“I don’t know.”
“She can’t leave campus. She has a busted face, and yesterday she was attacked. A party should be the last thing she does.”
They all fell silent. Jaycen, at least, was taken aback by the harshness in Thornton’s voice. Damn, he really didn’t want her to go, did he? She had no idea why. Was it the spy thing? Did he think she was shady and didn’t want her hanging around his friends?
Whatever it was, it stung. For some unknown reason, she wanted his respect. She wanted Thornton to like her. God, it sounded so childish. But she did; she cared what he thought.
She forced a smile. “You’re totally right. Maybe, next time though.” Not waiting for any of them to reply she headed off, keeping her head low until she reached her dorm, and was safely inside. She iced her bruised face, her stomach in knots about Thornton and the way he looked at her. The way he didn’t want to be near her. Then, she thought about the voice she had heard when fighting Drake and that soft plea for help.
Chapter 18
“I think we should go.” Gemma sat on the floor and crossed her legs. Her phone buzzed next to her.
The text was most likely from Luke. Gemma turned her head to read it, and her little smile as she did, confirming that it definitely was him.
“Do you think we could bring another person to the party? Or, would that be rude? Just adding a plus two?” Gemma looked up, biting her lip, really thinking about her own question.
Jaycen laughed. “We’re not going. So, it really doesn’t matter.” She fell back on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. “Are you ever going to explain Luke? Because I left and you could barely talk to the guy and now what? You’re seeing each other?”
“He heard I was attacked and came to visit me,” she said simply. Jaycen stayed silent as she waited for the rest.
“Then, he stayed, just keeping me company. It turns out we have so much in common. We like the same books, same music. It’s amazing.”
Jaycen smiled, even though Gemma couldn’t see it.
“Being like us, who our parents are, it can get so lonely in a place like this. But he’s just like me, just like us.”
“Like us?” She had to admit, she didn’t know the first thing about Luke. But she still highly doubted they were alike in any way.
“Yeah, not violet. Lower born.”
Now, Jaycen sat up. “We’re not lower born. We’re just—” She stopped, what were they exactly? “We’re just not stuck up.” Yeah, that would work.
Gemma didn’t look convinced. “Yeah, okay then.” Her smile turned wistful. “Those guys, Stephen and his friends, they always seem to be having fun. All of them do. They love school. They get to hang out, not studying, because they’re powerful enough to pass most magical classes without trying. They can go to parties and have fun. Now, I’m kind of starting to have fun, too.”
That was like a dagger to Jaycen’s heart. She thought she’d had an idea of what Gemma’s life had been like before she had got there, but no. She had no idea.
“You’ve never been to a party before?”
Gemma looked at her like she was crazy. “Whose party would I have gone to?” She laughed, like even the thought of it was so crazy.
Jaycen had never been big on friends in her multitude of schools, but even she had been to a party before.
She stood, pulling off her jacket, her mind racing through her wardrobe. “We don’t have much time. You’d better start getting ready.”
Gemma just looked at her, perplexed. “Get ready? What are you talking about?”
“We’re going to the party. But we don’t have much time; the night watch starts soon.”
Gemma squealed as she kicked her legs out. Then, she shot to her feet, grabbed Jaycen in a tight hug and ran to the door.
“I’m grabbing all of my clothes and coming back, I’ll be quick. Thank you so much. Thank you, thank you, thank you.” Then, she was gone.
Thornton didn’t want her to go; he’d made that very clear, but did it really matter? Surely, the party would be big enough for them both to be there but not necessarily hanging out together? That was what Jaycen told herself as she picked her outfit and waited for Gemma. Tonight was going to be fine.
**********
“I can’t believe we’re going to Lara Henderson’s party. This is insane.” Gemma linked her arm through Jaycen’s as they crossed the courtyard, heading to Lara’s room. Jaycen was praying they weren’t too late and hadn’t missed her. Just in case, she picked up the pace and walked a little faster. How awful would it be to let Gemma down now? After she was all ready and excited?
