Chapter Fourteen
Penny
T oo many people.
Too damn loud.
I want to go home. Not home. To Trey. My blood still buzzes from his touch. His lips. His tongue. He’s driving me to madness, but I don’t care this time. This madness feels comfortable. It feels beyond anything I have ever felt. I love it.
I consider digging my phone out of Sonya’s purse and texting him just to pass the time, but decide against it. Sonya is drinking and someone has to look after her. When she’s done dancing her ass off, I’ll force her into the Jeep so we can leave. I can’t handle all these assholes at school. Being forced to socialize outside of school feels like some fucked up level of hell.
Glancing at the clock, I realize it’s not even eleven yet. There’s no way I’m getting this girl out of here before midnight. I scan my gaze over to her, easily finding her in the crowd. She’s dancing with an older guy. He’s probably in college. It makes me wonder if he knows Trey.
“Oh, look,” a familiar voice sneers. “She thought if she put on a dress, we’d all think she was suddenly pretty.”
Several girls laugh.
I turn my head to discover Heidi—head bitch cheerleader—glaring at me. She’s wearing something that barely covers her tits.
“Hey, Heidi Ho.” I wiggle my fingers at her and give her my bitchiest smile. “Did they have a sale on stripper dresses or did you get that scrap of spandex from your mommy’s closet?”
“You are such a cunt,” Heidi snarls. “A weird, ugly cunt.”
“At least I’m not a skanky cunt,” I throw back. “Do you dance for all your mommy’s boyfriends? I bet you shake your cheerleader ass just hoping those old dudes put a dollar or two in your panties. Pathetic.”
She storms up to me, but I don’t back down. We’re even in height, but I know for a fact I could take this bitch down.
“Watch yourself, Penny,” she warns. “Or else.”
“I’m so scared,” I deadpan. “Don’t you have dicks to suck or something? I’m tired of looking at you, Hilary.”
“Heidi,” she snaps.
“Sorry, you’re not that memorable.”
“Let’s go,” Heidi growls, grabbing her friend’s arm. I glance over, disgusted to see Liv smirking at me.
I hate Heidi and Liv both.
They both storm off, disappearing into the sea of bodies. I check on Sonya and then slip into the restroom to take a breather. I’d like to hide out in here forever, but after twenty minutes or so, someone bangs on the door.
The sound gets under my skin, so I fling open the door and flee.
“There you are!” Sonya says, approaching me with two drinks. “Lighten up and have some fun. You’re always so unhappy, Pen.”
I wasn’t unhappy when your cousin kissed me…
“I don’t want to drink,” I grumble.
She gives me her pouty face that works all too well on me. I sigh and accept the red plastic cup. One sip feels like I’ve lit my esophagus on fire.
“Gross,” I hiss. “This is nasty.”
“But it makes you feel good,” she says, laughing. “Look at me. I’m on my third one. Catch up!”
I roll my eyes and swallow down a little more. It goes down much easier this time.
“Heidi Ho is on a rampage,” she reveals. “I heard her bitching to Paxton.” She lifts a black brow at me. “What did you do?”
Shrugging, I avoid her gaze. “Nothing.”
“That means you totally ripped her a new asshole.” She cackles. “I knew it. Serves that bitch right, too. Hateful ass.”
“I don’t know what her problem is with me.” I scowl as I drink down more of my liquid nastiness.
“She feels inferior to the great Penny English.”
“Right. She literally has everything she wants and I’m no threat at taking anything away from her. I don’t know why she’s always being such a bitch.”
“Puhlease,” she says, laughing. “Heidi Ho is like a B-rated version of the English girls. You and Charlotte are super-hot. She’s plastic and fake. You and Char make being beautiful look easy.”
Charlotte, yes.
Me, not so much.
Though, the way Trey looked at me earlier, I felt pretty damn special.
I gulp down more of my drink, already feeling the effects. Whatever alcohol they put in this sad excuse for punch is the equivalent of kerosene.
“Want to go somewhere and chill?” The same dude Sonya was dancing with earlier throws an arm over her shoulder.
