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With heavy steps, Neo stalks past all of us and walks straight out the door.
Jagger draws his neck back. “What was that all about?”
“Yes. Do tell,” Riley says.
“I…I don’t know. But I feel like you guys should check in on Neo. With Maddie missing, and all, he might not be okay.”
Crew chuckles. “Is Neo ever okay?”
“No. I guess not.”
But who does he have when he’s not okay, and why the hell do I even care?
* * *
“Voodoo”by Twisted Insane is blasting through the speakers coming from The Gathering room, overpowering the sound of students carrying on and having a good time. Caution tape extends from the top of the tunnel to the ground, making an X in hopes that students won’t cross it into the tunnels. If anyone else finds that room, we’ll all have a lot of explaining to do.
The Punks, who are in the middle of the hierarchy ladder, did a stellar job getting the party ready, and I’m sure the decorations are thanks to the cheerleaders. It’s dark inside the room, aside from the neon orange disco balls and the purple lasers shooting down from the ceiling, all moving with the beat of the music. There’s a guy on the same stage The Lawless use during meetings, and he’s spinning a disc with one hand while waving the other in the air.
My shoulders dance as we enter and Jagger places a hand on the small of my back, keeping me close while Crew stands on the other side, holding my hand. “This is fun,” I tell them, hoping it lasts. We could all use a night to let loose and pretend everything is okay.
Who am I kidding? Pretending isn’t an option. Not when Maddie is missing and we have so many unanswered questions. Guilt stirs inside me. We shouldn’t even be here.
"Don't leave me, ’kay?” Riley says with fear in her eyes. She’s terrified of the wannabe Elias, rightfully so, and there’s no doubt he’s going to attach himself to her tonight. After all, as far as he knows, they’re still a couple.
We step farther into the room, Neo already disappearing on his own. At least that’s what I thought. One glance to my left shows him sipping on a drink with his Darth Vader mask on the top of his head, while a girl grinds her ass against him to the beat of “Neurotic” by Three Days Grace. She looks like a trashy slut in a football jersey tied just below her breasts with knee-high socks and a pair of boy shorts. Smears of black paint are underneath her eyes. If she’s trying to pull off a football player costume, she failed miserably.
Crew leans down and whispers in my ear, “Want a drink?”
“Sure. Make it a strong one.”
“Stay with Riley. Jagger and I will be right over there.” He tips his chin at the beverage table that holds spiked punch bowls and cups. Two kegs sit on either side and both are surrounded by people.
Once the guys are a few feet away, I lock my arm around Riley’s. “Who is that girl?” I ask, nodding toward the slut rubbing her ass on Neo.
“I think her name is Carrie. Why?”
“No reason.”
“Does this have anything to do with your little moment with Neo in the records room earlier?”
“Little moment?” I laugh. “There was no moment.”
“Umm. Yes, there was. We all saw it. The stare between you and Neo almost caught the room on fire, and I’m pretty sure we were all holding our breaths.”
“Whatever. There was no moment, and there was no stare. I was just…challenging him, I guess.”
“Then I’d have to say you're an idiot because no one challenges Neo and wins.”
My shoulders rise, then fall sluggishly. “We’ll see about that.”
Riley slithers out of my hold and stands directly in front of me. “No fucking way! You’re falling for him, too?”
“Oh my god, Riley. No! Absolutely not. That’s insane. Gross. Impossible. I can’t stand the guy.”
She crosses her arms over her chest and pops a hip beneath her skimpy red dress, while curling her matching lips.
“What?” I huff. “I am not falling for him! Did you miss the part where I said I can’t stand him?”
