Page 65 of Mayhem

We all nod before opening the door and walking down the hall back to the party, still raging on. I want to look for Serena, but I assume she has already left. We head back upstairs, and I look at the crowd, searching for that bright red wig I can't find anywhere.Fuck, she’s gone.

“I’m done with this party. Let's head back home.” Midas yells at us. We both nod our heads and head back downstairs.

Midas walks over to the prospect and has some words while Odin and I wait by the door. Midas says something to him, and the prospect nods his head and whatever Midas is telling him. Midas claps him on the shoulder before walking back over to us.

We walk outside and get on our bikes. “We need to make a quick stop at the clubhouse. We have to explain this mess to Zane before we can head home. He isn’t going to be happy.” Midas says before starting his bike.

He is right. Zane is going to be pissed.

Serena

After Zeus dragged that guy away from me, Evie and I decided it was time to call it a night. It was a crazy night -to say the least- and I was just happy to be leaving. I never saw Midas, which hurt, but I get it. He has Valerie. That kiss I had with Odin was something else. He lit this fire in me, this desire I have never felt before. I was ready to tear his clothes off right there in front of everyone and let him be my first. But I would have done the same thing with Dante if he didn’t have to leave.

My feelings for all four of them are so confusing. I know I like them all for such different reasons. Each makes me feel different things, but I feel complete with them. They each bring something out of me that I didn’t know was dormant in me.

I am still so hurt that the Kings dropped me for Valerie, but why would Odin kiss me the way he did if he wanted her? I have never been so confused in my life about anything. The Kings say one thing and then do another. They are never consistent. They pursued me from the second I moved here, but they have never given me a straight answer to what they want.

Then there is Dante. He was interested and asked me out on a date. He at least proves that he wants me- and I want him too- but I also want the Kings. I sound so fucking selfish for wanting all of them, and I know it will never happen. At some point, I will have to pick just one, but the thought of that rips my heart into a million pieces.

Evie announces she is hungry, and my stomach growls in response. We pull into Mama’s Delight Diner, and she turns the car off. We are still in our costumes, but looking through the window, everyone inside is also in a costume.

The air is chilly, and my body shivering from the cold. We rush inside, the warmth instantly heating me. We grab a booth in the back and sit down. The place isn’t busy tonight.

A sweet waitress comes over to give us our menus and take our drink orders before running to the kitchen. I look around the diner, not recognizing any of the people. The waitress quickly comes back with our drinks. She takes our orders, smiles at us, and rushes back to the kitchen.

The door chimes as someone walks in. I look over and see Mr. Labeau walking in. I duck my head and try to avoid eye contact with him. He looks around before sitting down on the other side of the restaurant. I slightly turn my body so he won’t be able to see my face. The last thing I want is for him to come over here.

“Did you see any of the King’s tonight?” She waggles her eyebrows and giggles.

“I saw Odin for a bit and the Zeus jumping in when that guy grabbed me, but that’s it.” I partially tell her the truth. I still don’t know what that kiss with Odin meant, and I don’t want to dissect it yet. I want to enjoy the brief moment I had with him and not think too much about it.

I should tell her about Dante coming to the party, but I have a weird feeling he wasn’t supposed to be there. He seemed so aloof and distracted, constantly looking around, hoping no one saw him. I feel like there is something that he isn’t telling me, but I don’t know what.

So many thoughts racing through my head, trying to figure out why he acted the way he did, but everyone I can think of doesn’t make sense. I will eventually have to ask him about it, but that’s future Serena’s problem. I plan to live in the moment and not focus too much on the things I can’t control anymore. I lived my entire life the way one man wanted, and I finally want to make my own decisions. I want to make my own mistakes and learn from them.

A few minutes later, the waitress brings us our food. We thank her, and she skips off to Mr. Labeau’s table. I look at him out of the corner of my eye. He smiles at the waitress, and she giggles while pushing her hair behind her ear. I watch in fascination as he flirts with her, and she flirts back. She nods to whatever he is saying before slowly walking away, looking over her shoulder at him. He winks at her. Her cheeks go red as she ducks her head and walks to the kitchen, swaying her hips to get his attention. He watches her until the door closes, then turns his head towards me.

