Chapter 12
Twelve
Ava
My phone goes off bright and early, but it’s not my alarm. Blindly reaching for my phone, I pull it up to my face and push it on. There’s a text from Sandy wanting to go to breakfast. Looking at the time, I see it’s almost nine. Groaning, I swing my legs out of bed and head to the bathroom to shower.
Once clean, I text her back that I’ll meet her in a half hour. No makeup today. It’s too early for that shit.
Why does she even want to meet this early? She’s usually in bed still. I mean, I’m usually up by now, but I guess I needed the sleep.
I decide to walk to the diner where she wants to meet. It’s not very far and the cool air is nice. I love looking at the trees with the changing colors.
When I get to the entrance, I see she’s already waiting, coffee in hand. She knows me all too well.
“Finally,” she snipes as I slide into the booth across from her.
“I said a half hour, and it’s only been twenty minutes,” I snort. So dramatic.
She slides my coffee across to me and then smiles. “I got an invite.”
I tilt my head. “To the frat party, yes, you told me.”
She shakes her head. “No, no, to the river party.”
Well, I didn’t see that coming. We’ve never been on the radar even when I was friends with the guys. I still wonder why I was never invited before.
“You did?”
She nods, smiling. “And I can bring someone.”
She means me. “I’m already going with Dillon. He doesn’t know as many people.”
She perks up. “Dillon is going?”
“Yes, he is. Maybe you’ll both finally hook up.”
She blushes but doesn’t reply. The waitress takes our order, and we chat a bit about her sorority life and classes.
“You’re not a party girl,” Sandy muses as we get ready to leave. Yes, the whole town care and everyone mentions it.
“I told Dillon I would go. I didn’t know that you would get an invite, too.”
She smiles at me. “Girl, I didn’t either.”
Turning toward her, I stop her. “Doesn’t it seem weird that we both are going this year?”
She shrugs and says, “We should just live it up.” And with that, she gets into her car and drives off as I walk back home. My parents are out doing whatever it is they do as per their usual. Sometimes I enjoy having the place to myself. It prepares me for the day I move into my own place, even if I stay in town.
With a few hours to kill, I gather my books to study, turn the TV on for noise, and try to finish the paper I’ve been working on. I mean I try to study but all my thoughts are on this party. What do people wear? What goes on at this party? Why is it invite only? And why did the guys never invite me?
Even when we were together, Roark never invited me. Was that because it was his time to cheat or keep me safe? Or both? So many questions circling in my mind. Some of them make me angry.
Then my anxiety and anger dig up the wedding. Why did he let her in? Why didn’t he love me enough? Why did the guys stop talking to me? I think they would have known I wouldn’t have made them choose sides, but I guess he did. And of course they would choose him. What did I do to deserve all of this? Did he even care for me at all?
He tries to say he did and still does, but it’s probably all lies.
With a sigh, I pack my books up and go to get ready for the party. I don’t think Dillon knows what the dress code is, so I’m going as myself.
I change into a long sleeve black shirt and a thicker cardigan as the woods get chilly. With a hand, I smooth my braids and brush my teeth again. One more look in the mirror, and I shrug as I walk out. Who cares?
Dillon meets me at the gate, and we walk together. The moon is out, and the stars are bright. If this was a date, I would say it was romantic. But this isn’t a date. I really want Dillon to get together with Sandy. They would make a cute couple.
“What do you think goes on at this party?” he asks as we near the clearing to the woods.
I shrug. “No idea. Probably like the movies.”
“Guess we’ll see,” he murmurs as we pass the trees leading to the next clearing. There’s a bonfire, music playing, and music coming from Bluetooth speakers. Beer bottles sit in ice and liquor bottles line a tailgate turned into a table. To me, this looks like every other party. Bodies sway around the fire, dancing and grinding. Yep, just like on TV. So why so elite?
“I’ll grab us some drinks,” he says and runs to the table, dodging bodies. Sandy is among the crowd, and I can see Dillon falter when he sees her kissing someone else. I don’t judge, but I feel sorry for Dillon at this moment. I know the feeling. I really thought she liked him, too. To each their own, I guess.
Dillon hands me a beer and I look up at him. “Are you okay?”
He chuckles sadly. “Yeah, potential girlfriends come and go, right?”
I pat his arm. “You’ll find someone.”
He doesn’t reply, we just people watch and listen to the music, until it all stops abruptly.
Masked figures step out of the tree line and surround all the partygoers.
One steps forward, his voice distorted. “Welcome to this year’s river party. I assure you that you’ve never been to a party such as this.”
He’s right. While this first looked like a TV teen movie in the middle of a field, I’m guessing something different is afoot. Also, anyone that has ever been invited has never spoken about the party, which is weird if this is the party of the year to be at.
He continues on. “Tonight is a game of hide and seek. We’ll give you a five-minute head start. If you’re found, you are at the mercy of the person that found you.”
One brave guy speaks up. “And what happens if you are found?”
The man in the mask steps closer to him. “You might have to suck some cock or carry the person’s books. Maybe do their laundry. It’s up to your finder.”
He turns back to us. “If you make it out of the trees and to the square in town, you are free.”
“What if we just run to our cars?” another brave soul asks.
The masked man chuckles. “Your cars have all been towed.”
Everyone turns their heads toward where the cars were parked, and the masked man isn’t lying. The cars are gone.
The man lets out a sinister laugh. “You just have to get to the square. If you don’t want to participate, speak now and you’ll be given a ride back into town. Those that do participate, I promise you will have fun.” It’s almost as if he looks at me when he says that. I highly doubt I’m going to have fun, but I am going to play.
No one says they want out, and the masked figures cheer.
The main one raises his hand and then drops it. “Go!”
Everyone takes off and I lose Dillon as I take in the surroundings. What I have going for me is that I grew up here. I know these woods. When everyone goes right, I go left, planning on places to hide along my route.
Let the games begin.