My Only Exception

Chapter Four

I slipped off two more of my bracelets and began the exchange with Juniper. Her crooked smile was pretty, causing a pit of jealousy to burn in my stomach.

I couldn't help but to be envious of the two of them. Ivy was significantly shorter than I was, standing at about maybe five foot- two; Whereas, Juniper was taller than Ivy, but still shorter than me, about maybe five foot- four.

Aria broke apart four full tabs as she handed them out, thrusting the rest of the sheet back into the bag. I grinned as she handed me mine, her glittery eyebrow wiggling.

We all placed them on our tongues, waiting for them to dissolve or if you're like me, just until I accidentally swallow it.

I pulled my phone out, opening my camera and leaning close into Aria for our ritual picture. We had so many pictures identical to this one. I grinned as the flash went off, pulling back I looked down at it and looked back up to the other two girls.

"Do y'all wanna take a picture with us?" My grin never wavered and Ivy's eyes widened as wide as her smile, "Yes!" Her reply was as enthusiastic as she yelled over the loud chatter of the people surrounding us. I laughed as we all huddled close and snapped a few pictures. Some we had our tongues out and others we didn't.

"Lincoln, what's your instagram?" I grinned as she passed me her phone already set up to search for my profile.

Finding my public profile was easy; Considering there weren't many female Lincoln's in the world. I clicked the follow button, immediately pulling my phone out to follow her back; reciprocating the same with Juniper.

Just as I slipped my phone away, colored strobes jolted on, littering the whole venue signaling it was time. We all jumped in anticipation, knowing the DJ was about to come on the stage and rile us up.

Aria grabbed our wrists, now digging her claws into all of our poor wrists.

Sorry, girls.

Unlike me, I had come accustomed to her acrylics finding home in my veins, these poor souls; not so much.

I maneuvered Aria's hand into mine, effectively resupply my wrists with its blood supply; We all had our hands locked together attempting to make it closer to the front. We didn't necessarily shove our way up closer, but we definitely kind of did a little.

Rave's are my favorite because everybody is usually super carefree and loving and just all around good ass vibes, so there were a few helpful souls that helped clear room and nudge us closer to wherever Aria wanted us to be.

We were positioned closer to the stage, yet I still couldn't hear the muffled speech clearly that was blaring through the microphone. I didn't care though.

How could you care about anything when life felt this good?

Right now, right here. In this exact moment; all I could feel, was complete and utter bliss.

The DJ finally stopped rambling about whatever was being said earlier and was now spinning his tracks, pumping literally every single one of us up.

We all jumped to the beat of the music, my arms were thrown up over my head, eyes closed with my head tilted back. My hand tingled causing my eyes to open lazily, grinning I grabbed Aria's hand with my other, the two of us beginning to shuffle.

I turned toward Ivy and Juniper, grabbing their hands to join us. Dancing and shuffling with strangers were always Aria's and I's MO.

We lived for this moment, so once we were picked up and thrusted onto the stage with a few other stragglers, we wasted no time in getting up there and shuffling to the mix the DJ was giving us.

The vibrations from the speakers slithered up my legs, making my heart pump faster. I laughed loudly grabbing Aria's outstretched hand. Even the DJ held a grin that even I could see from the other end of the stage. He bobbed his head with the music, one headphone over his ear the other positioned right behind it on his head.

He switched up the tempo, causing our legs to move faster with the music. Aria turned back to me and I watched her grin at me in slow motion.

I wish I could stay here forever.

As the song ended; Aria and I did what we always loved. The ravers were ready for us, the only encouragement we ever needed.

We grinned at each other, our hands squeezed tightly together. She nodded to me one last time and with that, all the way from the back of the stage we ran.

My heartbeat accelerated with adrenaline, my body tingled no doubt from how hard my feet slammed into the ground. Once the end of the platform came into view, we sprinted, lunging ourselves sideways off the end into the awaiting bodies.

My eyes were always squeezed shut tightly at this point, fear that I would be engulfed by the asphalt itself, but like every other time this time was no different. Hands braced my side, helping me twist the final amount so I was on my back.

Hands passed us along, our bodies bobbing surprisingly high as we got passed to the back of the arena.

Immediately after being set on the ground, I turned toward Aria, grinning. Both her hands found mine, her smile as bright as the strobe lights.

I laughed loudly, spinning around again going back to jumping to the music and the flashing lights, letting the LSD do its magical thing.

I fucking love raves.