Page 14 of Shadows Within
We park the car on the road and get out.
“Okay, give me the keys.” I hold my hand out. I’m used to being the DD.
Sophia shakes her head. “Not tonight, I’m on my best behavior. Loosen up. Have a couple drinks.”
“Okay Soph, in all the years you’ve known me, when have I ever loosened up? You know I’ll only have one. You might as well enjoy yourself.”
We walk up onto the lawn. I see some girls from my psychology disorders class. The one girl, Claire, flirts with a football player. The girls are trying to get with the jocks, and the jocks are trying to get with everyone. It’s funny—in many ways, high school parties and fourth year university parties are still the same.
The house door remains open, letting the fall breeze in. We’re greeted by a game of beer pong in the front foyer.
“I was hoping to find a few friends from my constitutional law class. Want to come with?” Sophia leads us toward the back of the house.
“Sure.”
She opens the sliding door, then squeezes through the crowd standing on the deck. We follow the yelling to the pool area.
“Watch out!”Splash.A guy does a cannonball into the pool, drenching me with water. My oversized jeans and black tube top are now soaked and heavy.
“Are you kidding me Harrison?!” Sophia yells as she tries to push the water off her cropped pink top.
“I’m going to go find a towel. I’ll be back Soph.” I know I won’t feel comfortable sitting around in soaking wet clothes—especially around people who I barely tolerate.
Harrison Alden, also known as “the golden boy,” clearly loves attention. Why else would he jump off a roof and into the pool? His perfectly cut light brown hair matches his egotistical humor. He’s also friends with Chase, who I hope is not here. But if Harrison is here, Chase is likely close by—they usually come as a pack. Over the years, I’ve heard rumors that their guy’s group is a part of some secret club. I laugh to myself,what kind of weird club would they all be in?While most of them come from money, they barely have two brain cells to rub together.
I walk toward the glass patio door, wondering why university students love parties so damn much. I mean sure, getting drunk with your friends can be fun. But I don’t fully understand the need to be around other people who you don’t trust. I guess that’s the reason why I don’t drink much unless I’m comfortable.
I step inside and make my way through the kitchen. There are obviously no towels around here, so I head up the stairs.
On the right, I spot a closed door and knock, not wanting to interrupt anything. I shiver in my wet clothes that cling to my skin.
“We’re busy!” A hear muffled voices say from inside the room.
I continue on to the next door.
“Hello?” I yell loudly.God, we are adults. Can people not just have sex at their own homes?
No answer. “I’m coming in.” As I open the door, a gust of wind follows. There’s a patio door on the other side of the bedroom, sitting wide open. I walk into the room and spot a bed with flower sheets. They look out of place, like they belong in my grandma’s house, not in a mansion on the rich side of town. I find the ensuite bathroom on the left. I head toward it, grabbing a towel from a basket on the floor, and pat myself dry.
The calm breeze draws me in. I walk over to the patio, scrunching bits of my hair dry with the towel. This house is huge. It’s elegant and classy. I wouldn’t expect anything less on the East side of town.
On the patio, I face a side garden.Finally, some quiet.I exhale and lean against the cool stone railing.
Just then, I hear someone clearing their throat and turn around.
“You’re not lost, are you?”Callum Mercer. He sits on the thick stone railing, his back against the brick house, legs dangling over the ledge, and blows out his cigarette smoke. His eyes slowly trail up my body. I heavily blink, wishing that he’d disappear by the time I open them.
“No, I was looking for a towel.” I hold it up to show him, like I need validation.
“And you found me instead.” He raises his eyebrow.
I cross my arms. “Unfortunately.”
He smirks. “You don’t mean that.”
I hate that there’s an ounce of truth in his words.
“Do you hide often at your friends’ parties?” My voice gets edgy now, like I need to defend myself.
