked!” He grins, wiping beer from my hair.
    “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.”
    Apart from a pile of jackets, the bathroom is empty, the faint thud thud thud pulsing distantly through the floorboards. Andy grabs a damp cloth and starts to gently clean my cut, his brow furrowed in concentration as he leans closer, making me dizzy. He cups my cheek and my skin blazes, my heart pounding as his eyes meet mine.
    Without thinking, I lean forward and press my lips against his.
    He pulls back, surprised. “Rosie—” I search his eyes anxiously, his gaze deep in mine.
    Then suddenly we’re kissing, the taste of his soft lips so sweet and familiar, my heart thumping frantically against my ribs.
    God, I haven’t been kissed — haven’t been touched — in so, so long …
    I press closer, the kisses deepening, lengthening, as my mind spins into oblivion, my body on fire.
    This is it. This is what I need. To escape. To just lose myself completely. To forget …
    I kiss him harder, pushing my chest against his, my hand moving to his zip.
    “Mm …,” Andy groans.
    I tug at the little metal pull.
    “Rosie …”
    I push closer, my tongue sliding against his as I slip my hand inside …
    “Rose, no—Rosie!” He pushes me away, my lips stinging in the empty air.
    “I’m sorry,” he sighs, running his hands through his hair. “I’m sorry, I can’t … I can’t do this.”
    “What?” I blink, his face swimming in front of mine. “Why? What’s wrong?”
    He looks away and I frown, trying to search his eyes, but they won’t keep still, won’t focus.
    “Andy?”
    “Rosie, I just … I can’t.” He looks at me, his eyes pained, then looks away, sighs.
    Then I realize.
    “You don’t want me.” I swallow painfully, my throat sour as I shiver, cold suddenly. “You never did.”
    “Rosie, no, that’s not what I—”
    I push past him, my chest tight, the room blurring as I stagger for the door.
    “Rose, wait—” He reaches for me
    “Get off me!” I wrench away, reeling as I lurch into the corridor.
    There are bodies everywhere—leaning against walls and sprawled over the floor, yelling at me as I stumble over their limbs, my own legs threatening to buckle at any moment. I clutch at the wall, feeling my way along, trying to keep going, stay upright, get out of here, breathe .
    Suddenly the wall ends. I feel myself falling and can’t stop. I wince, ready for the slamming pain. But it never comes.
    “Whoa there, tiger.” A guy’s face swims in front of mine as he pulls me upright and he leans me back against the wall.
    “You okay? Nearly had a little fall there.”
    “Another one falling for you, Kyle?” his friend jokes.
    Kyle laughs, and I hear myself join in. He takes a swig of beer, then offers me the bottle. I take it eagerly—too fast—the glass crashing against my teeth as the cool liquid slops down my front. Kyle laughs, and I smile up at him, licking my lips, the taste of beer bitter and cool in my mouth.
    “What’s your name, anyway?” he asks, brushing my hair out of my eyes. “Do I know you?”
    “I …” I try to concentrate, but his face keeps swimming out of focus. “Um … Ro …”
    “Ro?” He has dimples when he smiles. “Well, Ro,” he says, leaning in closer, “you’ve got very pretty eyes.”
    He moves to tuck my hair behind my ear, and suddenly I’m