Page 27 of As You Walk On

“Okay. Let’s get this night started.”

•••

The Campbells live in a castle. “Six bedrooms and seven bathrooms,” Jay whispered when we pulled up. It’s a riverfront property. Over four acres of brick and glass and immaculately kept landscape.From the outside, the two-story looks as though my house and the properties on either side combined to create a Transformer.

Already, the driveway is near max capacity. I park on the street. A nervous feeling sinks into my bones. I wonder if Chloe’s neighbors know her family is out of town for spring break. We drove by at least two other palaces housing a car lot worth of vehicles in their expansive driveways. There are clearly multiple parties happening in Innisbrook. Hopefully, it keeps the cops from shutting this one down.

At least untilafterI ask Christian to prom.

I shoot Dad a quick “check-in” text. We dodge a troupe of theater kids recording numerous live videos on the way to the front door. Their exuberant squealing is considerably more tolerable than the overplayed Post Malone music that assaults us as the door swings open.

“QR code,” demands Octavia Ballard, blocking the entryway. She’s flanked on either side by Regina and Christy, two other Ballers benchwarmers. Octavia’s six three, all muscle, no give. I bet she bench-presses guys like me before her first sip of iced coffee in the morning.

“QR code!”

Darren startles. “Whoa, what the—”

I glare at Jay. He never mentioned needing a special digital code to get in. What are we walking into? The Red Keep?

Jay, smooth as ever, flashes his phone screen for Octavia.

Christy uses an app on her phone to scan and verify Jay’s code, then perkily announces, “They’re with Jayla.”

“Are y’all keeping tabs?” I ask.

Regina replies dryly, “If anyone starts shit, we need accountability. A ‘don’t fuck around and you won’t have to find out’ system, if you will.”

Inside is the kind of chaotic energy I expected. Neon-orange plastic cups stacked on any surface available. Decent music. Bad dancing, or, in Arvin’s case, dry humping a wall. Varied levels of socializing happening everywhere.

Having visited Chloe’s previously, Jay takes us on a tour. The foyer opens to a living room, then an overcrowded kitchen, followed by a decked-out family room. Vaulted ceilings, arched windows, hardwoodplusmarble floors. Jay mentions a finished basement we don’t visit along with an “off-limits” second floor. French doors lead to a partially covered patio, pool and outdoor firepit included.

The hot tub is already packed, the pool less so. Someone’s portable Bluetooth speaker competes with the noisy soundtrack coming from inside.

So far, no Christian.

“Do you see him anywhere?” I whisper-shout once we’re back in the living room.

In the middle of all the bodies, Chloe sits cross-legged on a sofa. Seniors and previous graduates bracket her. Her chestnut hair is purposefully messy. When she notices us, Chloe waves politely. I do the same, but she’s already absorbed in a nearby conversation.

“Uh, D?”

Next to me, Darren vigorously shuffles in place like Elmo celebrating his birthday. It’s his favorite go-to dance. Apay no attention to my clumsinessJedi mind trick.

“You’re supposed to behelping,” I remind him.

“I am!”

“Really?” I wave a hand at his... spasming. “This isn’t helping.”

He hiccups, then cackles. Any other day, I’d fully appreciate tipsy Darren. Hell, I’dencourageit. But not when Jay, my other wingman, is suddenly distracted by the happily squealed “Bae!” from the entryway.

Jayla stands in a semicircle of cheerleaders. Her box braids are scooped up in a ponytail to show off a pair of chunky gold hoop earrings. The cerulean BOHS Cheer Squad T-shirt she’s wearing looks—unsurprisingly—great against her pale-brown skin.

“Jay?” I elbow him. “A little assistance?”

He gives me a half-assed apologetic face.

“Sorry. We’re looking for...?”

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