Thirteen
SCARLETT
T he beach is already raging by the time we arrive. The house is crammed with students dressed in red, white, and black, donning horns, wings, and tails. As expected, everyone is wearing the basic and unoriginal costumes we saw at the Halloween store. Shocker.
As we near the entrance of the house, I suddenly hear a loud squeal come out of Stella behind me and abruptly turn to find her being pulled out of Kai’s arm by none other than Sebastian Silver. Beckett quickly jumps and blocks Kai from pulling her back to him as Jade grabs both of Kai’s arms stepping between him and Beck before they start a brawl.
“What the fuck, Bass?!” Stella cries out as she tries to steady herself after almost tumbling in her stiletto heels. Bass stands beside her, scowling down at her.
“What the fuck, me? What the fuck are you wearing, Stella?” he shouts back at her even angrier than before .
“A costume, just like you are,” she says, pointing to his ensemble.
He’s wearing black leather pants and a matching leather jacket, of course no shirt underneath. His face, just like the other two, is painted like a black and white skeleton. Bass chuckles deviously running a hand through his jet-black hair. His gray eyes turn almost black as he stares down at Stella.
“That is no fucking costume, you look like a fucking slut, cuz.”
At his words I snap coming toward him, but just before I step in front of Stella, Jade pushes past me stepping up to Bass herself. She fists her hands at her sides, and I can tell she’s pissed, trying her hardest not to punch his perfect face. Nothing pisses Jade off more than when women are called sluts for dressing how they want. Sexy or not, Stella is no slut.
“She is no fucking slut, Sebastian,” she says, poking at his chest, throwing him off slightly. “Does she look hella sexy, yeah? I’d fuck her wearing that outfit, hell I’m fairly sure any of your boys would as well. But just because she’s dressed like that doesn’t make her a slut, nor does it give you the right to treat her as one.”
Okay, if I thought Bass was angry before, now he is practically foaming at the mouth like a rabid dog.
“Look, Little Wolf,” he says, calling her by the pet name I’ve noticed he’s given her.
Jade shifts slightly, almost losing her footing. I’ve never seen her this worked up or affected by a guy before, and he seems to be just as affected by her. Bass looks her up and down, surely taking in the sight before him. Jade has a banging body. She is lean and toned with a self-made perky ass, toned abs, a tiny waist, and big enough breasts that there is plenty of cleavage showing with her low-cut top. Her abdomen and lower back are visible and speckled with tattoos, and with big round green eyes and a pouty little mouth, she’s fucking gorgeous and I can tell Bass sees it too.
“If you think you’re intimidating me, you’re wrong. It’s because of sluts like you I need to protect my little cousin,” he sneers, and fuck if that wasn’t the wrong thing to say.
Immediately her hand comes up to slap him, but he catches it right as it almost connects with his face. He grabs her wrist, spinning her around so that he has her clutched with her back to his chest, his arm snaking around her abdomen keeping her locked in place. Both Ruby and I step up but when we do, Beck and Alek step up to block us.
The whole time I can feel Ace’s gaze on me, but he hasn’t made a move to stop us. I turn around and there he is, dressed from head to toe in black leather minus the shirt, of course. His face is painted like a skeleton just like his boys, a smug grin plastered on his perfect face. He’s enjoying himself.
“Back off, Sebastian,” Stella says as she walks toward him.
Bass reluctantly lets Jade go and she dramatically pushes away causing me to laugh internally. Typical Jade. I didn’t see her fighting back as hard before, and I wonder if she enjoyed being in his arms.
Stella continues to step toward Bass until she is right in front of him, her head sitting just under his chin, causing him to have to tilt his head down to look into her eyes. She stands up straight, head held high, for once feeling confident about the outfit she’s wearing as she no longer cowers before him.
“Sorry that my slutty appearance is embarrassing you, but you of all people, have no right to judge me. If I want to dress like a slut, be a slut, no one, especially not you, is going to stop me.” She turns away from him and Kai immediately goes to her side. He extends his arm out to her, and she grabs it walking toward the house with him, looking very much the virginal angel to his demonic beast.
“Get your hands off her,” Bass shouts out, walking after them, but this time it’s me who gets in his way.
“My turn,” I say, stepping in front of him and blocking him from following Stella and Kai into the beach house. He looks down at me angrier than I’ve ever seen him. His breathing is jagged, his posture stiff, but what catches my attention are those slate-gray eyes.
They’re dark and curious yet exude anger like I’ve never seen. This boy is manic and mysterious. But what I see are secrets buried deep within his steel irises. He looks behind me, removing his gaze from me for an instant, and I turn to see Stella and Kai stop and turn their attention to us. Turning back to him I step slightly closer, meeting his gaze head on, my eyes burning into his.
