“I thought you weren’t coming,” I say.
“Well, I heard all the cool kids would be here, so I couldn’t stay away.”
Elissa glances between us, and I wonder if she realizes how much her boyfriend gets on my nerves.
“So, Cassie, you and Ethan are doing the acting course together?”
“Yeah, but we haven’t done much acting yet.”
“Well, it’s only been a week,” she says, smiling. “Auditions for the term one theater project are coming up soon. I’ve heard rumors they’re doing Romeo and Juliet. You never know. You two could end up playing star-crossed lovers.”
Holt and I burst into laughter like it’s the most hilarious thing we’ve ever heard.
Elissa looks at us like we’re both insane.
“Okay,” she says as she claps her hands together. “I need to get hammered as soon as possible. See you guys later.”
She brushes past me and walks down the hallway.
“I’m leaving in two hours,” Holt calls after her. “If you want a ride home, find me before then, or else you can fucking walk.”
Wow. If only I had such a charming boyfriend.
I shake my head in disgust.
“What?” he asks.
“You.”
“What about me?”
“Do you always talk to her like that?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s rude.”
He shoots me a lopsided grin and shakes his head. “That was me being polite. I say far worse things at home.”
“At home?”
“Yeah.”
“You live with her?”
“Well, I’d prefer not to, but I can’t seem to get rid of her. I locked her out once, but she’s pretty resourceful and managed to pick the lock with a blade of grass and a paperclip.”
“God, Holt, you’re just … so … ugh! Why does she put up with you? You’re officially the world’s suckiest boyfriend.”
His eyes widen. Then he laughs. “Elissa isn’t my girlfriend. Jesus, that’s disgusting. She’s my sister.”
It’s my turn to be surprised. “Your sister?”
“Yes.”
Relief has never felt more odious.
“Don’t worry, Taylor,” he whispers. “I’m single. No need to be jealous.”
I laugh. “I’m not jealous. I’m just glad you’re not inflicting your toxic personality on some poor member of the opposite sex.”
Something dark flashes in his eyes as he looks down, and I get the impression I’ve said something really wrong. I’m about to try and find out when Connor appears and drapes his arm around my shoulders.
“Hey, Cassie, I’ve been looking for you. Glad you could make it.”
He hugs me, and I can feel Holt watching us.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” I say and hug him back.
“Hey, Ethan,” he says and claps Holt on the shoulder. “Thanks for coming, man.”
Holt smiles, but it’s tight and forced. “Wouldn’t miss it.”
“So,” Connor says. “A lot of our class is in the basement playing drinking games. Wanna join?”
I smile. “Sure.”
Holt shrugs. Connor leads the way.
When we get downstairs, about twenty people from our class are sitting in a circle with a collection of bottles, beer cans, and shot glasses littered across the floor.
“I found two more,” Connor says as he guides us into the circle. The group gives what can only be described as a drunken roar.
Zoe immediately pulls Holt down next to her and hands him a drink. Connor sits next to me. Jack sets us all up with a shot glass of brown liquid. Holt downs the shot and refuses a refill, muttering something about having to drive. It’s ironic that he’s one of the few people in our class who’s twenty-one and yet he’s the only one not drinking.
I drink my shot, then cough like I’ve swallowed acid.
Everyone laughs, and the games begin.
I try to concentrate, but I don’t really know the rules. I end up drinking a lot.
Too much.
After a while, everything’s funny. Everyone’s pretty. I want to hug and kiss them all because they’re just so nice and pretty and funny.
Then there’s music. Loud and pounding.
Someone pulls me to my feet. Connor.
He puts his arms around me, so I put mine around him, and I’m trying to dance, but all I can do is shuffle. Connor doesn’t care. He’s warm and grazes his nose down my throat.
“You smell so good, Cassie.”
I smile, because his nose tickles. Because he’s sweet. Because I like the way he holds me. I’m hanging off him and smiling, but my body feels heavy.
Then his lips are where his nose was, and I’m tingling. But something’s wrong.
The room is tilting. I pull back. I tell myself I’m not looking for Holt, but I am.
Everywhere people are dancing and laughing. Making out.
I see Holt across the room, sitting on a couch sipping a Coke. Zoe is talking to him and touching him in ways that say, “I’ll let you do whatever you want to me.” But he’s not listening to her. He’s looking at me, and now I’m tingling a whole lot more.
I don’t want him to make me feel things, so I turn back to Connor. He’s stroking my back. It feels nice.
His face is close, and he has that look in his eye. The one that says he wants me.