Mr. Hayes has heard me and he comes over and sits beside me on the couch.
"Wow, Taryn, you, uh...seem to be a little drunk there."
I blow a laugh out, my lips sputtering. "Yes, you are correct!" I nudge his arm with my elbow and try to focus on his gorgeous face. "Why are you here? Are you bustin' us?"
He smiles a little and leans his forearms on his knees. "No, I'm not. I heard about the party and just wanted to come by and make sure you guys were alright." He grimaces, looking around the room at the drunken debauchery which surrounds us. "Good thing I did, I think."
I'm sitting with my legs crossed, which is a little daring in a dress this short, but I'm beyond caring. Besides, it's nice how naughty it feels to have Mr. Hayes so close to my slightly exposed panties. I lean against him and put my head on his shoulder.
"You know what, Misser Hayes?" Am I slurring my words? I'm pretty sure I am. The thought strikes me as really funny and I start giggling. "You are like, my fav..or..ite...teacher. 'Cuz you're like, soooo cute!" I nuzzle my cheek into his sweat shirt and he shifts slightly away from me.
"Taryn, I think it's time for you to go home. Can you stand?"
"On my feet?" I look at the floor blankly.
He grins. "Yes, your feet. Not your head."
I laugh and slowly untangle my legs. "You're so funny. I can stand on my head too though. And my hands. Isn't that cool?"
Mr. Hayes stands up and reaches down to pull me to my feet. "That is cool. You're very talented." He puts an arm around me and steers me towards the door. "I'll give you a ride home then I'll come back here and see about shutting this shindig down before it gets any worse."
"Wait, wait." Patrick suddenly blocks our way, swaying on his feet. "That's my girl, man. Are you stealing my girl, dude?"
"I'm just seeing to it she gets home safely, Patrick. Why don't you take a seat over there on the couch and I'll be back in just a bit." Mr. Hayes nods towards the seat we just vacated.
The stairs seem to be moving as we slowly climb up to the main level. I lean heavily on Mr. Hayes, but he holds me with little effort and steers me through the house and out to the street where he helps me into the front passenger seat.
I'm not quite sure how we get to my house or if I give him directions or what happens but suddenly, we're in my driveway and Mr. Hayes is leaning across me, unbuckling my seat belt.
"Boy, Taryn, do you think you can get in on your own or should I help you?"
Mr. Hayes, in my house. I try to answer him but it feels like my mouth is full of cotton. The best I can manage is to gesture at the house and moan incoherently.
He sighs. "Yeah, okay." Then he's on my side of the car, opening the door and I feel strong arms lifting me up.
Holy Mother of Pearl! He's carrying me inside! I'm too drunk to truly enjoy it though, which really sucks. My head feels like stone and I let it fall heavily to his chest, oh he smells so good. I want to smell every inch of him.
"I have to set you down, Taryn, so you can get your keys." He leans me against the house and hands me my purse. "Keys?"
"Um, yesshh...keys..." I look at him helplessly.
"Right." He takes my purse and finds my keys and quickly unlocks the door. "Are your parents home?"
I shake my head and the earth spins as I start to go down.
"Whoa, I got ya." Mr. Hayes picks me up again and I push my face into his neck, clinging to him.
"You don't have to hold on so tight, Taryn," he murmurs, going inside and shutting the door behind him with his foot. "I haven't dropped a lady yet."
A lady? He thinks I'm a lady?! Oh, God, why do I have to feel so pukey when I want to just kiss him like crazy? I should be thinking of Ryan, right? Ryan, who's Ryan?
"Wow, this place is awesome." Mr. Hayes looks around the foyer then carries me into the family room and gently lowers me to the couch. "Just lie there for a minute, Taryn. I'm going to go get you some water...and a bucket."
He disappears and I lay on the couch trying to come to terms with the fact that my sexy as hell teacher is wandering my house trying to find the kitchen.
After a few minutes he comes back with a glass of water and one of the buckets from the pantry. He puts his hand behind my neck and gently coaxes me to sit up a little.
"Alright, drink this down, Taryn. I know you don't want to, but trust me, it's the best thing you can do right now."
I obediently drink most of the water then he grabs a throw pillow and puts it behind my head and covers me with a blanket from the back of the couch.
"If you're gonna spew -" He holds up the bucket. "Do it in here. Not sure when your parents will be home, hope you won't be in too much trouble." He perches on the edge of the couch and our thighs touch through the blanket.
I can't stop staring at his face. I want him to kiss me. I want him to touch me. I know it's soooo wrong but maybe that's why I want it so much. I raise my hand slightly and lay it in his lap.
He takes my hand and holds it for a minute, then puts it back in my own lap. He's smiling, but his eyes are serious.
"Look, I don't want to do something really uncool like lecture you about drinking. But I really hope you are
