Caught by the Bad Boys Series

by Raathi Chota

  “So what’s the plan for tonight?” I asked.

  “Some of the guys are hanging out at Benny’s place,” Tiffany piped up. “Maybe we should pay them a visit?”

  “Nah, let’s keep it a girls’ night,” Miranda said as she put her dress away. We watched as she rummaged through her closet then pulled out a pink spaghetti strap summer dress.

  “Does it look like we have dresses?” Jennifer folded her arms. Miranda smirked then turned to Melissa, who went through her overnight bag. She always brought the biggest one, mostly that contained her whole house, but tonight it seemed like it had a bunch of party dresses in it.

  “Whose party are we going to?” Tiffany asked as she held up a Bodycon dress.

  “Jaden Reid’s party. Now that it’s almost summer break, he has parties during the week too.” Melissa grinned.

  “I thought you never wanted to go to another one of Jaden’s parties ever again.” I looked at Miranda. The memory of when I lost my virginity to Levi and Miranda lost hers to Keene entered my mind, as well as the other encounters I had at Jaden’s wild parties.

  “Yeah, well, I thought you’d never forgive Levi and Blake again.” She pursed her lips.

  “Miranda, that’s different, and I…I don’t know,” I mumbled. “I barely talk to them.”

  “You eventually will, Lana. You forgive easily, and plus you’ve known Levi since you were little,” Tiffany said.

  “Blake, on the other hand…” Jennifer laughed.

  “I don’t know, guys, and right now I don’t care,” I said then stood up. “Now let’s get ready for this party.”

  The dress I got was a plain black slip dress, and I borrowed a white denim jacket from Miranda and stayed in my white and black high-top Vans. Since my hair was curly, it took a while to straighten. Since I kept my makeup light, I was ready first, so I walked downstairs. I found Mrs. Stevens in a bathrobe as she ironed a dress shirt. She must’ve taken a shower since her hair was wrapped up in a towel, yet a few blonde strands stuck out.

  “You girls going somewhere?” She took in my appearance.

  “Err, yeah,” I mumbled then put a lock of hair behind my ear. Mrs. Stevens let out a sigh then continued to iron.

  “Please, Lana, look after her,” she said. “I heard about her little boyfriend and to think…I liked the kid.”

  “I will, Mrs. Stevens.”

  “I’m assuming you’re taking the car,” she stated. “Please, look after it.”

  “Not to be rude or anything, but sometimes Miranda feels like you care more about that car than her.”

  “She should feel like that. Our whole lives are depending on that car to get us out of this hell,” she said. “Plus, she was born in it too.”

  “Miranda was born in a car? She never told me.”

  “Yeah, she’s not proud of it, also the fact that her father left,” Mrs. Stevens said then shook her head. “She doesn’t understand that he’s gone for a reason.”

  “Mrs. Stevens, if you loved him then why do you…”

  “It’s because I loved him, Lana. Even after fifteen years, I still think of him. I still love him, and when Miranda sees him, she’ll love him too because then she’ll remember all the good memories they’ve shared together.”

  “You said ‘when.’ Is he coming back?”

  Before Mrs. Stevens answered, I heard footsteps come down the stairs. I glanced over my shoulder to see the girls. Melissa wore a gorgeous gray halter dress with nude heels, and Jennifer wore a red strapless dress with gladiator sandals.

  “You girls look lovely tonight,” Mrs. Stevens said.

  “Thanks, Mom. Where are you going?” Miranda asked as she put on her jacket.

  “You’re not the only one who’s having a girls’ night, Miranda,” she said, and I noticed Miranda gave her skeptical look.

  “Well, enjoy, Mrs. Stevens, and we won’t be back too late.” Melissa grinned.

  “I know, Miranda knows I’m watching her,” Mrs. Stevens said as we walked to the door.

  “Mom,” she groaned as we laughed. Once we were outside and walked down the driveway, I clung onto Miranda’s arm. She turned to me, and I noticed the heavy makeup on her face. Don’t get me wrong, I loved it when my friends looked good, but this was too much.

