Unwritten Rules

by Eliah Greenwood

  It’s a shame I can’t see him the same way anymore. Now that I know he lied, I can’t believe a word he says.

  “Sorry about them leaving me alone? Or sorry about lying to my face?” My words catch him off guard.

  “What?” He acts like he has no idea what I’m talking about, which only irritates me more.

  “Alex, Kassidy. Does it ring a bell?”

  His face drops. He doesn’t answer, running a hand through his hair nervously. “Listen, Winter, I just didn’t think it was a good idea to tell you all about my past with your cousin. I knew you’d think that I’m a jerk.”

  I can’t hold back a laugh. “Well, you got that right. I do think you’re a jerk. How could you do that to her? Just leave without an explanation? Not to mention you’ve also been lying to your so-called best friend for six months.”

  Blake’s eyes become very good friends with the floor. He keeps his head down, clearly ashamed. That’s right, be ashamed, idiot.

  “Do you have any intention of telling him?” is all I can say. He doesn’t answer. His silence is my answer. “You really should, Blake. If you don’t, I will.”

  I turn away, squeezing my way through the crowd. Deep down, I know I’m overreacting. This is none of my business, but the fact that he broke my cousin’s heart truly bothers me.

  You don’t mess with my family.

  My subconscious wakes up.

  You know that’s not the only reason you get so upset over people leaving without an explanation, Winter.

  It brings you back to your father.

  To the explanation you never got.

  Subconscious?

  Yes?

  Shut up.

  “Where are you going?” He raises his voice as I dive deeper and deeper into the crowd. “You barely know anyone in here.”

  “I’m going to get myself a drink. After all, this is a party.”

  I can’t help but think I should’ve opted for my initial plan, which was staying home to watch the same shows on replay. I sigh, scanning the crowd of unknown faces that were supposed to be my fresh start.

  As I struggle to make my way to the bar, all I can do is pray that what I’m running toward… isn’t worse than what I’m running from.

  F O U R

  The Enemy

  You know how in the movies the girl and the boy get into a fight and you hear dramatic music as she leaves?

  Well, my movie scene sucks. Walking away from Blake seemed like a good idea at the time. But now? I’m forced to admit that Mr. Liar was right. I barely know anyone in here. Some faces I recognize from the school halls pass me from time to time but none that I could actually call “friends.” Will, Kassidy, Kendrick, and Alex are also nowhere in sight.

  Is this Hide from Winter Day and no one told me?

  “Come with us, he said. It will be fun, he said.” I curse under my breath, the bundle of pain that used to be my feet taking me to the staircase. I look down at my heels and wince. Why did I do this to myself?

  I go up the stairs in an attempt to escape the loud music busting my ears and sigh in relief when I reach the second floor. The music is still loud enough to make you deaf but somehow a bit more bearable. I glance around. Doors. A lot of them.

  This house is bigger than my house and Maria’s combined.

  I lean back against the wall, trying to gather my thoughts. I look down at the empty red cup I’m holding. How’d I drink this disgusting rum and Coke so fast? I guess my boredom is to blame.

  That’s when I hear it.

  Moans.

  A mattress squeaking.

  Immediately, my eyes jump to the slightly opened door a couple of steps away from me. Really?

  Well, it sure looks like everybody’s having fun but me.

  Then, it stops. I’m about to go back downstairs and escape this nonintentional eavesdropping when a female voice reaches my ear.

  “That was incredible.”

  No reply. The mattress squeaks again.

  “What are you doing?”

  No reply. Again.

  “You’re leaving?”

  Then, after a long pause, she finally gets an answer. “Yeah. The party’s waiting.”

  The voice obviously belongs to a male. I know I shouldn’t be listening, but I can’t help it. Plus, technically, it’s not listening. It’s hearing.

  “But I thought maybe we could…” She doesn’t finish her sentence. She doesn’t need to. It’s obvious that she wants to cuddle. The sound of a zipper being pulled up hints that her not so charming prince is getting dressed.

  “Don’t give me that look. You know I don’t do that kind of thing. I told you. We have fun together. But that’s all it is. Fun.”

  Harsh.

  At least he did tell her exactly what he wanted from the start.

  “Asshole,” she hisses, and before I can run away or at least pretend that I wasn’t listening to their conversation, the door swings open. She storms out of the bedroom, her heels in her left hand and her broken heart in the other.

  She has mid-length dirty-blonde hair and pale eyes. She is so tanned it makes me wonder if she spends every day of her life outside.

  Says the pale Canadian who can only tan three months a year.

  Wearing a tight and short black lace dress that could make any head turn, she’s the definition of “dress to impress.” I get it though. She has the body to do it.

  Then she notices me and I realize how obvious it must be that I was listening. She gives me the dirtiest look she can possibly muster, her eyes as red as scarlet and her heavy makeup smudged all over her face. She is both wasted and baked.

  The golden chain clasped around her neck catches my eyes. It reads a name.

  Bianca.

  Realization hits me. This is Bianca Reed? The popular mean girl of Riverside High and the girl who threw this monster party? She walks around me and stumbles down the stairs, the alcohol flowing in her veins obviously getting the best of her.

