Page 12 of Rot

It was perhaps the simplest sentence I’d ever uttered aloud, and yet it hit with the force of a bomb. Dana took a step back, involuntary, probably, and blinked at me quizzically, her eyebrows drawing together in what must’ve been confusion.

I wondered if she knew we were cousins, if her attitude toward me would change. If instead of seeing me as competition, she’d try to take me under her wing, thinking that if she got closer to me, she’d get closer to Elias in return.

We were cousins. There was no reason for me to lie to this girl, to lead her on, so to speak, but for whatever reason, I didn’t like her. Not her tone, not her pretty face, and most definitely not the fact that she and Elias were a thing. I didn’t know why, though.

Finally regaining her posture and attitude, Dana quipped, “He hasn’t talked about you at all, either. I see him every day in school—”

“Sounds to me like he’s hiding things from both of us,” I said, giving her a sweet smile. Dana wasn’t the only one who could play games and act coy. I’d grown up a Karnagy. I knew exactly how the game was played; my grandmother had taught me young. Truthfully, it was the only reason I was where I was today.

Past Dana and Carly, I saw Elias through the bonfire. He’d taken up a spot on the far side of this little camp, plopped his ass on the grass, and started to drink. Never mind the fact that he’d have to drive us both home after this. I supposed someone like him didn’t care; he was used to doing whatever he wanted, consequences be damned.

Well, he wasn’t the only one who didn’t care about consequences.

I could tell Dana wanted to say something else, but a third person strolled over to us, hands shoved in his pockets. A guy with blond hair cut short on the sides and left a little longer on top, with brown eyes a lot warmer than Dana’s pair. An easy smile rested on his cute face as he approached, and he stopped when he stood beside Dana and me.

“You aren’t scaring the new girl off, are you?” he said, his tone almost teasing. Not sure if he was teasing me or Dana.

Dana, apparently, didn’t want to deal with whoever this guy was, because she let out an annoyed huff and rolled her eyes. She spun on her feet and stomped away, and Carley hurried off after her.

The newcomer watched them go, amusement written across every feature, and when he turned his face toward me, I found he was still amused. That made one of us. “Sorry about her. Dana can be a little…” He trailed off, staring at me, perhaps waiting for me to finish the sentence.

But I didn’t. I didn’t know this guy, nor did I know his connection to Dana, so I remained silent, simply watching him.

He was cute, I guess. Eight or so inches taller than me, which still put him at only five-eight. He wore a letterman jacket—which was just ridiculous since it wasn’t that cold out—but it told me he was on some sports team at Blackrain. Not as muscular as, say, Elias, but I’d bet he could hold his own in a fight.

When he saw I wasn’t going to finish his sentence by describing how awful Dana was, he went on, “I’m Jordan.”

“Sloane.”

“Sloane,” he repeated, almost mystified, as if he’d never heard the name before. In a small town like this, it was a possibility. “Did I hear you tell Dana that you’re transferring to Blackrain?”

I nodded. “Yeah. I start Monday.”

“And you’re living with Elias?”

Ah, so he’d eavesdropped on the entire conversation. I guess nothing you said at a party like this was private.

“I am, with my mom.”

“What grade are you in?”

“I’m a senior,” I rattled off. Same as Elias, ironically. With how often Dana said she saw Elias during school, I was betting she was a senior, too.

Jordan grinned. “Me, too. Hey, you want something to drink?” He pointed to where the kegs were, and what could I do? If I left his side, Dana might come swooping back, and this way, I could get a feel for someone else who I’d probably end up seeing a lot more once school started.

If I had someone on my side, it was better than no one, and guys were a lot easier to manipulate—or so I’d been told.

So, I said, “Sure,” and walked over to the keg with Jordan. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Dana had taken up a spot in the grass with Elias. She sat inches from him, talking, but it looked like he paid her no attention.

Were they really together, or did she have a thing for him because he played hard to get?

Carly had taken up a spot near the fire, talking to a small group of other girls. They kept glancing in my direction; I did my best not to pay them any attention. As cliché as it was, it was pretty clear that Dana was the ringleader, and therefore the one I had to worry about.

Jordan got us both drinks, and he handed me a red cup of my own, the drink sloshing around in it. “Come on,” he said, leading me to an empty log near the fire. He sat down and patted the space beside him, as if he wanted me to sit next to him.

I didn’t trust him. I didn’t trust anyone, really, but what would be the harm in talking to him?

My mother would be freaked the hell out if she could see me now. She didn’t want me to go to this party. Hell, she didn’t want me to enroll in Blackrain. If my mother had her way, I’d be locked in that basement with her, and we’d decay together, die in the shadows with no one to mourn us.

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