“Not without my girl, Carson,” Sonya says, reaching for my hand.
“We can all party together,” he assures her, winking at me.
I press my lips together to keep from suggesting we go home. Instead, I follow Carson and Sonya through the house. I’m pretty sure this house belongs to one of the jock baseball players named Aaron, though I haven’t seen him all night.
Carson guides us upstairs to a media room where people are all lounging around. The lights are dim and the place reeks of pot. Carson finds an empty recliner, pulling Sonya into his lap. She giggles, nearly spills her drink all over her purse, and then completely forgets I’m here as they start to make out.
Wonderful.
With an annoyed sigh, I make my way over to a dark corner and sit on the floor. I finish my drink and then set it down. At least up here, it’s a little quieter aside from the movie that’s playing.
I didn’t realize how tired I was.
My eyes keep fluttering as my thoughts drift back to Trey.
His kiss. His tongue. His lips.
Warmth floods through my veins, relaxing me completely. I wish he were here with me.
Familiar voices near me, but I’m too sleepy to pay attention. My head lolls to the side. It’s heavy. Too heavy. I should rest it. Curling up on my side, I give in to the fatigue.
I’m flying.
Dark.
I’m laughing.
Dark.
I’m too hot.
Dark.
I’m whimpering.
Dark.
My head throbs and throbs and throbs. I need to wake up. Why do I feel like my head is going to explode? A shiver ripples through me. I force my eyes open.
The ceiling fan above me spins and spins, making me dizzy. Turning my head feels impossible, but I manage to turn it to the side. Trophies line shelves. Baseball trophies. A signed baseball bat is hung on the wall. The bed smells like a guy’s cologne mixed with the smell of permanent marker.
Wait.
Something’s not right.
Snap out of it, Penny.
My movements are slow and sluggish. It’s then I realize my dress is undone, my breasts exposed. Panic creeps up my throat. Someone has written all over my breasts and thighs.
What’s happening?
Is this a dream?
No.
Voices nearby have me sitting up. Slowly as I try to keep the room from spinning. Fuck. My panties are gone. Nothing hurts inside of me, but it doesn’t give me peace of mind.
Sonya.
Oh, God.
I need to find her.
My shoes are gone, my bra is missing. With shaky fingers, I try to right my dress. It takes me six times before I can get it zipped up.
“It’s just coke,” a guy says from inside the bathroom, his voice sending bells of alarm ringing through me. “You snort it, dumbass, not look at it.”
“Coach Campbell will kick me off the team if I have drugs in my system.”
“Pussy,” another guy says.
“Easy for you, Paxton. Football season is over. I still have to play baseball.”
“Aaron can watch then, Eli. But if he’s not going to get fucked up with us, he doesn’t get to put his dick inside the bitch.”
Wherever there’s Eli, Grayson’s not too far away.
Panic sends adrenaline shooting through my veins as the guys continue to argue. My body is shaking and I can’t seem to get my legs to cooperate. I keep trying to stand, but my body doesn’t feel like my own.
Breathe, Penny.
You can do this.
I rise to my feet, holding on to the bed to keep from falling. Like a deer on a pond of ice, I awkwardly make my way across the room. I’m almost to the door when I hear the bathroom door open.
“She woke up,” Paxton barks. “Grab her!”
On instinct, I grab the baseball bat off the wall and swivel around ready to face my attacker. My heart is hammering inside my chest as Eli prowls my way, his body thrumming with the drugs he no doubt snorted into his system.
“Put the bat down,” he growls.
“N-No!” I yell. “Sonya!”
He steps forward and I raise the bat higher.
“Penny,” Aaron whines. “Please put that back. It’s valuable. That’s a signed bat by—”
His words are cut off when Eli launches at me. I don’t think, I just swing. The bat nails Eli in the side of the head, sending him crashing into Aaron’s desk, knocking a computer monitor off along the way.
He groans from the floor.
“What the fuck did you do?” Paxton bellows. “You hit him in the goddamn head!”
“Y-You touched me!” I screech. “Stay back!”
