Page 94 of Truth or Dare

The walk to Jennie’s wasn’t long, but each step felt heavy. Her house was already buzzing with music and laughter by the time I arrived. Decorations sprawled across the lawn, and a giant inflatable ghost waved cheerfully at arriving guests. I took a deep breath and joined the throng, my eyes scanning the crowd for familiar faces.

Jennie greeted me at the door, her own costume—a glamorous witch—sparkling under the porch light. “Presley! You look amazing!”

“Thanks. You too,” I said, hugging her. “This party looks incredible.”

“You know I go all out,” she said with a wink. “Come in, get a drink, have fun!”

I nodded, but my heart wasn’t in it. I squeezed through the crowded hallway into the kitchen, grabbing a soda and leaning against the counter. The noise of the party swirled around me, but it felt distant, like I was watching it all from behind a glass wall.

And then I saw him. Evan. He was leaning against the doorframe, talking to a couple of his friends. He hadn’t noticed me yet, but I could feel the tension coil in my stomach. I didn’t want to deal with him, didn’t want to confront the confusion and hurt that his mother’s notebook had stirred up.

But hiding wasn’t an option either. I straightened my shoulders, plastered on my best party smile, and made my way into the living room. If I was going to survive tonight, I needed to play my part, at least for a few hours.

“Presley!” Reagan’s voice cut through the din, and she pulled me into a circle of friends. “We were just about to start a game. You in?”

My best friend. I could barely look at her knowing she was fucking my boyfriend. But I didn’t put it all on her. Evan was just as bad. I wondered how many people knew they were going behind my back.

“Absolutely,” I said, injecting as much enthusiasm as I could muster. Maybe, just maybe, I could lose myself in the festivities, if only for a little while.

I heldup a red cup of punch. This was my third cup, and the potent mix of alcohol was making me sway. I stumbled onto the dance floor, twirling around. Evan was behind me, wrapping his arm around my stomach to hold me steady.

“You know how fucking sexy you look in that costume,” he whispered in my ear.

I ignored him, taking another sip of the punch and holding my arms high in the air. Some of the red liquid splashed onto the hardwood but I didn’t care. Evan removed the cup from my hand, handing it off to Reagan before he turned me around and pressed his lips to mine.

He tasted like vodka and vanilla. Earlier, I saw him with a bottle in his hand, taking sips from it as he and his friends passed it around.

“Come home with me,” he said.

I gagged. There was no way I would come home with him so he could take advantage of me. I slapped my hand over my mouth and broke away from him, running for the bathroom. Thedoor was closed, and two girls were waiting in line. I had to find a toilet, or I would lose it all over Jennie’s multi-colored runner.

She had a bathroom in her bedroom, and I ran there hoping I could make it. As I threw up the top and buried my head in the white porcelain bowl, I felt my hair pulled back as I purged my stomach. Tears leaked down my face and my nose were running when I finished.

“Are you okay?” a male voice said.

I nodded, grabbing a piece of toilet paper to wipe my tears, nose and mouth. I sat with my face on the edge of the cool porcelain for a few moments before I rose to find Hudson behind me. My heart skipped a beat.

“When did you get here?” I asked as I hit the plunger and stepped to the sink to wash my mouth out.

“A few minutes ago. We need to talk.”

I slurped some water and swished out my mouth, spitting into the sink. “There’s nothing to talk about,” I said, pressing a towel to my face.

In the mirror, I saw his face – his mouth set in a hard line. I ignored him as I used some toilet paper to wipe the black marks on my cheek from my smudged mascara.

“What changed from last weekend?” he demanded.

I shrugged. “I just realized it is what it is. I’m dating Evan and that’s it.”

Hudson gripped my forearm, the heat of his hand sinking into my flesh. “That’s it? Stop lying. Did you find the notebook?”

I found a notebook and if I tell you what I read, it will devastate you.

“I’m done looking,” I said nonchalantly. “I just want to finish the school year and get to college.”

He pointed my thumb at the door. “With that fuckwit?” he asked incredulously. “What about us? I fucking love you,” he hissed.

My heart was breaking. I needed time to figure out how to tell him what I knew and there would be consequences for everyone involved. If I was around Hudson, I wouldn’t be able to hold it in. I know I shouldn’t, he needed to know, and my confession was at the tip of my tongue, but I sucked it down.

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