Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
Savina
THE MUSIC HITS me before I even step through the door of Corbin’s parents’ house. Loud, pulsing bass competes with my own heartbeat as I cross the threshold. The house is big, two stories with a wraparound porch and an inground pool out back.
I stand in the foyer, gripping the hem of my dress like it’s my lifeline. Darby refused to come tonight. She had plans with Brad…or Chad…or one of her boyfriends anyway.
I felt obligated to come to the party since Corbin invited me; but now that I’m here, I’m having second thoughts. This isn’t my world. I know that.
The living room area is lit in flashes of blue and white that makes everyone here look a little older, a little more beautiful.
I recognize some of my classmates dancing to the music.
None of them even so much as glance in my direction as I walk past them.
But I know that one person will notice me, because he always does.
I spot him in the kitchen before he sees me.
Corbin is leaning against the kitchen counter with a beer in his hand.
When his gaze lifts and lands on me, a huge smile erupts on his face.
“Savina!” he calls, motioning me over to him.
When I reach him, he wraps his arm around my shoulder and says, “I’m so glad you came.
” Then he points to the array of liquor bottles on the counter. “Pick your poison.”
I glance at the various labels on the bottles. I’ve never drank before, so I have no idea what to say or choose. “Why d-d-don’t you m-m-make me a d-drink?” I offer.
“Say less,” he says with a chuckle before he puts down his beer and begins concocting some type of drink with soda and liquor. He hands me the clear plastic cup and says, “It’s rum and coke. Try that and see what you think.”
I take a tentative sip. Wow, it’s so strong that my lips purse upon contact. Coughing, I tell him, “It’s a little s-s-strong.”
“Oh, my bad. I should’ve made it with less alcohol.” He takes the drink and sets it down before making me another one that tastes less like battery acid and more sweet like soda.
“Thanks. M-m-much better,” I tell him.
He grins. “Good. Drink up. My parents aren’t home, so we have the house to ourselves tonight,” he says with a wink.
Inwardly, I cringe. Corbin looks like he’s been drinking for hours. His words are slurring, and he’s hanging onto me like he might fall if he doesn’t. If he thinks I’m going to lose my virginity to him tonight, he’s sorely mistaken.
Putting my drink down, I tell him, “I n-n-need to use the r-r-restroom.”
“Sure. Down the hall, third door on the right,” he instructs me.
I walk out of the kitchen and maneuver through several people until I get through a break in the crowded room. And that’s when I see him.
Dimitri.
What the hell is he doing here?
He’s sprawled on the couch wearing a dark hoodie, black jeans, and boots, looking like he owns the room.
God, I wish I had even an ounce of his confidence.
There are two girls on either side of him, blatantly competing for his attention, but he seems to be ignoring them as if they don’t even exist in his world.
Instead, he takes a drink from a can of beer as his gaze slides lazily around the room, over the numerous faces and bodies, until it lands directly on me.
His eyes are deep, unreadable, holding something dangerous behind their frozen depths, and his stare feels less like a glance and more like possession.
I wrap my arms around myself, suddenly feeling cold in his icy glare, and Dimitri smirks. It’s slow and deliberate. The kind of smile that says he remembers every cruel word and malicious rumor he’s ever whispered about me.
I know I should look away and just continue on with what I was doing. I want to. But I can’t. I feel like a deer stuck in headlights, and even my feet stop moving.
Dimitri tilts his head, eyes dragging down my outfit.
I chose a cute, beige-colored mini dress for tonight.
It’s a little shorter than the dresses I’m used to wearing and lowcut too, emphasizing all of my best assets.
To complete the look, I put on a pair of nude high heels, which accentuate my long legs.
I expect to see the usual disgust in Dimitri’s eyes, but I don’t.
No, I see something else entirely. Something heavier. Something like desire.
I feel his molten gaze licking over my skin as heat climbs up my neck.
And in that moment, I hate myself for how much I let him affect me.
Narrowing my eyes on him, I hold my head up high and walk towards the hallway.
Once out of his view, I hightail it into the small bathroom and close the door behind me.
I’m struggling to breathe, like I’m on the verge of a panic attack just from seeing my tormentor. He’s been so cruel since he started at school. Like it’s not bad enough I have to deal with him there. Now I have to deal with him outside of school too? It’s just not fair.
