"Come on, Lil. You know DJ Sparks is amazing, and it's like the biggest party of the year." Jessica was dressed to impress when she barged into my dorm room, digging through her huge sidebag.
Shards of multi-colored glitter slipped off her skin and drifted to the floor. When she finally glanced up, her eyes narrowed. I was still cozied up with my purple plush hippo.
When I just stared back at her without answering, Jessica let out a huff. "You never want to do anything fun."
I paused Netflix and glared at my best friend. "Uh, yeah, there's a reason for that, Jess. Your version of fun always gets us in trouble, and like I've already told you a million times, I'm watching Stranger Things tonight."
"I know, but you've seen it twice already. You have to come with me. Here," Jessica threw a shiny silver dress at my head. "Get that on, and I'll do your hair and makeup. We only have an hour."
I clawed the scratchy dress off my face and tossed it on my bed. "No. You only have an hour. I have all night."
Jessica's determined expression crumbled as she clutched her hands in prayer pose. "Please? I need to let loose. You know how my dad is. It was horrible. He was on my case all week about declaring my major. I'm so glad I came back early. I couldn't get out of there fast enough. Please come with me?"
I wanted to tell her she was lucky to have parents who cared about her, but instead, I nodded in sympathy. "Fine, but only two hours tops."
"Really?" Jessica's hazel eyes lit up as she hastily retrieved makeup from her bag. "Two hours. Now let's get you ready."
One hour later we headed toward the parking lot. I felt ridiculous in her skin tight mini skirt and knee-high boots.
"They should be here soon." Jessica tapped out a text on her phone.
"Who?" My breath caught in my throat.
She hadn't mentioned anyone else. Damn it! I should've known there was more to this.
Jessica's eyes flicked up to mine as the wind blew across her shiny dark hair. "Um... I didn't tell you, but—"
The rumble of an engine interrupted her. We glanced toward the parking lot entrance to see a red Dodge Charger heading our way.
I knew that car.
Bass pounded from the Charger, causing the concrete to vibrate under my feet.
I pinned Jessica with a glare. "What did you do?"
Jessica refused to make eye contact. Instead, she smiled at the approaching vehicle and waved. "Nico was at the Stop N Go when I got back in town. He finally invited us to party with them tonight. How could I say no? Nico's hella fine, Lil."
I gave her a death glare. "I can't believe you didn't tell me!"
"You wouldn't have come." Jessica always did this crap, and I knew she didn't mean to upset me, but she wasn't apologizing.
She had no right to pull a guilt trip on me earlier. She could've just gone with Nico and left me to my Netflix marathon. I had been perfectly content in my dimension of the upside down.
My fingernails dug into my arms as my eyebrows lowered. "Hanging out with Nico and Eli at a fricking rave doesn't exactly sound like my idea of a good time. Why am I even here?"
"Eli was asking about you... he—"
"Ladies!" A very loud Nico hollered. "I have to say you both look mighty fine tonight."
I twisted to see Nico, the campus dealer, waltzing toward us. His bright blue eyes scanned Jessica's body from head to toe, stopping on her boobs.
I rolled my eyes and brushed my long brown hair over my shoulder.
Jessica squirmed and blushed, letting out a small giggle. "Hey, Nico."
Nico moved his focus to me, taking me in and widening his eyes. "Damn, Lilly. You look..."
"Fucking gorgeous." A very familiar voice finished Nico's sentence.
Nico ran his fingers through his dirty blond hair before glancing behind me.
I ground my teeth together and turned toward the voice.
Eli's eyebrow piercing was impossible to see since his black hat was pulled down so low. As usual, Eli had a perfect shave with a thin line of dark stubble outlining his square jaw.
I knew his chestnut gaze was fixed on me, and I hated the heat that swept over me whenever I felt him watching me.
Oh my God. What was wrong with me? I hated him.
Two hours my ass. This was going to be the longest night of my life.
The fifteen minute ride to the rave was awkward. Eli rode shotgun, and I sat behind him, so I didn't have to see his face.
After I gave Jessica the silent treatment for the first five minutes, she started texting me. When I refused to look at my phone, she nudged me with her knee. I finally gave in and read her texts.
Jess: I'm sorry.
Jess: Why won't you talk to me?
