“Winter,” Noah called out from behind me.
“Noah,” I said without looking back at him.
“Just listen to him,” he said, his words slurring.
“Shit,” Easton said.
Xavier nodded to Easton. “Go. He’s got to take a break.”
I slowly turned and watched as Easton hurried to Noah. He guided him back into the kitchen, telling Noah it was time to drink some water and cool down on the drinking.
“Does he get like that a lot?” I asked.
“Sometimes,” Xavier said.
“All because of his parents?”
“It’s way more than that, Winter,” Xavier said. “I don’t think you’re fully aware of what some of these people are capable of.”
I set my sights on Xavier.
Oh? I don’t? I know that you are Gia’s brother. That you came from Gia’s mother. You were then taken to be raised by your parents. Which, by the way, your parents are now divorced. I bet it was because of that, right?
“So what do we do about Noah?” I asked.
“Nothing,” Xavier said. “He’ll work it out. Unless, of course, you want to go back in there and fool around with him some more.”
“I didn’t fool around with anyone,” I said. “A little harmless kissing… that’s not so bad, right?”
Xavier moved closer to me. His right hand slid around to the small of my back.
“You tell me, Winter,” he said.
I watched Xavier inch closer to kiss me.
“I’m not wearing that mask,” I said right before he had the chance to kiss me.
“Yes, you are,” he said.
“No. That’s stupid.”
“It’s tradition.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Why would I lie to you about it?” Xavier asked.
Because you’re lying to me right now. Acting like nothing happened between us. Like you didn’t try to kill me.
“I’m just… no.”
I turned my head and looked at the coffee table.
We were in the living room area with the fireplace, the leather couches and chairs. On the table was a black mask. It was some elegant looking mask too. Of course it was elegant looking. It fit the shape of my face, covering my forehead, my cheeks, and my nose. If I put the mask on, I would be able to see, breathe through my nose, and my mouth would be exposed.
It was just… weird.
“If you don’t wear the mask, you can’t come to the gathering tonight,” Xavier said.
“Fine. I can have a night to myself here. I’ll make some popcorn, find a chick flick, and just waste away in that big bed.”
“That’s not an option,” Xavier said. “You’re here with us. So you’re going to be seen with us.”
“Or else what?” I asked. “Come on, Xavier. What is the point of the mask?”
“It’s just what they do. So you really can’t see who is who. At least from a distance. Everyone wears the same mask too. And we all just walk around, talk, find people we know…”
“Which defeats the purpose of the mask,” I said.
“Want to know the real story behind it?” Noah’s voice asked from behind me.
I moved away from Xavier.
Easton sat Noah down in a chair.
He was visibly drunk.
Worse than before.
“It was Edgar’s idea,” Noah said with a laugh.
“Noah, come on,” Easton said.
“Who gives a shit?” Noah asked. “She’s here with us. It doesn’t matter. It’s not some big secret.” Noah looked at me. “Edgar got some plastic surgery done and it got all fucked up. So he wore a mask. When it came time for the party, he didn’t want to feel singled out. So he made everyone wear a mask. Then the next time there was a party, he demanded the same thing. Just for the first night though. I think he closed some big deal while wearing the mask. He told everyone that without focusing on faces, it was easier to think. I don’t know. It sounds like bullshit to me.”
“You guys can do whatever you want,” I said. “I’m not wearing the mask.”
Xavier grabbed my hand and pulled at me.
He walked me to one of the windows that overlooked the tents.
Slowly his hand moved against mine and our fingers were touching. His fingers were much longer than mine. But he was doing this on purpose. Not interlocking his fingers to mine. But touching…
“Look, Winter,” he whispered.
My eyes moved down.
There was a single walkway from the house to the tents.
It was laid with flat stone, rocks on the edges, and lights along the rocks.
Workers lined each side of the pathway with drinks.
They were wearing masks.
The same mask that was on the table that Xavier had told me I had to wear.
I opened my mouth to tell him why did it matter since it was just the workers… when four people emerged from the house to the walkway.
All four were wearing the same mask.
I looked up at Xavier.
“I have no reason to lie to you,” he said.
I turned around.
Noah sat in the leather chair, his drunk eyes looking at me.
Easton stood with his arms folded.
“And you have masks too?” I asked.
“Of course we do,” Easton said.
“Can’t get through this bullshit without it,” Noah said.
I walked toward the table and lifted the mask to my face.
It was actually kind of comfortable. It wasn’t a stiff cloth or anything cheap.
It was soft and inviting.
I put the mask completely on and then stood there.
Slowly, I smiled.
This was really ironic…
Me wearing a mask.
Hiding.
Being someone else.
I had been wearing a mask of lies this entire time.
When I entered the tent, I lost my breath for a second.
From high up in the house, looking from a window, the tent didn’t seem all that big.
