Chapter 1
ONE
GRACIE
The bass of the music pulses through me as I stand at the bar and look out over the mask covered faces.
I’m pretty sure I know everyone here, though there are a few I don’t recognize without actually being able to see their faces.
Some people are wearing masks that cover their entire face, some are only partially covered, and a few have already pulled their masks off.
Like my brother.
I can see him standing over the balcony looking down at people.
His friends are sitting at the table behind him, all of their masks sitting on the table in front of them as though they’re already sick of them.
I’m not even sure he realizes they’re there.
He’s been checked out a lot lately, which is unlike him.
Though I’m convinced it has something to do with Blackwater’s biggest mystery and newest student, the girl who’s just now caught my brother’s attention as she wanders through the crowd, Lana James.
“Hey, you’re Cole Aston’s little sister, right?” a voice asks from behind me, and I tense.
I hate that it’s all I’m known for.
For who my brother is, who my family is.
Can’t I just be Gracie?
I turn to see who’s speaking, and I inwardly groan when I recognize him.
Joshua Trolenti.
He’s in a few of my classes, and I’ve noticed him watching me here and there, though this is the first time he’s actually spoken to me. Figures, the first thing he would go with would be to mention Cole.
“Yep,” I murmur and give him a small smile. It’s an awkward smile, though. The type a girl gives a guy when she’s trying to be polite, but really just wants to tell him to leave her the hell alone.
He grins. “I’ve seen you around, little Aston. I wish I’d have approached you sooner.”
For what? To annoy me?
Jesus Christ, I really need to leave.
I don’t even know why I agreed to come here. I much prefer to socialize in small groups or just spend time on my own. Crowded places like this really aren’t my thing.
“So, why are you standing here all alone?” he drawls, and it kind of makes my skin crawl.
In truth, I’m standing here alone because both of my friends are parading around on the dance floor, and that isn’t what I would call fun. So, I’m standing here alone, trying to determine how long I need to stay before I can leave without being considered boring.
Though I’m not really sure why I care what anyone thinks.
It’s my toxic trait, worrying about other people’s opinions. It probably has something to do with the way I grew up, my family always having eyes on us. The pressure to never step a foot out of line.
“Just needed a breather,” I mutter, my eyes darting from him to around the room.
He steps in closer to me, and I try not to outwardly cringe.
Clearly, he can’t tell from my body language or facial expression that I want him nowhere near me because he shifts even closer, leaning down to whisper in my ear, “What do you say we get out of here, little Aston?”
I’m already shaking my head and pulling away from him before he’s even finished speaking.
“No, thank you,” I mutter, hoping that’s the end of it, but his face screws up, a look of disbelief covering his face like he can’t believe someone would reject him.
Surely his lines don’t work usually, right?
“I think you’re making a mistake, baby. Don’t worry, I’ll give you one more chance to make the right decision.”
Seriously? Just who does this asshole think he is?
My mouth opens, ready to reject him again when a new voice beats me to it.
“I believe she already told you no, so why don’t you get the fuck out of here before I rearrange your face?”
I startle at the voice, since it sounds inhuman and I spin around to face the guy who’s now joined us, seeing nothing but a plastic skull mask behind a hood.
The mask has neon purple lines surrounding the eyes and mouth, though it’s not like the usual neon masks you see with the X’s for eyes and instead actually looks like a skull.
The black plastic makes the purple lights stand out even more, and a shiver wracks its way up my spine the longer I stare at him.
It takes me a few moments to realize he must have a voice modulator attached to the inside of the mask, because there’s no way that’s really the guy’s voice.
“I’m not as forgiving as you, so you only get one chance.”
Joshua’s eyes widen and he takes a step back. He’s slightly smaller than the newcomer, but from everything I’ve heard about him, he’s all bark and no bite so it doesn’t surprise me when he scampers away, leaving me to turn towards the new guy.
I cock my head as I stare at him, trying to see if there’s anything about him that I recognize, but he’s too well covered for me to figure out who he is.
“Thank you for that,” I say softly, a little wary of him but also thankful for the save.
“No thanks necessary. Are you okay?” He tilts his head, like he’s trying to read me, and I nod, giving him a small smile.
“I’m fine, he was just a nuisance. Do I know you?”
He chuckles, and it sounds slightly distorted through the mask, making me want to hear the real thing.
“Maybe, maybe not. I think the idea of a masked party is to be anonymous, is it not?”
Okay, so he’s going for dark and mysterious tonight, got it.
“Fair enough, would you like to sit?”
I’d never normally invite a stranger to sit with me, but something about this guy is pulling me towards him, and he did just get rid of the relentless asshole for me, so offering to let him sit with me is the least I can do, really.
He’s silent for a moment, his eyes never leaving mine as he attempts to stare deep into my soul. At a closer glance, I see that the eye holes in the mask are covered in some sort of material so I can’t see what color his eyes are.
“You sure? It seemed like you just wanted to be alone before that guy approached you.”
I did want to be alone.
Now, I’m not so sure.
I don’t know what it is about this guy, but he intrigues me, and I find myself not wanting him to leave.
“I’m sure.”
As soon as the words leave my lips, he slides into the seat next to mine. The bartender approaches, but he waves him off, focusing his full attention on me.
“Why are you sitting here all by yourself, anyways?”
“I needed a break,” I say with a shrug, hoping he doesn’t push the subject further.
What would he think if he knew I didn’t even want to be here?
If he knew that rather than going out clubbing like most girls my age, I’d rather be at home, sketching, reading, or doing literally anything else?
If he knew just how much of a pushover I can be?
Most of the time when guys realize how much of a hard time I have telling people no, they use it to their advantage.
He wouldn’t be the first, and he certainly wouldn’t be the last.
“Well, I’m glad I got to meet you tonight,” he says, and I swear I can hear a smile in his voice even though I can’t see his lips.
I don’t reply, I just sit and stare. I swear, it feels like I know this guy, like we’ve met before, but if he knew me, why wouldn’t he just go ahead and tell me who he is?
No, I must be imagining things, but the pull I feel toward him is…
well, I don’t really know how to describe it, but he makes me want to let go.
He makes me want to be myself, to let go of that image I’ve been taught to play into and just be me.
He makes me want to be wild.
I must be losing my mind, because there’s no way I can feel all that after only half a conversation with the guy.
“We need to get you laid, G. It’s been far too long.”
Misty’s words echo around in my mind and I think that maybe, as I stare at the stranger in front of me, I should listen to her for once.
Maybe I should take something for myself.
Maybe… maybe my world wouldn’t end just because I did something that would be frowned upon by my parents.
I glance up to the balcony only to find it empty and I let out a sigh of relief when I realize Cole and his friends must have left already, so I won’t have them intercepting us.
“Want to go somewhere a little quieter?” I ask the stranger, holding my breath as I wait for his answer.