I go to the mirror and check out my makeup.
I normally don’t wear a lot, but tonight I experimented with black eyeliner, some glitter eyeshadow and mascara.
I even put on lipstick. I make sure I look okay before I wash my hands and leave the bathroom.
When I venture back out to the living room and check the sofa, Dimitri is gone.
Hmm, that’s weird. He was just there a moment ago.
Not wanting to dwell on it, I go back to the kitchen. Corbin has his back towards me, doing something on the counter in front of him. When I reach him, I put my hand on his back. He jumps before he turns and then nervously smiles. “Oh hey, babe. You scared me.”
“S-s-sorry,” I mutter.
“No, it’s okay. I was just making you another drink,” he says before handing me a cup filled with a mysterious liquid.
I frown because I didn’t even finish the first drink he made me, but I can’t seem to find my cup anymore. I stare down at the new drink and wrinkle my nose. “It’s not t-t-too s-s-strong, is it?” I question.
“No, I didn’t put much liquor in it.”
I take a tentative sip, and it’s nice. It tastes super sweet, but it’s not overpowered by alcohol at all. “Thank you,” I tell him sincerely. Earlier, I thought he was going to try to get me drunk, but I guess I was worried for no reason.
“Me and the guys are gonna go up to my room to smoke some weed. Wanna come?” he offers.
I shake my head. “N-n-no thanks,” I say, drawing the line there. This is my first high school party. I don’t want to get completely murdered by my parents when I get home if I smell like marijuana on top of booze and cigarettes.
“Okay, well, just enjoy the party until I get back then.” He places a quick kiss on my cheek before tilting my cup up towards my lips.
I nod and take another small sip. God, it’s so sweet, it’s almost sickening, but I don’t dare tell Corbin that. He made it for me, after all. I don’t want to be rude.
“Drink up. I’ll find you later.” He flashes me a grin before he leaves the room.
Standing in the kitchen, feeling alone even though I’m surrounded by people, I take small sips of my drink as I look around.
I recognize almost everyone here. It’s weird to see most of my classmates in a non-formal setting, however.
Everyone looks so carefree and wild; the exact opposite of how they are allowed to act in school.
My eyes scan around until I see Dimitri for the second time.
He’s standing in the corner of the room, staring in my direction.
His eyes are zeroed in on my cup, and his dark brows are knitted together with concern.
He probably hates the fact that I’m drinking and trying to have a good time when he obviously wants the exact opposite for me.
Smiling smugly, I take a drink. It’s more than a sip, and I instantly don’t feel good.
My cheeks flush as my body starts getting hot.
It must be the alcohol. I’ve never drank before, so maybe this is how it always feels.
It’s not like I have any previous experiences to compare it to.
I put my hand to my forehead, and yeah, I’m starting to sweat.
Maybe it’s just hot in the kitchen because of all the people packed inside the house.
Or maybe it’s because I can feel Dimitri’s burning gaze on me.
Fanning my face, I walk towards the back door and slide it open. I step onto the back porch. There are a ton of people out here too, smoking and drinking and playing beer pong on the lawn. Everyone is crowded around the pool. It’s too cold to swim, so no one is in the actual water.
I walk towards the farther end of the pool where less people are gathered and sip on my drink. I don’t think I’m going to be able to finish this one, though. I might have to pour it down the drain before Corbin gets back from smoking. It’s just too sweet, and it’s making me feel weird.
I’ve made up my mind that I’m going to dump it in the kitchen sink when Dimitri comes up beside me, scaring the hell out of me. I place my free hand against my chest. “Jeez, you s-s-scared me!”
“Give me your drink, privighetoare mic?,” he says. It’s clearly a demand and not a request.
“G-g-get your own,” I say with a scrunched-up nose. I’m not sharing my drink with him. In fact, I’m not sharing anything with him.
“Now is not the time to be stubborn, Savina,” he chides. God, I hate how sexy my name sounds in his thick accent. “Give me the fucking drink,” he commands, his voice dark and dangerous.
“No, it’s m-m-mine,” I tell him before cradling it against my chest like I’m protecting it.
“You have two choices. Either dump it out on the ground right now or give it to me.”