Page 7 of They Break Beauty

What. The. Hell?

3

~Brianna~

“Wowzer, this party is really something!” Chloe exclaimed as we strutted along the walkway toward the mansion that was hosting the joint frat homecoming party.

It certainly was something and it was already well underway.

On the lawn to the far-right a crowd was gathered around a guy doing a keg stand.

A little closer and to our left there were six people lined up and shooting BB guns at beer cans they’d positioned on the fence.

And there were a whole lot more students looking on and drinking away.

Last year, we hadn’t gotten invitations, because for some reason freshmen weren’t allowed at this particular event. It wasn’t stated why, but Chloe and I had reasoned that it was some rite of passage to make it through your first year before being allowed in.

“And we haven’t even made it into the house yet,” I breathed, taking it all in.

“Or the patio and pool area!”

I frowned. “There’s a pool? Open for this massive party that’s gonna be full of drunk-off-their-asses college students tonight?” That seemed like a crazy liability.

She shrugged. “Yeah. They go all out for this thing.”

“Did you bring a bathing suit?” I asked.

I didn’t see how she could have. We’d both agreed not to bring purses with us. That was just a disaster waiting to happen with a crazy party like this. I had a pink three-quarter length light coat over my gold and pink sequin romper with zipped pockets where I’d stowed my phone and the keys to my Charger that I’d driven us here in. But the jacket she was wearing over her black and red feathery mini-dress was a cropped leather thing with no pockets. She had a holder attached to the studded belt at her waist, but that only fit her phone and the key to her on-campus apartment.

“Nope. What’s the fun in that? At a party like this, it’s skinny dipping all the way.”

I frowned at her as we entered the mansion itself. She was more out there than usual at these sorts of things. Usually, she was more closed off and guarded. But right now she was almost giddy and literally talking about getting naked in front of a bunch of strangers.

Something was off with her.

As we progressed further into the mansion, bodies slamming against one another and grinding on pretty much any available surface, while others gyrated to the dance music with the heavy bass, I considered turning back around immediately and getting us out of here.

That lasted about ten seconds when she suddenly bounced on the balls of her feet, then made a straight run for the bar, disappearing into the crowds in the process.

I sighed.

I had a feeling it was going to be one of those long-ass nights.

“Here,” I said, rushing back to Chloe who was sitting forward on one of the pool loungers clapping her hands and bouncing way too enthusiastically as she watched the naked volleyball match taking place in the largest pool.

That’s right, it turned out that there were three altogether.

There was a smaller one just behind it near a long bar, which was where I’d been getting rid of Chloe’s beer, then grabbing her a water bottle.

Then over on the opposite side of the area, there was one that was more of a hot tub—a massive one with fake mini-waterfalls pouring into it.

“I’m good,” she said, trying to wave me off as I went to hand her the bottle of water.

“Take it or we leave right now.”

She started at my stern tone.

Yeah, I didn’t bring that out much.

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