44. Always in a group
Always in a group
Elena
I hate that Libby’s hysterical. It makes me feel even worse for the crap I did this past spring.
But as the evening goes on, her laughter comes easier and I find that I can’t help but like her.
“I gotta do one more set.” Blue playfully tugs on the fabric udder over her swollen belly. “Unless I can get milk outta these.” His grin is contagious.
“Only thing that’s happening right now is the need for me to pee.” Libby pats her abdomen and glances at me. “It’s an hourly occurrence lately.”
“Do you know if it’s a boy or a girl yet?” I get a twinge of guilt remembering that I nearly jeopardized her baby.
“Nope. We wanted it to be a surprise. It made Char mad. I think she’s hoping we’ll both have baby girls together and she keeps insisting I should paint the nursery pink.”
It’s strange that I know exactly what her house looks like. My stomach rolls remembering having to sneak in when I was trying to map out where they slept so I knew how long I’d have if I alerted them.
There’s a piece of me that never wants to forget how down a scary dark path I had to travel to get my sister back.
As Blue works towards the stage, Libby stands with a groan, bracing herself on the table. “I really gotta go.”
“I do too, want me to go with you,” I ask hesitantly.
I wouldn’t blame her if she said no.
“I’d like that. I’m like a damn wide load.” Her smile contradicts her words.
“I’ll go also.” Wade pushes up, but I press my palm to his chest.
“We’re fine. It’s just right there.” I gesture towards the hall that holds the restrooms.
His amber eyes narrow slightly, then he drops back down. “Watch out for the guy in the Phantom mask. He keeps staring at you.”
“I just need someone to part the sea for me.” Libby pats his shoulder as she passes. “Don’t worry, I pee often, but little.”
Looking around doesn’t reveal a masked man.
Well, it shows a lot, really.
But they’re more like Batman, Spiderman, a Freddy Krueger or two, and some I’m not as familiar with.
Blue starts strumming out his next song and I glance back to make sure that Libby is still right behind me.
Her fake nipples on her udder poke me in the side. “Don’t stop, I’m on a mission!” She turns me, leaving her hand on my shoulder to guide her.
It makes a tingly warmth go through me knowing she’s not angry at me any longer. I know we might never be best friends, but at least we aren’t enemies.
Her exhale of relief is palpable when we make it into the bathroom.
“Oh thank goodness.” She rushes into the first open stall.
I have to go further away, skipping the full ones.
Chatter bounces between the girls in the spots between us. They’re loud enough I can’t really hear much besides my own bladder emptying.
When I step out, Sophia has joined Libby near the sink.
“Hey, Elena! I love the outfit.” Her wide grin flashes under her oversized cowboy hat. She looks like an exaggerated version of a rodeo queen, complete with sequin shirt and bright pink chaps.
“Your’s too, those spurs are amazing.” I gesture with my chin at the giant foam barbs attached to her boots.
“Thanks! Lori helped me.” She flips her heels to make them wag comically. “Did you see Sawyer’s working here? I came to tell you to give him a hard time.
When I hit the pump the soap dispenser, nothing happens.
“There’s some in there.” Libby points where she washed up, wringing a paper towel in her hands.
I give the one I’m at a last stubborn smack, and get a squirt of pink gel down the front of my shirt.
“Shit.” This is embarrassing as hell, especially since I’m trying to impress them.
“Dang it. I hate it when that happens.” Libby leans her butt against the wall, cupping her belly with her hands.
She looks uncomfortable.
“You guys go on, I’ll be out in a minute.” I don’t want her having to stand around waiting on me.
Libby gives me a grateful look before she leaves.
Damn soap thingy.
I grab a handful of wipes and soak them down. It takes me longer than I expected to clean the mess up leaving a damp spot.
The only good part is that it doesn’t look like it stained.
Stepping into the shadowed hall, there’s a wall of backs facing the dance floor. Some with capes, some with leotards over spandex suits.
“Pardon me,” I murmur, trying to push my way into a gap.
A rough hand wraps my elbow, jerking me backwards into a corner of darkness.
“Wade?” I barely get his name out before I’m yanked out through an emergency exit at the end of the corridor.
But it isn’t him.
It’s a ghostly white Phantom of the Opera mask with only one half of the lower face exposed. “You fucked up,” the mystery man growls.
Except I know that voice.
“Max?” I whimper. Panic seizes me as he drags me behind the building.
“Not only did you get caught, you led them straight to me.” His seething tone raises goosebumps as his fingers dig into the flesh of my arm.
“ You did this! Not me!” Straightening my legs, I try to pull away.
But he’s too damn strong.
“I did what you asked me to do.” I claw at his knuckles only to have him swat my hand.
“Not even close.” He turns, casting a long look at my chest. “A shame.” He shakes his head and starts pulling again. “When I was done with you, he had a long fucking list.”
“Who?” There’s more of them?
“You’ll find out.” A sinister bite in his voice makes my skin crawl.
I need to get free.
“Where are we going?” Letting the strength fall out of my legs, I collapse to the chilly earth.
“God damn it.” When he tries to lift me, I kick out as hard as I can towards his knee.
“Son of a whore,” he grunts when my heel lands.
But it’s enough to pry my wrist free of his grip. Scraping my way to my feet, I bolt back in the direction I came from.
Directly into another chest.