  I’m still looking at her drunkenly walk down the stairs when someone else exits the room and the door closes.

  I stop breathing, my eyes widening.

  Haze.

  Of course, it had to be him. Am I even a bit surprised?

  His messy brown hair and the lipstick mark on his neck literally make me want to puke.

  We got it. You had sex.

  Do you want a sticker? A medal?

  I try and subtly walk toward the stairs, hoping that by some unknown miracle, he won’t see me. But I know way too well that I’m not that lucky. I’m the girl who follows her cousin to his gang meeting and becomes the ultimate target to her family’s enemies because she was curious, for God’s sake. His clear blue eyes stop on me.

  “You really can’t stay away from me, can you?” He smirks.

  I don’t reply, still quickly making my way to the stairs. Before I can take another step, his hand captures my wrist, stopping me. My whole body becomes tense when his fingers meet my skin.

  He literally just touched Bianca with those hands. Germs.

  “You going somewhere?”

  Yeah. Somewhere you’re not.

  I don’t reply, remembering Kendrick’s words.

  Ignore him at all costs.

  “Your mother never taught you that it’s rude to ignore people?”

  “She did. But you know what she also told me? She said to never talk to creeps.”

  I want to slap myself for being unable to keep my mouth shut when it comes to this guy. I can’t help it. He irritates me that much.

  “You know you’re probably the first girl to try and get away from me?” He gives me a seductive smile, stepping closer. I step back instinctively.

  “First time for everything,” I say.

  “Speaking of first time… I almost forgot what you look like without your watchdogs next to you. Where did your bodyguards go?” He looks around.

  “I don
’t know. They’re around here somewhere getting drunk. Which reminds me, I should g—”

  “They left you alone?” He shakes his head, obviously amused. “I knew they were stupid, but this is something else.”

  I frown. “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “Not every guy is nice, Kingston. You should be careful. Who knows who you could run into tonight?” The cocky grin on his face says a lot more than a thousand words ever could. He knows all too well that the most dangerous kid in this house is him.

  “You’re right. Thanks for the advice. I should go find them.”

  “Look at you. Playing hard to get when we both know how this is going to end.”

  That’s when I know I’ve had enough.

  I bite my lower lip and smile as I take a step forward. I get on the tips of my toes—since he’s a good six foot four of wannabe bad-boy attitude—and watch his face change as shock and surprise flash in his eyes. Quickly, it’s replaced by a satisfied smile.

  When I lean in until my lips are next to his ear, the disbelief in his eyes is on display for the world to see. Then I whisper.

  “Careful, Adams. Your last booty call is showing.”

  His eyes widen as he brings his hand to his neck where Bianca’s fresh lipstick mark is waiting. I jump on the opportunity and disappear down the stairs. Diving deeper into the thick crowd of drunk teenagers, I’m unable to hold back a laugh. His face was priceless.

  For someone who’s such a player…

  He easily got played.

  I NEVER WOULD’VE THOUGHT WHEN I entered this party that a red cup would turn out to be my only friend. So much for meeting new people, huh? Staring down at the bottom of the plastic cup in my hand, I lean back against the kitchen counter. Kass should be here by now. She said she’d be here in ten. Problem is, it’s been thirty minutes. Plus, my phone is almost dead, and I have no idea how I’ll contact anyone without it.

  If these heels weren’t so painful, I’d be walking home right now. The clock on the wall reads 11:54. I can already hear Maria’s speech about missing the curfew. She’s been calling for the past twenty minutes, but I can’t bring myself to pick up. What could I possibly tell her? I’m sorry, I’m trying to go home, but I can’t find the others as they’re probably making out with people they just met or about to throw up?

  “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

  I jump, turning around to see who the voice belongs to.

  Standing behind me is Blake. With one hand in his jeans pocket and the other holding a beer, he gives me the puppy eyes that clearly say please don’t still be mad at me. The alcohol in my system is probably to blame for how happy I am to see him right now. I was angry at him. But now? I’m just relieved to see someone I know.

  “Where have you been?” He leans on the counter next to me.

  “You know, here and there. Desperately looking for a familiar face.” I try a joke but can’t even muster a smile.

  “How’s that working out for you?”

  I draw a breath. “Not well.”

  “Listen. I’m sorry for earlier. I shouldn’t have lied to you.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I might have overreacted. It’s none of my business. I’m sure you had your reasons for breaking up with Kass. It’s just… I know what’s it like to have someone leave without an explanation, so it hit close to home. Plus, you really need to tell Kendrick.” I take a sip of my drink.

  “You’re right. I’ll talk to him. I’ll talk to both of them. I promise. I’m just waiting for the right moment.” He looks down, clearly anticipating Kendrick’s reaction. “So, we’re okay?”

  I let our eyes meet, unsure. He truly seems sorry.

  “Sure.”

  He’s about to speak when the loudest noise I have ever heard cuts him off. Distant screams and footsteps make it clear that something is happening. I jump, my heart crawling up my throat.

  What the hell is this?

  Blake and I exchange looks, frowning.

  “Cops! Everybody out!”