“She’s seems like a nice girl.” What could she really say about someone that she’d met twice? Both times very briefly.
“I’m excited and so nervous.” Gemma’s free hand tugged at her top, pulling it down as much as she could.
“Stop tugging at that. You’ll stretch it.” Jaycen held open the door to Lara’s dorm building.
“Do I look okay?”
“You look great.” Gemma hadn’t been kidding when she said she was bringing over all of her clothes—the pile had almost been bigger than her. She had ended up borrowing a printed band shirt from Jaycen. Paired with simple black jeans and black jacket, Gemma looked great. Jaycen hadn’t strayed too far from what she normally wore, throwing on a pair of dark blue jeans with a black belt and grey t-shirt. Gemma paired her outfit with some black high heels, and somehow had talked Jaycen into doing the same. Only problem was neither of them could walk in heels.
Jaycen’s face still stung, and no matter how much she hated it, she knew there was going to be a huge bruise in the morning. She’d tried to cover it with make-up, which brought its own issues. Jaycen normally didn’t wear makeup. A little concealer and mascara, maybe. But a full face, thick enough to cover a busted noise? Hell no. She did the best she could—or Gemma did, at least—and she had to say, she looked okay.
Finally, they made it to Lara’s room, and knocked.
The door swung open. “Oh my god, I didn’t think you were coming.” Lara threw her arms around Jaycen’s shoulders and hugged her tight.
Jaycen hugged her, finally pulling back when it became clear Lara wasn’t going to. “Yeah, we changed our minds. This is my friend Gemma.”
Gemma waved and squeaked a quick, “Hi.”
“Oh, I love your top.” A strong smell of alcohol fanned their faces as she spoke. “You managed to cover your face. Totally awesome. We were just about to leave.”
Managed to cover your face. Jaycen couldn’t help but laugh.
It was then that she saw the two girls behind Lara, both of them looking at her curiously, and both completely beautiful. How was that even possible?
“Come on, let’s go.” Lara didn’t look back as she headed out the door. Her two friends smiling politely as they followed her.
Lara led the way out of her dorm building and to a car parked on the far side of campus. “Lucy is driving us.”
Lucy, a tall brunette with amazing glowing skin, didn’t speak as she pulled out her keys and got in the driver’s seat. It wasn’t until they were all squashed in the car and driving out of the campus that Lara turned to her from her seat in the front and said, “Did you tell José you were coming?”
She caught both girls in the front turning to each other and smirking. Jaycen could only guess what that meant.
“I guess José’s getting younger and younger these days, huh?” Lara’s other friend said from beside her as she dug her phone from her bag and starting typing, looking bored with the conversation.
“No. To be honest, I don’t really know him.” She doubted that you’d count the three conversations that they’d had as them knowing each other.
Lara looked confused. “So, it’s Thorn that you know?”
That got the girls’ attention. The one sitting beside her looked up, while the girl driving tilted her head in Jaycen’s direction while still keeping an eye on the road.
“Kind of, yeah.”
Lara smiled widely and turned back in her seat. The rest of the car was completely silent as they drove.
After what felt like an eternity, they drove down a busy high street and parked.
“Are you sure we’re going to get in?” Gemma asked as they all got out of the car and started walking towards a bar, people queuing up outside of it. The blue neon light flashed the bar’s name: Decay. It looked cool. Maybe, a little too cool for Jaycen and Gemma.
Lara, having heard Gemma, stopped to link her arm with Jaycen’s. “Of course, silly. This is my party. I say who gets in.”
The two security guards looked up as they all walked over to them, the girls smiling and stretching up to kiss the security on their cheeks.
“Sean, this is my friend, Jaycen.” Lara pulled Jaycen forward, and the security guy, Sean, smiled down at her.
“Hi.” Jaycen lifted her chin as a sort of greeting. She didn’t want to speak and have the guy realise how young she was.
“And this is her friend, Gemma,” Lara then introduced.
“Hey.” The voice that came out of Gemma’s mouth sounded so deep and so unlike her that Jaycen couldn’t help but turn and look at Gemma, with a what the hell was that look on her face.