If I had to compare it to something… it was like a circus tent… but for people with more zeroes in their bank accounts than anyone could possibly imagine.
The stringed lights were run up and down every pole of the tent, giving enough light to be comfortable but not too bright.
There was a dull murmur of all the voices, only overshadowed by the band set up on a corner stage. Two violinists, a cellist, and a piano player were in tuxes, wearing masks, playing classical music.
“Stay close to us,” Noah said.
His words were slurred more than before.
I took a deep breath and stayed between Noah and Easton.
Everyone seemed to know the guys.
There were a lot of head nods. Quite a few handshakes.
Everyone - men and women - wore a mask.
Easton touched my hand and pointed to the far corner of the tent.
There was a table set up on a platform.
The chair behind the table looked quite literally like a king’s chair.
“That’s where Edgar sits,” Easton said to me. “Anything to do with money goes through him.”
“This is fucked up, Easton,” I said.
“It only gets better, Winter.”
We made it a few more steps before two people appeared in front of us.
Next to me, Noah chuckled. “I’m going to find a drink.”
He walked away and I grabbed for him, but he didn’t care.
I turned my head and watched as Xavier began to talk to someone else.
Two men, tall and skinny, both wearing glasses. When they spoke, they tried to cover their mouths.
My eyes scanned around and it all just felt…
“This is Winter,” Easton said.
I perked up and smiled.
“Now, who is she?” the woman asked.
“I’m, uh…”
I looked at Ea
ston.
I had no idea what to say.
“Winter, these are my parents,” Easton said. “The great Aldrich and Caroline.”
“Nice to meet you,” I said.
“You have a lovely smile,” Aldrich said to me. “Where in the world would you travel if you could? A week… all paid for…”
He smiled.
I looked at his wife.
Caroline waved a hand. “He says that to everyone.”
“It’s just a question,” Aldrich said.
“We better get going here,” Easton said.
“Don’t go near the back corner,” Caroline said to Easton. “Ever. Got it?”
Before Easton could say something, his father grabbed his hand like they were going to shake hands. He pulled Easton close and I watched as something was whispered. As Aldrich spoke to Easton, he poked at Easton’s back with his pointer finger.
With force. With purpose.
It actually looked threatening.
“The masks don’t cover the eyes, dear,” Caroline said to me.
I looked at her and felt uneasy.
I could sort of see a mix of Easton in his parents faces.
Caroline had dark eyes.
“What?” I asked.
“Why exactly are you here?” Caroline asked.
“Uh… for the food,” I said with a smile.
She didn’t smile back.
I guess this wasn’t a time to joke.
“Sorry,” I said.
“There is no sorry,” Caroline said. “The only sorry is based on action. You look beautiful in the mask, Winter. But just be sure to watch your back too.”
I shivered.
Caroline stepped away and touched Aldrich’s arm.
Instantly, Aldrich released his fake hug on his son.
The two walked away and I looked at Easton.
His face was covered in rage.
Even behind the mask I could see it.
Easton looked around.
Looking for Xavier and Noah.
I touched his hand. “What happened?”
“Nothing,” he said.
“Easton!” I yelled. “I’m here because of you.”
He looked down at me.
He lowered his mouth down to my ear. “Being rich isn’t free, Winter. Neither is being powerful. My advice is to eat, drink, and let tomorrow’s hangover distract you from anything that’s real.”
Easton took my hand, interlocking his fingers into mine.
I had no idea where we were going next.
He got me and him a drink and we found a place to stand where it wasn’t so crowded and busy.
That’s when Easton gave me a little rundown of who I was looking at.
Again, it was just super rich people. Families. Power. Everyone secretly hating one another but smiling face to face. Shaking hands. Telling stories. Booming with laughter. Yet they couldn’t wait to rush back to their rooms to start the backstabbing.
Easton pointed out who was sleeping with who, which was eye-opening.
That part I didn’t need to hear.
But it was interesting to hear Easton just talk.
He was pissed off and the floodgates were open.
He would tell me anything with the mood he was in.
That was kind of perfect too.
I caught myself smiling, finishing my drink, and grabbing a second one.
Halfway through that drink, I decided to ask Easton some personal questions.
Before I could ask one question, Easton stepped forward. “Fuck.”
“What’s wrong?”
“That’s what’s wrong!”
He pointed and I looked to see Noah.
Fighting someone.
Chapter 20
fight, food, info
I had no idea who Noah was fighting but it certainly got the attention of anyone who could see.
Easton threw his glass to the ground and ran toward the fight, dragging me with him.
We met up with Xavier a few seconds later.
“Who is it?” Xavier asked.
“How the fuck do I know?” Easton asked. “We have to get him out of here. Right now.”
They ran right into the middle of the fight.
Noah threw a right fist and hit the other guy in the cheek.
