by Whitney G.
I laughed, but our mother shot her a cold look. Her stone-grey eyes said it all.
Stop playing around. We’re in public right now.
There were other people watching us, privately listening to our every word. As ‘The Kensington Family’―practically royalty on the south shore of Lake Tahoe―she always demanded that we behave perfectly whenever others were around.
I posed for a few press pictures, said ‘Thank you so much’ to everyone who offered me a compliment, and kept my smile firmly in place for hours.
It wasn’t until we left the concert hall and settled into the seats of our father’s private plane, that I finally let my guard down. Yet again, for the umpteenth time in my life, I was tempted to beg them to leave me here and fly home without me.
Just one more year, Kate. One more year...
Before I could whisper to Sarah Kay and tell her that she was right about my performance, that I’d played two soft C sharps where I shouldn’t have, my mother walked over to us.
“Great news, Kate.” She sipped her wine. “The recruiting director from Juilliard was in the audience tonight. He just sent me an email that said he absolutely regrets not accepting you into their program. He said he’s been watching your performances for years, and you’ve always left him spellbound.” She paused. “He said he’s tempted to finally fire or replace the judges who failed to recognize your talent.”
I nodded, saying nothing. I never told her that I purposely butchered all five of my Juilliard auditions. I played Bach like a beginner, acted as if I’d never heard of the late Pablo Casals, and fumbled my way through the advanced sheet music.
“How about we celebrate your performance with dinner?” My mother raised her glass. “We can toast to Juilliard’s epic loss.”
“Kate and I have plans tonight.” Sarah Kay sat up, looking somewhat panicked. “Solid, unbreakable plans.”
“Oh, really? What are they?”
“The Walton sisters invited us to a private party.” She shot me a ‘please don’t out me’ look. “We missed the last one, and I would hate to miss another.”
“Well ...” My mother tapped her chin, the answer evident with her smile. She was delighted whenever we hung out with anyone whose wealth was comparable to ours. “I suppose that’s alright. Be back home by midnight.”
“What? That’s way too early for the weekend.” Sarah Kay crossed her arms. “The Walton sisters always throw a party that we never want to leave, you know? Can we at least get five a.m.?”
“You’re seventeen years old, Sarah Kay.”
“Kate is twenty.” She pouted. “She wouldn’t let anything happen to me.”
“Four a.m.” She relented, and then she continued to wax poetic about the Juilliard guy groveling.
I shook my head at Sarah Kay, silently seething and wanting to strangle the life out of her. It always amazed me how well she concocted her lies, how she could effortlessly spout bullshit and drag me into her poor life decisions.
We hated the Walton sisters down to their marrow, and they hated us in return. Nonetheless, we all made a compromise in mutual loathing: Whenever we wanted to do something that we knew our parents would never approve of, we used each other as alibis.
In Sarah Kay’s case, that ‘something’ was almost always a weed-smoking, alcohol-chugging, Stateline party with people who lived the regular lives we envied.
Smiling, Sarah Kay wrote a few words on a paper napkin and slipped it to me.
Party starts at 10 & Ronnie is picking us up.
Please dress like it’s a HALLOWEEN PARTY and not a TEA PARTY.
You’re welcome for this amazing-ass night, in advance!
―SK
P.S. Now that you’re single, you should try to get fucked tonight ...
Or at least find a guy who can make your panties wet. :)
Hours later ...
I PRESSED MY BACK AGAINST the wall, watching Cinderella grind against Batman under flashing red and white lights. I’d rolled my eyes so many times tonight, that I decided it was better if I just pretended this was all a temporary nightmare.
I was witnessing all the signature marks of a Stateline party, mentally checking each item off the list. There was blaring loud music that shook the walls of the abandoned warehouse, a huge bonfire outside that was feet away from the lake (the drunken skinny dipping always started at midnight) and enough weed smoke in the air, that we all were probably high as hell by proxy.
