Page 7 of Deck of Scarlets

“I’m s-o-sorry,” I stammered, looking around frantically to ensure nothing followed me inside. My arm began to throb, the feeling of warm liquid cascading down my skin.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Are you okay?” he asked, touching me lightly where the brick wall made a deep gash and pulling his hand back to find blood on his palm. “You’re bleeding. What happened?” His eyes were intense as if he were searching for something.

“I saw… something,” I managed to say. As I tried to focus, the room seemed to spin with hazy waves and odd objects.

Josh’s eyes pierced through mine with such intensity that I barely had time to register him stepping closer to me, his nose inches from mine. “What did you see?” He then pulled out a black handkerchief from his breast pocket and tied it around my wound, creating a bandage to stop the bleeding.

“I—” Everything from the lights to the sounds made weird waves as I tried to focus on what he said.

Laughter erupted from somewhere around us, snapping Josh out of his hard gaze, and he stepped back to give me space again .

Would he believe me if I told him the truth? Would anyone believe a girl tripping on drugs at one of the most popular underground nightclubs?

“Yeah, just, uh, not feeling too hot right now. The liquor isn’t settling right.”

His eyes squinted as if he didn’t believe me. “Just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

I could hear Nickie’s obnoxious laugh from somewhere behind him and shook off his hand, creating enough distance between us. “I am, thank you.”

“Remi! Over here!” called Jeremy.

I was surprised to find him and Nickie lounging casually against the bar, laughing and mingling with a new set of people, clinking glasses together like they were old friends.

I waved and started to head over when Josh brushed his hand along my arm.

“I thought they were kidding about your name.” He chuckled, trying to change the subject.

“Wouldn’t be the first time someone referenced me to the rat,” I added with a laugh, thankful he dropped our earlier conversation, even though it left a dark cloud above my head.

Nickie met us with a drink filled to the brim and thrust it into my hand. Some of it splashed on the floor, including on my shoes. “Drink, bitch!” She then grabbed Josh’s face and planted a sloppy kiss on his lips. The small group at the bar cheered like they were at some sporting event, making it even more awkward standing there with a full glass of God knows what.

She finally let go, and he had the goofiest grin. “God, you’re so fucking hot!’ she shouted, squeezing his ass.

He squeezed her waist and said, “I have to go now. I’ll call you later.” Josh leaned in for one more kiss, gave me one last look of uncertainty, and left us watching him go.

Nickie sighed in a swoon and then grabbed me by the arm to drag my ass to the bar, where Jeremy sat flirting with some guy. He had his hand on Jeremy’s thigh, stroking it romantically.

I still had the stupid drink in my hands.

Nickie could sense my distaste for it. “Girl, you better drink that. It wasn’t cheap.”

“I’ll pass,” I snapped. My stomach swirled with uneasiness as I gripped the glass, ready to pawn it off on someone else. As much as the alcohol would ease my emotions, the idea of Nickie spiking it again with psychedelic drugs didn’t sit right with me.

“You’re leaving me for some stupid elite college. I want one night where we completely let loose before our teen years get washed away,” she whined.

“Why do you always do that?”

“Do what?”

“Whoa, ladies, let’s have a good night,” interjected Jeremy.

I ignored him by stepping closer to Nickie. “You always throw the college thing in my face. I didn’t ask for it.”

“I know you didn’t ask for it, but I just wanted one last night to enjoy our crazy shenanigans before you’re sucked into the corporate lifestyle from hell!”

“Who says that’s going to happen?”

Jeremy tried to get in between our heated argument, but neither of us was having it.

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