Just as I’m about to give up and change, my bedroom door opens, and Tasha walks inside. What’s taking so long ?
Her eyes bulge when she see’s me.
What ? I ask consciously. Do I look stupid ?
Is that the dress you got from Heather’s ?
I nod. Do I look terrible ?
You look amazing ! Holy shit.
I don’t know. I look like I’m getting married or something and my bum looks funny and-
You have an ass I wish I had. Stop talking poo. We need to go, like, half an hour ago. I nod, but then notice Vicky isn’t here even though she’d text Tasha telling her she would be.
Where’s Vicky ? I still haven’t spoken to her. I’m hoping to see her before going out, to explain that I don’t care that she slept with Ray.
Tasha’s features change from excited to hurt. Not coming. She text saying she couldn’t come. Apparently, she’s busy. Can you believe it ?
My eyebrows draw together. How can she be busy for her best friend’s birthday ? We never celebrate our birthdays without each other, and this is Tasha’s eighteenth.
I’m sorry, Tasha, I say, not knowing what else to. I can tell she’s upset about Vicky not showing.
It’s fine. She brushes it off with a shrug. I’m not having her ruin tonight for me. You’re here, we look hot, and my liver has been resting all week for this.
I laugh. Okay, let’s go then.
We make our way out of my room and head downstairs. Why the hot new look anyway, Layla ? Are you trying to impress someone ? Toby maybe ?
What ? No !
Tasha squeals. I knew it !
I sigh, seeing Ray waiting for us by the door. He’s wearing a black shirt, jeans and a pair of vans. His mood seems to have disappeared. Well, kind of. There’s still some lingering narkiness, but he said yes to coming when Tasha asked me to invite him.
Finally. He rolls his eyes. I’ve been waiting for hours.
You can’t rush a masterpiece. Tasha smiles as Ray eyes up my dress, one of his eyebrows rising.
Who are you trying to impress ?
I give them both a flat look. No one.
She’s trying to-
I nudge her arm to shut her up. I don’t want Ray to think this is for Toby when it’s not. Can we go ? Shrugging, he nods, and we finally head outside. I expect Ray to take out his car keys, but instead he stops by the curb. Aren’t we getting inside ?
I’m not driving tonight.
I hear a rumble of a car and Toby’s BMW stops next to us. I push my lips together when Tasha giggles. Obviously, her doing that he’s here. Ray gets into the front and Tasha and I get into the back.
Hey, Toby says as we put on our seat belts.
He turns to me and our eyes meet. I haven’t seen him since Sunday. Thanks for coming, Toby, Tasha says with a smirk directed at me.
Thanks for the invite. Tonight should be fun.
He glances at Ray, who is quiet and staring out of the window. Toby frowns slightly, and I realize something really isn’t right with Ray. But I have no time to think about it or question him when the car starts moving. Soon, we arrive in Lanten and it’s like I never left.
It only feels like yesterday I met Colton and ended things with him. Yet, here I am, dressed up for him in hopes that I’ll see him.
Toby parks the car near the club and we pile out. The air is warmer tonight than usual, which I’m glad about because I haven’t brought a jacket. Tasha walks with Ray. They’re having a conversation I can’t hear but suspiciously think is about Vicky.
Toby’s waits for me to walk with him and we’re soon walking side by side following Tasha and Ray in silence. From the corner of my eye, I see him glance at me from time to time, like he’s trying to start a conversation, but is unsure how.
In the end, I turn to him. What ?
He laughs a little. That was rude.
I purse my lips. Sorry. But you just keep looking at me.
You’re nervous. I blink in confusion. How did he know ? I can sense it. Colton knows you’re coming tonight.
He does ? I squeak a little too loud causing both Ray and Tasha to turn around and look at us. I go quiet, ignoring the way Tasha is grinning from ear to ear that I’m walking with Toby.
Yeah, he does.
So, you’ve talked to him ? I keep my voice low.
Toby nods and then smiles. You really are trying to give him a heart attack, aren’t you ? You look killer tonight.
My cheeks burn from his comment and I swallow down a lump in my throat. I groan with embarrassment. What am I thinking ? I haven’t heard anything from him. I doubt he’ll even want to see me.
Are you insane ? he scoffs in disbelief. He literally bit my head off yesterday over you.
My heart constricts. Why ?
Because I took you to McDonalds.
I shake my head. He really is something.
Yeah, he is.
Toby and I continue to chat until we finally arrive at The Wolf Cave. I sigh deeply when my eyes come to the large brightly lit building, a rush of fear and excitement pouring through me. It looks how I remember. Big, dark and mysterious.
Once again, we head to the back of the club. This time, they’re two different bouncers guarding the doors, but they let us in. As we make our way down into the cave part of the club, my nerves rocket. It’s overflowing with people. The lights dim and the music loud.
My heart thumps wildly and I can’t breathe properly from how nervous I am. Tasha grabs my hand and I realize I’m still holding Toby. I let go, avoiding eye contact and let Tasha drag me over to the bar.
My stomach recoils at the thought of alcohol. After that dodgy punch from Toby’s party the other night, I’ve gone off the thought of drinking. But of course, Tasha orders us drinks and a cocktail is soon thrust into my hand.
This time, Ray and Toby stay by us instead of disappearing like they did last time. An hour passes, and I notice a few of Ray’s college friends start to arrive. Although Ray seems fine, he’s still in his mood. It’s starting to get to me because I know it has something to do with Vicky and it’s annoying not knowing.
But I can’t exactly ask him in front of his friends. Letting it go, I take my time drinking my cocktail, choosing to take smaller sips instead of gulping it down like Tasha. Talk of the birthday girl gets around and Tasha is soon surrounded by guys and free drinks.
I find myself standing among everyone feeling weird. Like I don’t belong. Nobody knows what’s truly out there. All anybody cares about in this place is finding someone to hook up with. They don’t know that there are people that can turn into creatures.
My body fidgets, my pulse never calming down as I look around the room. I know what I’m doing. Even though I don’t want to admit it to myself, I’m looking for him. Searching for the one that’s opened my eyes to all this strangeness. To the one who has plucked me right out of my normal life and put me in his. Because I crave to not feel like this. Lost. Alone.
I can’t relax at all. I even stiffen when a few guys try to talk to me. They’re eyeing me up like a meal and my entire body is repulsed by it. The thoughts of anyone touching me.