  People start running, pushing each other carelessly as they try to get out of the house. How could I not see that one coming? The music is so loud the entire neighborhood probably can’t sleep. Plus, the amount of underage drinking in this place is unbelievable. When I finally take my eyes off the madness unraveling before me, I look to my left at Blake. Let me rephrase that—I look to my left where Blake should be.

  He’s gone. In the blink of an eye. He left me. How did he manage to disappear so fast? I have no idea. My mind starts racing as I try to think of a logical explanation. What do I do?

  “What the hell are you waiting for? Move,” a deep voice says.

  I barely have time to recognize Haze Adams standing tall next to me. Where the hell did he come from?

  He grabs my arm and starts running, dragging me along with him against my will. I desperately try to keep up, my feet hurting so bad I curse the day heels were invented.

  “What the hell are you doing? Let me go.” I try and remove my arm from his grasp.

  “Trust me, you really don’t want me to do that right now,” he says, looking straight ahead.

  “Why? What’s going on?”

  “Whatever you do, do not stop, you hear me?”

  “But we could get arrested for running if…”

  All it takes is one severe look from Haze to shut me up.

  “Winter, they’re not cops, okay? Run.”

  That’s when I hear it.

  The sound that makes my blood turn cold.

  A gunshot.

  Haze takes a little side street, distancing us from the frantic crowd. The numerous blisters on my feels make it seem like we’ve been running forever. The streets are empty. Silent. We can still hear the panic from afar, but the sound decreases with every step.

  A black car is parked a couple of steps away from us. Haze doesn’t say a word, but his eyes tell me everything I need to know.

  “No.” I shake my head.

  “Get in the car.”

  “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

  “Winter, get in the damn car,” he barks. “Now.”

  I look at him, unsure. There are a million reasons why I shouldn’t get in the car. But none of them are as powerful as the fear that infiltrates my entire being when I hear distant footsteps coming our way. I don’t want to stick around and find out who they belong to.

  I get into Haze’s sports car and slam the door loudly. It doesn’t even take a second for the vehicle to take off in a roar. I hold on to the leather seats so tight my knuckles turn white. I glance at him from the corner of my eyes, trying to breathe properly. Key word: trying.

  He keeps glancing in the rearview mirror as if he’s afraid someone might be following us. I don’t dare speak or move for a good five minutes, unable to fully process what just happened.

  “We’re clear,” he finally says.

  He seems to relax like a huge weight’s been lifted off his shoulders.

  “Who were they?”

  He doesn’t answer, not even bothering to look at me.

  “This is kidnapping, you know that?”

  Like his ability to speak just returned from an unexpected trip, he scoffs. “Not exactly the answer I expected.”

  “And what in the world did you expect?”

  He looks at me for a brief second. “Oh, I don’t know. Something like ‘thank you for saving my ass, Haze. You’re amazing. To show you my gratitude, I’ll give you a—”

  I cut him off. “Don’t you dare finish that sentence.”

  He stifles a laugh.

  “Listen, I don’t know what you smoked tonight, but my ass is doing very well and doesn’t need your saving, thank you very much.”

  He doesn’t reply, taking a very tight and abrupt turn.

  “Slow down, please.”

  “Not until we get you somewhere safe.”

  “What the hel
l does that mean? I’m not in danger. Dangerously close to smacking you in the head maybe, but that’s all. Please drive me home.”

  “Love is weakness. Kendrick loves you. Yes, you’re in danger.”

  I freeze, my thoughts racing each other.

  “So these people…”

  “They were after you.”

  A million memories start spinning around in my head as I remember Kendrick’s words. If word gets out that I have someone to protect, horrible things could happen. Fear slams against my chest.

  “It was a gang, wasn’t it?”

  He doesn’t reply. I know his silence means yes.

  “Is everybody going to be okay? The kids from school?”

  He sighs. “They’ll be fine. That’s not how they work. They only wanted you. They’re probably already out of there, looking for you.”

  “But there was a gunshot? And how did they even know who I am? I thought that if we agreed to the deal, your guys wouldn’t tell anyone about me. I—”

  He interrupts me. “We didn’t.”

  “Then how?”

  “I don’t know, Winter. One of my guys must’ve disobeyed. I’ll have to take care of them.”

  I don’t answer, terrified to even think about what “taking care of them” means.

  “Why did you help me?”

  “Because your idiot of a cousin left you all alone,” he hisses.

  “Yeah, but what’s in it for you?”

  “For God’s sake, do you ever stop asking questions?”

  “Do you ever answer them?”

  His jaw is clenched, and his fists are tightly wrapped around the steering wheel. Call me crazy but…

  It almost looks like he doesn’t know the answer to that question himself.

  AFTER A LONG AND HORRIBLY AWKWARD ride, Haze pulls up into the driveway of a house that’s—for the second time tonight—so big it looks like it came right out of movie.

  “Where are we?” I frown, glancing at the brick-built house.

  “Somewhere safe.”

  I roll my eyes. “Thank you. I feel much better.”

  “We’re at my house.” He steps out of the vehicle. “You’re spending the night.”

  He shuts the door and walks around his rich-kid car to—believe it or not—open my door and hold out his hand for me.