Page 22 of I Despise You
“Yay!” She claps her hands. “Hurry, please!” She pulls her phone out of her purse. “We have like twenty minutes before the guards get in our way.”
“Okay.” I rush for my closet and grab the first dress that I find.
It’s a plain, black cocktail dress, but it’ll do.
***
VANESSA HOLDS MY HANDtightly as we traipse through dark hallways. She’s using her phone as a flashlight, and I’m glad we can’t see all the cobwebs, spiders, and rats that may be hiding in the darkness.
The air smells like mold and must, and I can’t believe everyone is willing to go through so much trouble just to get to some party. But excitement courses through my chest too, because the idea of getting caught is so terrifying, and there’s a thrill in all of it.
We reach a door that’s cracked open, and Vanessa pushes it. I greet the fresh, chilly night air as we rush outside. We probably look ridiculous as we run—or try to—across the field in our high heels, but it doesn’t take us long to reach the trees.
Vanessa lets out a cry of joy as she glances over her shoulder. The school building looks huge and threatening as we leave it, but one part of me is relieved. I know it’s not the building’s fault for all the pressure that I feel when I’m inside it, but I feel lighter outside.
I follow Vanessa through the trees, careful not to catch my foot on something. The ground is full of leaves, twigs, and roots until we reach the street.
It’s impossible not to see the club where we’re going. Purple lights are glowing everywhere, inviting us like a beacon. I suspect the owner opened the club with students in mind, because why else open it just down the street from the school?
“Are you sure the administration doesn’t know about this?” I ask.
If I were the principal, I’d be sending someone to check that club every night. It’s kind of too obvious.
“Who cares?” Vanessa says. “I mean, they probably know, but at least they don’t send anyone to check since we’re technically too young to be let inside. It’s only a problem if they catch us sneaking out of the school or getting back inside.”
“Right.” While nothing goes wrong, everyone’s going to pretend the parties aren’t happening.
The school can’t be held responsible for a party off its grounds, and especially not for students who go out without permission and use sketchy hallways. But if someone gets caught on the school property, then the administration can’t turn a blind eye and pretend they haven’t seen anything.
“Wait, how are we going to get in? Do we need tickets or IDs?” I don’t have a fake ID to convince the bouncers that I’m older than I actually am.
“Don’t worry about it. We have an agreement with the owner. If something happens, we’ll figure it out.” Vanessa laughs. “Relax. We’re here to have fun.”
“So you all bribed the owner?” I guess that’s what happened.
A bunch of rich kids who want to have a party can surely pay nicely for the privilege.
“Shh!” She places her finger over her lips. “Not so loud! Someone might hear you.”
I glance around, but no one is close enough to overhear us. Still, I keep my mouth shut, glad that I don’t have to pay the entrance fee.
Once we’re inside the huge club, it takes my eyes a few moments to adjust to the darkness and flashy, colorful lights. The music is so loud I can’t hear Vanessa at all when she says something, but I guess she wants me to follow her.
We push through the sweaty crowd, and I see a few familiar faces from school. They all already look drunk out of their minds.
Vanessa finds us a good spot so we can dance. I want to ask her how many times she’s been here, but there’s no way I can do that without shouting into her ear. It doesn’t matter anyway.
I dance and dance, and then I spothim.
Chase is dancing with some girl, a glass in his hand. He downs whatever is in it and smashes the glass against the floor. Everyone standing close by jumps away, including the girl he’s with.
He’s drunk or stoned.
Or both.
Totally out of control.
He reaches for the girl and tugs her toward him, his movements sloppy. I eye the brunette. She’s wearing a short, tight pink top and a black miniskirt that’s almost short enough so I can see her underwear. If she has any at all.
