AllFreeNovel
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Hers swim with unshed tears, but she shakes her head at me, spinning and grabbing the bottle of gin she brought from her dorm. She goes back into my bedroom, hollering for me to follow.
Hours later, we’re dressed to the nines, and not once in that time did Maisie make me recount the night I got the scars, or even utter a single word about them. Instead, she made me laugh as we got ready. She played music and danced wildly around my room, not giving me the chance to dip into my mind to think about the girl I was.
Maisie wears the red dress, rocking it way better than I ever could have, while I wear the black. Instead of heels, I’ve got a pair of platform Chucks, where Maisie wears a pair of platform Docs.
My face is slathered with heavy makeup, and it takes me a good few blinks to get used to the false lashes weighing my lids down. When I get a glimpse in the mirror, the girl staring back at me looks so different from my usual self.
“For what it’s worth,” Maisie says, stepping beside me and tilting her head as she passes me my drink. I tip the glass to my lips, wincing at the burn as the clear liquid works down my throat. “I know Maverick is being a dick, and we kinda hate him right now. But I also wanna hug him and thank him for what he did that night.”
Yeah, me too.
“Right, don’t we have a party to get to?”
Sweat drips down my neck, the dress clinging to my skin. My hair sways side to side, offering a light breeze as the loose curls fan my upper body. Angry drum and bass music filters through the dorms, bouncing off the walls of the hall where we dance, trapped in an endless stream of bodies.
I didn’t go to any parties in high school, mostly because Sebastian wouldn’t let me, and when senior year rolled around and I was finally single again, I dropped out because I couldn’t be around people and finished my high school career online, locked away in the safety of my bedroom.
Alcohol fuels my movements, my hips swinging back and forth in time with the beat. Maisie clings to my side, where she’s been for the last hour. She’s keeping her promise, not leaving me alone for even a second.
Need the toilet? She tags along.
Want a drink? She grabs my hand as I push through the bodies dotted around the space to get one.
Fresh air? She’s got me, leading the way outside.
While I appreciate her loyalty, I can’t help but feel guilty when she turns yet another guy down who asks her to dance. Tonight was about her finding a nice guy, but instead she has said no to all the ones who have tried to talk to her just to stay at my side.
“You should dance with him,” I tell her, grabbing the red cup from her hand and tipping its contents to my lips.
My heart speeds up at the suggestion, knowing if she takes me up on it, I’ll be alone, trapped in a sea of bodies. But I’m safe here. I’m okay.
“Seriously.” I laugh when she shakes her head at me, promising she won’t leave me. “I’ve got this. I see an empty spot in the corner just there with my name on. I’m good, Mais. Go enjoy yourself, and maybe you’ll get that lay you’ve been banging on about.”
Her eyes narrow, her lips twisting down. “I made you a promise, and I won’t break my promises.”
“Yeah, well I’m relieving you of your duty,” I tell her, forcing my lips upward into a semblance of a smile. “You can even walk me to the corner if that makes you feel better. But really, I want you to go dance with that guy. You were right earlier. I’m never going to know if I can deal with these situations on my own, if I’m never alone, right?”
“Right,” she echoes, though I’m not sure she believes a word coming out of my mouth. I don’t think I do either, but I roll with it anyway. The alcohol has loosened me up a little, and the usual fog that weighs down my mind is lighter, making me feel comfort I normally wouldn’t. “You sure?”
“Yep,” I tell her, popping the p. “Totally good. Go.”
She chuckles, but her eyes narrow on me for a beat before she links her fingers through mine and pulls me through the crowd.
We make a pit stop at the makeshift bar, grabbing fresh drinks before she delivers me to the corner, where I prop myself up against the wall and sip from my straw.
“You have done your duty, friend.” I nod, winking while I beam at her. “Now, go forth and bang. Or some shit like that.”
She laughs, her head tipping back. Her corkscrew curls fall down her back, swishing as she takes a step backward. She went all out, hoping to find a guy to spend the night with, and I’m so done with holding anyone back because of my issues.
“You don’t party very often, do you? Or drink a lot?” she asks, her voice laced with unspent humor.
“Unless you count Friday wine night with my mom a couple times a month, where I drink one glass and then go to bed?” She shakes her head, her shoulders shaking as she laughs at me. “Then, nope. Never. The first time I’ve ever been tipsy was the other day with you, and as for parties, well I’m a virgin.”
“Oh, this is going to be fun later,” she says, starting to move away. “It seems we have a lot to teach you, young padawan. I’m out, but I’ll be back. So stay right here.”
Placing two fingers to my temple, I salute her. “Yes, boss. This wall is comfy, so I’ll settle in for the remainder.”
“You do that,” she calls over her shoulder, winking at me as she filters into the dancing bodies, her hips rocking side to side when she finds the guy from earlier, and settles her fingers on his shoulder as he leans in, whispering in her ear.