The guy took the punch and threw one right back at Noah, hitting him in the stomach.
When we got close enough, I noticed Noah’s lip was bleeding.
The guy he was fighting had blood smeared all over his nose.
“Fuck, it’s Henry,” Easton said.
He got in the middle of the fight and Xavier grabbed Noah.
But Noah wasn’t having it.
He started to throw punches at Xavier, wanting to get away from Xavier and get back to the fight.
I looked from the corner of my eye and saw all the people staring.
They were shocked. Some covering their mouths.
The music was still being played, which was a good thing.
Then I spotted Noah’s parents.
Roland and Gina.
Gina chugged from a tall, skinny glass.
Roland looked disgusted from under his mask and shook his head.
This was both uncomfortable and embarrassing.
Noah threw an elbow at Xavier, hitting him in the jaw.
I heard Xavier groan.
“Just back the fuck off, man,” Easton yelled at the other guy.
Henry. Who was Henry?
“Get his ass out of here,” Henry said. “He’s drunk. He doesn’t know what he’s saying.”
“Just walk away, man,” Easton said.
“I’ll fucking kill him!” Noah roared.
I heard people gasp.
These rich assholes…
I grabbed Xavier’s arm and pulled him away from Noah.
Noah turned and I saw him lift a fist.
Like he was going to swing at Xavier again.
So I slapped Noah across the face.
That pulled his attention to me.
I took his hand and pulled.
He stumbled along with me and I raced us both out from under the tent.
“Fuck that guy,” he said.
He reached for a glass from a tray and I slapped it away.
The glass fell and shattered against the rocks.
The drink spilled all over one of the worker’s pants and shoes.
“I’m so sorry,” I said.
“They’re not allowed to talk to us,” Noah said. “They’re just common workers.” He looked at me. “Not my rules.”
I gritted my teeth.
I kept walking, pulling him with me.
Noah stutter stepped with me.
When we got into the house, I remembered the stairs being to the left.
The second we got into a hallway that was dark and quiet, Noah bounced his back against a wall and grabbed for my hips.
He pulled me against him and lowered his head to kiss me.
“I fucking need you, Winter,” he said.
His lips were sloppy as they kissed mine.
His tongue basically licked my chin.
“Noah, stop,” I said.
I pushed away from him.
I wiped my mouth and saw blood, realizing his blood was on my mouth now.
“I’m so sorry about everything,” he said.
I froze in place. “What did you just say?”
He looked at me and he looked sad and sincere.
“Winter… I’m sorry for what I did…”
He pulled me toward him and tried to kiss me one more time.
I slapped his face again and backed off. “What did you just say? Why did you say that?”
Noah shook his head.
His mouth moved but he wasn’t speaking.
“Noah!” I yelled.
“Oh, Winter…”
He slowly started to look at me again.
It was going to happen.
He was going to apologize
and confess what they did to me. If that happened, then all the pressure would be off my back.
“Where did they go?” Easton’s voice asked.
I grabbed Noah’s shirt. “Tell me what you’re sorry about. Right now.”
Before Noah could say anything, Easton and Xavier appeared.
“We have to keep going,” Xavier said.
Easton slipped a hand to my side and started to walk me forward.
Xavier threw one of Noah’s arms around his shoulder and dragged him along the floor.
“What was that about?” I asked Easton.
“Soon enough,” he said. “We have to get to the room first. Just keep going, Winter.”
I kept my mouth shut for the rest of the walk.
Behind me I heard Noah groaning and making gibberish noises.
“How much did he drink?” Xavier asked.
“I don’t know,” Easton said. “It wasn’t my turn to be his babysitter.”
“This is a fucking joke,” Xavier said.
I looked back. “Just be a good friend and shut up.”
We got upstairs to the room and Easton broke away from me to help Xavier with Noah.
They took him right to the bathroom.
I heard water running.
Then I heard the familiar sound of someone throwing up.
It made my stomach twist and turn.
Slowly, I walked to the window and looked down to the giant tent.
It was intense and scary what happened in there.
Everything was so fast and was unplanned.
I didn’t like any of it.
I regretted coming with the guys but I couldn’t leave now.
It was just getting started too.
I stood at the window until Easton and Xavier were done with Noah.
The room was eerily quiet as they each stood on one side of me.
“Is he okay?” I asked.
“Yeah,” Xavier said. “He’ll be fine.”
“What now?” I asked.
“You want to know who that was,” Easton said.
“Am I going to find out any truths?”
“Henry is a piece of shit,” Easton said. “Noah’s father took him under his wing. When we were kids, Henry’s father died in a plane crash. He was flying his own plane and it went down. Noah’s father took care of Henry. Did everything with him he wouldn’t do with Noah.”
Damaged Love (Bay Falls High NEXT Book 2) Page 17
