Page 72 of Faux Real
KENNEDY
Pouringmyselfacupof punch, I grin, looking around the Annex building. Wow. I can’t believe it all came together. After hours of stress and planning and directing the event crew, I’m so fucking thrilled with how everything’s turned out. The fog machine is working. The strobe lights are on and synced to the pop music blaring from the surround sound speakers. Every carnival booth is up and running. People are laughing, dancing, eating, and God, it feels good. I’m done. Finally, I can relax.
I check my phone, rereading a text from Oliver.
Ollie: Running a little late, got held up at band. Sorry, don’t expel me! ;)
“Kenny!” Felicity, Leon, and Maxine scream in unison as they run through the orange and black balloons decorating the floor. “Ah!”
“You’re here!” I exclaim, holding out my arms as we collide into a group hug. I pull back, scanning their costumes. A white bodysuit hugs Felicity in all the right places, a fluffy set of angel wings flowing out of her back. Draped over Leon’s drawn-in hoodie is a sign that reads ‘she doesn’t even go here’.Nice. And, Max, well—I narrow my eyes, Max is dressed in an inflatable blue sumo suit. “Maxie, what are you supposed to be?”
“I’m Violet!” she says, her jaw dropping. “From Willy Wonka? You know, the bitch that turned into a fucking blueberry! Violet!”
“Told you no one would get it,” Leon laughs, popping a few chips into his mouth. “It’s too obscure.”
“It’s a damn classic!” Maxine protests, flapping her arms... barely. Not a lot of give. “Don’t make me burn book you.”
Leon snorts, adjusting his sunglasses. “She’s cranky ‘cause she keeps deflating.”
“But look at you!” Felicity coos, grabbing my hand and giving me a little twirl, my white halter dress flowing as I spin. “We need to find you a man-hole to stand over. You look hot!”
“Yeah? I look like Marilyn?” I ask, fixing my hair. “I was going to wear a wig, but it was too itchy.”
“Fuck wigs, we going au natural this year!” Maxine sings. “Let’s go dance!”
I snort. “Can you even move in that?”
“Only one way to find out!” she exclaims, grabbing my hand and dragging me to the dance floor. “Leggo!”
For the next thirty minutes, I decide to be in the present and enjoy myself. At this moment, there are no deadlines, no homework, no pressure, nothing. Just me, my friends, and shitty top 40s music.
“Oh my God!” I laugh, my phone vibrating in my hand as Max attempts the electric slide. I glance at the caller ID. Blocked number. Strange. “I’ll be back in a sec.”
“We shall miss you!” Felicity calls out.
I jog toward the exits, answering the call once I’m in the quiet empty hallway. “Hello?” Muffled static. “Hello?” Quiet breathing. “Who is this?” The line goes dead.
I frown, staring at the screen. Not creepy at all.
“Hey.”
I gasp, spinning around to find Sawyer standing behind me, a Purge mask hanging around his neck. How creative.
“Shit, you scared me.”
“Sorry,” he says with a weak chuckle. “Didn’t mean to.”
“It’s fine,” I mutter, gripping my phone as I walk past him. “I’m gonna go now.”
“KC, wait!” Sawyer calls out, grabbing my wrist. “I wanna talk to you.”
“About what?” I frown, shaking off his gentle grip as my stomach churns.
God, what a mood killer.
“I didn’t see you at the game yesterday,” he says in a hushed tone, running his hand through his hair as he averts my puzzled gaze.
“That’s ‘cause I didn’t go,” I say slowly. He noticed?
