Page 65 of Bullied By The Bad Boy

The music is too loud.It’s barely 8:30 pm, but the thick smell of alcohol clogs the air. Drunk teenagers of varying degrees crowd the mansion. A few students dance on a pool table. A girl from school prepares to strip, and the boys around the table encourage her with whistles and catcalls. I will never get naked in front of anyone, but I have no problem watching others do it.

Maria drags me into a quieter area before the live show starts, and we meander through sticky bodies to the messy kitchen. Half-empty red solo cups litter the countertop. I avoid touching them as my best friend waltzes to the tall fridge like the landlady. Someone clears their throat from the door, our heads snap in that direction, and Maria turns to a blushing queen. She’s a goner with Daniel.

Red dots appear on Daniel’s cheeks when their eyes meet. He stops in front of us with two cups. “Don’t accept any drink that’s not from me.” We nod like the good girls we are. If he didn’t offer this to us, I would sip water all night. He is talking to both of us, but his eyes never leave Maria. I clap to get his attention, and he smiles sheepishly. “I love your dress. Who are you wearing?”

“I wish I knew,” I answer.

Maria did the work. I’m playing my part by being here. I hope to God she counts this Halloween party as a real party. As planned, Maria is dressed as Catwoman, and I am Superwoman. Yep, I made that up to get her off my back. Her legs for days are on display in the black tights, and the light material of her bralette clings to her chest. My cleavage is an embarrassment to her boobs.

Her outfit matches Daniel’s black tuxedo. He spins her in a small circle that ends with him placing a kiss on her lips. Gross. They should take this somewhere else, and Maria has a lot of explaining to do. What was that she said about being done with him? I sip my drink to appear busy, and my face scrunches at the burst of flavors on my tongue. I taste berries, a hint of lime, and something really sweet.

Daniel says something not-so-funny, and Maria snorts so bad her drink spills all over her belly. She laughs her way to the sink to wash off the stain. I lift the cup to my lips. “Have you told her?”

Our eyes stroll to her, and Daniel smiles. Third wheel alert. We catch her reflection in the window above the sink, she waves at us, and we wave back. “By Monday. I don’t want to ruin tonight.”

Maria returns before I reply. Daniel hands over his cup, and she accepts it with a grin. They are so sweet I might have diabetics from watching them. Backs against the counter, away from the noise, we strike a conversation. They try to involve me, but I am the third wheel. I’m so over my best friend’s pretentious laugh.

I excuse myself without any idea where I am headed. Pop music blasts from the box speakers at different corners of the large room. My eyes scan the place, and my chest falls with defeat. No familiar faces.

Loneliness creeps up on me. I make a U-turn toward the stairs, empty my drink into a flowerpot and lean on the bannister for support while watching people dance, make out and have fun. Things I am having trouble doing. I have only been here for…ten minutes, but this feels like a bad idea.

Tired of watching others do what I lack the confidence to do, I saunter toward the door at the end of the dim hallway. The cold air stings as I pull the door open, and my hand tightens around the knob. I should have brought a sweater. I step out to scan Nate’s backyard. It’s vast, with an empty tub in the center, a few foldable chairs, and some empty beer bottles lying on the fake grass.

A few more steps into the backyard, and my teeth chatter. This outfit is pretty but impractical. It’s freezing out here. A sane person will get back inside, butoh well. I sit on the edge of the tub, pull off my boots, and dip my feet into the water.

Shivers shoot straight to my scalp. Oh, hot tub. Alone, my thoughts circle back to Lett. Why won’t Lett reply? Why is Ben an ass?

Is there something wrong with me? Why do all the boys I know act warm, then switch up? I look up to the sky and release a sigh. If I was with my car, I would have left. I hope my ride home is not drinking. At the thought of rides, the backdoor flings open. Maria rushes out, and I jump out of the tub as she storms toward me. My best friend is not violent, but I blanch at the anger in her eyes.

Daniel runs out behind her, his chest heaving as he tries to catch his breath. Maria holds a hand to stop him from speaking. She inches closer to me, and I notice the tears in her eyes for the first time. My heart misses a beat. I look to Daniel for an explanation. What did he do this time?

“Maria.” I try to touch her, but she slaps my hand. Tears leak from her eyes, and mascara runs down her cheeks. Daniel keeps his distance, a plea on his face. Boys! Ugh. “What happened?”

“You knew, Tessa,” she murmurs. “You knew, and you didn’t tell me. I thought we were friends.”

Panic claws my inside. “We are friends. You are my best friend, Maria.” My only female friend on earth. I can’t lose her. She erupts in taunting laughter, and Daniel takes another step back. I am guessing this has to do with him, but the coward is now mute. “What are you talking about?”

Stomping to Daniel, she pulls out a phone from his breast pocket and slaps it across my chest. “Watch it. Don’t make me mad, Theresa Grace Mower. Watch the fucking video right now.”

My heart dips. I know the video, but I don’t want to watch it.

“Maria.” She starts shaking her head. “Maria. Just—”

“Watch the goddamn video!” she deadpans. I tap the screen, then hit play on the video of Zoey giving Daniel a blowjob. When the video ends, she snatches the phone. “Did you know about this video?” I open my mouth to explain, but she cuts me off. “Tessa, I just need a yes or a no.”

Color drains from my face. I manage to whisper, “Yes.”

Without another word, she walks out. Daniel tries to talk to me, but I skip past him. I don’t want to hear the speech he should have given when Maria was in my face, disappointed and in tears because I betrayed her. It’s not what she thinks. I would have told her, but Daniel wanted to do it himself.

None of the faces resembles Maria’s. I jog up the stairs, peeking into rooms with doors ajar. The smell of beer grows thicker. I also smell weed, but it doesn’t stop me from checking the rooms. My stomach churns at the sight of some students making out. I hurry out and resume my search.

She has to be in here somewhere. Maybe at the entrance. I’m prepared to leave this cursed party when I bump into someone. The witch. Fury rolls through me at her smug smile. I push past her, but she yanks me back like I’m one of her dolls. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” I scream.

Olivia sneers. “You really want to know?” I stand my ground as the bitch nears me, the sound of her heels bouncing off the walls. I don’t care, but I don’t move another inch. Breathing heavily on my neck, Olivia tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “What did I tell you about Ben?”

I give her slutty outfit a onceover. Is she dressed as a call girl? Anyway, I have a best friend to apologize to. I try to walk around her, but I am dragged back. Only now, she’s not the one who yanks me. Someone holds my hands behind me. I wriggle in their embrace, desperate to be free.

“Let me go,” I spit out, and she smiles at the person holding me. “Olivia, what the fuck is this?”

---