Thanks to the heat from inside, my curls were frizzled to the point of no return, and I was more than ready to peel off my pink (and very slutty) Playboy bunny costume.
Slightly tipsy, I snatched a few more Jell-O shots from the makeshift bar and made it through a ten-time repeat of Lil’ Wayne’s “Lollipop,” before checking my watch.
It was only eleven thirty, and although I knew that there was no way Sarah Kay was leaving this party early, I needed to know exactly when I could count on heading back home.
I pushed my way through the princesses and the superheroes, cut past the cartoon characters and the unicorns, and found her getting groped and kissed in the corner.
“Hey.” I tugged the tail on her kitten costume. “Sarah Kay?”
“Ugh.” She spun around. “What, Kate?”
“I think I’m going to hang out by the bonfire for a while.”
“Um, okay?” She looked confused. “Do I need to show you where it is, or will you be able to find the giant orange flames all by yourself?”
I rolled my eyes. “What time are we leaving tonight?”
“Three o’clock, probably.”
“Mom said be back by four. It takes two hours to drive back home.”
“So? We’ll have Ronnie speed down all the back roads, and it’ll only take one.”
“Something wrong, babe?” Her boyfriend, Ronnie, pulled off his mask. “What is Kate saying?”
“She’s saying that she’s going to leave us alone and try to find a way to enjoy herself tonight.” Sarah Kay narrowed her eyes at me. “And she’s not going to make us leave this party early, like she did the last time.”
“Really?” He held up his hand for a high-five. “Glad to hear you’ve finally learned how to have fun, Kate.”
I left him hanging and walked away. Pushing my way through the crowd, I headed outside and walked around the bonfire until I found an empty bench.
Needing a way to kill the next couple of hours, I pulled out my phone. My battery was only at seven percent, but I logged into Facebook anyway.
Plastered all over my newsfeed was the last thing I wanted to see: updated relationship statuses from my ex-best friend and ex-boyfriend. They weren’t even giving it a month before rubbing more salt into the wound.
Sadly obsessed with their bold betrayal, I zoomed in on their brand new, “Forever mine” tattoos.
When the hell did they get those? Before or after I caught them?
As I was clicking through their newest album of “I love you” pictures, a loud laugh cut through the night air and made me look up.
Right across from me, under a brightly lit lamppost, a girl in an angel costume was pressed up against the sexiest guy I’d ever seen in my life. He wasn’t paying any attention to the angel as she laughed into his chest, though.
He was staring at me.
I tried to look away from him―to act like I didn’t notice his gaze, but I couldn’t help it. He looked like every fantasy I’d ever had come to life, walking perfection with a hint of cockiness to match.
His green eyes gleamed under the light as he kept his gaze on mine—as he ran a hand through his dark brown hair. His lips looked as if they were deliberately designed for kisses. The soft, slow, open-mouthed kisses that left memories on a heart forever.
Swallowing, I looked him over one last time—taking in the white t-shirt that hugged the muscles in his chest, the black and grey tattoos that snaked their way from his sleeves to his wrists, and the dark blue jeans that hung low on his waist.
How
can any real guy look that damn good?
He looked as if he was tempted to walk over to me, but I stood up and headed toward the warehouse.
The second I made it to the steps, I heard the startling sound of sirens from behind. Turning around, I noticed a fleet of police cars speeding down the hill. Their blue and white lights flashed against the dark night.
Ten squad cars came to an abrupt stop at the edge of the gate, but none of the cops stepped out. They simply turned on their high beams, bringing the bonfire dancing to a complete halt.
“What the hell is going on?” “What are they doing?” “Did someone order cop strippers?” Shouts came from the crowd, but I didn’t want to wait to find out.
I moved behind the porta-potties as even more squad cars sped down the hill, and started drafting a new text message to Sarah Kay. Before I could hit send, a loud voice came through one of the car’s speakers.