Sean lifted the rope blocking the access to the main door. “Have a great night, ladies.”
Lara led the way into the club, her two friends, Jaycen, and Gemma silently following.
Inside, the club was packed, the lighting was low and dim, giving everything a bluish tint. Lara and her friends stopped to say hi to a few people, before heading to the stairs. Again, there was more security, this one stepped aside, lifting the rope as he moved.
“Yay, everyone is here.” Lara lifted her arms in the air, a few people running towards her.
The room was full, not nearly as busy as downstairs, but still very busy.
Jaycen took Gemma by the arm and pulled her to the side, already eyeing the bar. Would she be able to drink? Would they serve her? Jaycen pondered that before turning back to Gemma.
“Do you know anyone here?”
Gemma was staring at the crowd, her eyes wide and a small smile on her lips. “This is like the who’s who of school. I swear to God; everyone here is just violet. So, so, so violet.”
Oh, great. Jaycen turned to the bar, the bartender catching her eye and walking over. Well, here goes nothing. “Two beers, please.”
The bartender didn’t think twice as he reached back and handed over the bottles. Jaycen was digging into her pocket when he held up his hand. “There’s a tab.”
Jaycen turned back to Gemma, a huge smile on her lips. “This party just got exciting.”
Gemma rolled her eyes. “This party was exciting anyway.”
“If you say so.” Jaycen’s eyes went to Lara who was now centre of the room, a bottle in one hand and her arm draped around the shoulders of a guy whose face Jaycen couldn’t see. A very broad pair of shoulders. Jaycen’s heart skipped a beat but was unable to look away from the back of the guy’s head. His dark hair was the same colour as his dark shirt. His head bent as he spoke to Lara, who tossed her head back as she laughed. The pit of jealousy in her stomach took her by surprise, but still, it was there, and it was growing with every second she saw them together.
“It’s a busy party. I take it Lara is purple,” Jaycen said, sipping her beer and tearing her eyes away from Lara and Thornton.
“Violet. Lara is violet.” Gemma shook her head. “Violet blood is everything, and Lara Henderson is as violet as they come. Well, her family aren’t one of the top five, but she’s definitely up there.”
This wasn’t surprising, especially when Jaycen looked around the party. One thing that Jaycen had come to realise, and realise fast, was that the more violet someone was, the richer they were, and it was clear Lara was rolling in money. “So, she and Thornton are close?” She regretted it as soon as she asked, but now it was there. Nothing she could do but listen.
Gemma lifted her shoulders in a disinterested shrug. “No idea, I see them together a lot, but I have no idea if they are close. Their families must know each other I guess.”
That answer really didn’t help her.
“Can I believe my eyes; are you really here?” José yelled over at them, his arms open wide as he grinned at them. Gemma scurried behind Jaycen, her head already bent. Jaycen stopped her and pulled her back around.
“Yeah, we decided to show our faces,” she yelled back with the only cool reply she could think of.
“Nice, nice, and your face is all pretty again.” He walked over to them, as casual and calm as he always was.
She rolled her eyes; she’d done the best she could with make-up but you could still see the bruise. “It’s just hidden under a ton of makeup.”
“You look great.” He winked, then said, “You two got a drink?” and tapped the bar. Even with the place heaving and the music blaring, the barman caught his eye, and within seconds two more beers and a glass filled with a white liquid awaited them.
How had he remembered what all of them were drinking? Jaycen had barely taken two sips of her beer, not really liking the taste. “We literally just got these.”
“Now, you have one more.” He tilted back the bottle, looking completely confused. “Why the hell are you drinking beer?”
Goddamnit, their cool façade was about to go up in flames. “We just like it,” she lied, taking another big gulp, just to prove it. It still tasted vile.
José, stilling grinning, looked over at Gemma. “You don’t look like you actually like that drink.”
“Oh. Erm.” She giggled, and then shook her head. “It doesn’t taste so great.”
José looked down at Jaycen, his grin saying what he didn’t. I know you’re lying and that it tastes like crap.
