Page 1 of Vibes

Prologue: Iris

The Party

“Are you wearing my hoodie, wallflower?”

The voice causes me to pause, refusing to pull at the aforementioned hoodie again as heat floods my cheeks. Tonight is a reminder of one of the many, many reasons I despise college parties. Drinking was a bad idea. Giving my ex, Dylan a chance to talk earlier was definitely a bad idea.

Running into the owner of said hoodie that I certainly did not steal and trying to avoid a conversation with him? That is an exceptionally bad idea. I knew I should’ve taken it and run, but oh no, Lachlan had to spot me before I could leave with his damn hoodie.

“You know stealing is wrong,” Lachlan continues, and I force my eyes to focus on him. There are two jocks standing here, Lachlan and a teammate I can’t place. We might make an odd group if anyone was looking our way, but between the alcohol and laughter no one is even aware of what’s happening around them. That’s how I intended on slipping out of the party. “Ronaldo, you should go make another round of punch.”

“Oh I’m staying out of that,” Ronaldo says, throwing up his hands as he turns and walks away. I guess that gets rid of one disinterested jock, but couldn’t they both just leave me alone?

“I’ve never seen you at a party before, wallflower,” Lachlan goes on, studying me in the hoodie that barely reaches mid-thigh with a bit too much interest. It’s baggy, covering what I need it to at least, and I cinched what was my wristlet around my waist, expanding the chain. It gives what is otherwise an oversized hoodie a bit of shape on me and frees up my hands, not that it's done me a lot of good so far.

Squaring my shoulders, I glare up at Lachlan. His blond hair turns different colors in the alternating lights, and it’s a feature I’ve only recently gotten acquainted with. We share an economics class, something I excel at while he’s plodding along doing the bare minimum. Or I assume so, because for a jock that needs to maintain a certain grade point average he sure does pick and choose when he’ll attend classes.

Lachlan flashes me a grin of perfectly straight teeth that makes my eyebrow twitch. I don’t follow a lot of sports, but gossip is heavy at a place like Evergreen College. I know last semester he got a tooth knocked out during a brawl, so there’s got to be dental work keeping that smile straight.

Stop nitpicking and get out of here Iris.

“I’m not in the mood,” I tell him through gritted teeth, pushing a fake smile across my lips. I try and sidestep him and he just mimics me, moving like a wall of immovable muscle as he slides with me first to the left then the right. That’s annoying.

“Flynn did say to not let Cora’s little gang leave the party too early,” Lachlan teases.

“We’re not a gang,” I say instead, trying to keep the tension from my shoulders. My fingers itch to slide my glasses up my nose, but thanks to my idiotic ex I’ll be using the backup pair for the foreseeable future. He crushed my best pair, which are currently tucked into the pocket of this giant hoodie. “Seriously, Flynn’s so offended by his ex that he’s calling three girls a gang?”

Lachlan shakes his head with a grin. “You never answered my question.”

Sucking my bottom lip between my teeth, I debate what to say. All I know about Lachlan is he’s friends with Cora’s now-sworn enemy, and his lack of attendance in economics is appalling. Telling him Dylan dumped his drink down the front of my dress, turning the stupid thing translucent, doesn’t seem like the right call.

Lachlan could be a pig for all I know and want to see. Besides, the drink was definitely sticky, which means I should probably be decent and wash the hoodie before I hand it back. My whole body needs a nice, burning hot shower to wash this night away.

Briefly, I let my eyes wander to look for Cora. Or hell, even Londyn. My two BFFs are usually a force to be reckoned with at parties, and I purposefully stick close to them. Being abandoned less than five minutes after walking through the door wasn’t part of the plan.

Lachlan snaps his fingers in front of my face, and I smack his hand away just as quickly. Did I let my mind wander? “Focus, wallflower.”

Snarling, I lean away from him. He’s only called me that a handful of times in class, and he’s well aware that I despise it. Tonight, it feels extra insulting, perhaps because of the shitty night I’ve had. “I took the hoodie from the bathroom when I went upstairs. It’s not my fault you don’t put things away.”

He frowns, raising an eyebrow before a grin splits his face. “Oh. You went up to the fuck-me bathroom?”

This. This is why I don’t like going to parties. “Why is there a fuck-me bathroom?”

He gestures vaguely around us, and for the first time I notice he’s holding a can of beer. My back straightens as I stare at it, subconsciously tugging at the hoodie to keep it as far down my legs as it’ll go. “Some people are prudes. Public sex will get us in trouble. There are rooms for that shit.”

“Mhmm,” I mutter, taking another step back. His eyes follow me, but unlike Dylan earlier in the evening, there’s no underlying threat. Amusement maybe, but for the most part he looks bored. “Well, I’ll just be on my way.”

Lachlan catches my arm before I can move past him, and I do my best to not flinch. I’m touched out, overstimulated, and I need to be far away from this party. I shouldn’t abandon my friends, but hoping to stop Cora when she’s on a mission is pointless and Londyn can handle herself. I’m the dead weight.

He gives me a fake smile, wiggling his eyebrows. “Give me back my hoodie and you’re free to go.”

I suppose that’s an option, but my insecurities threaten to eat me alive at the idea of stripping it off. I don’t want to wear the skintight dress while it’s soaked and see-through. It’ll put a target on my back that I can’t handle right now.

Swallowing, I hope Lachlan kindly loses interest. “No. I need it.”

His eyes flicker down my body, and I wish the hoodie covered more of my legs. Letting Londyn convince me to put on a dress this short during winter in Colorado was silly, but it felt harmless at the time. Fun even. Now I fully regret it.

Then a smirk works its way across his lips, and that familiar feeling of hate returns. “Fine. Looks like you’re going to party then. Let’s get more punch.”