“If you can hear my voice, you’re in deep shit,” an officer growled. “You all have ten minutes to get the hell off this property or you’re spending the rest of the night in jail. If you attempt to drive drunk, or if you’ve been drinking and you’re under twenty-one, you’re spending the rest of the night in jail. Breathalyzers will be given to every single driver tonight and we’re checking every ID, so don’t try to be smart!”
I noticed six squad cars blocking the exit at the top of the hill.
“If you don’t have a ride home, we’ll happily call your parents and tell them exactly where they can pick you up tonight in jail! Officer Graham, start my fucking timer. Ten minutes!”
I froze, unsure of what to do.
All of a sudden, a screaming mob rushed toward the parking lot. With my heart pounding against my chest, I followed everyone else’s lead and ran like my life depended on it.
The police broke their ten-minute promise and gave chase—demanding an immediate Breathalyzer test to whoever they caught.
Shit. Shit. SHIT!
I tugged on every door handle I passed, hoping like hell one would open.
The red Volvo was jammed, the white Chevrolet Cobalt didn’t budge, and as I was tugging on the back doors of an old grey minivan, a couple rolled out and onto the ground mid-kiss. They were groping and grabbing each other without a care in the world.
“You! Stay right there!” A loud voice bellowed in my direction.
I ran faster, moving to another row of cars.
Heavy footsteps sounded behind me, but I kept moving. Tried more car handles.
No luck.
I nearly slipped as I gripped the slick handle of a Honda, steadying my heels in the gravel. Just when I thought the door would give way, it began to rain.
Ugh...
I took a quick risk and looked over my shoulder, seeing that cops were arresting the couple from the minivan and leading them away. Letting out a breath, I moved behind a huge white truck and called Sarah Kay.
Pick up, pick up, pick up.
“Hello?” She answered on the third ring.
“Where are you? Did you get out of the warehouse?”
“Huh, Kate?” She laughed. “Why do you sound so panicked?”
“Because the police are out here arresting people for being at this illegal-ass party that you made me come to.” I tried not to yell. “Where the hell are you?”
“Oh, um...” She cleared her throat. “I left with Ronnie half an hour ago. We got hungry, so we decided to get some tacos in Camp Creek.”
I let out a breath―half-relieved that she wasn’t in the back of a cop car, half-pissed that she didn’t text me about leaving. “Can you have Ronnie circle back this way to pick me up?”
“Huh?”
“Tell him to come back and pick me up.” I looked over the truck bed and saw a cop handing Peter Pan a Breathalyzer. Then I saw him pulling out his handcuffs. “Like, if he speeds, he can get here in fifteen minutes. Are you there?”
“Um, okay, so ...” Her voice trailed off, and I held back a scream.
Anytime Sarah Kay uttered the words “Um, okay, so,” selfishness or stupidity was seconds away from slipping from her lips.
“We didn’t really go to get tacos,” she admitted. “We’re on our way to Ronnie’s place and um, I’m spending the night. Don’t worry, though. I told mom I was staying at the Walton’s place overnight and that you have to come in later due to a headache. You’re welcome.”
What the hell? “I don’t have a way to get home, Sarah Kay.” I gritted my teeth. “Ronnie was my ride, remember? I swear to God, if you don’t come back here right now―”
“Are you there, Kate?” She interrupted me. “Kate, you’re breaking up!”
You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. “Nothing is wrong with the phone reception,” I said. “Nothing.”
“Oh wow. It’s all pure static as we drive through this grove of walnut trees.”
“There aren’t any walnut trees on this side of the lake, Sarah Kay. Stop bullshitting me.”
“Oh, no! I’m losing her, Ronnie. I guess I’ll have to hang up and try to call her later.” There was a long pause, then she took a deep breath. “You think she fell for the ‘no service’ thing or no?”
I ended the call. There was no point in trying to get through to her anymore.
The rain started to fall a bit harder, and I sighed.
The sound of heavy footsteps was behind me once again, and I didn’t feel like losing the open-car game anymore. I did the only thing I could think of to get out of here.