“I didn’t touch you,” Aaron says, a terrified expression on his face. “I just watched.”
“Such a fucking pussy,” Paxton snaps, shoving Aaron. “This was your idea!”
“To party and get laid, not this!” Aaron argues.
Eli rises to his feet, blood running down the side of his face. “You bitch.”
I back up toward the bedroom door that’s closed. The idea of turning my back on them terrifies the crap out of me, but I’ll have to do it.
“Where’s my underwear?” I demand.
Eli pulls my black panties from his pocket. “These? I’m keeping them. Something to remind me that I was the one to take your fucking virginity.”
“Your sister may be a whore,” Paxton sneers, “but everyone knows you’re just a virgin bitch who probably licks pussy instead.”
Eli charges me again, but I’m ready. I swing hard, landing another blow to the side of his head. He hits the floor with a loud thud.
“Fuck, Penny!” Aaron cries out. “He’s getting blood on my carpet! Dad is going to kill me!”
“He should kill you for drugging and trying to rape a girl!” I yell back.
“Technically Heidi is the one who drugged you,” Paxton says, laughing. “Sonya was too busy with her tongue down Carson’s throat to realize who brought her the drinks.”
Oh my God.
“Aaron,” I yell. “Get over here. Now.”
His eyes widen and he darts his gaze over to Paxton, who is still glowering at me. Luckily, Eli is still on the floor.
“Now, Aaron, or so help me I will smash your face in!”
“Don’t listen to her,” Paxton says, briefly looking at Aaron. “She can’t go anywhere—”
While they’re distracted, I bolt. I fling open the door and tear off down the hall, hating that I’m blindly running and have no idea where I’m going. Heavy footsteps thud behind me. I fling myself into the media room, thankful it’s full of people.
Sonya is here, but she’s asleep in Carson’s arms. Thankfully she’s safe. I grab her purse and dig around for my phone. Once it’s in my grip, I back up dialing the one person I know I can count on. He answers on the first ring.
“Hey, did you miss m—”
“Aaron Hodges’ house,” I croak out. “T-They drugged us. Come get us, Trey. Please. Hurry.”
Paxton storms into the media room, his eyes narrowed as he searches for me. The moment our eyes lock, I drop my phone to the carpet in favor of the baseball bat.
“Get the fuck away from me,” I scream, drawing everyone’s attention my way.
Paxton’s jaw clenches. “She’s just a crazy, hysterical bitch,” he says in explanation to the confused looks he’s getting. “Tripping on some shit she took. Just trying to get her somewhere where she can sleep it off.” His eyes lock on mine. “Come on, Penny. Let’s get you tucked into bed.”
Some stoner guy I don’t even know stands in front of me. “Nah, man, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Fuck you, Mason. No one invited you.”
“You come near me,” I shriek, “and I will knock your teeth out of your mouth!”
Paxton takes another step, but another guy I don’t know moves to stand beside Mason. When another guy follows suit, Paxton gets pissed.
“Whatever,” Paxton bites out. “This is the thanks I get for trying to be the nice guy? Fuck you all. Have fun with the psycho bitch.”
He stalks out of the media room, punching a hole through the wall on his way out. The moment he’s gone, Mason turns around, concern in his eyes.
“Are you okay?” he asks, reaching for me.
“Stay the fuck away from me!” I yell, raising my bat. “All of you.”
Mason frowns and squats to pick up my phone. He brings it to his ear and says, “Hello?” Whatever he must hear has his face blanching. “Dude, I’m just trying to help.” He flinches. “Yeah, man. I’ll watch her. Heard you loud and clear.” He looks over his shoulder. “Sonya is here too.” Another pause. “That’s the right address, yeah. Okay. Sure.” He sighs. “Look, man, don’t shoot the messenger. Just trying to help.”
He tries to hand me my phone, but I nearly stumble over my own feet, trying to escape his proximity. He eyes the bat warily and shrugs.
“I’m going to put your phone on the table.” He sets it down. “Why don’t you set the bat down?”
I shake my head.
I’m not letting go of this bat until Sonya and I are out of this fucking hell hole.