Page 401 of Tis the Season to be Bullied

Except him, and all the other kids headed to Sean’s party right now.

I grip my seatbelt like a lifeline. Hell, for all I know, it’ll be the only thing between me and violent death. I’m really hoping I’m not going to regret this.

We head out of Blackrock Heights with its gorgeous, winding lanes and massive iron gates that hint at the mansions hidden deeper in the hills. I thought Sean lived in Blackrock too, but when we cut through the center of town, my nerves start ratcheting up a few notches.

“Uh…where are we going?” I have to yell over the death metal blaring through the car’s audio system.

“Pyrite!” Max yells back, and then gives me the same considering once-over he gave me when I climbed into his car. “Never been there?”

I shake my head, my stomach twisting with unease. Thankfully, Eliza knows I’m in this car. If I go missing or something, she’ll tell the police…

She will, won’t she?

I force the thought out of my head.

Several excruciating songs later, Max pulls into the driveway of a two-level house in a cheery suburb on the outskirts of Cinderhart’s main town. Several cars line the street outside, with more behind the wrought iron gates barring our way. I thought this was some kind of chilled pizza party or something, but this looks more like the kinds of parties you see in movies, with underage kids flooding every bare inch of space.

I’m busy getting out of the car when Sean appears in the doorway and calls me over. Max stays behind in the car, lighting a cigarette and texting on his phone.

“Looks like I owe Eliza ten bucks,” Sean says when he meets me on the cobbled path leading to the house.

When I frown at him, he laughs and slings his arm around my shoulders, pushing past the people smoking weed on the porch. “I told her there was no way you’d come,” he says, leading me inside.

Is it that obvious that I’ve never been to a party before?

I try not to gape at how packed it is inside, or how much alcohol is flowing. Everyone’s either making out, playing beer pong, or lying unconscious in pools of their own vomit.

“Wanna drink?”

“Sure, thanks.” Sean nods and goes over to pour me a drink while I wait around and try not to look like a total loser. I’m wearing skinny jeans and a brown tank top layered with a loose crocheted boho vest I bought yesterday. I didn’t think I had to dress up, but almost all the girls in here are wearing dresses or short skirts and crop tops. Their makeup at least an inch thick. Several of the girls look my way, and I’m starting to nibble on my cuticles by the time Sean comes back with two red cups.

I take a sip and almost spit it back. “What is this?”

“Punch.”

“It’s...uh…thanks.” It tastes like they threw every kind of liqueur known to man in this. This is what mango-flavored cough syrup would taste like if anyone was ever stupid enough to make it.

Sean cocks an eyebrow at me like he thinks he’s the shit. “The Dearths already taught you how to turn your nose up at shit, huh?”

My mouth falls open. “No, I, it’s good. Really. Just…strong.” Oh my God, if he really thinks I’m such a big snob, why did he invite me in the first place? Oh, right. To win a fucking bet.

I almost,almosttoss the drink in his face.

But Sean isn’t the reason I’m at this party. I’m here to make friends with Eliza and to mingle with my classmates. Maybe I can convince some of them I’m not a stuck-up bitch like Sean seems so convinced I am.

Sean leans in, winking at me. “That’s the point, babe.”

I have to force myself not to cringe away. Why did I ever think he was handsome? Yeah, he’s in good shape, but under artificial light, he doesn’t look like the Jock God I saw on thebleachers the day he gave me his phone number. Where Jude’s tanned skin is flawless, Sean’s is pocked with acne scars. There’s also a faint odor of BO wafting off him, like he needed one more shower than he’s taken today.

“Come,” Sean says.

He grasps my hand, lacing his fingers between mine. Despite everything, a thrill chases up my arm, and I drop my eyes before I can start blushing like a kid who’s never even been kissed.

Sad fact is, Ihaven’tbeen kissed. I wasn’t exactly considered a catch—not when I never bothered washing my hair and would go to school in old, dirty clothes. The days Ididgo. Thankfully that’s not the case anymore. I’m wearing a bra that I didn’t have to wash in the school basin, and the clothes I bought right off the rack of one of the swankiest boutique shops in Cinderhart. Although I still haven’t gotten the hang of putting on anything more than mascara, I used a hair straightener and spritzed on some perfume before I left home tonight.

I should feel like a million bucks, but my perfume smells too strong, my hair keeps falling in my face, and my new lace bra keeps chafing my nipples. It sure looks pretty, but I may as well have taped a burlap sack to my chest.

Sean leads me to a wide staircase, weaving us through the kids gathered on the steps.

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