Page 10 of Fatality

Jules reaches the counter first, she snatches the comm and taps it open causing a waist-up hologram video projection.

I'm probably going to shove her head into the freezer until her eyebrows freeze off.

Liam appears instantly, his silver-white hair is combed perfectly, except for a few intentionally messy strands falling in front of his eyes.

His grey-blue gaze lands on us wrestling around the kitchen, and he smiles.

Fuck.

I pry Charlie off my arm and shove myself in front of the hologram.

“Hey, babe!” Liam greets “Hey, Jules. Charlie.”

“Hi, Mister—” Charlie starts.

I immediately elbow her out of frame.

“Hey. Why'd you call? How are you?” I ask, slightly out of breath.

“Well, I'm good,” Liam says softly. “I was actually calling to see if you wanted to go out tonight, but I can see you already have plans.”

His eyes drift over me, then the girls.

“You look beautiful, Riv.” He hesitates. “But isn't that outfit a little...” He trails off. “Forget it, you’re perfect.”

I force a small smile, but it doesn’t reach my eyes.

“Yeah, thanks.”

Out of sight of the hologram, Jules and Charlie are making exaggerated rolls of their eyes behind Liam's back.

I sigh.

“So, we were about to head out,” I reach back and rub my neck “but you can come over tonight and wait for me if you want. I won't be out too late. Or... I'll try not to be. You know how they are.”

“Yeah, I know.” Liam nods. “Don't worry about it. Alright, let's do that, babe. Have fun tonight.”

The call ends, and his hologram disappears into static.

I glance down at my outfit, a flicker of discomfort settling in my stomach.

I like it. So what's the problem? Too revealing?

I'll wear whatever I want. It's girls' night, and I feel hot in it.

I look up at the girls, they're standing there with their arms crossed, waiting for me.

We exchange a glance, nod in silent agreement, and head out.

Ending up in one of District 6's dance bars—the entertainment district—might not have been our smartest idea.

The crowd is a chaotic mix of drunks, drug addicts, chromeheads, and Belows from the Lower Layers.

Not that the Uppers are any better.

Once they start partying, they're usually worse, carrying themselves like the whole world exists to indulge them.

The music is so loud it feels like the neo-phonk is trying to burrow into my skull and start paying fucking rent.