Chapter Nine #2
My vision is becoming positively blurred, and my cheeks are getting hotter.
“How did you know about that?” I question.
“My friend is a healer. She was in Miss Aloe’s class when Alex came in,” she explains. “You got him pretty good.”
“And you don’t wanna see her with a knife,” River butts in, and Hayley raises her eyebrow.
“I can see why River likes you.”
I blush at the thought of him liking me and smile at River. He is very cute. A door comes into my view from across the room.
“What’s through there?” I ask, taking another sip of my drink.
“No one goes through there,” Jaxon says with a serious tone, pouring himself another drink.
“Not unless you want to become Moon food,” Ty chimes in.
“That leads to Moon Castle?” I question, curiosity playing on my lips. Shit! I almost forgot I have to meet Ryder soon.
“Yeah. Leads you to a long-ass tunnel,” Ty replies.
“I heard that the last person to go down there never came out,” Hayley says ominously before shaking it off. “Give me a hit of that char root,” she gestures to Ty and takes a long puff.
The group starts talking among themselves, and River looks over at me.
“You look really lovely tonight.” He brushes my hair behind my ear. No Gifts this time.
The feeling of alcohol rushes through my body. He is rather gorgeous. Our eyes interlock for a moment, but for some reason, there are no feelings of lust. No butterflies. Not like when I was with him.
“I should probably go and check on Nala,” I say, breaking eye contact with River and getting up off the sofa. Wow. I’m drunk. The blood rushes to my head as I stumble a little, reaching out to steady myself on the corner of the sofa.
“Of course. I’ll be waiting here for you,” River smiles.
He’s so darn sweet. I wait to feel the flutter arise in my stomach, but I feel nothing.
I make an effort to compose myself and try to walk in a straight line out of the office and back to the rest of the party.
I take a mental note of where the bookcase with the secret door is and scan the room for Nala.
There she is. I feel my way through the crowds, stumbling occasionally before mentally picking myself up again.
I pass the basins of liquor on the way. I reach Nala and Charlie dancing in the corner.
“Ashaaaaaaaa,” Nala slurs at me with excitement.
“Nala!” I open my arms out to receive her in a hug. She hangs on to me, and I have to steady myself on the wall.
She pulls my hair away from my ear and leans in close. “Me and Charlie are gonna do it tonight!” A giggle teases out of her lips.
“Does Charlie know about this?” I laugh and look over at him. He gives me a look as if to say, ‘don’t listen to her,’ and smiles. Nala is laughing, and her eyes are getting drowsy.
“I’m so happy you’re my roommate, Asha. I really mean it.” Nala is giddy with excitement; she pulls me into a fast embrace.
“Me too.” I smile and squeeze her tightly.
Nala leans her weight into me and yawns loudly, her eyelids getting heavier.
“I think you need your bed,” I remark, tapping her gently on her cheek in an attempt to wake her a little. She lifts her chin and smiles wide at me.
“Come on, Nala, let’s go.” Charlie steps in and pulls her off me, unclasping her fingers from my neck.
“Thanks for inviting me. I hope things go well with River.” He looks at me and smiles.
“Get her back in one piece, please.” I smile back and gesture at Nala, now hanging off his shoulder. He gives me a nod and retreats towards the steep staircase.
I glance at my watch. It’s now twelve thirty.
I only have thirty minutes. I feel a flutter in my stomach at the thought of seeing Ryder again and fling my head back, leaning into the wall to try to keep a lid on these feelings bubbling up inside me.
My body grows hot as I think about his body on mine on the forest floor.
His warm breath on my face. It takes all the strength inside of me to keep myself from thinking about him.
I shake my head, trying to erase the feeling.
I find myself back at the liquor table. My glass is empty, awaiting more of the pink Neon liquid.
I reach for the ladle, my hand gripping it tight.
I hear a woman’s voice behind me. “You planning on making a few mistakes tonight then?”
I turn to look at her and she gestures to the pink bowl of liquid.
“What do you mean?” I ask, scooping the bowl’s contents into my cup and taking a large gulp.
“That’s called the melting pot,” she explains, still pointing at the liquid. “The potions students make it for people that want to have a good time, if you know what I mean.” She raises her eyebrows as she says this.
I stare at her blankly, not picking up what she is putting down.
“The first hour it gives you a nice buzz, makes you feel wasted, then all those feelings turn into lust and basically make you super horny.” She laughs. “How much of that have you had?”
I think back to the shots in the office. Oh shit! No wonder I’m thinking about Ryder.
“My advice to you would be to lock yourself away in your dorm room before you do something you regret.” She smiles at me genuinely.
I nod, still in shock at this news, trying to extinguish the tingles making their way up my body.
“There you are.” Strong arms envelop my body.
“River, why didn’t you tell me this was a freakin’ love potion?” I gesture to the pink liquid in my cup.
“You gulped it before I could say anything,” he defends. “Don’t worry, I wasn’t going to let anything happen to you tonight.”
I nod my head.
“Where’s Nala?” he asks, looking around.
“Charlie took her back to the room; she was super wasted.” A smile tugs at my lips. “And all over Charlie, but that must’ve been the liquor.”
River laughs at this.
“It’s strong stuff. I’m guessing the urges haven’t hit you yet.”
Suddenly, River looks a whole lot more appealing. My eyes caress his face and fall onto his plump lips. I lick mine thinking about his.
“I’ve been advised to lock myself in my dorm room before I make any mistakes,” I whisper as my eyes focus on his.
“Who says this is a mistake?”
His hand falls below my waist and pulls me closer to him.
He rests his hand under my chin and gently raises it to meet his lips and presses me close to him, sucking on my bottom lip.
I kiss him back. But I am thinking about Ryder.
A smile forms on his lips as he pulls away. “You coming back to the office?”
“I’ll be there in a minute. Just going to get some fresh air.” I smile as he walks away.
My hand grips the wall for support as I clamber my way up the steep stairs.
It’s almost one. I must go and meet Ryder.
My heart is thumping like the bass, and my breathing is equally heavy.
A surge of endorphins rushes over me, my nerves sparking like electric shocks.
I look down at the hoodie still draped around my arm.
It’s a little wet from the liquor, but hopefully he won’t notice.