Page 51 of Disharmony

“He’s a keeper, Lei,” I say as we watch him race to the keg to fix my refill.

The scene is picture perfect. Cookie is already dancing and throwing crazy shapes. She’s claimed she’s not a good dancer, but she has an amazing sense of rhythm and moves like no one is watching.

“Oh, shit.” Leila murmurs, nodding to the tree line. “Drama is on its way.”

I follow her gaze to see Tiffany in a pink bikini top and tiny white shorts and groan.

Declan comes over to join us as we near the others, and he slings an arm over my shoulder. “Are you enjoying our party?”

“Sure am,” I say, then take a drink of the thick, black liquid Conor passes me. It’s kinda creamy but bitter. “What is this?”

“Guinness.” Declan grins. When the twins drink, their Irish accent comes out more. “We brought some back from our trip to Dublin. Do you like it?”

I can’t decide whether I love it or hate it. It’s not the kinda drink you can chug down easily. It’s like a dessert. “It’s different.”

“Guys!” Cookie’s eyes light up as she comes over. She smells like marshmallows roasting over an open fire. “You came to dance!”

A new song starts, and Leila punches the air.

“This is what it’s all about,” she declares.

I never listen to house music, but this remix is different. It cuts parts from multiple songs and, even for someone who feels awkward dancing in front of people, my body can’t help moving.

Cookie grabs my hand and twirls me around. Warm sand slips between my toes as we laugh and joke together. I turn to see Leila dancing against Conor. She faces away from him, and his hands rest on her waist as they grind together. The chemistry between them is clear. Maybe tonight will be the night she stops holding back.

“Want one?” Declan asks, opening his closed hand to reveal a bag of pills. “Don’t worry, it’s the good stuff.”

“Molly?” Leila asks as Declan nods. She puts one on her tongue and smiles closing her mouth. Cookie does the same.

I hesitate. “I’ve never done it before.”

“Hey,” Cookie says. “You don’t have to. There’s no pressure.”

You only live once, right?

“What does it feel like?” I ask.

Cookie throws her arms in the air. “It makes you feel alive, like you want to be friends with everyone. It amplifies all my feelings and makes me feel all fuzzy, like I want to give everyone a hug.”

Leila shoots a glare at Tiffany. “Well, it makes you want to be friends with almost everyone.”

I reach into the packet and pull out a circular yellow pill with a smiley face on it. What harm can something that looks like a kids sweet really do?

“I’ll try it,” I say.

“We’ll look out for you,” Conor promises, taking my drink off me. “Probably best not to mix these two for your first time. Stick to the water, but don’t go too crazy.”

“Got it,” I say, placing it on my tongue and swallowing.

There’s no going back now.

thirteen

Ripper

I watch her from across the lake. She’s out of place. Awkward.

Another girl drags her up to dance. A small smile on her face tells me she’s not sure. She’s holding back but goes anyway.

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