She makes herself welcome, going into my closet. Coming out with several clothing options minutes later. She tosses them on the bench in front of my bed. Rubbing her chin, grimacing painfully, and disappearing again.
Hailey spending more time in there now than I had since I arrived.
“What are you doing?” Watching in amusement. She holds a shirt against my chest before pulling it away and grabbing another. This one green and silky.
Something I would never wear.
“It’s Friday, we’re going out.”
Groaning, I fall back into the mattress. I wanted to celebrate by lying in bed, basking in my misery alone. If I got hungry, I’d order a pizza.
Figured I earned it after surviving a whole week at school.
My eyes narrow, Hailey pulling the pillow off my disapproving face. Suddenly that not seeming like a possibility anymore. Her expression told me she’s determined. I was but a helpless victim.
She held up another item of clothing before throwing it to the floor, my face impish.
“There has to be something in here you like.” Groaning at the growing mess on my floor.
Unlike me, Hailey looked dainty and polished. A cute pastel-smocked miniskirt exposed most of her thighs. Top, shoulderless, tight, and ruffled in short white sleeves.
I looked pathetic in my faded T-shirt and sleep shorts compared to her. Her brows dip then, persistence crossing her features.
My shoulders fall, I didn’t like that look. It carried too much energy, grit. I sigh. Tonight was going to be long. I could feel it.
“You look hot. Stop picking at your outfit,” Hailey says, shoving my hand away from my exposed stomach.
That’s not why I’d put it there. My hand a barrier to the gurgling sound I wasn’t unfamiliar with, not having had dinner.
Hailey stumbles, her stiletto catching on a bit of mulch and my grin turns mischievous.Karma, I think, for making me come here.
Having absolutely zero idea wherehereis. Hailey wasn’t forthcoming and I didn’t care enough to pry. All I knew is we were going to a party, and I volunteered to drive.
If I drove, then I decided when I could leave. Simple as that.
In hindsight, it was probably a good thing we took my Jeep. We were in the middle of nowhere. My car parked in an empty field following a string-lighted path on foot.
Hailey seemed confident, so I followed. My stomach twisted with something that wasn’t from the unfamiliarity of the area.
“What is this?” Stunned in my spot when those lights open to the main area. Everything glowing like dancing fireflies in the night.
Hundreds of students litter the lakefront property, below the oversized, stately home.
The roof singular. High-pitched with an accented rock chimney on the side. Not obscuring the large, picturesque windows that lined the first and second floor. Like a modern-day cabin.
The house designed strategically around the lake. Adding to the landscape, not taking away from the uncultivated environment.
She shakes a shoulder. “A party.”
Moving deeper into the crowd like this was normal. I follow in mesmerized awe. I shouldn’t be surprised, but I was. Hailey and everyone else’s privilege on full display.
This wasn’tmynormal. Nothing these days was.
“Want something to drink?”
Not really. I didn’t trust these people and I couldn’t stomach that lingering, turning in my gut. The scenery seemed loftier, and it had nothing to do with the architecture.
Lying, I plaster on the fakest smile I can manage. “I’d love one.”