Page 121 of Sky Full of Stars

We’re all a bit sweaty and not as put together as when we got here. Megan checks her phone, then excuses herself to the bathroom. We both watch after her.

“She’s been quiet.”

“It’s hard to talk in here,” Brooke points out.

“Yeah, I guess.” I look towards the restrooms again.

Megan has been dancing and laughing with us but she’s been reserved, like she doesn’t want to fully let go.

“What is taking her so long?” I ask, after we finish our drinks.

“Probably a long line,” Brooke says, distracted by the girls next to us.

“I’m gonna go check,” I tell her and she waves her hand to let me know she heard.

I head towards the restrooms and there is a line but I don’t see Meg. I let the women know I’m looking for a friend and not jumping the line, one near the front agrees to call out and see if there is anyone in there named Megan. She shrugs and says no one answered. I head back into the club and walk around to see if I can spot her. It’s dark and the place is big, it could be easy to miss someone. After doing a full circuit, I pull out my phone to see a message from her saying she had to leave. I hurry to the booth where Brooke is dancing on the table and tap her leg impatiently. She looks down with a huge smile until she sees my face. She carefully gets down, which is no easy feat in that tight dress and heels.

“What’s wrong?”

I show her the text and she looks at me worriedly. “Why would she do that without telling us?”

I shrug. “I’m gonna go somewhere quiet and call her,” I shout over the music. Brooke nods, she’s drunk enough to sway but she is concerned too. “I’ll be back.”

I make my way back through the crowds and find a hallway that leads to a staff only area. No one stops me, so I duck into the alcove where it is quieter and call Megan’s number. She doesn’t answer but within a few minutes a text comes through letting me know she is almost home and is fine. I want to curse her out for leaving without us, that is a stupid move.

I go back to Brooke and show her the new text and she frowns but tries to get me to have another drink and dance, but I’m not feeling it. Something is niggling at me about Megan.

“Hey,” I tug Brooke to one side of the dancefloor. “You mind if we call it a night?”

She pouts but agrees and dances towards the exit, singing and hugging me. We order an Uber and go to her place first. I ask the driver if he minds waiting. Once I’ve got Brooke inside with a glass of water and a promise to drink it and go to bed, I go back to the cab.

“Where to now?”

I give him my address but halfway there, I tell him to go to Meg’s place. He says it’ll cost more and wants to put it through the app before we go. Once it’s sorted, he heads towards Meg’s. I read over her texts again not sure what it is that bothers me.

The worst that could happen is she’s asleep or laughs at me for being stupid following her home. I just want to make sure she is okay.

I get out of the cab and walk to the building, unsure which apartment she’s in. I’ve dropped her off but never gone up. I approach the door and look at the names on the buzzers. Luckily, Meg’s is there so I buzz and wait, my arms around my waist as I glance around. It’s pretty late but there are plenty of people about.

When there is no answer, I buzz again just as a guy pulls the door open from the inside. He glances at me as he passes then holds the door open. Excellent security they have around here, but I thank him and hurry inside. Her apartment number is 235 so I figure she’s on the second floor. She said in her text she was coming home so I don’t like that she didn’t answer.

I approach the door and hear loud thuds coming from beyond it. I’m not sure what it is, until I hear a muffled scream. Instinct tells me to back away, my heart rate spikes but I hear more thuds and the sound of something breaking. I hurry to the door and start knocking. The noises inside cease but no one comes to the door. I knock again and call out.

“Meg, are you in there?”

Again it’s quiet. I don’t know what to do. So I knock again.

“Megan. It’s Jenna, are you in there? I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

Footsteps sound towards the door, Meg opens it but not all the way.

“I’m fine, Jenna. You should go.”

Meg is still wearing the clothes she had on when we went out but the left shoulder is ripped. There are no lights on behind her and her face is in the shadow of the door but all of my senses are on alert now.

“You’re not okay,” I say quietly. “Come outside.”

“I can’t,” she whispers. “Please, you should just go.”

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