“Of course I know hi—”
“Then you should know he’s a dramatic bitch if there’s ever been one.” Sasha’s voice is kept on a tight leash, her eyes scanning the crowd like a hawk chasing a mouse.
Relief rushes through me that someone shares my worry and I’m not just making everyone crazy for no reason—then Sasha raises a hand and pushes past me.
“Let's split up and meet back at the car in an hour.” She easily picks her way out of the trees and down the sandy slopes to where a group of girls is dancing at the edge of a crowd. I lose sight of them just as Sasha sweeps a redhead into a hug.
“...I guess we're doing that then,” I mutter, drawing up my shoulders.
“Cool with me.” Vince speeds up his steps. The crowd swallows him up quickly and seamlessly.
I'm left behind, feeling lost in a maze of people without any sense of direction. Even the music is louder all of a sudden.
These kinds of parties are something I have always wanted to be invited to. They are what I imagined would be part of a proper college experience. I should have known that I’d feel like an intruder—uninterested in drinking, worried about looking stupid while dancing, and therefore avoiding it, paranoid that everyone knows that I don’t belong.
I huff, shaking my head. None of that is important. Right now, I only want to find Olli and make sure he's okay, and then go back home and wait for Micah just like I said.
Digging my phone out of my pocket, I turn to the huge bonfire, figuring it's the best place to start. I try Olli's number several times, but he doesn't pick up. My messages from earlier are also still unread. Pushing my phone back into my pocket, I squeeze past a disorganized mass of people that's crowding the makeshift bar.
“Hey.” I have to shout to be heard over the music. “I’m looking for som—”
“No skipping! You have to go to the back of the line!” the guy I nudged grunts back, barely turning his head to look at me. Even over his shoulder, his breath smells of beer and stronger alcohol.
I bite my tongue so as not to grimace. “I don’t want a drink. I just—”
“Didn’t you hear me? Back. Of the. Line,” he growls. His Greek-letter-polo-wearing friends nod in agreement.
I shake my head but turn around to find someone less concerned about getting their drink.
The music is deafening the closer I get to the bonfire. Mixed with the blazing heat, I can barely breathe from how the bass pounds through me. I speed up when I see a free spot right behind a line of people. However, as soon as I stumble into it, I realize my mistake.
A flock of frat bros is cutting a path through the crowd.
And I’ve just stepped into their way.Like a deer wandering in front of a speeding car, I can only stare.
They form a many-headed monstrosity. Several arms are slung around shoulders, making every man look even bigger. Their grins are grimaces, distorting further when their eyes brush over me.
Where is he? What did you do?!
For a second, I imagine I have the gall to shout at them, but the next, a football player’s elbow finds my side, making me crumble out of the way. I shrink back into the other nobodies who continue their writhing and dry humping once the college royalty has passed.
I’m saved from spiraling into worry by my phone buzzing against my leg. Grasping it tightly, I shoulder my way out of the crowd, ignoring the indignant complaints. I only have eyes for the messages coming in.
5 missd calls?
your riddiculous
comign bak home
My fingers are itching to type out the lecture I want to give. How Olli really shouldn’t be making fun when I was genuinely worried about him. How he’s an idiot for going out by himself in the first place.
However, the dots jump up and disappear and then jump up again, indicating that he’s still typing, so I hesitate.
did sth stupid. Feel terrrbl.
bt dont worry
I tip my head back, wanting to scream.
