35

Whatever you say. He laughs, and it’s like nothing happened between us, which I’m glad for.
The days pass without anything interesting happening. I haven’t heard from Colton and Toby thankfully stopped playing bodyguard.
It seems my attempt of solving problems the other day quickly dissolved. Ray and I have barely spoken, and I don’t know how to approach him over what Toby said about him needing to tell me things.
Its Thursday and I’m sitting on the couch flicking through old pictures on my phone. Mostly of me, Tasha and Vicky, which makes me feel weird looking at them. I’ve avoided sorting anything out with either of them also. I probably won’t forgive Vicky for her betrayal, but I’m not sure about Tasha.
My phone vibrates in my hand and I groan when I see it’s one of my friends from school phoning me. Reluctantly, I answer it, Hello ?
Lay ! Matty yells down the phone. Where the hell are you ? There’s a party at my place and you’re not here. I hear music blasting in the background. Please come !
I glance at the clock. It’s nearing eight. Despite not wanting to talk to him, I know Matty’s cool, and I do miss my other friends from school. Maybe this is the kind of distraction I need. Sure, I’ll be over in an hour.
Great. Can’t wait to see you !
When we hang up, I pull myself off the couch. The first thing I do is go straight up to my bedroom to change. Parties like these require minimum effort unless you want to get a great pair of heels ruined. I settle with a band tee, skinny jeans and converse. After I straighten my hair and apply makeup, I slip my phone inside my back pocket and grab a jacket.
Just as I’m about to leave, Toby and Ray walk through the door. Where are you going ? Ray asks.
A friend’s house party, I reply, not quite meeting his eyes. I won’t be long. Nodding, he stalks off, but Toby lingers. I sigh. I’ll be fine Toby. I’m pretty sure my friends won’t turn into werewolves.
He smiles. If you say so.
Leaving the house, I drive to Matty’s. The moment I pull into his drive, I wish I had of stayed home. The party is crazy, the music pounding. I eye drunken teenagers practically dry humping each other on the front lawn and there’s two guys having an actual fight not far away.
Maybe werewolves are safer company.
Leaving my jacket in the car, I make my way over to the front door. Inside is heaving. It’s madness and I avoid the chaos by sticking to the walls. I look for Matty and eventually find him surrounded by the rest of my friends in the living room. As soon as he spots me, his face lights up and he makes his way over to me.
I wrinkle my nose when he hugs me. He smells like strong, cheap alcohol and strong cologne. Lay, you came !
I laugh as he pulls away. I’m here.
Get that down your neck. He hands me a shot, but I don’t drink it. Instead, I follow him back over to the rest of the group, a few offering me hugs and waves.
Fifteen minutes into the party and listening to drunk talk, there’s a tap on my shoulder. Glancing over my shoulder, my eyes land on Tasha, who is standing behind me. We stare at each other for what seems like a while, until a tear breaks from her eye and falls down her cheek.
I’m sorry, she mouths over the music.
Rolling my eyes, I pull her into a hug. She hugs me back. I don’t want to fight with her anymore. I miss her. After we finish hugging, I hand her my shot and she laughs, wiping the tears from her face before drinking it. She looks relieved.
But my happiness is sucked away when I see something. It’s Vicky, and she’s making out with a random guy not far away. Anger immediately consumes me, but Tasha grabs my arm and shakes her head, leaning in and shouting, She’s not worth it.
I’m about to let it go when I notice the guy Vicky is making out with. When I see him, I’m stunned, my eyes widening with shock. It’s Kyle, my ex. Vicky was the one who was there to witness while I cried for days over him, knowing everything he did to me.
And now she’s kissing him.
As he bends his head and kisses her neck, her eyes land on me and a wicked smile spreads over her lips. She’s doing it on purpose.
I’m about to go over to her when Tasha stops me. Annoyed, but not wanting to argue again with her, I shake her off and head in the opposite direction, ending up in the kitchen.
I feel stupid. I shouldn’t have come tonight. Although I made up with Tasha and that’s a good thing, Vicky is a bitch and she deserves all the hell in the world for what she’s doing.
I grab a glass from a cupboard and reach around two girls making out to fill it with water. But my arm is suddenly grabbed, and I’m hauled backwards. The glass slips out of my hand and smashes in the sink as I’m shoved up against a wall.
My heart plummets. It’s Kyle.
I stiffen at the closeness of him. I haven’t seen him since we broke up. He hasn’t changed at all. Still the same blue eyed, devil boy I remember.
Hey, he says. Haven’t seen you in a while. How are you ?
I jerk away from him, but he traps me in with his arms. I glare at him. Peachy.
He looks surprised by the coldness in my tone. His eyes then slide down my body and he smiles. You’ve changed.
It makes me sick by the way he’s looking at me. What do you want ?
I want you back. I miss you. He’s lying. He doesn’t want me back. He just thinks I’m still the same pathetic girl I was and will fall at his feet.
I laugh. No chance in hell will I ever get back with you.
I turn to leave but he grabs my wrist. Hard. I know you still want me.
You couldn’t be more wrong, I spit hatefully at him, but he just looks amused.
Still as stuck up as ever, aren’t you ? I know he says it as an attempt to hurt me, but I’m not that girl anymore. I can’t be her anymore. Then again, who would want you ? You’re nothing but an ugly cow.
Shut up. I push him back, ignoring the stab of hurt in my heart of him saying that. It isn’t that I still have feelings for him, but everything he’s called me over the years hurts. It still hurts.
His blue eyes darken, and I flinch when he places his disgusting hands on my hips. I don’t want him to touch me. I hate him. You’re not good enough for anyone but me. You’re lucky I still want you.
Scrunching my face with disgust, I attempt to push him away, but he won’t let go. Get the fuck off me !
Make me, he taunts.
He pushes me back and my spine collides with the counter. He’s on me then, kissing my neck, each kiss making me want to throw up all over him. But, before I have a chance to react, he’s suddenly pulled off me.
Lifting my head, I gasp when I see Colton standing among the craze of dancing teenagers. He has hold of Kyle and is glaring down at him with so much anger and fury it makes shivers roll through my body.
Get the hell off me ! Kyle protests, but Colton doesn’t let go. Instead, his eyes flash gold and Kyle’s eyebrows knit together with confusion and fear.