Page 35 of Pretty Monsters

"Oh fine. You know I can't resist your puppy dog eyes." She lets him lead her to the giant sheet cake.

"We need to do the candles first," Ford interrupts.

These strangers are giving her a birthday party, something she's never had before, and I feel robbed. I'm an asshole, but I want her to be happy. Deep down, I know I want to be the one making her smile. Which leaves me pissed off and frustrated because making her happy isn't my job. I'm only supposed to keep her safe. After that task is done, it will be someone else's job to make her smile.

Only one of the other girls from last night is with Tessa and Jess. She's blonde, a bit on the shy side, and from the glances she's giving, totally crushing on Ted.

"Alice, right?" she asks Raven.

"Yep, that's me," Raven replies, not very convincingly.

"I'm Amber." She pulls out her phone and a speaker from her large bag. "What kind of music do you like?"

"Metal," she answers without hesitation.

Shane puts his hand on his heart. "I'm in love. Marry me, Alice."

Tessa slaps him on the back of the head. "I'm going to tell Jen."

He rubs the back of his head. "I was joking you psycho bitch. Fuck."

"I don't have any metal. Do you like to dance?" Amber asks, ignoring her friends.

Raven shrugs. "Doesn't everyone?"

A blaring hip hop song pours from her speakers moments later, and they begin to move together. Raven's movements are fluid and free. She's wearing my old clothes, and still she's the sexiest one here. She doesn't need the fuck me skirt and heels that Jess sports, or the sliver of exposed midriff the other two are showing to draw everyone's eye.

Ford adjusts himself and continues to eye fuck her. I'm not the only one who notices. Tessa is glaring back and forth between the two of them. Amber leans forward and whispers something in Raven's ear, which causes her to tip her head back and laugh.

Time crawls along. It takes Ted a long time to place all of the candles and get them lit. I take one of the empty camp chairs and wait until the party winds down.

Jess makes another attempt at conversation with me, this time bearing cake. "You look lonely sitting here by yourself." She holds out the plate with a large slice of cake and a fork. "I brought you cake."

I lift up my shirt, showing her my carved torso. "Does it look like I eat cake?"

Her eyes have glazed over. "If you want we can go into their apartment. No one is inside."

"No," I clip out.

She dips her finger into the frosting and rubs it on her bottom lip. "Are you sure? I bet I can come up with something interesting to do with frosting."

"As much fun as sticky junk sounds, I'm going to pass."

Shane yawns, and I jump at the excuse. "It's getting late." I walk past her and hoist Raven over my shoulder.

"Say goodnight,Alice."

Ford is in my face in seconds, but he speaks directly to Raven. "Do you want to go with him? You don't have to."

I set her down and move her behind me. "Back off. She isn't yours to protect."

He holds his arms out to the sides, and motions me forward. I smile, relishing the chance to put this fucker in the ground.

"Doesn't seem like she's yours either. Newsflash dick, it's the twenty-first century. Women aren't property."

I take a step forward, anticipating the moment my knuckles meet his skull. Raven moves around me and gets in between us. Her hands press against my chest and she pushes me back.

"Thanks for the party. I won't forget it." She smiles at Ford, fucking smiles while she's shoving me. "I'll talk to you later about seeing the campus."

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