Jess: Nico said you had to come tonight, or I wasn't invited.
Me: Stop texting me.
Jess: I just want to have a good time.
Me: I was having a good time.
Jess: Yeah right.
Me: I really hate you right now.
Jess: I won't leave you alone with him.
Me: You better not or I will unfriend you for life.
Jess: Cross my heart.
Jess: Did you see the way he was looking at you?
Me: Stop.
Jess: I know you hate him, but he's so into you, and he's the hottest guy on campus.
Me: I said stop.
Jess: Every girl wants him...
Me: I don't care. He's an ass.
Jess: Just sayin'.
A rave is one of those illustrious events that seem to pop up at the oddest of times and disappear like a ghost in the night. Some student, probably Nico, blasted a mass text to the entire student body on New Year's Eve, telling them to get their asses back to campus by January second for the biggest rave of the year.
Once word spread that DJ Sparks would be tonight's entertainment, people who normally would've waited another week to drive back to school were racing back. No one wanted to miss a party this huge.
Well, except me.
The last time I truly partied was last year in high school. I went with a group of friends and drank way too much. I remember freaking out when some dude beat up my boyfriend, and I have no memory of what happened after that.
The next morning I woke up in some stranger's bathroom with my cheek resting on the toilet seat.
And that's not even the worst part.
The worst part was that the hottest guy I'd ever seen was asleep in the bathtub. I was so embarrassed, I took off without a word.
It wasn't my best moment.
Todd broke up with me the next day. He blamed me for his broken nose and claimed I was the reason the fight started. Well, that, and because I'd been hanging all over some dude. I had no memory of what happened and I don't think I'll ever remember what happened that night.
It was during my first week on campus when I spotted Eli and realized right away he was bathtub guy. I soon found out that Eli was not only a Junior, but he was also best friends with the campus drug dealer, Nico. After putting the pieces together, I was pretty sure Eli slipped me something at the party, but there was no real evidence.
Since starting college, I've done my best to dodge Eli, but he kept popping up unexpectedly. And here we were again.
"So... Lilly?" Nico turned the music down. "What's the name of that dude we always see you walking with?"
"Does it matter?" I folded my arms and scoffed. The guy was my study partner. He was also into guys, but that was none of their business. "What's it to you, anyway, Nico? I won't help you expand your network if that's what you're after."
"Fiesty." Nico glanced back at me and smirked. "I like it."
Jessica's mouth fell open just as Eli looked at Nico. The tension in the car grew stifling. Nico raised his hand in surrender and he didn't say another word.
I'm not sure what was said, but the rest of the ride was silent, except for Tupac playing in the background. I was just fine with that.
The field outside the abandoned warehouse was filling up fast. Nico's phone chimed several times on the ride over and continued as we walked in. I was having a hard time accepting the fact I would have to get used to that irritating chime because I knew I would hear it a thousand more times tonight.
Some guy, possibly from the football team, ran up to us. "Nico! My man. What do you got for me tonight?"
"Got some brand new shit, Dude. They call it Hype. Came straight outta New York City. It'll rock your world." After making sure the coast was clear, Nico knelt in the overgrown grass, opened his bag, and started to do the deal.
Nico's backpack was nearly as infamous as him. It was bumblebee yellow. Anyone who saw it knew not to mess with it, or they would get a severe beat down from Nico's personal bouncer slash best friend, Eli.
Jessica and Eli stopped to wait, but I just kept walking.
"Lil, wait," Jess stumbled over a patch of grass. "We have to stay with them."
"Screw that," I spoke loud enough for everyone to hear. "I'm not gonna be Nico and Eli's little lapdog all night. They came here to do business, and we came here to have fun."
When I spun to leave, Eli was suddenly next to me, holding my elbow.
I tried to yank my arm out of his grip, but he was too strong. "What the hell?"
"Don't worry. We're gonna have a good time." Eli clenched his jaw as his gaze raked over me. Warmth spread throughout my cheeks before Eli's darkened gaze caught mine. "But over my dead body will I let anything happen to you. So don't you dare leave my side, got that?"
I did my best to glare at him. The corner of Eli's mouth lifted into a half grin. When he caught me studying his lips, Eli chuckled.
Damn.
It was going to be a long night.
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