Chapter 9 Eden
Eden
As far as high school parties go, it wasn’t too bad.
Well, what I saw of it. I was surprised Sloane got into such a state, but I don’t know her that well.
I guess I had a preconceived idea of who she is.
Part of me is convinced more than ever that we’re way too different to be more than friends.
Then again, she did just ask me on a date.
A date!
It came out of nowhere. Totally out of the blue. I mean wow.
Becca kind of spoiled the moment, but I guess I need to get used to that. Sloane too, because Pia is going to be all up in our business when she finds out. After I’ve chewed her out for taking me to the party under false pretences and then pretty much abandoning me all night, that is.
Speaking of my arsehole best friend, I should go and find her.
Make sure she’s alive and all that. It’s difficult to drag myself away from a sleepy-looking Sloane though.
Especially because she’s still in my t-shirt.
I could swap it out for the one I’m wearing.
Sloane must’ve borrowed clothes from Bryce before, but I find myself not wanting to do that.
I like the idea of her having something of mine.
Who knew seeing the girl you’re crushing on in your clothes was such a turn-on?
With my rank-smelling hoodie in my hand, I shuffle nervously. “So, I’m going to find Pia and Todd. Wanna meet in the kitchen?”
Sloane smiles. She’s so lovely it hurts my eyes. “Yeah, give us like ten minutes. I need to make sure Becca is fit to drive.”
“I can do it if she’s not.”
I wouldn’t mind getting behind the wheel of Becca’s super expensive car, to be honest.
Leaving them to their business, I set off in search of Pia. My guess is she’ll be in one of the spare bedrooms with Todd. God, I hope they’re covered. I walked in on them once mid-shag, and it scarred me.
After the third fail, I finally find them. Thank God they’ve got the duvet covering all the squishy parts. The room smells gross. Old alcohol and sweat. I scrunch my face up because I don’t want any of their particles getting up my nose.
Now for a bit of sweet revenge. I march over to the windows with a satisfied smile. This is going to feel good. Ripping open the curtains and opening the window, I revel in their agony-filled cries of protest.
“What the fuck,” Pia groans, trying to cover her panda eyes. Her hair is just one big mat. Todd shoves a pillow over his head, which I quickly rip out of his hands.
“Everyone up. Time to go home.”
“Eden, fuck!”
This is so awesome. They’re in so much pain.
Just to add to their misery, I begin clapping. Loudly. “Up, let’s go!”
Pia rises from her pit of despair to glare at me. All it does is add to my amusement.
“Eden.” Her voice sounds like she’s swallowed gravel.
“Pia. I’m serious. You have one minute and then I’m coming back with water. It will not be for drinking.”
I have no issue dumping water on them both to get their arses moving. I want to get home and shower. I also need some alone time to digest what happened with Sloane. Or what could happen with her.
Todd, as usual, is the more pliable of the pair. He rolls out of bed, taking a blanket with him. He lands on the floor in a heap. “I’m up,” he grumbles.
Pia scrubs her face and steps out of bed. She’s naked, of course. Searching the room, I find her dress and throw it at her. “I’ll be in the kitchen. Don’t make me come back up here.”
The lower floor of Bryce’s house is trashed. Nothing seems to be broken, but there are bodies, cups, and food everywhere. As with upstairs, the air is filled with sweat and booze. I want to throw open every window, but it’s not my shit to clean up.
Bryce is cooking food in his boxers. Several other people I don’t know are milling about, talking in low tones due to their massive hangovers.
“Morning, Bryce.”
He turns and gives me a smile. “Hey, UK. I didn’t see you much last night.”
Laughing, I steal a pancake. “Do you remember anything past 11 p.m.?”
Grinning, he bobs his head. “That’s fair. I woke up on a deck chair with a pink flamingo wrapped around me.”
We laugh and settle into a comfortable chat. He’s actually a cool guy under all the frat bravado. Someone walks in, and I’m about to say hello when I notice it’s Keira. She looks a little less worse for wear than everyone else. Oh, and she’s glaring at me.
Super.
“Good morning,” I say cordially. I don’t need her giving me shit in the last year of school.
“I thought you’d gone,” she shoots back.
“Nope. Just took myself upstairs earlier than the rest of you.”
She narrows her eyes. “Which room?”
“Um…Sloane’s?”
She licks her teeth, which I don’t think is a good sign. Shit, am I about to get my ass kicked by the soccer captain?
“You slept with Sloane?”
