Page 104 of Creatures Like Us
What’s the point in fighting, anyway? I should have shot myself up with the shit I flushed down the toilet and then asked for more. It would’ve been such a relief to let myself surrender?…?There’d be no more expectations, no pressure to succeed. And I’ve never been good at meeting expectations in the first place.
So why didn’t I do it? I don’t even know the answer to that question myself.
Something has changed in me, but I don’t know what. Noah did something to me. He did a lot of things—both good and bad.
Through the roaring rush of blood in my ears, I hear voices downstairs. High voices. Distressed voices. I open the bathroom door, and one voice in particular makes me do a double take. It can’t be. Out of all places?…?of all people?…
It’s him. He’s here.
My chest fills with relief and dread at once.
Relief because he came for me, because I’ll get to see his face.
Dread because he doesn’t belong here. He doesn’t know how to act in a place like this, and those raised voices are already making that fact known.
Chapter 29
Noah
Thehouseloomingupahead looks ready to be demolished, the wood siding worn to hell and some of the windows half-shattered, the yard littered with motorbikes and cars.
A broken place for broken people.
The parties held here are an infamous, weekly headache for the neighbors. I’ve never attended a party, let alone a party like this, and I didn’t think tonight would be my first—if they even let me in. Ihaveto get in though. I have to find Asher, and I have to let him know I’m sorry. Sorry for everything.
I know he’s here. His presence is like a hook in my heart, guiding me into this place full of people who’ll look at me like I’m a freak. I have to act as if I know my way, as if I’m here all the time. I can’t seem uncomfortable; I can’t seem unsure. The gang of bikers guarding the entrance won’t let me in if I do.
Two of them stand on the porch. One with a bandanna around his head and one with messy dark hair, broad shoulders, and a thick beard. They stop talking when I approach and look me up and down.
“You lost, kid?” the bearded guy says, arms crossed.
“Uh?…?no. I have friends in there.” Not friends—afriend. The only one that matters.
“Names?”
“Asher. Asher Dalton.”
“And what’s yours?”
“Noah.”
“Well, Noah, we don’t usually let people in at this hour. If you want to come inside, we’ll have to pat you down.”
“Okay.” I shrug, trying to appear unaffected by it all, even though my heart is beating hard and fast. I pull my hands out of my pockets and stand still as Bandanna Guy makes short work of patting me down.
“He’s okay.”
“Well, then. Welcome inside, kid.” The bearded biker steps aside and opens the door for me.
A wall of music blasts into my ears, and blood rushes to my face. There are people everywhere, dancing, chatting, and making out. Lilith is among them, sitting with a group of friends on the couch. I try not to glance her way, but it’s already too late; as soon as she spots me, she leans in to whisper in her girlfriend’s ear, and they both look at me with narrowed eyes.
I slink away to a corner, trying to appear nonthreatening, but my height and appearance usually do my talking for me. Before they’ve even spoken to me, people are wary of my presence. They assume I’m strange. Dangerous, even.
My pulse is rushing in my ears, making all the noises appear muffled, distorted. I close my eyes, leaning against the wall, trying to calm myself down.
“Hey!” A voice cuts through the music. “It’s you, isn’t it?”
A young man with a golden head of blond locks approaches me.
