Page 201 of The Blairville Legacies

“Are they part of some gang?” I asked, remembering all those guys from Sacramento with their pocket knives and brown boxes full of smiley pills. One of the things I missed the least.

“Sort of...” Grace looked at me with hesitation. “You have to think of it like a gang dealing drugs. The Copelands are the head and the other members do what they’re asked.”

Bayla looked at Grace as if she had just exaggerated a little, so I asked, “And Julian?”

Grace looked at me, perplexed, but Vivienna spoke up.

“He’s just as much a member of that pack, precisely because his family was in it once.”

“Isn’t it a bit unfair to judge someone because of their past?”

I looked at Grace, then at Julie, and finally at the other girls.

“People likethemdon’t change. Trust me, we know what we’re talking about,” Amber snorted glumly.

I hadn’t had a problem with anyone here so far. But this mass of prejudice, first toward the DeLoughreys, who actually seemed to be quite aloof and probably had dirt on them, and then toward the Copelands, seemed a bit off.

When it came to Bay’s neighbor, I knew I was right, because he seemed pretty reasonable. And I didn’t know a single guy who wouldn’t have reacted with his fists if someone had said a bad word about his mother.

Bayla didn’t quite seem to agree, either, because she sat there and gave the others one of herWTF looks.

“By the way, Vivienna, let’s go to this new clothing store on the weekend. I’ve seen some really cool dresses there that I’m sure would look great on you at the party.”

Amber played with one of her dark strands and looked at Vivienna expectantly.

“Oh my god, yes! I need a costume, too!” Barbie squealed in excitement next to her.

I only needed to hear the wordpartyand my attention was fully present. For me, parties were something like complete relaxation. A place where you could just dance, let go and forget all the shitty shit about life. There was also good music andhot men.

The last time I’d been to a party was maybe two months ago, which really annoyed me, becausewhat were you young for?

“What party?” I asked with interest, hoping it wasn’t some kind of private thing.

All three girls looked at me immediately until Vivienna finally said, “If you want to have some fun, you should come to the biggest Halloween party in town. In two weeks.”

I automatically looked at Bay, who quickly shook her head.

“Oh, come on. When was the last time we went to a real party?”

“Definitely not enough time has passed...”

I looked at her in mock horror. “How can you let me down like this?”

“The parties in this club are not without their problems...” Julie remarked, a little concerned.

The more I heard about this party, the more I was drawn to it.

“As if there’sthat muchgoing on in this backwoods area,” I remarked with amusement.

“The parties at this club are really popular.” Grace looked at me. “But they often escalate a bit.”

“Bayla and I are fromSacramento. I think we know what a badass party is,” I laughed, pretty convinced that a little fun couldn’t hurt.

“Larissa, really... I don’t think I’m that into it.”

Typical Bayla.

I looked at Julie and Grace, but they were both shaking their heads.

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