Michael: Party time!
Cole: It has to stay clean
Tristan: We can do that
Michael: Sure, we can help clean up after
Benji: Totally
Cole: Not sure, guys…
Michael: Oh, c’mon!
Benji: Live a little, Cole
Tristan: Fine by me
Cole: Fine. As long as we clean up together. Keep it small
Michael: I’ll bring the goods
Tristan: Great! I’ll be there
Benji: Me 2
Cole: Tonight, and don’t come b4 dinner
Tristan: Got it. You’re gonna love it
Cole: If you say so
Tristan: You need this, bro
Michael: Definitely
I close the app and sigh to myself, rubbing my forehead. Oh, boy. This is gonna be a mess. I can already tell from that conversation. But at least it’ll be a fun night, and I won’t be by myself in this house.
Besides, Tristan is right. I need some time to myself. Some amusement without rules or judgment. Nothing but relaxation, some music …
And no Monica Romero to turn my head upside down.
Monica
“Sooooo … Tell me how it went,” Mel says as she scoots closer to me on the bench outside school. We just finished all our classes, but we haven’t had the time to talk about the thing that went down at TRIGGER’s concert yet. After I’d fled the backstage room, the guard immediately pushed me out the door and forced me to stay outside.
I couldn’t find Mel anywhere, so I figured she’d gone home already, seeing as I was held up backstage for God knows how long by Cole’s twisted little big tongue.
“I couldn’t find you anywhere,” she says, “and the guard was getting suspicious, so I had to leave.”
“You don’t have to explain,” I say. “Besides, I was the one who stayed way too long.”
“Spill it. Tell me, how did he react?” she asks with a certain giddiness in her voice that’s hard to miss.
“Well …” My cheeks turn completely red even though I try so damn hard to keep it together. “Let’s just say it didn’t go the way I planned.”
“But he was raging off stage,” she says. “I saw him explode right there on the stage. It was magnificent.”
“Yeah, that part was amazing,” I say, my eyes trailing off. “But what came after …”
She raises a brow at me and leans in closer. “Tell me.”
“We kissed,” I mutter, biting my lip. “And he did some more … things.” I clear my throat.
Mel squeals. “Oh my God, you’re kidding, right? Nooooo!”
I bury my face in my hands. “Why is this so embarrassing?”
She grabs my arm. “Don’t be ashamed. I mean, you do you.”
“Yeah, but you warned me about him,” I say. “And I totally didn’t listen. Even though I know I definitely should have.”
“But you can’t help who you fall in love with,” she says.
My eyes widen. “Love?” I’m mortified and stumble over my words. “No, no, this was not love. Whatever the hell it was, I don’t know, but it was definitely not that.”
“Not-love is fine too.” She shrugs. “I don’t judge.” She grabs a chocolate chip cookie from her bag and holds one out for me too. “Want one?”
“Thanks,” I say, and I take it and immediately shove it in my mouth.
She laughs at the way I eat, but I can’t help it. Stress makes me hungry.
“Hangry?” she asks.
“Very,” I reply, which makes her laugh even more.
“That’s what boys cause,” she jokes.
“Tell me about it,” I say, grunting with annoyance.
“Sounds like you two have something special,” she says. “You just gotta figure out what it is.”
“Nooooo, I’m not figuring out anything,” I say, almost choking on the crumbs. “He’s an asshole bully.”
“Apparently,” she says, still mocking me a little with her eyes. “And something else too.”
“What else?” I retort, folding my arms.
She throws me a look and purses her lips. “Nothing.”
“Oh, shut up.” I shove her a little.
She laughs again. “It’s just funny. I can’t help it.”
“But it’s not. You know he’s a douche.”
“Yeah, and I warned you about that too,” she says.
“Know-it-all.” I scoff.
“That’s my second name.” She winks.
“Sounds about right.”
“Hey, ladies. Enjoying the afternoon sun?”
We both turn around as someone casts shade on us. Or more specifically … Ariane.
