Saturday comes too soon. I avoid Wills at all costs, worried he might try to ask me to the party too. I can’t handle all this when I’m just trying to study for my upcoming exam.
Try as I might to get ahead, I still have a buttload of work to do before I feel ready for the test on Monday. Maybe it’s overkill, but in my situation … anything less is admitting defeat.
I’ve been wrestling with the idea of taking the pills that Blair gave me. I really do want to go to the party, if just for Dana’s sake, but I also need to keep studying. The final straw is when I go up to the room late Saturday afternoon after studying all day, and I see the costumes Dana’s ordered laid out on the bed.
For someone who’s never shown a lick of interest in clothes or hair or makeup or any of that … she’s put together something splendid. All I have to do is run one hand along the white dress she’s picked out from the classic King Kong films for me to make up my mind.
I’ve disappointed Dana enough. We’ll stop by the party just long enough for her to get her fill of Victoria, and then I’ll slip away and pull an all-nighter in the library. This way, everyone wins.
I throw my books on the bed and rummage under my mattress for where I hid the pills. I might as well take a couple of them now. What did he say, something about ‘pep in my step’?
God, that boy. If he wasn’t so cute, he’d be downright annoying.
But … if ever there was a time I needed pep, it’s now. My brain needs more than just a break after this week, it needs a full reboot.
Just as I put a couple in my mouth and swallow some water, Dana comes in and stops short, staring at the bag of pills in my hand and the water I’m downing. Her jaw falls open and she loses it.
“What are you doing? What did you just take?” She rushes to me and pulls the baggie of pills out of my hand. “What is this?”
Guilt crashes over me in a tidal wave, and I know immediately that I’ve made the wrong decision. “It’s nothing really, it’s just a little ...” I stop, because I don’t actually know what it is. Oh my god. What did I just do?
But one look at Dana, and I can’t let myself freak out. “Don’t worry,” I say, quickly “It’s nothing. It’s just … Tylenol. For my headache.”
“Oh,” Dana says, then laughs nervously. “Sorry, I think I’m just a little anxious.”
If ever there was a sign that we’re both in denial, this is it.
&n
bsp; Even though my own mind is now reeling, wondering what the hell I just took, I can’t let it show. I turn around to pick up the dress she ordered for me and take the moment to compose myself. I’ve been in worse situations before. This will pass. I’ll just be careful. Blair wouldn’t give me anything that would kill me.
At least, I’m pretty sure. Sure enough that it isn’t worth ruining this night for Dana just because of something stupid I did to myself.
Dana is visibly excited as she starts prepping for her own costume, and it’s nice to see. We’ve been going through highs and lows trying to fix our friendship, and this is the first time it’s felt like it’s us again, and we’re okay, or maybe even better than okay.
She doesn’t bring up the pills again … after all, they’re only Tylenol … so why would she?
Meanwhile I’m trying to conceal my own rising panic by getting dressed as quickly as possible. I’m no master at hair, but by the time we’re heading out the door we look tolerably close to the character’s we’re supposed to be portraying.
Forty-five minutes later, we’re walking up the front steps of a mansion not far from the school. It’s decked out to the nines for Halloween, and Dana and I both stare at it in total amazement. As always, these rich kids know how to throw a party.
“I’m so glad we didn’t miss this. It’s the wildest thing I’ve ever seen,” Dana tells me.
“Me too,” I agree as we walk in. I know Victoria is put out with me for bringing Dana to her all-important annual bash, but I’m genuinely glad she’s with me. I need someone here who I know has my back.
Blair sees me about two seconds after I walk in the door. It’s almost like he’s been waiting for me, he comes to me that fast.
“You came!” He grins and checks out my costume. “You look incredible. What is this … King Kong?”
I nod and give him a smile. “Yeah, it is. I like yours too.”
He’s a werewolf. His devilish green eyes really stand out from his mask. He gives me a growl and then takes it off so he can lean in and kiss my cheek.
“I’m really glad you came.”
“I really did it for Dana,” I say, turning around only to find that she’s already disappeared somewhere. So much for having my back, I guess. “I wouldn’t have had the energy without the, um, thing you gave me earlier.”
Something shifts in his expression. “Did you just take one now?”