Page 72 of Life of the Party

“Will I see you then?”

“Maybe.” He relented. “If I know where you are…and if you’re still alive by then.”

“Of course I’ll be alive.” I rolled my eyes.

“We’ll see.” Riley frowned. His dark eyes focused on me seriously, like there was something else he wanted to say. He opened his mouth to speak.

Then, I heard someone calling his name. The Christian, calling him, beckoning him away from me.

It was time for Riley to go.

“I don’t want to say goodbye.” He admitted. He looked torn.

“Just say it and get it over with,” I demanded. The coke must have been wearing off, because I could feel again. And I didn’t like what I felt, like my very heart was hurting, like it was throbbing with pain. I took a deep breath.

Riley wrapped me in a sudden, fierce hug. I couldn’t believe the strength in his arms as he held me tightly to him. I snuggled into the chest of his tuxedo, fighting with all my might to keep from crying all over him. At that moment, I was safe again in my best friend’s arms, and everything was right between us.

I clung to the moment. I clung to my friend.

“You be careful on that bike,” Riley whispered in my ear. He kissed the top of my head, and then he let me go. He pulled away from me and I was all alone again, cold and exposed. I wrapped my arms around myself and gave him a weak smile, blinking furiously to keep from crying.

Riley walked away. Toward the Christian. I couldn’t watch him go; I turned away and looked up at the calm, quiet night, seeking solace from my sudden emotional upheaval in its dim, dark stillness. It wasn’t enough though. I needed something more.

Something stronger.

“Hey, gorgeous.” A different pair of arms suddenly wrapped around my waist, pulling me close. Despite everything, I found myself smiling, curving up against the warm strength behind me—less alone now, less exposed.

Riley was gone, but I still had Grey.

He kissed my cheek. “You okay?” He wondered.

“Yeah.” I decided quietly. At least, I would be. “Riley just left.”

“I figured.” He hugged me tightly.

“Grey?”

“Yeah?”

I sighed heavily. “Will you take me away from here?

“I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”

CHAPTER 29

I met Grey and Charlie at her car. I’d basically bypassed my family, finding them only to say goodbye so my relatives wouldn’t be offended. My parents looked a bit put off by my abrupt departure, probably because I’d left before they could enforce a curfew. I walked as quickly as I could in my sky-high heels towards Charlie’s sedan.

“Congratulations!” She smiled and wrapped me in a hug, which lasted a bit long for just a celebratory embrace. Grey must have told her about the whole Riley scene. “You okay?” She wondered quietly.

“Yeah, I’m good.” I nodded, pushing the sadness away. I added a smile. “About to be even better.”

“That’s my girl.” She laughed and opened the passenger door for me. Grey climbed in the back as Charlie got in to drive. We sat for a moment and all lit a smoke.

“So, what’d you think of our grad theme? Pretty cheesy, huh?” I giggled.

“Shoot for the moon. I’d say its green cheesy. ” Charlie laughed. She put the car in reverse and backed out the parking lot. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay for your grad party?”

“Are you kidding me? No thanks. I actually want to party tonight.” I blew my smoke out the opened window, the warm wind washing in. “It’s going to be this super lame dance where you can’t even drink if you’re not of age, which I’m not.”

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