The girls stopped and waited for him. When he caught up, they flanked him and laced their arms through his.
“What’s wrong?” Yesenia demanded. “You’re acting weird.”
“Sorry if I’m not excited about being a fifth wheel,” he snapped. He’d worked overtime and weekends in order to pay for this trip. It was supposed to have been just the three of them having a good time like the old days when they’d lived on the same street in high school. But now the girls would be preoccupied with some random dudes all night. It didn’t take a genius to know that he was going to spend most of it alone, pretending he was part of the group.
Excited partygoers flowed around the three of them toward the entrance gates whooping and cheering. Tyler wanted to feel that way too, but he didn’t. Maybe he should have just stayed at the hotel and let the girls go on their double date.
“You’re not going to be a fifth wheel,” Yesenia said. “What are you talking about?”
Tyler huffed out a breath. “Oh, come on. The two of you will be flirting with those guys all night and I’m going to be left on my own. The only reason I’m coming is because I paid a lot of money for the ticket, just like you.”
Mya squeezed his arm. “We’re not going to abandon you, Tyler. We swear.”
Something warm and reassuring flowed through her touch, and his reluctance almost left him, but not quite. His misgivings were rooted too strongly in his gut. “Oh, please. I know what’s going to happen. I’m going to get ditched just like yesterday.”
“Tyler, I said I was sorry about last night.” Concern gleamed from Mya’s eyes. “It just kind of happened.”
“Yeah, I know.” They followed the stream of people into the corrals that filtered them through security. After a quick wristband and ID check, they were through.
“It’s going to be fine,” Yesenia insisted. “You’ll see.”
“Oh wait, we forgot to tell you, Tyler,” Mya said. “Wade and Somer know each other. Can you believe that? They came here together and have another friend with them, too.”
“A girl friend,” Yesenia said, with a perky little hop.
Tyler groaned. “That’s even worse. So now, instead of being alone, I’m going to have to keep her company all night? Twenty bucks says she’s totally not my type.”
The girls exchanged a glance filled with that primal female communication he’d never been able to decode.
“I’m sure she’s nice,” Mya said.
“I guess we’ll see,” Yesenia added.
They tightened their hold on him and pulled him along, speeding up his pace. He didn’t bother resisting. He’d learned long ago that he would lose when they ganged up on him. Better to just try and put his feelings aside. He people watched as they walked to try and take his mind off it.
Tonight, since it was the last night, the outfits had gotten even more outrageous. The pasties and thongs that usually didn’t come out until the wee hours of morning were prevalent, even though it was just after seven o’clock in the evening. The eclectic atmosphere of the event and the warm desert air blanketing them made it easy to wear very little.
Tyler was a jeans and neutral-colored t-shirt kind of guy. But he’d acquired some rave gear the last two nights and felt like he was more part of the scene today wearing shoes with light up soles, and EDC logo shirt, a couple of necklaces with flashing lights, and kandi on his wrists. Kandi were bracelets that people made so they could exchange them with each other. He’d strung together some of the brightly colored beads himself last night at a kandi station when he hadn’t been able to find Mya. Maybe he would use them to branch out and talk to other people tonight when he found himself standing alone and ignored.
Who knew? Maybe it would be a good thing if he got separated from the group tonight. Anything could happen. After the girls had disappeared they’d both reappeared with good-looking guys in tow. So maybe, if he got lost, he would get lucky and the same would happen to him…but with a hot girl. Yeah, right. All of his good luck had been used up when he’d gotten into a nasty car accident and almost died.
They were inside the speedway now and descending the stadium steps toward Cosmic Meadow. Mya and Yesenia were smiling and waving before they even reached the bottom because their two studs were standing there waiting already. Yesenia’s guy, Wade, had that classic dark-and-brooding look girls loved. Mya’s guy, Somer, was the opposite. He smiled a lot and seemed more like the life-of-the-party kind of guy. It was crazy that the girls had separately met two guys who’d come here together. What were the chances of that?
Tyler breathed a sigh of relief when he saw there was no third person. Maybe their other friend was too worn out to come tonight. Being stuck with a blind date, of sorts, was even worse than being a fifth wheel.
