Page 36 of Cold and Broken (The Titans of Founder's Ridge 1)

“What’s going through that head of yours, Lil?” Ivy asks holding up two dresses to her body in front of a mirror.

“Just thinking about how much different my life is here versus back at home. Your closet is bigger than half my friends’ apartments.”

“Yeah,” she looks around the room pensively. “Believe it or not, it took me some time to adjust too. I grew up in a big house in the suburbs of Connecticut but my childhood home looks like a cardboard box compared to this place.”

“I’m trying not to judge but,” I trail off. “It’s crazy though.”

“What was your life like back in Chicago?” She turns and holds up the dresses. “And which one do you think I should wear tonight?”

“The purple one,” I point at the dress in her left hand. “It’ll look great with your eyes. As far as my life in Chicago, I lived in a two bedroom brick single story bungalow with my dad. We had a big front porch and chain link fence around the front of the yard. Zion lived a block over and in an identical house with his mom and younger sister. Our elementary and middle school didn’t even have air conditioning. Every school I’ve ever attended has metal detectors at all the doors and armed security.” I blow out a breath. “So basically the exact opposite of everything here.”

She sits down beside me with a serious look on her face. “Is it as bad as the media portrays there?”

“Yes and no. I’ve lost close friends to gun and gang violence, it’s a very real problem. But, our block was tight knit. We all kept an eye out for each other, knew who was coming and going. There wasn’t a lot of trust in the police but we all had each other’s backs, like a family. I could go back and know that any one of my neighbors would let me crash with them, no questions asked.”

“That’s good.”

There’s a heavy silence hanging in her designer closet.

“Now you havemoiand live in a billionaires enclave full of filthy rich hot guys. Let’s get you ready. I want to torment Connor tonight, he’s clearly into you.”

I’m about to argue but I’m beginning to think that maybe he actual does have feelings for me. Beyond the general loathing and apathy he’s shown before. My stomach got all fluttery this morning when he grabbed my hand and dragged me to the garage. He was so adorable and excited and happy. That fucking real smile and those damn dimples. One thing I know for sure I can never let him know what they do to me. He’d have me as pliable as play doh.

“Earth to Lilith.” Ivy waves a hand in my face. “Where did you go?”

“Just spaced out for a minute.” I look up and see her holding out two dresses for me to look at. “I’m not wearing a dress. My legs are covered in bruises. Why I can’t wear this?” I point down at my skinny jeans, tank top, and sneakers.

“I guess you can wear the clothes but we have to change the shoes. I’m not letting you wear sneakers to this party.” She wags a finger in my face before turning to her shoe rack. “What size are you?”

“I wear a seven or seven and a half usually.”

“Perfect! Me too. We’re meant to be, you and me.” She pulls out a pair of open toed ankle boots. “Try these on. I’ll grab some jewelry.”

For the next hour Ivy does my hair and make-up, tries to accessorize me but I shoot everything down except for some dangly earrings. She’s pulled my hair up into a wavy, sexy high ponytail. She used some crazy professional contouring kit to make my cheek bones look more prominent and handed me a tube of cherry red lipstick. I’m normally not a lipstick girl, I play up my eyes more than my lips but she insisted I try it and she was right.

“Lil, you look smoking hot,” she says while we look at ourselves in her bathroom mirror.

“So do you.” I realize that aside from passing comments about hot guys and a brief flirtation I’ve never heard her talk about anyone in particular. “Anyone you’re gunning for tonight?”

She hesitates and glances to her bedroom door before answering, “No one important.” Her voice has a wistful tone to it that makes me question what she’s said but I don’t press.

* * *

The Abyss is an old granite quarry. At the bottom is a ethereal blue pond, on all sides are leveled out layers, like steps for giants. Ivy explained that the quarry was owned by one of our classmate’s grandfathers and that’s how they made all their money. The Abyss was her father’s idea when he went to Founders Prep and each student body has kept the tradition of partying here alive since then.

There’s a section set up with a bar and actual bartenders. I see familiar faces as Ivy walks me through but no one says hello or acknowledges my presence at all. We grab a couple drinks, something fruity for her and a rum and coke for me. The only thing about this place that says high school party is the fact that the drinks are served in red solo cups. The girls are all in high heels and dresses, looking absolutely ridiculous in this open air and full of gravel and dirt quarry. I make a mental note to never wear heels here again when I stumble for the third time in as many minutes.

We walk down an uneven chiseled out set of stairs before coming to the dance floor area. A DJ is spinning on an elevated platform over the edge of the water. It has to be twenty feet down and all I can think is that you could not pay me to stand on that thing. Hell to the fuck no. I turn away from the platform of death and look at the bodies writhing against each other on the dance floor.

“We’ll come back here later. I have a two drink minimum for dancing,” Ivy says as she pulls me along to another set of carved out stairs.

“Is this safe?” All the carved out ledges have drops of at least ten feet, more in some places.

“I guess.” Ivy shrugs. “I haven’t ever really given it much thought. No one’s died, though, so safe enough?”

The next place we go to is the gaming area. There are a few poker tables, a few black jack tables, and a giant screen with gaming chairs. This area is all enclosed in one of those fancy tents that people use for weddings and outdoor receptions.

Ivy tugs me in the direction of one of the poker tables. “There’re the guys.”

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