Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Sailor
I regret taking so many classes. School has been insane over the last month.
The only good thing about the chaos is that I’m too tired and too worried about my work to care about being home alone.
Maybe it helps that Amelia is here a lot too.
My place is our go-to hang out spot now.
Sitting on the couch or at the dining table with our homework and take-out containers of food in front of us.
I thought the breaks between classes would be great for us to meet up, but now all we do is spend them in the library studying or taking naps because we’re up all night.
I should have taken it easy on myself, but I guess I got what I wanted. I am thoroughly distracted.
Maybe that’s what I needed all along—something to keep my mind off everything else.
I’ve been home for weeks now and there hasn’t been a single issue other than that one time my door was left unlocked, which I am certain I did myself.
I made sure moving forward that I stop and focus on locking the door, this way I can remember it later. It hasn’t been an issue since.
Amelia is going out to a party tonight, and I plan to stay home and catch up on sleep.
I have no idea how she still has time or energy to party after everything.
She invited me along, of course, but I politely declined.
I’m exhausted, and I need to sleep. My professor canceled class for tonight.
I’ve never been so grateful for something in my entire life.
It’s just before three now, and I plan to sleep until tomorrow morning.
I was smart not to schedule classes on the weekends.They’re usually spent catching up on homework, writing papers, working on projects…
and sleeping every chance I get. Next semester, I’m going back to four classes. Six is just too much.
I get comfortable on my couch, my preferred place to nap, with a blanket and pillow.
The TV is on, the volume low enough I can hear it, but not so loud that it’ll disturb me.
I’m asleep within seconds, and wake up what feels like moments later.
But the darkness outside tells me I slept for hours.
Glancing at my phone, I see it’s just about seven, and I feel wide awake.
I close my eyes and try to go back to sleep, but I can’t.
So I get up, make some food, and eat while scrolling through my phone.
There is nothing I have to do tonight for school.
I mean… I could get some stuff done, but I need a break.
I already planned out what I need to do this weekend, and Amelia is coming over on Sunday so we can work on stuff together.
There’s no need to do any of that tonight. I really need to just take a break.
I scroll through the messages with Shadow. He hasn’t been around much, but still checks in on me. We touched on meeting again, but we’ve both been so busy that we haven’t made solid plans yet. I’m okay with that.
It seems life is just getting better.
All in good time. I just have to be patient.
A text comes in as I’m bringing my dishes to the sink.
Amelia: Last chance to come with me to the party!
I stare at the message, and something in me lights up.
Maybe I should go to the party. I’m awake now. I feel good. I have no plans. I can go, not drink, and socialize for a little while. Nothing wrong with that. I didn’t hate the last party I went to… though, I did that for Jaxon. But still, I can do this for me. The real college experience.
Me: Okay, I’ll go.
Me: Can I have twenty minutes to get ready?
Amelia: SHUT UP ARE YOU SERIOUS
Me: Lol yes. I’ll go with you.
Amelia: OMG YOU JUST MADE MY DAYYYYY
Amelia: I’m on my way.
Shaking my head, I set my phone down and wash my dishes before going to my bedroom to look for something to change into. I’m digging through my drawer when there’s an eager knock on my front door that could only belong to Amelia. I answer it, and she squeals, jumping up and down.
“Why are you dressed like that?” I ask, gesturing to her witch-like outfit.
Her eyes widen. “I didn’t tell you! It’s a costume party.”
“A costume party? In February?”
“Yeah, it’s like a Death to Valentine’s Day thing so we’re supposed to be something dark or deadly or… you know, anti-Valentine’s Day.”
I did forget that Valentine’s Day is coming up. Why would I remember that?
“Seriously?”
“Oh come on. It’ll be fun. You can’t change your mind now.” She pushes me toward my room as I laugh. “You already said you’d go, now let’s go. I’ll help.”
She finds a short black skirt and a black long-sleeved shirt, and shoves it at me.
“This will be fine. We will just put some red and pink makeup around your eyes to make you look dead.”
“Whatever,” I mutter as I change into the outfit. When I turn around, she’s standing with my boots in her hand.