Mya hugged Somer hello. “Where’s your friend?” she asked.
“We have to go meet up with her.” Somer kept his arms around her and stroked her back.
“She didn’t come with you?” Yesenia asked Wade.
“No because she’s already here,” Wade said, exchanging a glance with his friend.
“Yeah, we’re supposed to meet her at Upside Down House,” Somer said.
“Good,” both girls said at the same time, shooting concerned but hopeful looks at Tyler.
“Great,” Tyler muttered. Maybe he would find a way to get lost tonight…before they met up with the mysterious third friend.
*****
Scarlett assumed solid form in the middle of the dancefloor at Upside Down House, already moving to the music. It was her last night this year to feel alive again, and she planned to make the most of it before being confined to limbo again. Scarlett loved Electric Daisy Carnival. Even when she had been alive, it’d made her feel, well…alive! The lights, music, energy, and atmosphere all came together in a vibrant mass of sense-stimulation. She’d been a partygoer at the very first EDC in Los Angeles. She and her fiancée, Nick, had gone to it with some friends.
She and Nick had met their freshman year of high school and it had been love at first sight. They’d dated exclusively all three years. On their graduation day, he’d proposed and she’d enthusiastically said yes. Electric Daisy Carnival was supposed to have been the kick off for the big plans they’d laid out for their future. Both of them had signed up to work on a cruise ship so they could see the world together.
Sadly, she’d died of a drug overdose at the carnival. But for some reason, she didn’t go into the white light, or crossover, or whatever it was people said happened when you died. No, she’d gotten stuck in limbo somehow, and apparently her assignment was to haunt EDC wherever it went. Thankfully, whatever powers controlled afterlife allowed her to assume solid form for the event. Each night, after the last rays of sun disappeared, she transformed from a wispy wraith into her old self, complete with the outfit she’d died in.
If only Nick were here with me. She wished the same wish every year at EDC. She couldn’t leave the carnival, but she always hoped that he would come, just so they could be together during the brief time she was solid. The hereafter, or whatever it was called, wouldn’t be so bad if they were still together. EDC probably carried bad memories for him though, because of her death. But she could never stop herself from hoping and subconsciously scanning the crowd for him.
She knew, in reality, that Nick had turned thirty-eight this year. In all likelihood he was married and had kids by now. Maybe, after he finished living his long and wonderful life, she would be lucky enough to see him once more. Perhaps their two souls would connect again before he went to heaven. Limbo had to be on the way there, didn’t it? It was the only way to explain how souls got stuck. She would give anything for even one more minute with him. Of course, there was part of her that held onto a selfish hope that he might get stuck there with her. But she squashed it down whenever she could.
She turned and headed to the back of the dancefloor where her two friends waited, along with the girls they’d met. Wade was a vampire and Somer
was an incubus. They were paranormals just like she was. She’d met them a few years ago at another EDC. Usually, in the weeks leading up to the event, Scarlett’s energy would start to manifest more strongly. During that time, as she transitioned from wandering the cloudy nebulous of limbo, the earthly plane became clearer. Usually she wandered the grounds and watched the crew set up, having nothing else to do.
Being a ghost was often a confusing experience. She thought it was probably similar to being a sleepwalker or a zombie. She only ever got snatches of reality at a time. And she never knew where she would be when she would get it. And sometimes, because her energy grew stronger in the week leading up to EDC, people saw her during that time. She often found herself coming to in the strangest places, like inside a dumpster, or a concession stand, or the bathrooms. One time she’d been in a van full of teenagers smoking pot. Sometimes they saw her and sometimes they didn’t. But the ones who did often scared the crap out of her with their shouts and screams when she appeared out of thin air.
The night she’d met Wade and Somer, she’d gained consciousness in the shadows near the perimeter fence. They’d been pissing in the grass, and Wade had been the first to sense her.
“Dude, I think we’re being watched,” he’d said.
