by T. A. Kunz
“Now, Drea, even you said you can’t remember what happened that night.”
“Are you kidding me? It’s not just something I imagined. My body felt wrong. Off. And he was the last person I remember being around that night,” I seethe, keeping my voice low to avoid drawing more attention to us.
Too late.
“Okay, okay. Let’s just drop this and try to have a good time. Loosen up, girl.”
Her cavalier attitude hurts … a lot. This isn’t Lori. She’s acting like a pod person. We’ve gone almost a month without talking or hanging out, and she’s pretending like nothing happened. We’re just picking up right where we left off, and I’m not sure how I feel about it. Where’s my caring and loving best friend? What happened to that girl?
Donovan surprises Lori from behind and drapes his toned arms over her shoulders. A swift punch of jealousy slams into my gut at their playful interaction. That used to be me. It must be nice being the new guy yet blending in so quickly.
I wish I could be the new kid again.
He presents Lori a shot glass filled with clear liquid in one hand and a red Solo cup in the other.
“Choose your own adventure,” he states while waving the two drinks back and forth in front of her face. She giggles before grabbing the shot and downing it. “Hey,” Donovan says, looking up at me. “It’s Drea right?”
I nod with a faint smile.
“Enjoying the party?”
“It’s all right.”
His brow furrows at my blunt reply. “I feel like I may have interrupted something.”
“Actually—”
“Nope, not at all,” Lori says, cutting me off. “We were actually about to go dance. Care to join?”
I flash her a withering stare, but only Donovan seems to catch it.
“Only if Drea wants to.”
His reply shocks me. Lori speaks before I can.
“Don’t be silly, Donnie. Of course she wants to. Isn’t that right, Drea?”
I’d rather continue our conversation, but Lori’s positive energy and illuminating presence wears me down and I surrender to it. I want to be furious with her. I am furious with her, but I’ve also missed us so much that I’m willing to push that feeling aside for the moment.
Call me weak. Call me desperate. But I’m already at my lowest point possible. Maybe I should start looking up.
“Sure. Why the hell not?”
“Yay! We should take a selfie to commemorate our little trio’s first party together,” shouts Lori.
She draws out her phone and immediately assumes the position. We file in behind her and I fake the fakest smile I’ve ever faked, and it shows. Donovan, on the other hand, seems to be a natural and instantly models it up. I guess when you look like you could grace the cover of Teen Vogue, modeling probably comes naturally.
Lucky me.
Drea
I stare at the sin-against-nature wine and alcoholic cider concoction Lori threw together as it swirls around in the red Solo cup I’m holding. I take a whiff of it followed by a sip, and am stunned it doesn’t taste half bad. Like an oddly spiced sangria.
What am I still doing here?
Lori and Donovan are dancing it up and living their best lives in the living room while I’m parked here on the bench in the grand foyer. My mood darkens as I watch them. I can’t fake my enjoyment with Lori any longer. Everything feels awkward and forced. I don’t even think they’ve noticed I’m gone.
Trio, my ass.
“Well, well, well,” I hear, and glance over to see Trent advancing. “Andrea Sullivan. It’s great to see you again. I’ve been meaning to have a one-on-one conversation with you about some of the things you’ve said about me.” He oozes douchebaggery.
I send him a dismissive hand wave. “I’ve got nothing to say to you, Trent, so keep on walking.”
“On the contrary, I think we need to clear up a few details between us, so I’d appreciate it if you’d hear me out.”
“Clear up what exactly? As far as I can tell, everything that has been said about you is true.”
A slim laugh breaks his austere demeanor. He downs the can of beer in his hand before crushing it in his fist and tossing it off to the side. I cringe at the harsh sound.
I go to stand up and he moves in front of me, blocking my retreat. “I’m not afraid of you, Trent.”
He raises his hands in submission. “Who said anything about you being afraid of me? I just want to chat with you. An innocent little chat.”
That shit-eating grin is back on his face. All I want to do is smack it off.
“There you are, Drea,” Lori calls out just in time. She and Donovan seem like they were just laughing about something between themselves.
“I was about to offer you this drink, but it appears you’ve still got one,” Donovan says. His eyes move between me and Trent as though noting the palpable tension between us.
“We were just finishing up here,” says Trent with a subtle nod in my direction. His eyes bore into mine.
I take advantage of the break in the conversation to make my exit. I’d rather be anywhere else other than right here at this moment. I can’t stand breathing the same air as this bastard for one second more.
“And, Drea, if you ever want to get a drink and have a little talk about this whole misunderstanding, I’m game,” Trent says loudly in my direction.
My shoulders stiffen and my gut churns at the mere thought. I pay his offer no mind and keep moving down the hall.
“Girl, hold up,” Lori says, taking hold of my arm as I’m about to push through the door into the kitchen. “What was that all about?”
I whip around to face her. “Oh, you mean that little episode of To Catch a Predator back there?”
“Look, I have no idea what’s going on, but you, my friend, look like you need something to eat, stat,” Donovan says, placing a hand on my shoulder. His light blue eyes are soft and kind with a hint of concern.
