Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
THEA
The music booms, the floor vibrates, and the bodies sway. “This is the best party ever!” Posy screeches from beside me. She’s nursing her third beer, and we haven’t been here an hour. Yet I’m ready to go home.
I bite into my lip; this is not my scene, at all. Give me a movie or a book any day of the week.
The people here are either drunk, high or both, and everyone appears to be on a one-way path to having careless sex. No, thank you.
At least not with anyone here.
Massio’s face flashes before my eyes, and I groan. Ugh, why does he have to invade my thoughts so frequently?
The man has infiltrated every part of my life, even my mind.
An arm wraps around my shoulder, the hand hovering only inches from my breast, and I recoil, shrugging it off as quickly as it arrived.
Jenkins throws his head back on an obnoxious laugh and holds his hands up in defense. “Chill, Thea.”
Posy practically swoons on the spot, inching closer.
Her eyes light up, and I want to roll mine in response to her throwing her hair over her shoulder in a seductive way.
The poor girl clearly has hearts in her eyes for him, but he seems oblivious to every advance she’s attempted over the past three years.
Sure, I can admit Jenkins is hot, if you like rich, bad-boy high schoolers, but he doesn’t hold my attention, nor does anyone, except …
“Hi, Jenkins,” she purrs, stepping closer to him.
Not willing to hang about and witness their exchange, I step back.
“I’m going to go outside and get some fresh air.
” I head through the crowd toward the patio doors.
I hope tonight is more of a success for Posy than previous nights, but something tells me it’s going to end in tears.
Jenkins just doesn’t seem interested, and I feel for my friend, but if I were her, I’d move on.
The warm air hits me the moment my boots touch the grass, but the chaos is just as bad out here as inside.
There’re fully clothed teenagers diving into the pool and topless women cheering them on, kegs being pushed into the pool, and some sort of diving board being created on top of the pool house.
Don’t even get me started on the amount of trash and beer bottles strewn all over.
This party is going to need one huge cleanup crew.
“Jesus, it’s hell,” I groan as I slink away, searching for some free space and serenity around the corner of the property.
It’s dark around here, peaceful, and gives me the opportunity to take a breather. Attending this party sounded like a good idea, but I’m regretting it.
It’s not me, and I’m slowly starting to realize I need to stop trying to please others and simply be me.
Leaning against the wall, I contemplate pulling my phone from my boot.
Ever since Massio took the photo of me on my knees, I can’t help but look back at it.
It’s obscene and filthy, but I look completely enthralled on my knees for him, like the perfect submissive.
Wetness gathers in my panties again, and I drop my head back to stare up at the sky.
It’s beautiful out here tonight, and with the music blaring behind me and the squeals of delight from my fellow students, a sense of calm washes over me.
The sky is clear; the stars are shining down on me, and the turmoil I was feeling moments ago slips away with each beat of the bass as I get lost in the beauty of the night sky.
“You know, I’ve been waiting for the perfect opportunity to see you again.” A voice creeps through my senses, causing every hair on my body to stand on end. The familiarity of his voice sends a wave of nausea through me.
It can’t be him.
I know it can’t because my parents reassured me everything had been dealt with; he had been dealt with.
Bile rises in my throat as I gather the courage to lower my head and face the man in the shadows.
I swallow back my fear, searching over his silhouette.
Why the hell did I have to step so far into the darkness?
I can barely make him out. Panic grips my senses as I open my mouth to call for help, but nothing comes out.
My throat is closing, my chest is tightening, and all-out dread washes over me.
I’m stuck in the past.
Unable to break free.
Trapped.
It can’t be him, Thea.
My father’s right, I’m paranoid, he’s a figment of my overactive imagination.
I close my eyes to try to recenter, but the rustle of the grass has me darting them back open.
The man steps closer, causing my legs to quake, and when the glimmer of a knife catches my eye, my vision becomes hazy, my head becomes light, and my world tilts on an axis.
A loud growl snaps me out of my freefall, and out of nowhere, a broad figure appears behind him, and somehow, I know it’s Massio.
I’m safe.