Page 29 of Forbidden Magic
Loud giggles erupt from the back, and I steal a glance at the crowd.
One of the pixie twins is sitting on Cole’s chest, pinning him to the grass, while the other kisses him upside down. His eyes are covered with a silk scarf while Kristel explores his chest with her Barbie fingers.
Everyone in the circle is laughing and cheering.
Disgusting.
I whip around and spot Allie standing next to the bonfire. The flames dance on her face, her pastel make-up glistening. What the—
She’s crying. I half-jump over a large rock on my way to her.
I graze her shoulder. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” She furiously wipes her cheeks and leaves like being seen with me is the ultimate humiliation.
I take another swig of beer and slump down on the rock I just passed to observe the dancers. They all look so carefree and chipper that it makes me feel worse. Three trips to the kegs heighten my buzz, but the ache in my chest only worsens.
Allie is now over by the Truth, Dare, or Spell crowd, chatting with an older boy I’ve never seen before. The huge smile on her face is like a dart to the heart.
Lydia was right. I shouldn’t have come.
Melanie climbs on behind me, her tall leather boots creaking against the stone. “Why so glum, witch?”
“Allie hates me now.”
She dangles her legs from the edge. “Your sister is a snob—no offense.”
I grumble.
“Come on girl, let’s dance.” She twines our fingers and pulls me into the fray. I’m wobbly, but not enough to fall to my ass.
The alcohol lowered my inhibitions, and I find that Melanie is the perfect dance partner. Fun, energetic, and crazy enough to divert attention from me. Her moves attract a bunch of whistles, and she grins happily, her blouse tied in a knot right below her breasts.
When she pries my own black uniform tee from my skirt and ties it in the same way, revealing my belly-button ring, the whistles intensify. I roll with it and follow my vampire friend into a low hip roll, my arms flying in the air, the hip hop music echoing in my bones.
It’s how Allie and I would dance when it was just to two of us.
Trent cuts in and makes me twirl. “You look like you’re having fun, Julia.”
“Jules,” I mumble.
He’s not Cole-tall, but he’s taller than me. He rests his hand at the small of my back and nods to the corner of the meadow. “You see, these clowns dared me to get you to kiss me. They gave me really good odds because they’re convinced that you won’t.”
He’s so different from Melanie. The jeans and white t-shirt make him look almost human. His long hair isn’t tied behind his head now and gives him a young, hip look. I usually don’t find guys with long hair sexy, but Trent’s locks don’t look greasy or flat, just disheveled.
I’ve never kissed a vampire before. Nor any other boy of the non-human quality.
My mouth is dry as I consider his demand. “What if you win the round?”
“They all owe me a favor.” Mischief dances in his ruby eyes, the color warmer and not at all as jarring as you’d expect.
There’s no heat emanating from his hand.
Goosebumps scatter across my back. “Do my chores for the rest of the month, and I’ll kiss you.”
“That’s not… You got dishes, right?”
“Going once.”