“Sure, I guess. I haven’t really eaten much today.”
That’s an absolute lie since I’m one hell of an emotional eater.
“Pretzel chips and dip it is then. I’ll be right back,” he says, vanishing through the door into the next room.
“Donovan’s great, isn’t he?”
“Yeah, he’s cool.” I’m finding it hard to keep the jealousy from trickling out through my words.
Lori positions herself in front of me, making me look at her. “Wow, that’s quite the compliment coming from you.”
“Yeah, well…”
“You should come to the movies with us tomorrow.”
Her cheerful tone grates on my nerves for some reason. “What?”
“Movie, tomorrow? There’s that new one with the Hemsworth brothers, and they look delicious, as always.”
She gives my arm a pat, but my only reaction is to send her a look of confusion coupled with frustration.
“You know I’m helping your mom out at her store tomorrow,” I point out.
She shrugs. “All day?”
“Yeah, all day.”
“Then we’ll go after. Come on, it’ll be good for you, especially considering the funk you’ve been in lately.”
“Funk?” The way she puts it feels like a slap in the face.
“Yeah, I know you haven’t been in the mood to party or even just hang out. But now that you’ve emerged from your hole, we can reconnect and have fun again.”
I grab her by the shoulders and stare directly into her eyes. “Lori, Trent most likely drugged me. Do you understand what I’m telling you?” She nods, but something still seems to be lost in translation. “I don’t even know what happened to me that night. But what I do know is there was something in that last drink I had. I feel it in my bones. And I know Trent didn’t just tuck me in bed upstairs and watch me sleep. And, damn, I’m sorry if I’ve been in a funk, but can you honestly blame me?”
“Yeah, well, that’s all I mean. You were going through some stuff.”
“Of course I do.” Subtle shock mars her face. But only subtle.
“Yeah, I keep hearing you say that, but I don’t see it.”
She throws her arms up in the air and releases a full breath. “I just don’t know what to do about it, okay? All I can think to do is be light and fun around you, which I thought I was doing, but it doesn’t seem to be making a difference.” She pauses and begins massaging her temples before continuing, “And I’ve been hanging out with Donovan lately—”
She stops suddenly. Her eyes meet mine. I can tell she’s apprehensive to go there. “Which I don’t mean in a weird way, like instead of you,” she finishes.
There it is. The truth.
“No, that’s fine. I get it,” I say. “Actually, keep doing that. Yeah. You just keep hanging with your new best friend and staying light and fun, okay?”
I storm off, not knowing where my final destination will be, but it had to be better than sticking around Lori 2.0.
“Drea. Girl, come back,” she yells after me, but I refuse to acknowledge the request.
I swipe away the tears forming in my eyes, attempting to keep the waterworks at bay. I weave through the party, hoping to find a discreet place to collect myself. I’m brought to a sudden stop when I collide with someone. I mutter an apology and try to step around them. Large hands take hold of the sides of my upper arms.
“Whoa, whoa … Drea, are you okay?” the deep male voice asks.
Without looking up, I swat his arms away and take a step back.
Triggered.
I wipe away more tears and finally look up at the person I ran into. Harrison Daniels, the captain of the football team, stands there. His soft hazel eyes crash into mine.
Another apology bubbles up in my throat. “Sorry. Knee-jerk reaction. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“I get it. Personal space. That probably wasn’t the best thing for me to do either.”
His reply reminds me of his gentle nature. It also reminds me of the rumor that started circulating last year of him liking me.
“You’ve been crying,” he says. “Do I need to kick someone’s ass? Just point and say the word.”
I shake my head. “Trust me, if there was an ass to kick, I would’ve already done it.”
“True,” he replies with a soft chuckle. “Hey, I haven’t seen you around school lately, and you weren’t cheering at the opening game last week.”
Well, now I know he keeps tabs on me.
The faintest flutter of nerves rise within my stomach. “I’ve just got a busy senior year,” I reply, and then mentally kick myself for lying to him. My year is anything but busy. “I’ve decided to embrace the hermit lifestyle for a bit.”
Hermit lifestyle? Really? That’s the best I could come up with?
“Got it,” he says with a raised eyebrow. “Can I get you a drink or something to eat? Or find you a place to sit down?”
He’s being so sweet, but I’ve seen him hanging around Trent more than ever lately. I don’t understand why someone like him would associate with a jerk like Trent. I get that they’re on the same team, but I’m a firm believer that you are who you hang out with.
“Actually, I was headed to the bathroom,” I say, attempting to weasel out of the conversation. I don’t want to be rude and just leave, but my current emotional state has me fearing the tears will return with a vengeance at a moment’s notice. “Thanks for this though. It helped … in a strange way.”
“That’s actually my superpower. Helping in strange ways.” His subtle grin is dangerous. Deadly, even. “Find me after maybe?”
“Honestly, I’m probably just gonna head home.”
His expression falters. “Shame. Another time then.”