Jaycen pressed her lips together, trying to hide her smile. Then, she noticed his drink. “What’s that?”
He put the glass to his lips. “Gin,” he said, before taking a small sip.
“Isn’t that a woman’s drink?” she teased.
“I bet it tastes a hell of a lot better than the crap you’re drinking.” He tipped the glass in her direction.
Hesitantly, she took the glass and took the smallest sip. Her shoulders almost slumped at the taste. Gin tasted so much better than beer. For her, that was now a fact.
“I now want some gin.” She laughed, taking another sip and handing it over to Gemma for her to try.
“No, that’s cool, just pass my drink around.” José tried to fake his annoyance, his big smile showing his real feelings.
“That’s so much better,” Gemma agreed, licking her lips as she handed the glass back to José. With another tap on the bar and a lift of his glass, three more glasses ended up in their hands.
“I shouldn’t drink too much,” Jaycen started, her fingers nervously tapping on the wood. She looked over at José, catching sight of Thornton over his shoulder. He was standing with a group of people, Lara was one of them, he was laughing. Really laughing. Jaycen had barely seen him smile, never mind laughing. He had a glass in one hand, the other was in his pocket. He looked so casual and happy. Did he know she was there? Did he care? Just as the thought popped into her head, Thornton’s eyes clashed with hers, and they held for a second. A second that felt like an hour. She smiled, not a big grin, but a small smile that was kind of a hey without words. He didn’t smile back, instead he pulled his hand from his pocket and draped it over Lara’s shoulders, pulling her closer, all while still looking directly at Jaycen. One of his friends must have said something, because then Thornton wasn’t looking at her anymore, and was nodding at something one of them was saying.
The pit in her stomach ached until it was almost engulfing her. Why did this hurt so much? Why did she care so much?
“Hey, you okay?” Gemma nudged her lightly, forcing Jaycen to look away from Thornton.
“Yeah, yeah I’m good. We should drink.”
“Now, that’s what I’m talking about.” José whistled loudly, as Jaycen gulped back her gin. Screw Thornton.
Chapter 19
“Okay, okay.” Jaycen stood, still unable to stop her laughter. “He knows you’re taking it, he just doesn’t care.”
“He totally knows! There’s a tab.” Lara wiped her eyes, her shoulders still shaking.
Their group had now grown, Lara and a few of her friends having joined them. All of them were a lot more talkative once they’d had a few drinks, and of course, José was at the centre of the crowd.
Thornton wasn’t sitting with them; he was at the end of the room. No matter how many of his friends came to sit with them, he stayed put. Screw him, Jaycen thought, downing another of her drinks.
Lara had come over with her friends and introduced Gemma and Jaycen to cocktails. They tasted like heaven, and so far, they’d had four each. Jaycen and Gemma were very drunk.
“No, he has no idea.” José laughed, putting the bottle on the table and holding out his hand. He waited until the bartender turned around then he used his magic to pull the bottle from the shelf and into his hands. Everyone clapped. “Whiskey, anyone?”
Jaycen laughed along, rubbing her eyes as the room began to spin, knowing full well her make-up would be messed up. Gemma was sitting next to her, chatting away to Luke who had just joined them.
“Do you mind that I invited someone?” a very drunk Gemma asked Lara as Luke slowly approached.
“Of course not, come in; sit down.” Lara then moved down the sofa, allowing more room for Luke to sit.
“So, how do you know these people?” he whispered, smiling, and leaning into Gemma.
“I don’t, Jaycen does.” Gemma giggled, sipping more of her drink and linking her arm through his. Luke looked over at Jaycen, lifting his head, a small acknowledgment. She smiled back.
“You don’t mind me crashing your girls’ night, do you?” Luke asked, leaning towards Jaycen while still keeping Gemma close. Gemma looked delighted at the contact, especially when Luke’s hand came to rest gently on her knee.
Jaycen looked around the packed room, mainly at all the guys there. “This doesn’t look like girls’ night to me.”
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