He scoffs, as he tries to push me out of his way.
“You have no right to speak to her that way,” I shout at him, standing my ground.
“Fuck do you know, Red? You don’t know shit about her, or me.”
I laugh only pissing him off further. “I may not have known Stella for as long as you have, but I’d say I have gotten to know her pretty well. I know she is the kindest, shyest, and smartest person I’ve ever met. She accepted my friends and I for who we really are, not where we came from or what you and yours think we are. She is loyal, forgiving, and hell, maybe a little na?ve, but you have no right to judge her ever. Not after what you did.”
“What I did?” he asks, sounding a little bemused.
“What you did, what your little bitch did, same difference.” I motion behind him to where, sure enough, the four queens all dressed in a variation of the same basic white dress and angel wings rivaling those the Victoria Secret models wear, are making their way toward us. They look put off when their followers are paying no attention to them and the over-the-top entrance they’ve made, instead gathered around Bass and me.
“She’s not my bitch.” He turns his attention back to me, a scowl back on his face.
“She might not be anymore, but she was once. And Stella has gotten the shit end of that breakup for standing up to her, for protecting you. For some odd reason, she values family and she couldn’t deal with Kinsley hurting you, yet you couldn't care less how she’s hurt Stella. So sorry, for being a friend to your cousin, the friend she so desperately needs to deal with your people’s bullshit.”
Bass stands at a loss for words as Ace whistles causing everyone to scatter about. Carrington walks up to Ace practically pawing at him. He ignores her but allows her to make herself comfortable under his arm. Kinsley walks toward us and runs her hands over Bass’s arm.
“Hey, handsome,” she coos. “This bitch bothering you?”
“You’re the only bitch around here, Kinsley,” I answer back.
“Ugh,” she scoffs, flipping a chunk of bleached blonde hair back. “Are you going to let this skank talk to me that way, Bass?” she asks pleadingly.
But Bass says nothing as he stares at me for a moment before turning and heading toward the entrance not looking once toward Kinsley. She stands there exasperated, and I can’t help but start laughing.
“Yeah, looks like he is,” I say before walking off.
Drake wraps his arm around my waist leading me into the house and I turn to look toward Ace to find him glaring at us with Carrington still at his side.
Inside, they split the main living space into two separate sides. The right side is all white with white drapes, ribbons and feathers decorating the walls and ceiling, and white tablecloths and covers on the various tables and couches. The left side is all black, covered in red drapes, and projections of fire on the walls while in the middle of the room is a large black marble staircase leading to the second floor that also seems to be occupied by guests.
We walk over to an empty spot toward the back of the black and red “Sinners” side, while Drake, Kai, and Jax head over to the bar to get us some drinks.
“I don’t know what comes over me when I’m with you guys. It’s like I’m not afraid to tell him how I feel,” Stella says, running a hand through her hair.
“You get ballsy,” Jade laughs.
“He needed to hear it, Stella,” I tell her, and she turns to me, a bright smile on her face.
“Thanks for that, Scarlett. I don’t think I could have ever told him exactly what you said. So, thanks.” She drops her head low and stares at the floor beneath her. I place a hand on her shoulder causing her to look up at me once more.
“It’s what friends are for, Silver.”
“Okay, so change of subject, did you see how quick Kai was to stand up for Stella?” Jade asks, winking at me. I turn to Stella and see a slight blush creep along her pale cheeks. “Oh my god, you’re blushing!” Jade yells a little too loud for comfort.
“Shh!” Stella shouts back, causing us all to laugh at the sheer horror in her eyes.
I look over to where the guys stand at the makeshift bar before turning back to face Stella. “Do you like him?” I ask, immediately noticing the red tint that creeps over her skin.
“No, I don’t know. I mean yeah, he’s hot, God he’s hot, and he has been nice to me. But come on, look at him. He can have any girl in here, and he’s always talking to that redhead bitch Casey when I see him,” she says with a frown.
“Ooo our girl’s got it bad,” Ruby says. “The alcohol is making her brave.”
I place a hand on Stella’s shoulder. “Look, Stella, Kai’s a great guy. One of the best. He’s protective and loyal, but he’s… well he’s got a dark past.” I look at Jade and Ruby and they both nod in agreement. “One we can’t share, but he’s also a huge player. Just be careful, okay.”
“Don’t worry, Scarlett. I’m not into him like that. I can’t be, I’m too, well… me. He’d never be interested like that,” she adds, dropping her head low once again, and God how I hate she has such a small amount of confidence .