“Oh yeah?” Somer finished his business and zipped up his pants. He’d scanned the area with those devilish green eyes, and his gaze had locked on her right away even though she wasn’t solid yet. “Well, hey there, how are you?” he’d said with a grin and a wave.
Scarlett had been amazed. “You can see me?”
Wade zipped his pants up and turned around. “Sense you, is more like it.” Then he blinked. “Oh wait, yeah, I can see you. You seem to be becoming more opaque. What do you think Somer?”
“No idea. I can’t see her. I don’t have your vampy sight, but her energy is strong and kind of on the sweet side like taffy.”
“My energy has a flavor?” Scarlett asked.
“Only to him,” Wade had said. “As in incubus, sucking energy is his thing.”
Somer laughed at him. “Look who’s talking about sucking.” Then he’d squinted at Scarlett and said, “I can sense you and hear you just fine. Oh wait, I think you’re right, Wade. I can see her now. How are you doing that?”
“It happens every year,” Scarlett said. “As soon as the sun goes down, I’ll be solid again.” The last glow of sunlight in the sky died away as she said it, and she gestured at herself as she became completely solid. “See?” Then she’d made a mock curtsey and said, “Ta-da!”
“That’s cool!” Somer said drawing closer. “I’ve never met a ghost before. You want to hang out with us tonight?” He held out his hand to her. “I’m Somer, by the way, and that’s Wade.”
“Scarlett,” she’d said. “I’m sure you’ll forgive me though if I abstain from shaking your hand, seeing as how you just got done going to the bathroom and all.”
Both boys had laughed.
“And, yes, I would love to hang out with you guys,” she’d said, and they’d been friends ever since.
Scarlett had been grateful to find friends in the hereafter who could accept her for what she was. Sure there were plenty of other ghost around, but most of them were so consumed with guilt or longing that they made poor conversationalists. The whole drifting in and out of awareness thing made it tough as well.
Being friends with Wade and Somer eased some of her loneliness. Now, instead of EDC being the anniversary of her death, it had become a reunion with her two friends. She loved them both and was excited that they’d found love. Well, Wade had admitted straight out that he was in love. Somer had been more elusive with his feelings. But seeing the incubus now with the beautiful blond girl he’d met, it was plain to Scarlett that he was. Love wasn’t the sort of thing anyone could hide. It was such a powerful force that it crept out of your pores, put bounce in your step, and added megawatts to every smile. She knew because that’s the kind of love she and Nick had had together.
As she drew closer to them, she waved to get their attention. Wade’s girl was petite, Hispanic, and had killer curves. Wow, she’s gorgeous! No wonder Wade’s looming protectively over her like he’s going to rip someone’s head off if they dare to even bump her.
Wade stepped forward to greet her. “Hey, Scarlett. This is Yesenia,” he gestured to the Hispanic girl, then to the blond, “and that’s Mya.” The blonde hugged her as if she were a long-lost sister.
Man, she looks radiant! She’s almost sparkling like gold. But I suppose dating an incubus does that to girls. She wondered if the girls knew that she, Wade, and Somer were paranormal. Not that it mattered. More company would make the night better no matter what.
“It’s good to meet you, Scarlett. Somer has told me all about you,” Mya said. “This is our friend, Tyler, by the way.” She turned and gestured at the tall dark-haired guy standing just behind them.
Scarlett froze as shock and elation invaded her senses simultaneously. “Nick?”
Sign up for Jewel Quinlan’s newsletter at http://bit.ly/JewelsNews and once per month you will receive news about upcoming releases, appearances, giveaways.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Restless by nature, Jewel Quinlan is an avid traveler and has visited sixteen countries so far. Lover of ice cream, beer, and red wine, she tries to stay fit when she’s not typing madly on her computer concocting another tale. In her spare time, she likes to do yoga, hike, learn German, and play with her spoiled Chihuahua, Penny.
Visit: http://jewelquinlan.com/
Or you can follow her on
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJewelQuinlan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JewelQuinlan
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7338083.Jewel_Quinlan
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jewel-Quinlan/e/B00FR6ZTVC
Kandi (Electric Desert Nights Book 2) Page 4