I quickly look at Bryce, who is pumping his eyebrows and reaching over for a fist bump. He doesn’t get one.
“In the literal sense of the word, yes. Sloane was drunk, and I looked after her. We slept.”
Kiera takes the remaining steps between us. I grit my teeth, trying not to react to the putrid stank of old beer on her breath.
“Don’t get any silly ideas, Eden. I’ve had my sights on Sloane for a while now, understand.”
Leaning back slightly, I straighten up. I wish I was standing, and not sitting on this fucking stool, but I’ll make the best of it. I’m still taller than Kiera, even on my ass.
“Your designs on Sloane are none of my business. That’s between the two of you.”
“Make sure it stays that way.”
Laughter filters into the kitchen. Kiera steps back and plasters on a fake smile. I want to roll my eyes but resist. Jesus, I just want to go home.
“Sloane, hey,” Kiera says with far too much enthusiasm. Pia, bless her heart, doesn’t refrain from her eye roll.
“Oh, hi Kiera,” Sloane replies.
“Wanna hang out later?” Kiera asks, stepping into Sloane’s personal space. “Thought we could pick up from where we left it last night.”
My stomach rolls. What did they do last night?
Sloane looks…confused? Her eyes dart to me and then back to Kiera. She doesn’t remember, that much is obvious.
“Um, sorry…I don’t remember much of last night,” Sloane stutters. I kind of feel bad for her. All eyes are on her and Kiera, and I’m guessing she’d prefer the exact opposite.
Kiera goes to reply, but Becca steps in. “Kiera, she told you last night she’s not interested. Take a hint.”
A warm feeling trickles down my nervous system. Sloane rejected Kiera. Thank fuck.
“Didn’t seem that way when her tongue was in my mouth,” Kiera retorts.
“You mean the second kiss you landed on her without consent? Both times!” Becca replies cooly. Sloane is going bright red.
“She kissed me back,” Kiera says hotly.
Becca doesn’t back down one inch. “Sloane was wasted and thought you were someone else!”
At this, Sloane’s eyes go wide and her gaze darts to me. Did…did she think it was me before realising it was Kiera?
Pfft. No way. I’m not that lucky.
“I’d like to go home now,” I blurt. Sloane looks mortified, and I don’t want her to be in the middle of this shit show any longer. “Thanks for the party, Bryce,” I say, hopping off the stool. “See you in class.”
Becca is still squaring off with Kiera as I pass by. My hand hovers just above Sloane’s lower back. “Ready?”
She nods but doesn’t look me in the eye. Pia and Todd look like deer in headlights but take the hint when I nod in the direction of the door.
The weather is gorgeous outside, and I momentarily envy Bryce for living in the middle of a forest. It would be a great place to walk with Sloane.
Oh my god, I actually just thought of walking in a positive light. Ew.
“I’ll drive,” I say. “None of you are in a fit state to operate a vehicle.”
Becca doesn’t protest. She lobs me the car keys and we pile in. Sloane sits in the back with Pia and Todd. Becca rides shotgun.
“Um, where’s Bella?” Pia suddenly asks.
“She left an hour ago,” Becca replies. “She had a thing to go to and asked her mom to pick her up.”
“I’ll text her,” Pia says to no one in particular.
Side-eying Becca, I desperately want to ask what happened between them last night. My guess is Becca and Bella became very well acquainted, which is pretty stellar. Bella’s fucking amazing, and I’m starting to think Becca is just as awesome. They’d make a great couple.
Although, I thought Becca was straight, so…
Becca notices me looking and blushes. I give her a smile, hoping to convey…well, I don’t know, really. Just that I think she’s cool. Or their secret’s safe with me? One of those.
We arrive back in the school parking lot where Pia has her car. I’ll be driving that one too. I’m a little concerned about handing over the keys to Becca. I’m sure she’d still register as being over the limit if she gets pulled.
“I’m not happy leaving you to drive home.”
Becca pulls out her phone. “I’ll call a cab. My dad can pick the car up later.”
“Good. Okay then. I guess we’ll see each other on Monday.” I’m addressing everyone in the car, but really I’m talking to Sloane, who finally looks at me.
She smiles. “See you.”
Pia sits up front, while Todd lounges in the back seat already half asleep. “Am I dropping you both off at your place?” I ask.
“Nope, take Todd home and then I’m coming over to yours. We need to talk.”
Should’ve seen that coming. Pia is like a hawk. No doubt she spotted something between me and Sloane.