Moving one row over, I jumped into the back of the first flatbed truck I saw. I climbed over the edges and let out a sigh of relief at the sight of a tarp and fishing gear. Lying flat, I pulled the tarp over me, and hoped the owner would return and drive off soon.
I’ll figure out the rest from there.
The footsteps moved past the truck, and I heard a cop stop someone for a Breathalyzer test.
“Okay, you’re cleared,” he said. “Now, get the hell off the lot, son.”
Seconds later, the truck rattled and roared as it came to life. I clung to the side rail and bit my bottom lip as the driver sped away like a bat out of hell.
My body bounced as he ran over bumps with wild abandon, and I couldn’t help but curse at every pothole he insisted on driving over. I rolled back and forth across the grooved bed as he swerved up the steep hill, trying not to cry out in pain.
After what felt like a never-ending tactical course, the road became smooth, and the driver started to drive like an actual human being. I remained still, clinging harder to the railing.
Several minutes later, I felt the truck slowly steering to the left. Then it came to a complete stop.
I peeked from under the tarp and saw the bright, fluorescent lights of a gas station. Letting out a sigh of relief, I waited until I heard the driver open his car door and shut it. Until I heard him walking away.
I waited a few more seconds before rolling to the other side of the bed. Then I slowly climbed out.
“Are you enjoying the ride so far?” The sexy, green-eyed guy from the party was leaning against the hood of the truck. “I can take it a little slower next time, if that’s what you’re into.”
I said nothing. I was too busy staring and realizing that this man was far sexier than I thought. He has abs for days ...
“Now that I think about it,” he said, stepping closer, “I couldn’t tell if your screams were from pleasure or pain. You want to tell me which one it was?”
“I’d rather tell you that you need to learn how to drive.” I snapped out of it. “For the record, I wasn’t screaming at all.”
“Oh, really?” He raised his eyebrow. “What do you think made me pull over at the first gas station I saw?”
“Maybe you have an empty tank.” I tried not to get lost in his eyes, tried to pretend like I wouldn’t go home with him right now if he asked me. “Maybe you needed to get more gas.”
“I don’t think so.” He smiled a perfect set of pearly whites as he lo
oked me over. “There’s no such thing as driving on an empty tank in this part of town. Were you too drunk to drive your own car tonight?”
“No,” I said. “My ride left without me, and I didn’t want to get arrested for being tipsy at twenty.”
“So, you honestly thought that jumping into the back of a stranger’s truck was your safest option?”
I wanted to slap that smirk off his gorgeous face, but I was still enjoying the view.
“I can take you home,” he said, staring at me. “If you’re interested ...”
“Um―no. That’s okay. There’s someone I can call to get me.” I took out my phone and saw that the battery was now at two percent.
I looked over at the shop windows and saw a huge red and white sign.
NO DIRECTIONS!
NO PHONE CHARGERS!
NO DUMB-ASS MILLENNIALS!
YES, WE HAVE VAPE!
“DO YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE a phone charger?” I asked him.
“No,” he said, still staring at me. “It wouldn’t matter if I did anyway. There’s no cell service on this stretch of the road.”
“What?” I looked at my phone again and noticed that there were no service bars.
“Like I was saying....” That sexy smirk slowly spread across his face again. “I’d be happy to take you home tonight. Where do you live?”
“Edgewood.” I couldn’t believe this shit was really happening. “The south shore of the lake.”
His eyes widened. “That’s two hours away.”
“Hence, why I’d rather call someone from there to come and get me.”
“The only people who live in Edgewood are filthy-rich tourists and the stuck-up, out of touch Harrison and Kensington families.” He shook his head. “Can you believe those assholes actually think that they’re royalty?”
I swallowed, unsure of what to say.
“I take it that your parents work around there?” he asked.
“Hey!” An older man suddenly stepped outside the station and glared at us. “If you two numb-nuts aren’t here to get gas or buy snacks, you can eye-fuck each other elsewhere! My station is for paying customers only!”