Chapter 9
“I still can’t believe we managed to get away with pranking the boys,” Anna said, smiling as she looked down at her phone. She turned it in my direction and showed me a picture of a guy being chased by Barry the rooster on Instagram.
He was dressed in his pajamas, and the picture captured him mid-scream as he ran from the rooster, which flapped its wings behind him. Barry looked like he was having the time of his life, but the poor guy looked terrified. I couldn’t stop myself from laughing.
“He looks traumatized.”
“Yeah, seems like Joel is going to have nightmares about being chased by Barry for life.” Anna grinned, leaned back on the bed, and kept scrolling through her phone.
It was Saturday afternoon, and we were working on our college application essays—at least, I was trying to. It was hard to put my heart and soul into it when I wasn’t sure if I’d even be submitting it.
It had always been my dream to go to college and study medicine or sciences, but I’d given up on that idea last year so I could stay in Rapid Bay and help my mom run the café. I knew we couldn’t afford college and she needed my help. But that had all changed the day I met my father.
Matthew had offered to pay for me to go to any college I wanted the first day I met him.
When he’d told me that, I’d flat-out refused and stormed out of his office.
At the time, I didn’t want anything to do with him.
Soon after though, my mom made it clear she didn’t want me to give up my dream for her and that I should let Matthew help.
It was all so confusing, so I’d been avoiding thoughts of college ever since.
But, with everyone else at school getting prepped to apply for schools, I’d begun to realize I couldn’t keep putting it off.
Matthew’s offer didn’t suddenly make everything simple though.
If anything, I just felt more uncertain.
If I was going to go to college, where would I go?
Did I really know what I wanted to do with my life and career?
Even though things were better with my father, I still didn’t really know if I could bring myself to accept his offer.
My warring thoughts made filling out applications with any enthusiasm impossible.
Anna was supposed to be working on her college applications too, but she was struggling even more than I was.
When she wasn’t flicking through TikToks on her phone or asking me if I was done working yet, she was bugging me about a party Luther was throwing for his birthday tonight.
She was incredibly distracting, but I’d promised to hang out and watch Netflix with her once I was done.
Cress was on her big date with Kaden, so it was just the two of us.
“Are you sure you won’t come to the party tonight?” Anna pleaded with me once again. “It’ll be fun. I promise.”
I’d thought she’d have given up by now, but it seemed she wouldn’t take no for an answer.
“Yes, I’m sure,” I replied. “It’s not happening”
“Please.” She batted her lashes at me, but she was barking up the wrong tree. I wasn’t turning up to Luther’s party when he was set on ignoring me. Especially not if it was his birthday.
“You know it’s a miracle we didn’t all get caught and sentenced to jail time because of our prank, right? We should be celebrating our freedom,” she argued.
It was a miracle we hadn’t been caught. I doubted there had been a risk of jail time, but the school did call an assembly to warn us that anyone caught taking part in further pranks would be suspended. Either way, it didn’t change my thoughts about Luther’s party.
“Luther doesn’t want me there,” I said. “He’s been ignoring me since Halloween. It would be weird if I showed up.”
“It wouldn’t be weird. You know what Luther’s parties are like. Everyone from school will be there, and you probably won’t even see him.”
“I always run into him at his parties.”
“Yes, well, it’s not like he wants to ignore you. We both know he’s only doing it because of Noah.”
“Another good reason not to go.”
“I doubt Noah will even be there,” Anna said. “He’s never here on weekends anymore.”
Anna was right. Although I found it difficult to believe he’d miss his best friend’s birthday, Noah had been leaving school every weekend to spend time with his grandfather at his family’s company.
But, I had to admit, the party might be bearable if Noah wasn’t there and I could stay out of Luther’s way.
“Please come,” Anna continued. “We haven’t gone out in ages, and Cress is going to meet us there after her date. Don’t you want to hear about it?”
“Of course, I do.”
“Plus, Wes will be there.”
“He will?”
“Why wouldn’t he? No one misses Luther’s parties.”
I rolled my eyes and shook my head but then let out a sigh. “Fine, I guess I could make an appearance.”
“Really?”
I laughed at her surprise. “What? Did I give in too easily?”
“I mean, I’ve been laying out my most convincing arguments for so long I was just about to give up hope.”
