Page 9 of Love Bleeds Red
CHAPTER THREE
BAILEY - BEFORE
Heat isthe perfect name for this place. I’m already sweating. Techno pounds from the DJ booth matching the pulsing in my head, as we snake our way through swaying bodies toward the bar. The lights are dim, apart from colored spotlights pointed at the booth, but I still narrow my eyes to help the pain.
Come on, Advil, do your thing.
One glance at Layne practically bouncing in front of me helps to cheer me up a bit, but I’d still pay every dollar I have to be anywhere else. “Come on!” she yells over the music. “Drinks!”
A couple holding hands walks directly in front of me, cutting me off from Layne as I tell her, “I shouldn’t.”
She either doesn’t hear me, or doesn’t pay attention. I’m betting on the latter. We spot a few girls from our floor at the bar, and Layne waves them over. “Here, it’ll help you feel better.” She shoves what I think is a lemon drop at me with pleading eyes.
“Just one,” I say, annoyed with myself for how fast I give in. I tilt my head back and swallow.Shit, it’s sour.My eyes water butthe burn feels good going down. Warmth spreads through my chest, giving me a small reprieve from my headache.
Layne grins as she sways to the music. “See? Told you it would help.”
“What makes you think it helped?” I ask, wiping my palm across my lips.
Caitlyn and Ashley, both wearing matching silver dresses, squeeze in next to us. Caitlyn’s hair is twisted up in space buns with glitter dusting her shoulders. They hug Layne, grabbing shots from the bar and downing them.
“Bailey! You actually came out!” Ashley shouts over the music, pulling me into a hug. I’m hit with a whiff of vodka and vanilla body spray. “I feel like I never see you here.”
Caitlyn leans across the bar, waving a twenty at the bartender while three guys hover nearby, staring way too long at the way her dress rides up.
“I had to beg her,” Layne says. “Clay pissed me off again, so she couldn’t say no.”
“Wow,” I say under my breath. “Glad to know how easily manipulated I can be.” No one is listening to me, as Layne shoves a beer in my face.
She knows I hate beer.
“Oh my God!” Ashley says, pointing toward the entrance. We all turn to see what she’s pointing at. “It’s Josh and his roommate.”
“Josh?” Layne asks, eyeing them with a raised brow.
“From Waller’s class. English. You seriously don’t remember him?” Ashley asks, craning her neck for a better view.
“Wait,” Caitlyn says. “Is that Kyle with him?”
“Kyle can choke on his drink.” Ashley rolls her eyes. “After what he pulled at the party last weekend, I’m so done.”
While they debate about whether or not Kyle should be allowed to live, I pull out my phone and check for notifications.Nothing but a few new junk emails and an Instagram notification that my aunt in Colorado liked the story I shared about the decline of literacy among children. Leon hasn’t texted me back. I try to ignore the sinking feeling in my chest, but it sticks around like the stubborn bitch it is. We’re an hour away from each other. He’s… him and it’s Friday night and…No. I’m not spiraling. I already feel shitty, and stressing over Leon won’t help. He’s probably working or studying or out with my brother and Damon, doing whatever it is those three do.
“More shots!” Layne yells, passing me a sticky, half-spilled cup. “Oh, your phone is out.” She grabs it, slings her arm around me, and snaps a picture of us together—me looking bewildered while she sticks her tongue out, head tilted toward mine. “One more shot and then let’s dance!”
She pushes my phone back into my hand and turns toward the bar. There’s no way I’m taking another shot. I’m already wobbly and my head still hurts. The photo she took lights up the screen. It’s cute and definitely captures our personalities. Something in the background catches my eye though. I turn my brightness all the way up and zoom in. Is that the light-haired guy from the pharmacy? My stomach drops as I whip my head around, scanning the crowded space. I can’t spot him now, but looking back at the photo, I know without a doubt it’s him. And he’s staring right at us.
I hug my chest and move closer to Layne. She takes it as a cue to start dancing on me, so I sway with no real rhythm while I search the crowd for those cold blue eyes.
“To getting Bailey out on a Friday night!” Layne says, holding up her shot to cheers with Ashley and Caitlyn. “Bails, here.”
She holds the drink out to me but I shake my head. “You guys can have it.”
“More for me,” Ashley says, double-fisting the cups. I’m so going to be holding someone’s hair back tonight.
“Let’s go dance!” Layne says, pulling me out onto the packed dance floor. It’s a sea of writhing bodies moving as one. The bass rumbles through the floor and up my legs, making my bones vibrate. My stomach lurches from the overwhelming smell of sweat, alcohol, and perfume.
Layne starts swaying her hips. She’s totally in her element, loving life. She screams, “I love this song! Come on!” and grabs my hands, raising them above her head. I try to match her energy.Really, I do.Maybe like thirty percent effort. But it’s not happening tonight. My movements must look stiff and unnatural compared to everyone around me.
