?“We just had two weeks of it,” Mila deadpans and Jullia shoots daggers at her with her eyes.
?Groaning, she steps out of Asher’s hold and comes for me. Not touching me, because my arms are bare in this tiny, sleeveless, black cocktail dress, she thrusts a bottle I have no idea where she procured and says, “I promised an early two thousands club scene. I have yet to see you drunk. Can we all just, for one fucking night, forget about everything? No more talk about prophecies, gods, school, dying, killing, or anything else depressing. Now drink.”
?I take the bottle from Jullia and I kid you not, the room literally brightens as she smiles. Like someDisneyprincess shit where birds sing and flowers grow where you walk. Most of everyone else nods and agrees.
?There’s a two second silence and thenRunwayWalkby Demrick featuring Brevi starts blaring and Jullia cheers. Letting the temperature in the room raise and easing some awkward tension. I raise the bottle to my nose and sniff only to slightly wince.
?“Oh,” the demon chuckles, “that’s like a hundred percent straight poison. That’s why little miss over there is already buzzed off her ass. We’ve been each sipping it but she took like, a full chug before realizing.”
?Jullia winces. “I had to have Asher repair the inside of my throat with how much – My party chick want Moscato out thebottle, my Mary Jane wanna fly like Lois Lane!” Shouting the lyrics for us all to hear as she sways her hips and slides down Asher’s front.
?Asher rolls his eyes at her dramatics. He then widens said eyes as I bring the lip to my mouth and begin chugging the rest of the half-filled bottle.
?The burn feeling like it’s going to melt my throat, but I finish the bottle and then sigh as I place the empty bottle on my desk.
?“And! Let’s take shots, no chasers, called a memory eraser, play the blame game later,” I sing with Jullia before clapping my hands to the beat.
?“Your runway walk,” we both chant. “Na na na na na na.”
?I smile big for her and then Ricka, Hanna, and Mila start getting into it. The three of them clearly not knowing the words but vibing with the beat, nonetheless. The boys look at us like we’re all deranged.
?Jullia’s right though. We should get to have fun.
?When the song ends Britney Spears starts playing and Jullia absolutely loses it. I take a second to look around my room and find Callahan still near my desk and bed as he watches me. His expression soft but resigned. He looks perfect in black slacks and a white button up with the sleeves rolled and the first several buttons undone.
?The warmth from the alcohol flushed my system for a moment, but now I can feel it dissipating. A side effect from the blue belladon. No other poisons or venoms can affect me. That’s why I have a few vials of my special blend I’ll knock back throughout the night. Five of them I already have in my clutchsince I won’t be wearing any of my necklaces with the halter styled top of my dress. Two vials still sit on my desk waiting for me.
?But staring at Callahan dressed like that – which is nothing since that’s practically casual for him – has warmth of a different kind flushing my system.
?Maneater comes on next and I wonder if just for a moment –
?Godskiller.
?My face cools as that damned sun devil whispers to me. I’m sure it looks like I’m closing Callahan off, and his face hardens before nodding his head.
?“Have fun tonight, Firecracker.” Then he begins to head out, and no one stops him.
?My heart thumps so hard in my chest at its even, controlled beat.99Problemsby JAY-Z starts and fuck this song. Idohave ninety-nine problems, and I might not have a bitch but I am the bitch.
?“JOHNNY KAVANAGH!”Jullia screams, “MY LOVE!”
?I give Asher a look. “What the fuck is wrong with your girlfriend?”
?He glares at me as Hanna grabs her sister and they start belting the words. I have no idea who the fuck Johnny Kavanagh is – probably one of her so-called ‘book boyfriends’ – but I do want one fucking night.
?Swiping the two vials, I shoot them both and the burn is instant along with the hit.
?Warmth floods and my head goes up in the clouds. I do love this song.
?“Why the fuck can’t we have rugby?” Jullia yells as Hanna continues screaming these lyrics.
?More drinks get passed around and like this I can barely feel the burn as I brush up against the other girls. When the song is finished the boys collect us to go outside. The demon is going to open a portal for us – I think.
?I don’t know.
?Not really.
?But I feel good and it’s few and far between when I get to feel good.
