EIGHT
KIERAN
Away from the chaos of the party, I hung out at the bottom of the garden with my two closest friends for the next hour.
They both grilled me about Amelie, but I managed to stick to the story that she was staying with us whilst her parents were away.
They didn’t believe me, and I hated lying to them, but what could I do?
If either of them ran their mouths off about who Amelie’s father was, Cameron would string me up by the nuts.
I also didn’t like the thought of what would happen once people did find out.
Let’s face it, little Amelie Thorns' life at Northridge would become extremely unpleasant. And that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. Not on my watch.
I hated the fact that I felt so protective of someone who hadn’t even earned it. After explaining to my boys how the girl was already getting under my skin, they told me to stop overthinking shit and go with the flow.
“Nothing can happen anyway, she’s your stepmother’s niece,” Weston kept repeating.
“So,” I shrugged, not really sure why I was fighting him. I didn’t want Amelie Thorn, not really. It was just a physical thing.
“Why, it’s not like they’re biologically related,” Tanner pointed with a nod, blowing smoke up into the air. “I say fuck her and get it out of your system. Job done.”
Weston scowled. “She’s still part of the family dickhead.” He then turned to me with an unimpressed glower. “You know the rules about shitting on your doorstep, Kier.” The dude had a point.
Those rules he mentioned were simple. We had all made a deal relating to who you were allowed to screw: you didn’t call dibs on family members or friends, and definitely no ex-girlfriends.
The pact was the main reason Tanner and Jessa would never happen, or Weston and Halo, for that matter.
I wasn’t quite so sold on the latter, shit, part of me was desperate for something to happen there.
I knew Halo would be good for my friend.
West wore a brave face, but there was a huge affection drought in his household; he missed his mom every day, just as I did mine.
His father, Rafe, was a parental legend, but not overly emotional and shit; everyone needed a hug now and then, even me. Cue Maisy.
“I just need to keep her at arm's length. Especially at school. I have exams, I don’t need someone fucking with my head.”
My friends exchanged a look. “Maybe once she goes home, you can forget about her.” And of course, I couldn’t.
There was a chance that she wouldn’t ever go home.
Thoughts of the older brother popped into my mind.
He’d emancipated at nineteen, Vanessa had said, so why the fuck couldn’t my little bag of trouble go and live with him?
I knew that I just needed to blast off some hot air. I hated not being in control of a situation, just like my father.
Weston and Tanner listened intently as they leaned back against one leafy wall of the maze on Weston’s estate.
It was a box-hedged monstrosity that sat in the shadow of the Cavendish’s house.
It had been there when they’d first bought the property just before his mom died.
Susannah Cavendish had loved it so much.
That was the only reason that fucker hadn’t been bulldozed by now.
As kids, the maze used to be our kingdom, but not anymore.
One fateful night a few years ago, when we were off our faces on Absinthe, we got lost in there for over two hours.
Weston’s “I remember it like the back of my hand” reassurance proved to be a big fat fucking lie.
It had been a hot summer’s evening, and we’d all ended up with sunburn and severe dehydration.
Since then, none of us trusted that place or Weston’s alleged familiarity with its layout.
The maze was now just a massive monument to all of his bullshit.
After flicking my joint onto the ground, I started to trek back towards the party, West and Tanner on either side, harking on about the forthcoming release of the new GTA game.
The music, which had only been a distant hum from where we’d been relaxing, became louder with every step. As we rounded the corner and came out from the trees, Weston’s jaw hit his chest.
Shit.
The number of people at the party had doubled again, the music had been cranked up, and that group of students who had been using the decked area as a dance floor were now clearly wasted, jumping up and down like loons.
Was it even safe on there? I was sure Rafe had said that section of the patio needed replacing.
The crowd of kids were going for it, hands raised in the air, heads thrashing, bodies jumping to the beat. Throw in a guy with a turntable, flashing lights, a couple of slutty podium dancers, and you’ve got yourself a rave: right in the middle of my best friend's back garden.
“What the actual fuck?” Weston belted as Tanner belched and patted his buddy on the back.
“I don’t even recognise half of them,” Tan put in unhelpfully.
“Fucking Gate Crashers,” Weston snarled, dashing a hand down his despairing face. It was official, the party had mutated big time.