  “Whoa, cake face,” I said then dragged my finger down her cheek. She rolled her eyes then swatted my hand away. “What was that back there? About your mom watching you? It’s kinda creepy.”

  “I know, right? She’s always saying stuff like that. Ugh, I wish I’d watch her and see what guys she goes and meets up with in the middle of the night,” Miranda complained then opened the car. We got in with me calling shotgun. I sat in the passenger seat then glanced up to see a big book on the dashboard. Miranda got in the driver’s seat then saw my gaze on the book.

  “What’s that?” Tiffany asked.

  “It’s a book that got delivered when we were in camp,” Miranda answered then took it. “Mom said she ordered it for me, but I think she’s lying. Why would she order me a handbook on baseball?” Miranda rolled her eyes then tossed the book toward me. I caught it as it landed in my lap. I stared down at the big book and was about to open it until I noticed something. I couldn’t open it. The pages were either glued together, or it was a joke.

  “Why can’t I open it?”

  “I honestly don’t know. Now, Mom just wants me to leave it in the car; I don’t even want to practice baseball anymore. Marcus used to teach me, plus I can get the terminology from Google.”

  As we drove to Jaden’s house, I got curious about the book. I tried to open it with my bare hands, but it was no use. My fingertips turned red and my teeth ached when I gritted them together.

  “Aren’t you curious about this stupid book?”

  “Not really. I’ll show Ethan. Maybe he can help.”

  “Getting cozy with the captain, I see…” Melissa interjected.

  “No.” Miranda rolled her eyes. “He’s just a friendly, supportive friend.”

  “Yeah, right,” Jennifer said.

  “Does Jaden know that we’re coming?” Tiffany asked.

  “I hope not. I’m just here for Jaden’s party,” Miranda stated, and I looked up to see that we’d arrived in his neighborhood. I quickly picked out his house with the glowing lights, cars spread in the driveway and around the house, people walking in and out, and the music blaring, which made the windows of the car vibrate. We got out, and I let out a sigh when I pulled my dress down. I glanced up at the house as I thought of the bad experiences here. When Levi took my virginity after I told him that I loved him, I thought everything would be okay. He insisted that we go for a quick race, and that’s when shit happened. The accident, the hospital, the cigarettes, and the pills. Everything took place when I stepped into this very house.

  “Lana, you coming?” Tiffany asked then locked my arm with hers.

  “Y-Yeah,” I mumbled then followed everyone into the house. Once we stepped into the room, I closed my eyes and inhaled the smell of weed that lingered in the air mixed with alcohol and sweat. As we walked, I noticed hookah pipes at every corner; Jaden loved to vape.

  “The girls have arrived!” Jaden exclaimed then swung his arms around Miranda and Jennifer. “I heard about your little boyfriend problem,” Jaden said as he eyed Miranda up and down. “To be honest, I didn’t like the fucker anyway.”

  Jaden laughed, and it was odd that people around us laughed too. Miranda smiled, and we strangely followed.

  “Right, ladies. Alcohol is in the kitchen, smoking is mostly outside, vaping is everywhere, and a little dirty dancing is in the basement.” He grinned then directed Miranda and Jennifer into the kitchen. “Enjoy!”

  “This is a college party.” Tiffany scrunched her nose up and looked around. All I knew about Jaden was that he’s a bad influence and that he had awesome parties. He’s around the same age as Keene and Axel, but other than that, I barely knew him.

  “Yeah, should we let
one of the guys know we’re here? So y’know, in case we all get drunk?” Melissa suggested.

  “Yeah, I’ll let Carter and Aidan know,” Tiffany said then pulled out her phone.

  “Carter will probably get distracted on the way.” Melissa pursed her lips at a girl who walked past us since she only wore a pair of neon pink shorts.

  “I’m gonna go to the bathroom. Where will you guys be?” I asked.

