An idea sparked—a wicked, evil little idea.
Walking closer, I considered him. Dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and board shorts, he looked so cliché that it gave me a toothache.
“What’s the strongest you have?”
“I see…” His amused eyes fell down my body, the cigarette dangling from his bottom lip. He took one final drag before tossing the cancer stick to the grass and crushing it beneath the heel of his Vans. “The preppy boys always party the hardest.” Chuckling, he pulled a small bag of pills from his pocket. “This will make you think you’re fucking Santa on the moon.”
That was three days ago, and since then, my mind has concocted the perfect plan. Now, I’m antsy as hell to trap Cole with his own noose.
A week has passed since my run-in with him in the bathroom.
A full week of him smirking in my direction, taunting me every chance he gets.
I have no doubts about his threat.
Unless I act, he will show that video to our parents. I can’t let that happen. Dad would understand—he was young once—but I don’t want Cole to have this kind of power over me. It’s not about my golden reputation anymore. No, it’s about him thinking he can control me, thinking I’ll dance to his tune.
Thinking I’m a doormat.
I’m not, and he will soon find out the hard way.
Tonight is Samson’s birthday party—an extravagant affair held at a local castle-like mansion that’s popular for wedding events. Located in the countryside, it sits nestled amongst acres of woodlands. It is a picturesque place in the daytime and a ghostly setting at night when the shadows thicken and the moon casts an ethereal glow over the turrets.
My veins thrum with anticipation, and I adjust my mask, two seconds away from bouncing on my heels. Samson insisted on a Venetian jester-themed event, and I must admit, the effect isn’t lost on me. My mask is gold with bells, while Mia went for red and white, matched with a tulle dress and heels.
“When will they let us in?” she asks, craning her neck to see above the crowd.
Behind us, Tiago shakes his head to make the bells jingle, and Ronnie punches his arm.
Allie is already inside with Cole and the others, and I try not to let that thought bother me as the gates finally open with an ominous creak. Silence falls over the crowd while we wait outside the tall iron gates. Mia interlaces her fingers with mine. I wonder, not for the first time, if I can go through with my plan.
I don’t have time to fret, though, because the crowd surges forward, steering us toward the gothic monstrosity that stretches fanged towers toward the sky.
Mia’s hand feels so small in mine. Small and fragile.
We enter the building, greeted by rock music and a large chandelier overhead that, if it fell, would kill countless students in one swoop.
The crowd finally thins out as the masked students make their way to the main hall. I barely have time to take in the artwork on the domed ceiling as Mia pulls me along, swaying her hips to the heavy beat. She’s in her element now, but I remain stiff. Ronnie’s rowdy laughter behind me sounds far away. Distant.
“Allie said to meet them by the fireplace,” Mia shouts over the music.
We weave through masked men and women until we reach a seating area. Tiago and Ronnie are nowhere in sight, lost in the faceless crowd.
I know the moment I spothim,sprawled on the luxurious couches closest to the lit fireplace, dressed in all black, with one booted foot on the coffee table and his muscled arms spread out behind him.
Goosebumps erupt over my skin, and a chill winds its way down my spine. As the music hits the bridge, his dark eyes lockonto mine, searing me through his striking half-white, half-black mask.
Clashing colors. How ironic.
We stare at each other while I fight against my visceral reaction to the energy emanating from him.
Someone throws themselves at me, and I break eye contact to smile at Allie.
“You came. Thanks for bringing my girl.”
“Get off my man,” my girlfriend scolds, pulling Allie away while laughing. She plasters herself to my side and flips her off.
Arm flung around her shoulder, I accept the beer Allie hands me, then glance around the room.
