Page 47 of Wicked Little Secret

Claude blasts his headache-inducing party jams playlist off Spotify that he seems so proud of, grinning broadly at us as we fly down the city streets. By Macey’s non-reaction, she’s used to his manic driving.

Me, not so much.

I grip the overhead handle and remind myself to order an Uber on my way home later tonight.

Assuming everything goes according to plan.

We arrive outside the frat house with screeching brakes, drawing jeers from the guys gathered on the front lawn.

Great. A whole audience to watch us.

I blow out a breath and open the back door. Macey’s doing the same from the front of the Jeep. She immediately links arms with me as if in solidarity. Two girls arriving on the scene in scantily clad skirts to the shiny-eyed leers from the frat brothers nearby.

We’re not the only ones. Another group of giggly girls in barely there costumes teeter down the sidewalk in sky-high heels, also with arms linked.

As we head toward the open doorway of the large red brick house, we’re granted a preview of the crowds donning their own costumes from pirates to zombies and devils.

But one thing there’s no shortage of is the skintight ensembles almost all the girls are wearing.

I blend in perfectly—and maybe that’s what also makes me stick out like a sore thumb.

My hands itch to pull my skirt further down my thighs and anxiety expands in my chest like a balloon the deeper into the crowd we make it.

But I never slip up. I keep my mask on, smiling and nodding my head to the music thumping from the stereos.

We push our way through the entrance hall. Macey’s scanning the area for anyone we know. Katelyn sees us first and beelines over, her face sparkling from the shimmery makeup she’s put on. She’s done her best to look as mermaid-esque as possible in a seashell bralette and a sequined skirt that hugs her wider hips.

“Macey, you came!” She gives Macey a quick hug before turning to me. “Nyssie, I didn’t know you were coming out tonight. You usually never come to stuff like this.”

“I dragged her out,” Macey laughs, linking our arms again.

“Does, um, Heather know you’re here?”

I act as if I’m more interested in the music and party scene around us, barely looking in Katelyn’s direction as I wave distantly at someone else I know.

“Does it matter if I am?”

“Yes… no… I mean… excuse me.”

She bustles off as quickly as she’s approached us, swallowed up by the others. I finally turn to Macey.

“What was that about?”

Macey’s hardly noticed. “I couldn’t tell you. You know how Katie gets.”

But I’m already aware of why Katelyn reacted the way she did. It’s the sole reason I decided to come out tonight when I’d rather be home. I’d prefer to be spending Halloween night in the warm comfort of my apartment,working on my next art project and watching movies. An evening that would be much more enjoyable than freezing my ass off in this skimpy schoolgirl outfit.

“Let’s dance,” Macey calls out.

The thumping music has only grown louder in the last fifteen minutes since we arrived. She tugs on my arm ’til I’m staggering alongside her toward the massive horde gathered in the living room of the fraternity house.

It’s full of Castlebury students dancing and grinding, even making out with whatever person they’ve latched onto. I’m surrounded by sweaty writhing bodies on either side, practically shoved by the crowd if I don’t move along with them.

Macey joins in, shaking her hips and screaming when the next song that comes on happens to be one of her favorites.

Halfway through, we’re both grabbed by frat brothers looking to dance. Macey goes along with it while I shrug out of the arm that’s been slung over my shoulder.

“No thanks,” I say, offering a consolatory smile.

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