“You obviously have to wear these. They’re hot!”
“They’re also uncomfortable.”
“After a few drinks, you won’t know the difference.”
“I don’t plan on drinking.”
“Uh huh…” She hands me the boots. “That’s what we all say.”
Begrudgingly, I put them on, then hold my arms out in a ta-da motion. She squeals again.
“You look so hot, Sailor! Now come on, let me do your makeup quickly so we can go.”
“How are we getting there?”
“Uber,” she says quickly, hurrying into my bathroom.
I sit on the toilet lid and let her do my make up. When she’s done, I look in the mirror. I do look kind of dead, and it’s a little freaky.
“God, you look so good! Do you need anything else? The car will be here in two minutes.”
She’d ordered it in the middle of doing my makeup, this way it would be ready when we are. She wanted to be there already, so I didn’t argue since I’m holding her back.
“Just need to get my bag.”
I find a small purse that’s hanging on the inside of my closet, and make sure it’s empty.
I only need it to hold my phone and keys.
The app alerts Amelia that the driver is here, so we hurry outside, but not before I make sure my door is locked.
Once we’re in the car, I put my stuff in my bag and chat with Amelia, who is giddy about me being with her and going to this party.
The streets are packed with cars. It’s a good thing we took a rideshare and didn’t drive in.
I’d have nowhere to park. Amelia takes my hand as we get out of the car, and we head up the long, winding driveway to the house that’s sitting atop a hill.
It’s the frat house, and it looks haunted as hell.
Perfect place for a Death to Valentine’s Day Party, I guess.
The music from inside is so loud I hear it out here.
Lights flash on the first floor from strobe lights, and the second floor is illuminated as well, flickering like a beacon.
People in costumes stand around and chat.
The third floor is dark, and I bet it’s off limits because it’s where all of the bedrooms are.
“I’m meeting some other girls here. They’re not as cool as you, but they’re okay.”
I laugh, shaking my head.
By the time we reach the front door, I’m out of breath.
When Amelia opens the door, the music gets ten times louder. We make our way inside through the crowd of people. It’s already hot in here, smelling of beer and sweat, but what would I expect from a college frat party?
“Let’s get a drink,” Amelia announces, tugging on my hand. She pulls me through crowds of people to the back of the house and into a large kitchen. It’s clear she’s been here before, since she knows where she’s going.
She grabs a bottle of vodka and pours some into a cup. “Are you having this?”
“I’ll have something from a can,” I say, looking around the kitchen.
“There are coolers on the back deck,” she says, gesturing to the sliding doors.
I go that way, opening it up and finding a long row of coolers to the left, along the patio.
They’re all different colors and sizes, a few people digging through them for something to drink.
I walk over, smiling to a guy who holds the top open for me.
I see a bunch of cans inside, but aren’t really sure what they are, so I grab the first one I can reach.
“Thank you.”
He grins and drops the lid. “No problem.”
He walks off to meet his friends that are a short distance away, standing in a group and smoking.
I pop the top on my drink and glance around.
As I bring the can to my lips, I freeze when my eyes settle on one man in particular.
His back is to me, a black beanie on his head.
He has on jeans, boots, and a long sleeved shirt, so I can’t see much, but…
He looks familiar.
He looks like…
He looks like Jaxon. The build, the height, the tattoo on his hand…
My heart pounds, and it’s hard to breathe.
But the surprising thing is… I’m not scared.
I’m excited.
“Hey, you good?” Amelia asks, stopping beside me and startling me. “You’ve been—damnit!” she shouts, when someone bumps into her, causing her to spill some of her drink.
“Oh wow, I’m so sorry, honey,” some guy, who is clearly wasted, says.
“It’s fine,” Amelia grits out.
“I’ll get another one for you.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m good.” She forces a smile, widening her eyes.
“You sure? I was getting another for me. I can make one for you too.” He smiles wide, swaying on his feet.
“Maybe you should switch to water,” she says, hooking her arm in mine and pulling us away. When I look back at that guy, he’s staring right at me.
And he certainly isn’t Jaxon.