Page 54 of Ominous: Part 1
Eli pins his eyes to Baca, and I wonder what he thinks of Baca’s attempts to ensure I don’t feel alienated. I haven’t spoken to Luna or Janelle, and the latter seems to have left altogether. Luna is in the thick of things, knocking back shots and keeping her eyes on Eli more than I like.
Dominic has disappeared, and I don’t really care. The crowd has only grown denser, people shouting to be heard over the music, which has also increased in volume. It’s a lot, but the vodka and orange soda in my system, a drink Eli made me, is making it easier to cope.So much for not drinking.
Warmth bubbles in my chest as I spare a glance at Eli, a cup in one hand, the joint in another, his focus intense as he talks through something about pins and cradles and technicalities with Baca. He’sintothis sport. His brows are pulled together, he gestures with every other word, vodka soda sloshing dangerously close to the lip of his full cup, the lit end of his joint getting a little too close to Baca’s eye. Baca backs up one step, like he’s aware, but he doesn’t break eye contact with Eli.
I take the opportunity to find a bathroom.
No one has spoken to me that Eli hasn’t introduced me to, aside from Dominic, but through him, he’s made good on his word, and I’ve met a few people, although Baca is the one who’s stuck around the longest.
I squeeze my fingers around the cup in my hand, feeling the plastic flex. I decide I’m done for the night.
I reach for the phone in my back pocket as I stalk to the closest open door, not bothering to dismiss myself. But I think I can feel Eli’s eyes on me as I duck inside the room, leaving my drink on a decorative dresser outside of it.
I look down at my phone.
Mom: Are you having a good time?
The smallest twinge of guilt pulls in my gut, thinking about shopping with her yesterday. Mom trusts me, but she was a teenager once upon a time. She cheated on Dad before I was born, and she told me that story when I started high school, as a warning if I ever get caught up in one boy to remember there are a billion more on the planet.
Since Mom’s advice, I’ve never seen cheating as the horror most of my peers have. Then again, I’ve never met a boy like Eli. It might be a little harder to keep her intended lesson in mind as the school year moves forward, but now is not the time to think about it.
Me: Yeah, probably headed to bed soon.It’s not very late, and I’m sure she suspects I’m lying, but I don’t want to have to text her more tonight in case the alcohol catches up with me, so it’s best to end our communication now.Love you, goodnight.
Her response comes a second later.
Her: Call me if you need me. I love you, sleep well.
I pocket my phone, looking up. And immediately… I start to backtrack. There’s a glow coming from what I think is the bathroom, but it’s spilling over someone’s bedroom. A king-sized bed, nightstands framing it, a TV mounted on the wall.
I’m stepping backward, intending to retreat and find a different bathroom because the pressure on my bladder is painful, when I notice the photo on the nightstand directly across from me.
It’s in a frame, bathroom light glinting over the glass.
Instead of going backward, I take a step forward, blinking.
A girl with long blonde hair. Smiling in front of a lake. One I recognize from when we drove down the long, private driveway. It curves around the main part of the house, but in the storm, I didn’t even think to twist around and see how close it was.
But this girl…
I’ve seen her before. This very photo.
I bring my nails to my mouth absentmindedly as I stare at her, chewing on one, a nasty habit when I’m stressed or nervous. I forget about the music from down the hall, the people, even Eli, in this brief moment of time.
Until I hear a voice from the right, the far corner of the room. “Do you know who she is?”
I flinch, dropping my hand and spinning around as I suck in a breath. In the darkness, just beyond the pool of light from the bathroom behind me, I see a figure, bleached blond hair. And I recognize his voice. “This is your room?” I counter his question with a question.
He turns his head toward the photo, the entire room between us, I can’t see his expression. “Hers is down the hall.” His voice is low, almost contemplative. I hear him sniff. The sound is strangely familiar, but it takes several seconds for me to place it as one Sebastian makes alone in his own room sometimes before he goes out.
A shiver tiptoes down my spine.
“Who is she?” I whisper the words, glancing at the photo again, but not wanting to take my eyes off of Dominic. Excitement and nerves both build inside of me. “To you?”
I know the answer before he turns to face me again, and says the words slowly, with something like amusement. “My sister.”
I swallow the knot in my throat. The vigil… it was definitely hers. I thought so, with Sebastian’s words, but now I know. And Eli skipped it. To hang out with me at a playground.
Dominic sighs, as if it’s nothing, then walks slowly toward me, the bathroom light spilling across his features, over his placid blue eyes, rimmed in red now. He dips his hand into the pocket of his pants and pulls out a baggie, shaking it as he stares at me.