  “Since we’re not single and our boyfriends will probably roast us if they see pictures of us on social media having fun without them…we’ll be in the kitchen.” Melissa forced a smile then grabbed onto Tiffany. I turned around and glanced up at the stairs. A group sat in what seemed to be a circle as they laughed and vaped. Many people tried to walk upstairs, but they didn’t care and ignored everyone. I let out a sigh because I’d have to use the basement’s bathroom. It took me a while to get to the basement door since I had to walk past people that danced, smoked, and drank. When I walked down the stairs, the music suddenly changed to a slower beat. When I reached the last step, my brows rose when I saw pole dancers. I finally knew what Jaden meant by dirty dancing. There were a few poles distributed around the dimly lit room, a small dance floor where people grinded against each other, and a couch pushed against one side of the room where people smoked and vaped. There was a couple that casually made out on it, yet no one seemed to mind. I glanced around for any other doors and successfully found two on the other side of the room. I walked around the dance floor, made sure to avoid getting pulled in, and past the couch where I received looks. I realized down here was for the people who want to get high or get shit drunk because everything seemed so slow and chilled. When I reached the two doors, I heard moans and groans from both. I knew that’s not what you hear if it’s a bathroom. I let out a huff because I came all the way down for nothing. I was about to leave until I heard a familiar song play. “Go Fuck Yourself” by Two Feet played, and I moved my head to the beat. I turned to the dance floor and heard it call my name as the song continued to play. The intro was draggy and slow, which gave an erotic mood. Eventually, I ended up in the middle of the crowd and danced. When the beat dropped, I felt like a loner because the couples danced with each other while I swayed my hips to the beat. I ran my palms up my sides then tilted my head back and got lost in the music. I ran my hands down my sides again but felt someone put their hands over mine. I opened my eyes and felt the person pull me back. I spun around to see a tall figure. I pulled my hands away then glared at him.

  “Blake?”

  “Hey, Lana.” I pushed him back, which I thought would be hard since he’s stiff, but he almost tripped over a beer bottle as we walked out of the crowd.

  “What the hell was that for?” I demanded.

  “You were looking all sexy and shit. What guy wouldn’t come up to you?” He scrunched up his nose. “At least it wasn’t a stranger.”

  “Blake, how long have you been here?” I asked as I took in his appearance through the lousy lighting. His hair was in all directions, eyelids drooped, lips parted, his sleeveless flannel was unbuttoned, and his belt stuck out.

  “I don’t know. Is the sun still up?” He looked at the ceiling as if it’d give him the answer.

  “How much alcohol have you consumed?”

  “Enough to say that I’m done trying,” he said then looked at me. “I can’t take it anymore, Lana…I like you, and I remember saying it before which didn’t go well, but…yeah.”

  I stared at Blake because I didn’t know what to say. It seemed like déjà vu back when Levi called me. Blake couldn’t like me…he couldn’t. As I stared at him, I noticed, even though he was intoxicated, he waited for me to say something. He couldn’t like me, and I couldn’t like him. I didn’t want him to be a mistake.

  “Blake, you can’t just say something like that when I have a boyfriend,” I said. “What do you expect me to do? Break up with Benny to satisfy you then feel like shit in the end? You’re just like Levi, y’know?”

  “No!” he suddenly roared. “I’m nothing like him! Unlike him, I’m not a fucking pussy who’ll leave you and won’t talk to you for a year. I won’t hurt you, Lana. Please, I can’t take it anymo—”

  “Do you like me just because it makes you feel better? You decrease your habits…am I something that’ll just take away the pain?”

  “What? No. I like you because you’re you. It shows that I’m not the only one living under a stereotype and has a fucked-up past. It proves that I’m not alone.”

  “No, just stop! You can’t like me, Blake; you’re drunk. It accurately shows that I’m not good enough for making you like this. Find someone wh—” He cut me off when he stepped toward me and pressed me against the nearest wall. His chest pressed against mine, and I smelled the strong whiskey on him.

  “I tried! I fucking tried, yet all I see is you, Lana Willson. All the girls I’ve slept with these past few months…” He trailed off, and I took in a deep breath when his index finger ran down my face. “I’d look for you in them, and it got worse, so I just stopped trying to get over you and accepted it.”

