Page 13 of Trust Again

“Did you find what you were looking for?”

“I came for a friend,” I said quickly and raised my hands defensively. “She left her necklace here, and I wanted to get it back for her because it has sentimental value. There, now you have the boring truth about why I’m in your bathroom.”

“Right, I get it. And I’m Jesus Christ.”

In a split second he’d slammed the door shut. Outside, I heard the screech of a metal chair being dragged across the floor. He’d barricaded me in the bathroom with a chair.

“Hey!” Grabbing the doorknob, I rattled it in vain. “Brix! Let me out of here right now!”

He just laughed. “Over my dead body, Chelsea. You can go when the party’s over and you don’t find anything to snort.” His footsteps grew distant; I heard him descend the stairs.

Grabbing the doorknob again, I shook it vigorously and slammed myself against the door. It wouldn’t budge. The bastard had actually imprisoned me in his bathroom.

This couldn’t be happening.

A hysterical giggle escaped my throat. I tried not to panic.

Looking around the room, I realized my only escape would be through the window, which was between the bathtub and the toilet. Opening it, I poked my head out and looked down to see a bunch of trash bins way, way below. In front of them was a narrow, paved path, and then the lawn. I’d never survive a jump from here.

With a frustrated sigh, I sat on the toilet seat cover and looked at my phone. There was a new text message. From Sawyer.

Sorry, third door on the right. Not left.

I wanted to bang my head against the bathroom wall and write back that it was too late now, thank you very much. Instead, I stared at my phone, turned it around in my hand, decided to swallow my pride and call Allie. What choice did I have, if I didn’t want to be trapped here all night? Slowly, I lifted the phone to my ear.

“Hello?” There were voices and the sound of clattering dishes in the background.

I cleared my throat. “Hey, Allie. I need your help.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I… I’m in trouble.”

She inhaled sharply. “Don’t worry, Dawn.”

“It’s not that bad, I promise. Someone just locked me up and…”

“What!” she screeched. “Someone locked you up?”

“Is that Dawn?” Spencer’s voice emerged from the din.

“She’s in trouble, Spence. I think she…” Allie trailed off.

“Where the hell are you?” Spencer barked into the phone.

I pressed my forefinger and thumb on the bridge of my nose and collected myself.

“I’m fine. I’m at that stupid frat house where Allie and I partied last semester and—”

He cursed. “I’ll be right there.”

There was noise on the line; then I heard Spencer and Kaden talking in the background.

“Dawn, you still there?” Allie had picked up again.

“Yes. Can one of you come get me?” I asked sheepishly.

“Spencer is already putting on his jacket. I just have to find my bag and—”

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