I scanned the crowd, feeling anxious as I searched for Amelie and Jessa. The sky was dark, and the moon cast a glow over the patio and the heads of those thrashing around like imbeciles at their first house party. I saw another handful of kids who had to be first years. Oh dear, not good.
“Shit, man,” Tanner chuckled, thrilled by Weston’s distress. “That’s why you should have had someone on the door.” All Tanner’s parties had security, but then he had money coming out of his fucking ears.
“You think?” Weston huffed, slapping his forehead with his hand, before adding in a disparaging voice. “My dad’s gonna kill me.”
“Let’s do shots!” a voice roared from the table next to us before the sound of smashing glass echoed through the air. Yep, things were on the edge of getting out of hand.
“We need to find my sister,” I shouted over the racket of the music, laughter, and screams. The group that had been playing Shoulder Wars were still playing, only the girls were now topless: brave girls, considering the breeze was much cooler than it had been earlier.
Towards the deep end, it was even rowdier as a group of guys appeared to be throwing females into the pool. I could see Halo and Lacey holding the fort with our stuff. Weston’s eyes locked onto mine, filled with a sudden, sharp dread. Halo couldn't swim.
After a brief nod and the words ‘I’m on it’, he took off, jogging up the gardens towards her. I waited until I was sure West had things in hand before I turned away. Luckily, one word from my friend and pool-throwing juveniles moved on to the next huddle of unsuspecting victims.
Tanner and I made our way to stand at the side of the decked dancefloor area.
Where the hell were Jessa and Amelie?
Turning to Tan, I dashed a hand down my jaw. Fuck I could do without this shit. No doubt Vanessa and Cameron would tear me a new one if anything happened to the girls. Thank God I hadn’t been drinking and had a sensible-ish head on my shoulders.
“OK, fan out,” I barked out over the beat, motioning with splayed fingers.
“Roger that,” he replied. Tanner didn’t argue. He set off, shouldering through the mass of people with a desperate edge. I knew he would want to find Jessa quickly just as much as I did.
Scooting over to where I’d left my stuff, I grabbed my bag and lighter, checking my pockets for my phone. Weston and Halo appeared to be arguing, but I left them to it, fucking drama queens. Making my way back to the crowd, I fired a message off to Jessa.
ME: Where the fuck are you? We’re leaving.
The bass from the music had started thumping through my fucking skull.
“You want to dance?” A voice purred against my ear, followed by the incompatible scent of strawberries and cheap vodka. I shoved the phone away and cut a look at the girl who had intruded into my thoughts. Nancy. Her eyes were glazed with alcohol, but she wasn’t that far gone.
I didn’t answer. I was too busy scanning the chaos, looking for my sister and our little blonde house guest.
“I guess we’re not on for tonight after all?” she questioned in a breathy voice. Nancy didn’t look overly offended. We both knew the score.
“Sorry, rain check?” I said, snapping her a troubled look.
She took her time to answer. “Why don’t you see where it goes with that little blonde you were so fixated on earlier, before you make promises you can’t keep?” Nancy suggested with a sultry twist to her lips.
The air felt like it left my lungs. For once, I was speechless.
She chuckled and waved a dismissive hand. “It’s fine, Kieran. We’re not exclusive. But watch yourself—that girl looks like the type who demands the whole nine yards. Rainbows, unicorns, the works.”
Nancy had always been astute, but I still attempted to deny her claim.
“It’s not like—”
“Save it,” she chuckled, stepping forward, her finger flat against my lips to seal the lie. “You haven’t been able to take your eyes off her all night. But you might want to get in there quickly.”
A cold lump formed in my throat. “What do you mean?”
“The party is full of sharks, baby, and the new girl just became bait. Every guy in here is looking for a slice.” Nancy nodded toward the mosh pit of bodies on the decked area.
“Do you know where she is?” I said, motioning towards the dancers.
With a nod, Nancy admitted. “Yeah, at the other side of the decking and currently being perved over by at least half a dozen guys. So, if you need to save her, do it quickly.”
I shot her a smile of thanks, leaned over and pecked her cheek. “Thanks, Nancy. I owe you one.”
“I’ll add it to the list,” she shouted as I took off. I knew at that point that what I had going on with Nancy Robinson had come to a natural close.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped up onto the decking. The whole floor was shaking as I craned my neck, trying to see over everyone’s erratic heads.