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“Tonight, I’m going for ‘Pass out at a frat party,’” she read aloud. “I’m thinking the only way to do that is through drinking.”
I laughed. “Yeah, or falling down the stairs, I guess, if all else fails.”
“I’d prefer to do it with drinking. Let’s keep the stairs thing as a backup.”
“Good plan.”
Lily wasn’t here yet. Her parents had surprised her with a late dinner to celebrate her first week at college. So, me and Isabelle had headed to the party first.
In the living room, deafening music boomed. There was so much vibration, the red cups of booze on the kitchen table movedwithout being touched. I tried to focus on the conversations around me, but I was exhausted. The Dunes job paid great, but the late nights were a killer.
“Well, look who it is. Twice in one week. Lucky me,” a cutting, horribly familiar voice spoke over the music.
I turned to see who had joined us. Selena, and her friend, Winter DeLaurie. I actually liked Winter. She was aptly named, as she was cold as ice and had little patience for anyone. She was one of the only students whose net worth rivaled Beckett’s. She was also one of the only girls whose razor-sharp comebacks could knock my cocky twin down a peg. Winter and Asher had never seen eye to eye, and the fireworks were always entertaining to watch.
She was stunning tonight, her white-gold hair wrapped into a crown braid with gold laurel leaves intertwined. A mask hung from her fingers. Her dress wasn’t just bed sheets, but a beautiful, white chiffon number that draped over her cheerleader’s body perfectly. Selena, the queen bitch standing beside her, wasn’t nearly as pretty. And her expression of fake friendliness only made her uglier.
“How are you finding HHU?” Winter asked me, ignoring Selena so completely it was as if she hadn’t spoken.
“It’s good…it’s a lot to take in,” I mumbled into my cup.
Selena, growing bored of being ignored, flounced to the bar and mixed a cocktail.
“Yeah, I know. It’s like, what’s the point?” Winter mused, looking around at the guys talking in the kitchen, disgust painted across her delicate features. If there was a poster girl for nihilism, Winter would win, hands down.
I introduced Isabelle to Winter and Selena and accepted a cup from Selena. She passed them around us and held hers in the middle for cheers. I didn’t really trust Selena enough to drink anything she’d made me, but seeing as it was the same drink she was having herself, it seemed safe enough.
I took a deep drink of whatever it was she’d handed me. It was strong as hell, and I coughed afterward.
“Sweetie, you act like you’ve never had a Long Island before.” Selena rolled her eyes at me.
“I haven’t.”
“Seriously? Relax and live a little. Cut loose,” Selena encouraged, and moved around me to pour more into my cup. She tapped hers against mine.
I stared at the amber liquid. Should I drink more? I wanted to stop thinking and escape from reality for even just a couple of hours. Was that so wrong?
I nodded and drank deeply. Selena clapped as I finished the cup in one pull. My head felt fuzzy, but pleasantly so, like all my troubles were drifting away.
“You want another?” Selena asked, trying to pour me more.
“No. That’s enough.” I pushed her hand away.
“Hmm, lightweight, are you? Figures.”
People came into the kitchen, and snatches of conversation reached me, male voices. The odd guy grabbed my waist or tried to talk to me. I floated on a haze of chemical ether.
My phone kept ringing. The noise was annoying. Finally, I answered.
“Where are you?” Lily demanded.
“At the party. Are you here?” I turned and squinted around the kitchen, as though Lily might be standing next to me.
“No. I just got changed. I’m ready to head over. Where are you?”
“I’m here, waiting for you!” I nearly shouted into the phone.
“Okay, I’ll be there soon.”
