Page 402 of Tis the Season to be Bullied

It might be my imagination, but I swear I hear some of them talking about me.

“…Dearth’s sister…”

“…wasn’t at the game on…”

“…guess who’s getting laid tonight?”

My cheeks grow hot as I focus on Sean’s back and his tight T-shirt. The hand holding mine is warm and strong and rough. We’ve only just met. There’s no way he’s expecting us to bang, right? As we reach the top of the staircase, a girl to my right putsa hand over her mouth to cover a laugh. Now my whole face is red. I need to do some damage control, and fast.

I pull back on Sean’s hand. “Where’s the bathroom?”

He uses his chin to point down the hall. “Down there.” His eyes rake over my body, sending another thrill through me. “Meet me in the games room when you’re done,” he says, tipping his cup against his mouth as he carries on down the hall.

Thegamesroom?

I close the bathroom door behind me and set my cup down on the vanity. Then I glare at my reflection.

Your first house party and this is how you behave?

Oh no! A football player wants to make out with me. Thehorror!My soul shall surely burn in eternal hellfire.

I stand straight, push back my shoulders, and lift my cup.

You know what? Next time I come to a party, I’m putting on atonof makeup. Eyeliner, Lip gloss, maybe even false lashes like I saw the girls on the stairs wearing. I have no idea how to apply them, but that’s what YouTube is for.

I smile and take a sip from my cup. Then another. Another. God, how long until this punch starts tasting good? The sting of hard liquor hitting the back of my throat is surprisingly comforting.

I gather my hair and slide it over my shoulder, smoothing it down over one breast. I’m not the same girl I was a month ago. HarperDearthis smart, sexy, and sophisticated. She doesn’t cower at the mere thought of being alone with a boy. In fact, she can’t wait to see what it feels like. I don’t even care if Eliza’s here or not—if she wants to chat about the Feast of Ashes, thenshecan findme.

I drain the rest of my drink. Despite the bite, I don’t think this shit is as strong as I first thought. There’s a knock at the door. I’m still smiling when I open it and slip outside, brushingshoulders with the girl who’d been smirking at me when I walked past with Sean.

Her smug expression slides right off her fucking face when I grab her arm and turn her to face me. “Where’s the games room?”

Chapter 22

Harper

A cloying mixture of weed and vape and cigarettes hits me when I walk into the games room. I’m one of only three girls in this room—the rest are all guys. Some are playing pool. Two guys I think I recognize from science class are battling it out on a console in front of a massive flat screen. The rest have congregated by the bar, obnoxiously loud as they laugh and joke. The downstairs music is little more than a thumping bass line. Therattatattattattafrom the PlayStation pierces the air. Apparently I’m the only one bothered by the noise.

Sean calls me over to the couch where he’s sitting with a buddy of his. I recognize the guy from Jude’s football practice. Most of the guys in here are on the football team, in fact. As soon as Sean sees my drink is empty, he gets up to go get me another, leaving me with his friend.

“Eric,” the guy says, sticking out a hand. “I’m on the team with your brother.”

I dip my chin a little and shake his hand reluctantly. Guess Jude would have found out about me being here one way or the other, but what are the chances I’d run into one of his friends?I didn’t even know hehadfriends. It’s not as if he ever invites anyone over to the house and, outside of football practice, I’ve never even seen him talking to anyone at school.

Guess he’s not the loner I thought he was.

“Nice to meet you,” I say, extricating my hand as soon as I can without seeming rude. Sean comes back with my drink and falls down onto the couch, nearly bouncing me from the cushion. The cup is so full, punch sloshes over my hand and lands on my new jeans.

“Shit, sorry babe.” Sean wipes at my leg until I move it out of reach.

“It’s okay. It’ll dry.” I take tiny sips from the glass. The first one I downed is finally starting to work its magic, and I don’t want to overdo it. Not around strangers. But there are so many people here, I feel kinda safe. I mean, no one’s going to try anything in a crowd like this, right?

A guy comes up to us and holds out a joint to us. Sean doesn’t even hesitate. He sits forward and hits the joint a few times, then passes it to me without even looking in my direction. I stare at it, frozen in place. I have no idea how weed would react to this punch. I’m guessing it won’t be a good combination.

Eric reaches for the joint when he sees I’m not taking it, but I snatch it from Sean’s fingers first.

I’ve always wanted to know what it’s like to be stoned. I’ve had cigarettes, but I don’t really like the aftertaste. Plus, they don’t do anything to me. When Mom smoked weed—which was every other day before we moved into the Dearth house—she’d start dancing on the kitchen table. Every surface in this place is crammed with cups and ashtrays and junk, so I should be just fine.

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