I pushed my way into the house and through the crowd of people to the kitchen, where the kegs and a variety of other liquor were laid out. I grabbed a Coke from the fridge and a beer for Jaden. When I shoved my way back through the crowd to the porch, I saw Sarah in her tight mini skirt and clingy, white T-shirt—barely long enough to cover her boobs—sitting next to Jaden. She had one arm wrapped around his waist, her finger hooked in a belt loop on his jeans, while the fingers on her other hand twisted a lock of his blond hair around them. I took a deep breath and sighed before walking to them.
Skank. And Jaden isn’t much better. And I have to sit around and watch. There’s nothing I can do about it, and Jaden knows it.
There were always girls throwing themselves at Jaden, and I was positive he’d caught a few. There were plenty of rumors about him hooking up with some girl or another at a party.
Our relationship had run its course months ago. I tried to break things off with him more than once, but he wouldn’t leave me alone. He’d show up at my classes and follow me, making sure no guy came near me. I was off-limits whether we were dating or not.
Then, one Monday morning, he handed me an envelope just before my first period. Inside was a newspaper clipping and a note that simply read: ‘I know and I’ll tell.’ I knew I was screwed. I was his bitch. Do what he wanted, say what he wanted, go where he wanted, and make sure the world revolved around Jaden—or he’d tell what she did. So breaking up with him wasn’t an option. I was stuck.
But it wasn’t all bad. After all, what girl didn’t want to date the captain of the football team and the most popular, not to mention gorgeous, guy in school? Me, that’s who.
I’d been at Jamieson’s party for two hours watching Sarah throw herself at Jaden. She didn’t seem to care that I was there. Of course, she was so drunk she probably didn’t know her own name. Jaden drank beer after beer and was almost as drunk as Sarah was. I sat by, sipped my Coke, and watched them.
I didn’t drink alcohol. Well, I should say that I didn’t drink anymore. I had my fair share of hangovers after Jamieson’s parties, but I didn’t like losing control. My inhibitions flew out the window when I was drunk. I lost control and it wasn’t a cool. Plus, my mom drank a little too much and I had a stepdad before my mom married Ralph—my current stepdad—that drank way too much. Ralph did his share of guzzling, too. I saw—lived—with what booze did to them. No thank you. Not for me. Call me a prude, or whatever else you wanted to, but I was sticking with Coke. Just Coke.
“Me and Sarah are going to find somewhere quiet to talk,” Jaden whispered in my ear. His breath reeked of booze, and I turned my face away.
Yeah, talk. That’s what you’ll be doing. Sure.
“Come with us.” He pulled me up by the arm.
“Nope.” I pushed his hand away and sat down on the porch step.
“Come on, Willow. It’ll be fun. I promise.”
Um, I’m not into that.
“Go do whatever it is you’re gonna do, Jaden. I’m not going with you.”
“He’s gonna do Sarah,” Jamieson slurred, leaning so close to my face I could smell the stench of liquor and cigarettes clinging to him.
Everyone around us laughed. I walked away and wandered aimlessly around the huge yard, looking at the flowering bushes and flower garden surrounding a gazebo in the far back corner of the yard. It was beautiful and I made way toward it, admiring each new type of flower as I passed. The gazebo was wood, painted white. There was an intricate design in the railing and the eaves. The roof was rounded before it came to a point at the top. It looked like part of the Kremlin in Russia.
Preoccupied with the beautiful gazebo and the flower garden, I didn’t pay attention to who might be inside and almost walked in on two people who most definitely did not want my company. The term “get a room” took on a whole new meaning. It seemed “get a gazebo” worked well, too.
Yelling my apologies over my shoulder, I ran down the walk and across the yard until I came to the back deck of the house where I found a swing. Dropping into it, I leaned my head back and closed my eyes, swaying gently. The swing jostled when someone sat next to me, and my eyes shot open.
Please don’t be gazebo guy. I saw enough of him tonight.
“Great party, huh?” Natalie, a girl from my English class, said with a frown.
I made an I-hate-every-second-of-it face, but said, “Yeah. It’s wonderful.”
“I saw Jaden and Sarah. I’m sorry.”
I braced myself for the pity I’d see in her eyes. Instead, I saw disgust and, for one tiny second, I didn’t feel so alone. “Thanks.” I shrugged a shoulder. “I’m used to it. He’s a real douche when he’s drinking.”
“They all are.” She took a drink from the Dr. Pepper can she had in her hands. “You want to get out of here? I could drop you at your house.”
I let out a huge sigh. “If you could drop me at the school so I can pick up my car it would be wonderful. Thanks so much.”
When I got home, I went straight to my bedroom and fell across my bed. My phone chimed that I had a message. I knew it was from Jaden, and I wasn’t in the mood to talk to him. So I turned my phone off, slipped into my boxers and T-shirt, and climbed into bed.
I closed my eyes and waited for the nightmares to begin.
Breathe. You’re strong. Breathe. Just breathe.
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The Innocent Page 30
