Chapter 5 #3
With a wink, he takes off, joining the guys. They walk away with my dad, leaving my mom and me by ourselves.
I take my phone back from my mom, going to my photo album. I’m unable to stop the smile that creeps onto my lips when I see it.
Sylas is giving his best playful smile, Jasper is scowling—not that I’m surprised about it at all—and Wesley has his arm resting on my head, his hand lifted to give the camera the middle finger. And me? I’m smiling like an idiot. Or more accurately, a girl in love.
It’s perfect.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen those three.” Mom smiles. “I didn’t know you all were still friends.”
“We’re not,” I tell her.
“Could have fooled me.” She smiles. “I see the way Sylas looks at you, honey. I know your dad said no boys, but he seems like a nice, kind young man. You never know.” She wiggles her eyebrows up and down with a giggle.
Oh, my sweet, sweet mother.
Mom isn’t stupid, she knows that the society we’re a part of isn’t all rainbows and sunshine, but my dad works hard to keep that darkness away from her. He says she’s too much of a shining star for him to allow anything to risk dimming her light.
I’ve always wanted the kind of love my parents have. He would do anything for her. And I believe that would include killing someone.
My dad might work for the Brotherhood, but he could be just as dangerous and scary as the rest of them.
Mom and I remove ourselves from the massive crowd, both of our social batteries drained for the day. Not that I really had much of one in the first place. But we linger on the outskirts until Dad is done and we can get the hell out of here.
“Oh, there’s Cassie. I’m gonna go say hi. Are you okay on your own?” Mom asks after we grab a few refreshments.
“Of course.” I nod.
Mom takes off, leaving me on my own. Just the way I like it.
Taking a few bites of the cupcake, I wander around, observing the crowd, with no real destination in mind.
Would it be rude if I just left and sent my parents a text letting them know?
“Hey, Wesley!”
At the mention of his name, my ears perk up.
Looking around, I see Wesley leaning against a nearby tree. He’s smoking, his attention down on his phone.
When he looks up, I watch the way his shoulders go rigid at the sight of the group of girls walking toward him.
Anger spikes inside me, and I duck behind the tree next to me, just out of sight.
“Are you going to the party tonight?” one of them asks.
“What’s it to you?” he mutters.
“Well, we’re going.”
“Good for you,” he snorts, and I bite my lip trying not to laugh.
Peaking my head around the tree, I watch as the girl grows more flustered at his dismissal of her.
“If you're going, then maybe we can hang out?”
“No.” Wesley looks back down at his phone.
“No, you’re not going? Or no, we can’t hang out?” she asks, frowning.
Wesley sighs. “I am going. But no, we won’t be hanging out. It’s not happening.”
“Oh, come on, it could be fun.” Another girl steps in, trying to help her friend out.
Wesley blows a cloud of smoke into their faces, making them cough. He tosses the butt to the ground and steps closer to the girls. Panic flickers across their faces.
“I don’t know you, but I can guarantee you can’t handle my brand of fun. Do us both a favor and erase all ideas you have of hooking up with me and my buddies. They need to die. Trust me.”
With that, he pushes past the girls and leaves. The group of them are frowning as they talk amongst themselves.
I stay, wanting to see how they take his rejection.
“Whatever. I’m still going. There's hotter guys at that party,” she scoffs.
Girl needs her eyes checked because she’s fucking delusional.
“It’s the end-of-the-year party. It’s going to be massive. We can’t miss it.”
“Still, I was hoping to get my chance.” Another girl who hadn't spoken yet says. “I’m leaving for England soon, and they’re leaving for the summer. I’ll never see them again.” She pouts.
My shoulders slump at the reminder that I’m not going to be seeing them for a few months.
Turning away from the girls, I decide to wait for my parents in the car and text them, letting them know as much.
I’m not one for parties, mostly because I’ve never had someone to go to one with, but should I go?
I don’t have to hang out with them. I can just watch from afar. They wouldn’t even know I was there. I can get my fill of them to hold me over for the summer. That's all.
Not like I have anything better to do tonight.
Mom and Dad join me in the car ten minutes later.
“So, any exciting plans with your friends?” Mom asks.
I don’t have the heart to tell her that I don’t have any. So, I decided to go with part of the truth. “Ah, yeah. There's this party. I was thinking of going.”
“A party?” Mom asks excitedly. “Oh, that would be so much fun. You should go!”
“I don’t know.” Dad looks at me through the review mirror.
“Oh, Toren. It’s her graduation night. Let her go out and celebrate,” Mom playfully chastises him. “She will be safe and responsible. Right, Nola?”
“Of course.” I nod.
“And no drinking, right?”
“No drinking.” I shake my head.
“See? She’s a good kid. She’ll be fine.”
Famous last words.