As soon as Todd is safely home, Pia rounds on me. “What happened between you and Sloane? And don’t even think of lying to me!”
“First, I’d like to chat about the stunt you pulled to get me there last night, P.”
“Yeah, okay. I messed up, Eden. I should have told you it was a sleepover.”
“Yeah, you should.”
“But in my defence, if I hadn’t told a little lie, you wouldn’t have gone. Then whatever happened between you and Sloane would never have happened.”
“True. But you know that shit doesn’t fly with me, P. We don’t lie to each other, and we certainly don’t put one another in circumstances that make them uncomfortable.”
At least she has the decency to look ashamed. I don’t want to hammer on all day. I’ve said my piece, and that’s that.
Reaching over, she takes my hand. “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”
We pull up to my house and stagger out. I’m bone tired. The social interaction of the past twelve hours has drained my battery. I need a quiet room and my duvet.
Mum is in the kitchen drinking coffee. Dad is cooking pancakes, which he does every weekend.
“Morning, girls,” Mum says as we enter. “Have a good night?” She’s looking at Pia with a grin.
“Some more than others,” I say. “P needs a few litres of water and some food.”
“Alright, Mom,” Pia scoffs. Mum and Dad laugh.
“Pancakes are served. Tuck in.”
Mum spends the entire time grilling us about our night. I’ll talk to her about Sloane later. Pia is practically vibrating with the need to get the gossip.
“We’re going to chill with a couple of movies. Call if you need me to do anything.”
Mum smiles and kisses me on the head. “We’re nipping to the store in a minute. I’ll grab some chocolate.”
“Ah, you’re the actual best, Mrs S,” Pia sighs happily.
“You’re welcome, Pia. Do your parents know where you are?”
“Yeah. But they’re still out of town.”
I see the soft look Mum gives my best friend. Pia plays off her parents’ absence, but we see through it. She gets lonely, which is why Mum and Dad welcome her here whenever she wants.
“Where is the she-devil?” Obviously, we all know I’m referring to Jenna. I can’t smell sulphur, so I’ll guess she’s out.
Dad titters. “She’s at the mall.”
Well, that’s an excellent start to my morning of relaxation.
Up in my room, Pia immediately gets in my bed, pulling the covers up to her chin.
“You could take a shower first, P.” Ugh, I can’t even imagine how many nasty germs she’s shedding in my bed.
“I know. This is retribution for waking me up like an asshole this morning.”
She smiles and jumps out of bed, knowing full well I will change the sheets immediately. “I’m going to get cleaned up.” She walks to my dresser and pulls out a set of joggers and a tee.
While Pia showers, I strip the linen and put on a fresh set. I do it every Saturday anyway so Pia’s little stunt is a mild inconvenience at best, she just got me to do it earlier than usual. With both of us smelling a hell of a lot cleaner, we settle under the duvet and open up Netflix.
“So?”
“So?” I reply.
Pia gives me a dead arm. “Spill.”
“Fuck, P. Don’t do that!”
“Then don’t act dumb.”
She really is like a sister. It’s not always great.
“Sloane was hammered. I looked after her. It got a tad awkward this morning, but we moved past it.”
She looks at me with shrewd eyes. “And?”
“And…um…she asked me on a date.”
My ears hurt by the time Pia has stopped screaming like a banshee. “Oh fuck, that’s awesome, Eden!”
“Yeah. I…I can’t really believe it, to be honest.”
“Why? You’re hot. I knew she was into you.”
“You did not.”
“Totally called it. Ask Todd. Anyway. Where are you going?”
I scratch the back of my head. “We didn’t get to that bit. Becca interrupted, so it’s just sort of…in the air.”
“Message her immediately!”
“Just slow down, Pia. I need to think about it.”
She ignores the TV completely. “What the hell is there to think about?”
“Kiera, for one. She went all territorial on me in the kitchen this morning. Plus, it seemed something happened between her and Sloane last night. I don’t want to get in the middle of drama, P. I have one year left, and I want it to be as calm as possible.”
“Fuck, that!” she declares. “I know what happened last night. Sloane was drunk. Kiera tried it on. For a second it looked like she was into it, but then the fog cleared and she properly pushed Kiera back. She kept repeating, ‘You’re not her,’ over and over. That’s when Becca took her upstairs.”
“Huh.”
“Yeah, huh. Don’t be an idiot, Eden. Lock down that date. Now.”