Chapter 5 #2
It’s for the best, I try to convince myself.
It’s the best option to make Carmen not suspect much about what I’m doing.
She was livid earlier and, unless I have an excuse to be here, she might talk to Bethan and have me removed from the party altogether.
I can almost hear her throwing another fit because I’m lingering creepily in the background, micromanaging her life instead of getting a life of my own.
And if I had chosen red, she would’ve been the first one to call me out on my chronically single status.
Deep down, I’m aware this is all bullshit I’m feeding myself so that I don’t have to think about the real reason that pushed me to choose the green band.
“Atta girl!” Leighton exclaims, nudging me with a bright smile. “Have a blast!”
Elodie grabs a green band and wraps it around my left wrist.
“Have fun, Mabby,” she wishes me, with one of her warm smiles.
“Thanks,” I mumble.
The paper wristband feels a bit tight as I walk into the house, wrapping itself around my wrist like a manacle.
Have I made the right choice? Dipping my body into the pink neon lights of the tunnel that leads to the backyard, I look around at the decorations.
The Kappas have outdone themselves. The tunnel is made of red cardboard cut to give the guests the illusion that they’re walking through hearts. I feel like I’m entering a new reality.
The backyard has also been transformed. Love seats are spread around the place, along with photobooths and decorated places to take photos with friends.
Drinking stations are situated in each corner.
Everything is covered by an explosion of neon pink, white and red.
Everything is on theme with Valentine’s Day.
And I don’t know how, but they’ve managed to get a chocolate fountain with a massive Cupid statue on top.
I can’t deny that they know how to throw a great themed party.
With every step I take, merging with the crowd, doubts scratch my skin, making me feel uncomfortable. What am I doing?
Tugging my sleeve over the wristband, I take a deep breath and will my heart to slow its frantic beats.
My body doesn’t get the message that this is just a regular party, like all the ones I’ve been to before.
Even though I’m here to make sure my sister and my friend aren’t in any danger, I can’t help but think about all the possibilities I just signed myself up for by choosing green.
It’s like I’m holding a sign over my head that screams Available to everyone!
If Carmen was actually talking to me, she would make a joke about how no one would approach me even if I had the sign. She would then sweeten the comment by adding that no one here is worthy of me either way.
Thinking about my sister and her snarky attitude makes me smile and gives me the strength I need to straighten my back and dive into the sea of people, some of whom are already mingling, looking for other available people to get their fill of the night.
To no one’s surprise, I spot Delta and other frat guys wearing pink wristbands.
There’s rarely anyone wearing red wristbands.
A few girls approach me to say their hellos and make small talk.
My jaw hurts from faking smiles, face muscles twitching as I try to blend in and search for my sister and Cerys.
The minutes drag by slowly as I drift around.
Although the temperature has dropped considerably, I welcome the light breeze of the night.
It makes my drill of wandering the backyard more comfortable.
I don’t need to worry about unnecessary heat or sweating.
Around twenty minutes later, I spot Carmen talking with a few of her friends.
She looks beautiful. I might be biased, but my sister has grown into a stunning woman.
Her curls fall softly down her back, meeting the beginning of her light pink dress.
The color contrasts perfectly with her light brown skin.
Around her wrist, she wears a white band, which makes me buzz with curiosity.
Is she up for anything?
The big sister in me wants to question her about her choices and demand that she’s careful, but I also know Carmen is more than capable of taking care of herself around people. She might pass on a written threat, but her snark is sharper than a butcher’s knife.
“Hello, may I have your attention, please?” Bethan’s melodic voice takes over the backyard as she climbs onto a table, holding a microphone in front of her red lips.
“Thank you so much for coming here tonight and being part of our ‘Smash or Pass’ event.” She pauses as people hoot and cheer her on.
“So here are the rules. For the next two hours, a buzzer will go off every fifteen minutes. For the first fifteen, you must talk to someone you don’t know, and when the buzzer goes off, you can decide if you’ll smash . . . or pass.”
“Smash me, baby!” a guy yells at her.
Bethan’s smile remains intact, but I catch the slight twitch of annoyance in her green eyes.
“You’ll have eight chances to be struck by Cupid. But if it doesn’t happen for you, remember that the afterparty event will be held at Theta’s house across the street, and you all know what that means: a night of debauchery.” She winks complicitly. “Let the games begin!”
The crowd claps for her and I join them as the first buzzer sounds. Almost instantly, I see the people look around to find their chosen targets, and I try to keep a low profile until I feel a tap on my shoulder.
Ay no.
Biting the inside of my cheek, I turn on my heel, only to meet familiar blue eyes.