Page 39 of Distortion
She pays, and we leave the store. We walk back to campus, and she tells me to ditch my bag of clothes before we go in. We get to the driveway that leads up to the house and I can hear the music already. She links her arm with mine.
‘Ready?’
I grin. ‘Ready.’
We start walking, but I hear her phone ringing, and she frowns as she digs it out of her bag.
‘Fuck,’ she mutters. ‘It’s Bill. Hello?’
I can’t hear the other side of the conversation, but she sighs loudly. ‘Are you serious? Okay. Fine. I’ll be right there. But you’re paying me for this after-hours bullshit.’
She gets off the phone and glances at me. ‘That was Bill. You know, Grinder’s owner? There’s some problem with the alarm system, and he’s out of town. I need to get over there and try to fix it. I’m so sorry. I won't be able to go in with you. But I’ll be as fast as I can, okay? It might just be a loose wire like last time.’
‘It’s okay,’ I say, hoping I’m being convincing because, really, the thought of going in alone is making my palms begin to sweat.
‘Are you sure? I’m so sorry, babe. I’ll be here as soon as I’m done, okay?’
‘Sure.’ I attempt a smile, and she seems relieved, so I think I did okay.
Her phone rings again, and she answers it with an exasperated ‘Yes! I’m going right now! I’ll be there in five freaking minutes!’
She leaves me in the driveway holding my bag with my outfit from earlier inside. I take in a steadying breath and decide that I’ll head straight for my room. Even proving to the boys inside that I’m not scared isn’t enough to tempt me to brave my first party alone.
I get to the house and wonder what time it actually is because everything is in full swing. The rooms look packed as I pass the front windows and head around back.
Luckily, it’s still pretty warm out, and the back door is wide open, so I’m able to slip in past a group of giggling girls I don’t recognize with no problem.
Inside, the music is booming, and there are bottles and cans and red cups all over the place already. There’s a keg on the kitchen counter and a game going on at a table that’s been put in the foyer. I think, from a movie I watched long before The Heath, it’s called beer pong.
I slink past a group of guys I recognize as full-fledged brothers, and I’ve almost made it to the stairs when an arm snakes around my waist. I’m pulled hard into a tall body. I try not to give any outward signs of distress, but it’s all I can do not to start thrashing. My nails dig into my palms in an attempt to ground myself.
‘I haven’t seen you here before,’ a voice says close to my ear.
I turn around and find myself face to face with one of the three guys from the games room on my second day here.
‘Frat Girl?’ His eyes move over me. ‘Holy shit!’
I pull away from him and he lets me go.
‘Hey, sorry about the other day, Frat Girl. I’m Marcus. Hey! Guys, this is Frat Girl.’
I frown at the nickname, but it’s better than ‘bitch’ or ‘retard’, I guess.
‘Frat Girl!’ a chorus of voices echo, and I’m urged forward into a mixed group of guys and girls.
‘Play with us,’ Marcus pretty much demands, and though I glance a little longingly at the stairs, I give him a nod.
‘How do you play?’
‘Question!’
A shot glass is put in front of me on the table and filled with something pink.
‘Drink! Drink! Drink!’
‘What is it?’ I ask, not following at all.
‘Question!’