Stella is beautiful and kind. She has everything going for her. But those bitches have done a number on her and have made her feel unworthy of her place here. She’s meant to be at the front of the “Queens of Servite Academy,” not hiding in the shadows. She belongs at the top.
“What are you ladies talking about?” Kai asks as he and the guys come back over handing us each our drinks. Of course, Drake knows me so well, and there is whiskey soda in my cup. But I doubt it’s the cheap shit we’d score from one of the older guys in town. I take a large swig of it, and it barely burns my throat as it travels down. No, this is some good shit.
“Just how freaking hot Silver looks in that outfit,” Jade says, taking a sip of hers, which I’m assuming is straight whiskey. I love my sister but her taste and tolerance for liquor is up there with the winos. Thanks to Chaz, of course, for being a raging alcoholic and giving Jade her first beer at eleven. After that, if alcohol was in the house, we were welcome to it. And it was always in the house.
“Yeah, you look hella sexy, Silver,” Kai says, turning to me and I raise a brow at him. I think he understands what I’m getting at when he turns back to her. “You all look sexy as fuck.”
“Nice save, man,” Jax says, extending his cup out to us. “So, we're getting trashed tonight or what?” he asks, a childlike grin sweeping over his face.
“Babe, you’re always trashed,” Ruby scoffs as she turns away and gulps down her drink. Jax usually gets sloppy drunk and something tells me Ruby doesn’t enjoy it.
“That’s not true, I can stay sober. I am sober when I sleep,” he jokes, and she rolls her eyes at his stupid response.
“Well, I need another,” she says, walking back toward the bar.
“And that’s the last we’ll be seeing of them tonight,” I say laughing and everyone joins in knowing I’m totally right. Jax and Ruby are that couple who makes themselves at home at every party we go to. They’re the first to take hold of whatever available bedroom there is and make it their own little slice of paradise .
We hung out by one of the pool tables in the back for a while, for once managing not to attract any unwanted attention to ourselves. Sure, we get some heinous glances thrown our way from time to time but no one bothers us. They’ve all kept their distance and comments to themselves. It almost feels like the days when we were back at the Grayson’s, hanging in the living room or out back, or even at Dixie’s Arcade where we would spend most weekends.
“Wanna take a walk, Scar?” Drake asks, turning to me and nodding toward the beach.
“Sure thing, Dragon.”
Hand in hand, we head out of the house and down the stone paved trail on the edge of sand leading across the beach. The space is crowded with hot, sweaty bodies drinking, dancing, grinding and nearly fucking all along the water’s edge. The rain has come down slightly, but it doesn’t seem to deter their high spirits.
Deciding to stay away from the crowds and walk toward the left of the property near the small wooden deck, the one I thought Ace and the guys were going to throw me off of that first night, we take a seat and let our feet dangle above the water.
The sky is almost black, gloomy clouds threatening to burst down on us, yet it’s comforting. Only the bright full moon illuminates the sky and reflects off the dark water in front of us. I turn to Drake who watches me, desire clear in his gaze as it rakes over my body and the outfit I’m wearing.
I’m proud of the body my mother blessed me with and how I’ve maintained it, if not improve it constantly by keeping active in more than one way. I’m not ashamed of wearing revealing clothing from time to time if the occasion arises, and definitely don’t believe I’m a “slut” or that “I’m asking for it,” as they try to make all young girls believe. It’s just the old, entitled patriarchy not content with themselves and how they perceive a woman’s role in their society who refuse to accept that we women have our own minds and want to express ourselves and normalize our sexuality without being constantly harassed for it. How bewildering is the belief that our bodies are our own to do with as we please? Feminism is a tricky thing, or so they say.
“Are you going to say or do anything, Dragon, or are you just going to stare at me all night?” I ask, not turning toward him. I hear him chuckle slightly before he reaches over to me and pulls me close to his body. I turn my head slightly and he uses the opportunity to claim my mouth in a delicate yet captivating kiss. Our lips intertwine, softly dancing together like two partners who’ve been swaying to the same tune their whole lives. I turn my body to him moving further into his and wrap my arms around his neck deepening the kiss.
“Scar,” he says, pulling away slightly.
“No talking, Dragon, you’re killing the mood.”
“If we keep going, I won’t be able to stop myself. And as much as I want it, want you, I’m not up for putting on a show for the entire school to watch.”
“Ugh, fine.” I say, pulling away and crossing my arms in front of my chest. “Way to leave a girl high and dry. Let’s head back. I’m afraid Jade’s gotten Stella wasted again.” I walk off pouting and hear him behind me, laughing at my dramatics as he follows.