His eyes go wide as he looks at me, instantly recognizing me. He gives me a small smile before looking at his phone, breaking all contact with him. I go back to eating my food and talking with Evie. She starts telling me about a guy in her chemistry class. That was the guys she was dancing with. It seems like they are getting close. I smile while listening to her talk. She really likes him, and I tell her she should ask him out. She starts rambling about how she could never do that. I try to convince her, but that will only happen if he asks her out.

I start formulating a plan to talk to him at school on Monday. If she likes him and he makes her happy, I will do anything to get him to ask her out. Of course, I should check him out first and make sure he is good enough for her.

We finish our meals, pay the bill, and drive to my place. Mom isn’t home, like usual. It’s nice to see her have a social life. She never did before. Neither did I. As much as I dreaded coming out here, it seemed like the perfect place for both of us. We are finally finding ourselves. It makes me happy to see Mom becoming more than just my mother. She deserves it after everything she has been through.

I unlock the front door, and Evie and I walk in. The house is dark and quiet. I turn some lights on as we walk into the kitchen. I grab two bottles of water from the fridge before we walk into the living room. I desperately want to change out of this costume, but I wrap a blanket around my shoulders for now. We sit on the couch, and I grab the remote, turning the TV on to a scary movie.

Evie’s phone dings. She takes it out and reads the message she got. “My mom just texted. I need to go home right now. Raincheck on the movies?”

I nod my head and hug her before she leaves. The house is empty. I need something to fill that void, so I turn some music on. Gangsta by Kehlani starts playing, a fitting song for my current love life. I know the Kings are gangsters in their own way, but I don’t know the extent. Dante has something he is hiding, and if I had to guess, he is into some illegal shit like the Kings. I turn the volume up loud enough to hear it in my room before walking down the hall.

I open my bedroom door and turn the lights on. I scream as I see someone in a mask by my window. My body freezes, unable to run despite how much I want to. He rushes over to me, almost grabbing me before I finally start moving. I run down the hall, not looking back, praying I can get to the door and get outside. I don’t make it far before he tackles me to the floor.

He has me pinned down. I can barely move. I try to squirm under him to get away, but his body is heavy. He leans down and smells my neck before biting it hard. I shriek out in terror and pain, hoping someone can hear me, but the music is too loud, and no one is home.Thank God Evie left.

“You have no idea how long I have been waiting to have you to myself.” He says in my ear. The tears start falling. I know this is my stalker, and he has me. I try to wiggle my arms out of his grasp, wanting to be able to defend myself, but I can’t move. “You look so pretty when you cry. I wonder how many tears I can make you shed before the night is over.”

I want to give in and surrender to him, but I have to keep fighting. I promised myself I would never stop fighting anymore. I squirm and wiggle until my left arm is free. I elbow him in the nose, causing him to crumble to the side and off my body. I start crawling away, trying to get on my feet. When I do, I start running again. I can hear the heavy footing of him behind me. I run into the living. I grab a vase off a table and throw it at him. It hits him in the shoulder but doesn’t slow him down. I try to find something else I can use to defend myself, but there isn’t anything else here.

I make a break for the kitchen. I need a knife or something to hurt him with. He charges after me while I run as fast as I can. I get in the kitchen and go for the drawer with the knives. I pull out a massive butcher’s knife and hold it in front of me. He stops a foot away from me and laughs at the blade. He cocks his head to the side and just stares, waiting for me to make a move. I look around, trying to figure out the best way to escape. The door to the backyard is on the other side of the kitchen. Maybe I can distract him and make a break for it. At least if I am outside, I should be able to get someone’s attention. One of the rare moments I hope Zane, Ryker, or Axel are home. As much as they creep me out, I know they would help if I needed it, and right now, I am desperate.

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