“No need to invite me to join. I just came to drop this off.” She hands me and Mel a piece of paper. “Special invitation to a special party. Hosted tonight!” She claps her hands. “I’m so excited.”
“Um … thanks?” Mel says.
“You’re welcome.” Ariane’s beaming smile almost feels like an attack. “I expect you’ll both attend then?”
“I don’t really do parties,” Mel replies.
“Sure, you do. You were at TRIGGER’s concert plenty of times,” Ariane retorts.
This shuts Melanie up, but not me. How the hell does Ariane know?
“Surprised? I have a few friends who go there too, and they always tell me who else is there,” she says, flicking her hair back. “I like to be in the know, you know?”
“Right.” Mel frowns.
She clearly doesn’t trust Ariane.
And now I’m starting to wonder what else Ariane knows about us.
“You’ll be there tonight, right, cousin?” She looks my way.
“Um …”
“Please?” She raises her brows and pouts at me in that same cutesy manner that I’m sure has convinced plenty of dudes to do things they’ll regret later. “You could use the distraction.”
I sigh. After that last concert I attended, I sure could use a distraction as long as it has nothing to do with Cole.
“Fine,” I reply. “As long as Cole’s not going to be there.”
“Cole?” She makes a face at me and then folds her arms. “Is there something you wanna tell me?”
My lips part, but I decide not to tell her. “Nope. Nothing in particular.”
She looks at me in a weird way for a second before she says, “Well, you’ll have me, and I’ll kick anyone’s butt if they get close to you.” She winks.
“Thanks,” I reply, feeling creeped out by this whole conversation.
I mean, I always knew she was weird, but she’s never been this creepy. Ever since I’ve been going to Black Mountain Academy, something’s changed about her. Or maybe you really don’t know who your family is until you see them in a different light.
“Well, all right then. I’ll pick you up tonight at eight, okay?” she says.
“Cool,” I reply, then turn my head away again.
Mel keeps looking at her until she finally turns around and leaves.
“Thought she’d never leave,” Mel mutters.
I snort and barely manage to keep it together.
“And you two are related?” she adds.
It only makes me snort-laugh harder.
When it’s eight o’clock, Ariane’s right there on my front porch, waiting for me.
“Be home on time!” my mom calls out from the kitchen. “And don’t get near any boys!”
“Got it, Mom,” I say, rolling my eyes while Ariane giggles.
“I’ll keep an eye on her, don’t you worry, ma’am!” Ariane shouts at her.
“Thanks, lovely!” Mom yells back.
I throw Ariane a look, but she completely ignores it. “C’mon, let’s skip before she asks anything else.”
“Thanks,” I say, marching out and throwing the door closed behind me. “I’m so done with being watched.”
“I can only imagine,” Ariane replies. “It must’ve been tough for you, with everything that happe
ned.”
“To be honest, I just wanna move on,” I say as she opens her car door.
I really don’t want to talk about this stuff with her. It’s already bad enough that my mom told her.
“Oh, really?” She looks up. “I thought you were still going to therapy and stuff.”
“No, I’m done with that,” I say, opening my car door too.
“Hmm … you sure about that, hun?” She hums to herself, but I don’t wait for her to ask more and immediately sit down.
“So where is this party?” I ask, trying to shift the conversation.
“Up in the hills. You know where all the ultra-rich peeps live. It’s a huge mansion.” She sits down too and shuts her car door. “Owned by some Mafia guys.”
“Mafia guys?” My eyes widen.
She laughs. “Relax. I’m just messing with you.”
I sigh out loud and put on my seat belt.
“They’re on vacation,” she adds, which almost makes my eyeballs pop out.
“So you weren’t joking?” I ask.
Right then, she hits the gas. “Nope. But they’re out of town, and the house is empty. Perfect for a party. Now let’s go!”