  “Blake, plea—” I cut myself off when he slammed his hands on either side of the wall. I got a fright and let out a gasp then looked up into his dark eyes.

  “You’re my fucking drug, and I keep on overdosing. I can’t stop thinking about you. I nee—”

  “Blake, stop. You’re going to Minnesota while I’m stuck here. You’ll find her, and she’ll make you happy…not suffer like this.”

  “No!” He hit his fists against the wall. “Don’t you get it? I want you and only you! I don’t care about anyone else.”

  My breaths became hard as I stared at him. Every word that suddenly came out of his mouth made my head spin. His hand came up. It trembled a bit, and we locked eyes. He cupped my cheek and massaged it with his thumb.

  “Blake, stop,” I whispered then gripped his arm. It only made him clasp my cheek, and I winced in pain. I tried to pull his hand away, and when I looked at him, I noticed a look of shock in his eyes. He looked horrible. The bags under his eyes got darker, and his eyes were red.

  “Hey!” someone yelled, and I blinked rapidly when I saw Blake being pulled away from me. I placed my palm against my cheek and rubbed it to soothe the pain. “If I’m not mistaken, this girl still has a boyfriend,” Jaden said as he glared at Blake. He let out a sigh then rolled his eyes. I watched in confusion as he casually shrugged then walked off.

  “Thanks, Jaden.”

  “No problem, if you didn’t have a boyfriend I would’ve left you two, but I saw you were pushing his arm away,” he said then looked at the ground. “It sorta reminded of when the Willis twins were staying here, how they’d harass girls just for the fun of it.”

  “So you live alone in this big house now?”

  “Yep.” He laughed. “Just me and my hookahs.”

  We laughed, and I thanked Jaden once again then walked upstairs because I didn’t want to be in the basement anymore. I thought the girls would be in the kitchen like they said they’d be, but when I looked for them, they weren’t there. I walked outside into the backyard and saw beer bottles strewn on the grass. People swam in the pool, and I got a fright when someone jumped at me from the patio and into the pool. I glanced around and smiled when I spotted Keene. As Jaden said, people mostly smoked out here, and I watched as Keene walked with a cigarette between his lips. Since he was a drug addict, the cigarettes helped him. Between us, we helped each other and had cut down to two cigarettes a week. The first one we’d share and the second one would be our own. I didn’t even care about Blake and Levi anymore; Keene said they didn’t live up to it.

  “Hey, Keene,” I said, and he stopped. He smiled at me then offered me his cigarette.

  “Thanks.” I chuckled then took a drag.

  “You here by yourself?”

  “No, I’m here with the girls.”

  He nodded, and I took another drag as I let the tobacco taste run through my lungs.
I closed my eyes and exhaled. I felt a bit content after the little clash with Blake. I opened my eyes then gave the cigarette back to Keene.

  “It doesn’t look like you’re having fun,” he said after a while. “Don’t let Jaden see you. He hates it when people aren’t enjoying themselves at his party.”

  I let out a sigh then ran my fingers through my hair. I glanced up at Keene, who looked down at me with his brows raised. I noticed the cut from Parker’s knife had faded into his cheek. It made me look down at his shirt when I remembered the wounds on his chest. I looked up into his crystal blue eyes and saw how soft yet dangerous they were; it made me realize that he’s brave. He didn’t let something like that and Noel’s death torture him; he’s pure.

  “Keene…Benny loves me. Levi told me he loves me over the phone when he was drunk, and Blake just said that he liked me now, in the basement,” I mumbled then looked down at my feet.

  “He’s still in the basement? Damn, he must be wasted by now.” Keene shook his head as I looked at him. “I’ve heard something like this before…” He trailed off then looked up at the dark sky filled with stars that flickered and brought out sparks of light. “It’s like a riddle, three tell the same thing, but one doesn’t mean it.”

  I raised a brow at Keene when he looked at me. He let out a chuckle then pressed the cigarette against the fence. The ashes trickled down, and when it was out, he dumped it in a potted plant nearby.