“Well, if you change your mind, I'll be leaving here late in the afternoon, and I would love for you to come with me.”
I keep an eye on her every move as she turns around and starts digging through her drawers for a bikini before she smiles as she presses one against her slender body.
“What do you think of this?”
I give a little smile in return as I gaze at the brilliantly colored swimwear.
“It will look dead cute on you.”
I can see the excitement flash through her piercing blue eyes as she lays it on the bed, and I start thinking about how I could potentially go with her, but I would have to avoid the guys that are there. I know it shouldn't be like this; it's frustrating, and I need to find a way to get these stalkers to either leave me the hell alone or reveal themselves to me and tell me why the fuck they're doing this, but how?
My mind has still been consumed by Justin’s death and what I saw that night. Although things have become strangely quiet since then, his dead face is haunting my nightmares. I have been checking online daily to see if he has been found or if someone has reported him as missing, but the strange thing is, there has been absolutely nothing.
It's the next day, a Saturday, and Lucy has music blasting in our room as she prepares for the pool hangout, but I am still debating if I should go with her while sitting on my bed.
“Come on, Char. I won't say it again: Get the fuck ready.”
I sigh and roll my eyes while swinging my legs over the side.
“Has anyone ever told you that you're fucking bossy?”
She giggles and gives me a raised eyebrow.
“Once or twice.”
I pause on the edge of the bed, observing her sliding a t-shirt on over her bikini.
“Who else will be there?”
She glances at me as she responds.
“Only a few people; I doubt Chaos or Reign will be there.”
My brows furrow in confusion as my head tilts to one side.
“So, they're just letting people throw parties at their house without them even being there?”
She shrugs before pulling her snug, white pants up her legs.
“I suppose they trust the people who are there. They're a tight group.”
She gazes at me while she buttons them up before continuing.
“Do I have to choose your swimwear, or will you do it yourself?”
She smirks, which makes me smile and shake my head. I sigh while rising from the bed, stroll towards my drawers and search for a bikini as well as something to put on over it before heading to the bathroom.
“I'll be ten minutes.”
I immediately change into a plain khaki boob tube two-piece and throw on some denim, tattered shorts with a black crop top. When I am finished, I move on to brush my long, brown hair and slip into some white Nike sneakers before entering our room,where Lucy is already waiting. With a big smile, she scans me with her eyes.
“I'm so glad you're coming! This is going to be so much fun!”
My lips create a faint, apprehensive smile, and she approaches before linking my arm with hers.
“Alright, let's go before you change your mind!”
After a short drive, we arrive, and the mansion appears different. It is even bigger now that the afternoon sun is glowing upon it, and no longer has the same atmosphere as the party when we were here last. It stands tall and intimidating, its luxurious exterior much more noticeable without the distractions of the young adults dancing outside. When we step out of the Uber, I gaze up at the tall structure as if it might swallow me whole before speaking to Lucy beside me.