I have to hold my titties while she drives. And I thought I was a bad driver, but Ariane literally takes the cake. In fact, I’d bet she’d hit that with her car if it stood in her way. Crossing my fingers, I hope we don’t come upon anyone in a crosswalk or meet any lost animals on the way because I swear to God, she’d knock them all over like they were pins in a bowling alley.
When we finally get there, the sheer size of the house makes my jaw drop.
“Told you it was big,” Ariane jests, bumping her elbow against mine. “Wait until you see the inside.”
“You’ve been here before?” I say, gawking at the gates that slowly open toward the stretch of land ahead. A sprawling garden is filled with exotic plants and trees, and a giant fountain sits in the middle where the road converges with an actual private parking lot and a garage filled with old-timers.
Jesus Christ. This must be some rich motherfucker.
I mean, my parents are rich but not this rich.
“Sometimes,” Ariane muses. “Not often, though. I don’t know the actual owners.”
I frown. Weird.
“Not that it matters,” she says, parking the car before adjusting her boobs in her dress. “You coming?”
We get out of the car, and while Ariane puts on her heels, I admire the huge building in front of me that’s booming with music and people. I’ve never been to such a big party, and I’ve been at quite a few back when I was still at Falcon Elite Prep. But this … this surely is something else.
“C’mon!” Ariane hooks her arm through mine and drags me toward the front door, which is wide open and teeming with people flooding in and out.
The music blasts ahead and almost blows me out the door right as we step inside. It’s so damn loud that I can’t even hear Ariane when she speaks to me, which I’m not sure is a bad thing. Everyone’s dancing and drinking. There are even a bunch of dudes throwing beach balls across the crowd. There’s a keg in the corner that someone is pouring drinks from while people surrounding it are chanting, “Chug, chug, chug!”
All the rooms in the house are filled with people, even the kitchen where plenty of chips and cups are set up. But I’m amazed at how big this place is because I’ve only just stepped inside and have probably only seen about five percent.
“Mo!” Ariane calls, and when I turn my head, she beckons me to come. “Here!”
She holds two drinks and pushes one into my hand. “Drink up.”
“Thanks,” I reply. Even though I’m not sure what’s in this, I still take a sip. It’s chock-full of some syrup and definitely alcohol because it burns going down my throat.
“Good, huh?” she says.
I just nod. So far, I haven’t seen anyone I know yet, no one from school, not even Ariane’s friends. Which begs the question … how did she come up with those pamphlets?
“Where is everyone?” I ask.
“Oh, this is a special-guests-only party, so no classmates,” she says, adjusting her boobs again. “Except us, of course.”
“Okay, but how did you get those pamphlets then?”
She frowns. “You have a lot of questions tonight, don’t you?”
“Sorry.” I shrug. “I’m just curious.”
Michael suddenly appears behind her and wraps his arms around his waist. “Michael!” She gasps, smiling when he plants a thick, wet kiss on her naked shoulder.
“You look horny, babe.”
Ick.
“Michael asked me to make them,” Ariane tells me, completely ignoring what he said.
I narrow my eyes. Michael, the guy from Cole’s band, asked her to make the pamphlets? So this is his party?
“This is your house?” I ask Michael while he’s dry humping her.
He looks up at me. “No. I wish it was.”
“Then whose is it?” I say, clutching my drink.
“You ask too many questions, Mo,” Ariane says while Michael continues to rub up against her. “Just enjoy the evening. Live a little.” She winks. “There are plenty of boys here.”
I lick my lips and shake my head. She’s not telling me something, which means it’s important.
“Ariane,” I say sternly.
“What?” she mutters, focusing on Michael. “I’m going to dance. You should do the same. That’s why we’re here, remember?”
I sigh out loud and walk off. I’m really not in the mood for her cryptic bullshit right now. I’m not even sure I want to be here anymore now that I know TRIGGER is involved. Even if it’s just Michael or Tristan is close enough to make me run for the hills. But I came here to relax and party, not to panic and sweat. Maybe Cole won’t be here. Maybe he’s out partying somewhere else, maybe he’s busy, maybe he’s …
Right there.
