Page 126 of Prove You Wrong

We head to the makeshift bar where we last saw her, but she’s not there. However, there is a pile of discarded shot glasses. But they could be anyone’s, right? Next to it is the table with nibbles, easy catering like crisps, nuts, a cheese board draped with grapes. Still no Josie.

A cheer sounds from one corner of the barn and I’m drawn to the weird energy being emitted. Nate follows close behind, hand at my back.

There’s a circle of people sitting down, bottles in hand. Chunk seems to be the ring-leader. He’s holding something up –– small, round, and purple –– and giving instructions. He pops it between his teeth and turns to the woman on his right who takes it from him with her lips and turns to the person on the other side of her. Pass the grape, perhaps.

I track the progress and that’s when I see her. Josie is sat to the left of Chunk and onherleft, Scott.

‘Shit,’ I hiss as I watch Scott receive the grape — or whatever it is — in his mouth.

He turns to Josie and it’s like time slows.

This isn’t going to end well. But I’m not sure for who.

My feet track forwards as I helplessly watch on. Josie retrieves the grape, eyes open, and she pauses. Then she turns and Chunk is there, his big hands cup her head as he pulls her to him. His mouth consumes hers.

My eyes flick to Scott. It looks like a vein’s about to burst on his forehead.

Josie’s crushed against Chunk, her hands wrapped around his broad shoulders.

‘What’s happened to the grape?’ Nate’s breath tickles my ear. He’s clearly been as enthralled by this inevitable car crash of a party game as I have.

Then Josie climbs up to straddle Chunk’s lap as the onlookers give a whoop and the gang starts to break up. Game over.

I can barely move out of the way quick enough as Scott comes thundering towards us.

He clips Nate as he charges by.

‘Easy, bro.’

‘I knew this was a bad idea,’ he rumbles as he storms out.

To be continued …