Page 34 of Crybaby

“Nothing. Was looking for someone,”I replydryly.

The nerve of that asshole ditching me at prom. Who does that? Men are pigs.Revis the leader of the pigs.Once again, misplaced trust.Go me!

“Come drink with us,”says Foss,grabbing my hand.It’s sweaty and calloused from weight training and ball handling.

I pull my hand back quickly, and his fingers catch mine to find another grip.

I can see Buckets and whatever his fucking name is standing under the goalposts,fooling around.They’re lit by the moon and joking around, taking practice punches on each other.

I think about it for what seems like a minute, and since I’ve been left high and dry, I figure why the hell not. I’m not going back inside to wander aimlessly around the punch bowl like a loser.

I think about Rev, and while I want to hate him, I really miss him. I shake my head as the same thoughts roll around in my mind.

Why did he leave me?

Maybe he’s coming back since his car is still here. He’s probably off banging some chick. I feel jealousy build up inside me, and I look at the boys partying on the field and think,See how you like this, then, Rev.

I follow Foss, and I’m guessing he’s wasted since his hair looks as drunk as he is. He’s pulling me over to hisfriends even though it’s quite obvious that I’m following and don’t need encouragement. The grass is wet,but I’m wearing my boots. I give myself a little pat on the back for that choice. I pick my dress up with one hand.

“Ehhhh!” says the big one, Buckets, as I approach them.He handsme a bottle with golden liquid inside it.

“What’s wrong? Need a glass,princess?” He laughs, amused.A big dumb bear chuckling like he just made the best joke of his life.

I roll my eyes and grab the bottle.

Cheers to being ditched.

Cheers to my dead parents.

Cheers to my stupid aunt’s face that gawked at me as I left and the punishment I’ll receive when I return.

Cheers to Rev for getting inside my head and then ditching me for some chick in the back of her daddy’s car, no doubt.

“Let’s play a game,” saysBlake, who seems to have recovered from his sleepover in the bathroom stalls at The Planet. His eyes are inky black and he looks like a vampiric Ken doll.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen eyes like this,but it’s like he has the soul of a shark.It’s a little unnerving, but his smile is darkly inviting.

“It’s like spin the bottle.” He takes the bottom of my dress in his hands and lifts it a little too high, completely taking me by surprise.

I’m holding the bottle of alcohol I’ve been drinking and almost fall over.

“Let’s spin you around and see if you can walk straight.”

Foss is laughing in thebackground.I don’t think he ever stops.

Suddenly,I’m spun around by the hem of my dress. My boots collect together and cause me to fall to my knees. Blakeand Buckets hike my dress up higher and start cheering because they can see my underwear.

I struggle to battle against it and push back against my dress to force it down, but I’m failing. I can feel the icy air whip up my thighs, and my teeth begin to chatter.

“It’s not funny!” I yell and throw the glass bottle atBlake,hitting him in the head.The boys go quiet suddenly, mouths hanging open as they look at Blake to watch his response.

“Ohhhhhh!” Foss says like I’ve just made a huge mistake.

This is the moment my heartbeatbeginsto thump in my head.

Blake staresdown at me like his headis made of steel and he didn’t feel it. He grabsthe bottle off the ground, and the neck of it is covered in mud.

“Oh,youwannaplay rough,hey? What’s your name,Dhalia?” Blakeis talking through his teeth.“Why don’t you have another drink and calm that little temper down?”

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