Slouched with parted legs on the big, blue couch in the darkened living room.
With a drink in his left hand and that same girl who was laughing at me when I bumped into Cole in the hallways, Lindy, twirling his hair on the right.
Well, fuck me right off the face of this earth.
Chapter 26
Monica
The cup I was holding is crushed underneath the weight of my hand, turning into a fist.
I immediately turn around and go into the crowd. I’m fuming. Livid. I don’t know why he has this effect on me, and I fucking hate it.
So I grab the nearest boy I can find and start dancing with him. The guy doesn’t seem to mind as I’m bouncing around his body and wrap my arms around his neck. But my eyes can’t help travel toward Cole’s … and revel in how furiously they stare back.
My whole body is heating up, either from dancing or from the way he looks at me because damn, he can’t take his eyes off me. Serves him right for adding me to his long list of prized conquests. He wants to play? Well, so can I. And he definitely doesn’t like what he sees.
A smirk forms on my lips. Too fucking bad.
I dance like nothing’s bothering me even though I can feel his eyes bore into my skin. The boy I’m with smells like liquor and drugs, two of my biggest vices, but I try to ignore it as best as I can. Because I need this. That’s what I told myself. What Ariane told me.
I’ve moved on.
But the boy suddenly gets his hands on my waist in a way that I don’t like, and I try to push him away.
“What’s the problem, girl?” he says. “I’m just trying to get friendly.”
“Don’t,” I say. “Just dance. That’s it.”
When I try to continue, he keeps touching my breasts and hips. “C’mon, girl. You started it. Now let me get a taste,” he whispers in my ear.
“Get off!” I hiss, untangling myself in the middle of a crowd full of people who are bumping into me, forcing me straight back into his arms.
Suddenly, someone rips his arms away from my body.
“She said beat it.” Cole’s familiar growl makes me turn around in shock.
The boy glares at him for a second, only to taper off like a coward when Cole’s muscles tense up. When he’s gone, Cole turns his attention to me. “Stop doing that.”
“Doing what?” I make a face.
“Whatever the fuck that was,” he says through gritted teeth. “That.” He points in the direction the boy just went.
“Dancing with someone?” I scoff. “It’s a fucking party. Of course I’ll dance.”
“Don’t,” he growls. “Don’t fucking do this.”
“Oh what, I’m not allowed to party?” I raise a brow. “I’ll do whatever the fuck I want, thanks.”
“You were throwing yourself at him,” he says, inching closer.
“So what if I was?” I fold my arms.
“You know how boys work,” he says under his breath, looking around to see if anyone’s heard him.
“So? I told him not to,” I say.
“And he wasn’t listening,” he retorts.
“That’s my problem,” I reply, pursing my lips. “Not yours.”
“I made it my problem when he put his hands on you,” he snarls back, closing in on me.
“Yeah, I can see that.” I cock my head and ogle the girl behind him. “But aren’t you supposed to entertain your own damn girlfriend?”
His brows furrow, and he briefly glances back at the girl sitting on the couch, throwing air-kisses at him. “Her?” He makes a tsk sound. “I don’t give a damn about her.”
“Stop pretending, Cole. I see what you’re doing,” I say. “It won’t work on me.”
“I’m not doing anything, Lindy just sat next to me and started flirting with me. Big deal.” He narrows his eyes, and a hint of a smile pops onto his face. “Are you jealous?”
I almost choke on my saliva right then and there. “You wish.”
He snorts and shakes his head. “Whatever you want, Mo …”
I’ve had enough of him making fun of me. “Don’t.” I point my finger at his chest. “I don’t need your pity.”
“You know what you do need?” he retorts. “You need to leave.”
“Why?”
He leans in with my finger still pressed against his chest. “This is dangerous.”
Rowdy Boy (A High School Bully Romance): Black Mountain Academy Page 19