“Well, I’ll remember to hold out a little longer next time.”
She poked out her tongue, but then she smiled. “So, what convinced you? My pleading eyes or the boyfriend card? I need to know for next time…”
I shrugged. “I quite enjoyed Luther’s last party.”
“Because you spent the whole night snuggling by the bonfire with Wes?”
“That, and because there was no dancing,” I joked. “But you’re right. I want to hear about Cress’s date. And maybe Luther won’t notice me if I keep a low profile. I really don’t think Noah will miss the party, but he pretty much ignores me anyway, so I’m sure he won’t be a problem.”
“He won’t,” Anna said with a firm nod. “And if he is, I’ll deal with him.”
Given the steely look that glinted in her eyes, I had no doubt she would be happy to follow through on that promise.
“So, how do you think Cress and Kaden are doing on their date?” I asked.
“I’m sure they’re already planning a spring wedding.”
“Probably.” I grinned. “They both seem smitten with each other.”
“Totally smitten,” Anna agreed. “Now, please tell me you’re done with your college stuff so we can actually enjoy a relaxing Saturday afternoon.”
I was nowhere close to finished, but she looked so hopeful and had waited around for me all day, so I knew I had to give in. “Okay, I’m done.”
“Yes, finally!” She clapped her hands and grabbed the TV controls.
*
We spent the afternoon watching reruns of Sex & the City. It passed the time quickly, and before we knew it, it was time to get ready for Luther’s party.
I still wasn’t truly convinced it was a good idea for me to go, but there was no way Anna would let me back out now.
We got a ride to the party with Wes, and he held my hand as we made our way up Luther’s driveway.
It was nice to be out with him. Thanks to his rowing regatta and then everyone being sick, it had been weeks since we’d been able to do anything together.
It also felt good to have him at my side as it made me a little more confident about attending the party.
I knew Wes wouldn’t let anyone make me feel bad for coming.
Luther’s parties were normally held in the woods behind the grand, old villa his family owned in town. But, tonight, I was surprised to see the house was lit up and music was coming from within.
“I thought Luther didn’t host parties in the house?” I said.
Wes shrugged. “Yeah, he normally doesn’t. Maybe he wanted to change things up.”
“But why change a winning formula?” Anna said. “The forest parties are legendary.”
As we got closer to the house, we could see a massive “Happy Birthday, Luther” sign sprawled across the front of the house.
“A sign as big as his ego,” Anna groaned.
She shook her head at the sign before she headed into the house.
We all followed her, and the moment I walked through the front door, I wondered if we’d come to the wrong party.
The entrance foyer was filled with adults.
They were all dressed in smart suits and cocktail dresses that seemed far too formal for guests at a typical Luther party.
A server wearing a white shirt and a black apron greeted us at the door with champagne glasses on a silver platter, and I noticed him briefly cast his eyes over our outfits. We were totally underdressed.
“Uh, are you sure we’re in the right place?” Wes asked, scanning the room as the gazes of a few guests fell on us.
“Of course,” Anna said, seemingly unbothered by the fact we looked totally out of place. “Maybe the real party is out back.”
She swiped a glass of champagne from the server and casually strode down the wide main hallway to the back of the house. Wes and I shared a confused look before we followed somewhat reluctantly behind her.
We made our way through the groups of finely dressed guests until we found a large entertaining area at the back of the house. The crowd was much younger here, and I began to recognize people from school, but everyone was still wearing suits and dresses. This was not Luther’s normal style.
“Anna, are you sure we haven’t missed something?” I said, starting to feel increasingly embarrassed about the ripped jeans and sweatshirt I was wearing. I’d dressed for a cold night in the woods, and even Anna was starting to look a little uncertain.
“I’m going to go ask around,” Wes said, letting go of my hand. “I’ll be back soon.” He headed over to some of his rowing friends while Anna knocked back her champagne.
“Cress should be here by now,” Anna said. “I’m sure she can fill us in on why everyone’s so dressed up. Come on, let’s go find her.”
She grabbed my arm and pulled me deeper into the crowd. Anna had been right about the fact that the whole class would be here. The back area of the house was packed with kids from school, and people were turning to gawk at us as we searched for Cress.