Page 35 of Matteo
“It’s a party, not an event,” Penelope argued.
“Definitely not a party,” I muttered.
“Y’all are going to get us killed, aren’t you?” Francesca retorted wryly as she stepped over a fallen branch. “And if you don’t get us killed, my brother surely will.”
Goose bumps broke over my skin. I hadn’t been fond of the woods since Gianna’s kidnapping. I kept my steps silent, peeking around, almost expecting to see the old ghosts that’d been rearing their heads in my nightmares lately.
“So far, I’m giving this party a negative-star rating,” Francesca whisper-yelled, keeping her head down. The leavescrushed beneath our shoes with every step. “And it’s ruining my special edition Converse.” She pointed at her initial-engraved purple tennis shoes.
The trees towered overhead, scowling at us for sneaking around where we were unwanted. You could barely get a peek at the dark sky, its stars hiding due to the clouds taking shape. I shivered.
This is different. We’re safe. Don’t think about it.
I silently repeated those words as I glanced around, counting my breaths to ensure I didn’t lose my shit. It would alarm the girls, and I wasn’t in the mood to wax poetic about what constituted trauma.
“Why can’t we go to normal parties?” Amara grumbled, her fingers moving briskly as she looked at Skye.
“Because we’re idiots, and I know it’s anti-feminist or something, but the boys seem to always have better parties,”Skye reasoned.
I shook my head. “Skye, I should have never left you with these hoes. They ruined your perspective.”
Penelope snickered. “Or she wants to steal a peek at Nikola’s bare chest. That man must have something against wearing a shirt.”
Skye jammed two fingers against Penelope’s chest and pushed her while my face twisted into a grimace.
“God, that man is… disturbed,” I blurted. “Skye, pick anyone but him.”
Skye shrugged.“He’s not that bad. I like him.”
The rest of us exchanged a glance, and I shook my head in disbelief. There wasn’t a sweeter person on campus than Skye and she likedthatpsychopath? It was wrong on so many levels.
“Don’t worry. We’ll pray for you,” Anya assured, then shot me a conspiratorial grin.
“She’s going to need a lot more than prayers,” Penelope muttered.
“At least she’ll be getting some dick,” Amara deadpanned, then narrowed her eyes on Penelope. “Unlike some of us who leave a trail of dead boyfriends in their wake.”
A pause, then they both threw their heads back and laughed.
“Jesus, you’d think we’ve been gone for years, not just a month,” Francesca grumbled, waggling her brows. “Now spill the tea. Arianna and I feel left out.”
“Bitch, please. There aren’t enough hours in the day to go through all that shit,” Penelope huffed. “Starting with your sisters, Arianna.”
“Why? What happened?” I asked, alert shooting down my spine. “I thought you said Gianna was keeping Hannah in check.”
“Better ask whathasn’thappened,” Amara exclaimed, throwing her hands up. “Haven’t you been speaking to them?”
“I guess they’ve left a few things out,” I muttered.
Penelope stopped, raised her palm up, and silenced us all. She’d changed into flats and a beautiful purple lace dress that hugged her curves. She always succeeded in pulling off brave combinations, but that girl would look good in anything.
“Everyone stop yapping or we’ll get caught.”
Francesca hiked her hand onto her hip. “Bywhom? It’s not like we’re trespassing. These grounds are ours to traipse on if we so please, so I don’t know why?—”
“Law,” I blurted out suddenly, surprising even myself, and everyone turned to me in slow motion. “That’s what you should study. Law. You’ve always excelled at arguing your case.”
“Oh, come on, Arianna. She’s a mafia princess just like the rest of us. How could studying law be useful?” Anya was usually the quiet one, but when she spoke up, she managed to captureeveryone’s attention. “We enter into it knowing that our families break the law daily.”