“Yeah,” I say, and then move past him, headed for the bathroom.
I push through the door, locking it behind me. My knees go weak and then buckle. I lean back against the door before sliding to sit on the cool tiles. The tears flow freely. I can’t hold them back any longer.
My head collapses toward my lap. I lift my head and tap it back against the door as a sigh erupts from deep within me. Sadness fills the space anger had been camping out in, and I tap my head back once more.
My phone vibrates in my pocket. I retrieve it and see that Lori’s calling. A picture of us during a much happier time accompanies the call, a time before she apparently decided my problems were too much for her to handle. A time when I thought we established how we truly felt about each other.
It continues to vibrate in my hand. I refuse to answer. The call ends and immediately starts up again, so I press the button on the side of the phone, ending the call.
I guess I was wrong. I hadn’t reached my lowest point yet.
Drea
The jiggle of the bathroom door’s handle overhead snaps me out of my despondent stupor. The knock that follows has me dragging myself to my feet. I seriously can’t believe I spent the last some-odd minutes crying in the bathroom at one of Sophia’s parties.
Good grief, girl. Get a grip!
“One minute,” I call out to the person on the other side of the door.
I do a quick makeup check in the mirror and grab a tissue from a box by the sink to dab away the mascara running down my cheeks. At this rate, it’d be the best idea ever for me to just go home and save myself any further embarrassment. I knew I shouldn’t have come tonight, but I’m too stubborn for my own good sometimes.
I open the door and there’s no one there. I guess it wasn’t that much of an emergency. A couple of deep, relaxing breaths later has me ready enough to head out.
I have to leave ASAP.
In my current condition, the thought of navigating through the sea of people between me and the front door seems daunting. The current song has the living room resembling a mosh pit full of flailing bodies. I take in one last lengthy breath and put one foot forward as desperation to get the hell out of here takes over.
“Hey, have you seen Lori anywhere?” Donovan asks as he rushes up to me through the crowd.
I shake my head, trying to hold myself together.
“When I came back from the kitchen, she wasn’t there,” he says. “And neither were you. I’ve looked everywhere, but no luck. Except for finding you now, of course.”
“Have fun with that,” I reply. “She’s probably with Trent. Those two are made for each other.”
The moment I utter those words, I feel a prick to my heart. I wouldn’t wish Trent on anyone, no matter how they treated me. Then flashbacks of that party flood my brain. The way I felt before I apparently passed out next to him, and then the horrid feeling once I woke up. Dread builds in my gut.
“You don’t think she’d actually leave with that creep, do you?” I ask. “Some silly flirting here and there is one thing, but she wouldn’t actually be that stupid to go off alone with him, right?”
My rhetorical questions seem to be lost on Donovan, as he shrugs his shoulders and says, “I don’t know, but he was the one who invited her to the party. I think he’s sort of the only reason we came here tonight.”
I barely hear Donovan’s response as I survey the party for Lori. Then his words fully register.
“What? That doesn’t sound like her,” I say. “She isn’t boy crazy. Trust me, I know.”
At least, she never gave me that impression.
“All I’m saying is that she seemed to be really into him earlier,” he says.
“Yeah, well, I didn’t say she always has the best judgment, did I?” I snap back, and instantly feel guilty. “Sorry. I’m just a little frazzled.”
“I understand,” he says in a comforting tone. “You really care about her, don’t you?”
His question catches me off-guard. His eyes reflect genuin
e worry, and I inexplicably feel like I could talk to him about anything.
Huh. He’s annoyingly personable, isn’t he?
“Lori and I have been through a lot together. So, yeah, I really care about her.”
I pull out my phone and press on the last missed call from her to redial. It rings twice and then goes to voicemail. Donovan’s phone rings. He takes it from his pocket and shows me that Lori’s calling him.
“I guess that makes sense,” I say under my breath.
“Lori, girl, where are you? I’m with Drea and we’re looking all over for you.”
His face falls into a look of confusion.
“What is it?”
“I’m not sure. It sounds like she’s having a conversation with someone. I think she butt-dialed me.”
I reach my hand out for the phone and he lets me take it. I only hear her end of the conversation. It seems the other person she’s talking to isn’t within range of the phone.
“Oh, please. You know you’re hot.”
(Inaudible voice)
“A little bit.”
“Lori? Hello? Can you hear me?”
She doesn’t respond. She just keeps chatting away. At least the conversation sounds pleasant.
I carve through the crowd, searching for any sign of her and this person she’s talking to. I notice one of Will’s college buddies, Max, a low-key drug dealer who sells Lori weed, posted up against the wall. He’s clearly looking for potential customers.
“Have you seen Lori recently?” I ask.
Max shakes his head. “Nope. She hit me up earlier, but that was a while ago.”
Lori’s voice comes through the phone again, drawing me back into her conversation with this mystery person.
“Lori, it’s Drea. Please answer me,” I say, but she still doesn’t seem to hear me.
I begin to systematically check the first floor, room by room.
“Stop it. Someone might see us,” I hear her say in a frisky tone.