Chapter 7
I tried to calm my nerves as I walked with Shane up the cobbled stone pathway leading to Milo’s house. The last time I’d been to a party had been the night before the accident that killed my mom. It felt strange, and somehow wrong––and the only thing that kept me walking toward the door was the fact I wanted to spend time with Shane.
Speaking of Shane, he actually had looked relieved when I told him I was going to the party. Aside from our trip to the castle, I tried to recall the last time we hung out together. We used to attend dances at a gym called “Hoops”, where we’d dance all night with our friends to bad techno music. Back then we’d always got along, and always defended each other if the other one was in trouble of any kind…that was until I started hanging out with Ashley.
Meeting Ashley had been the beginning of the end for me. I thought she was so cool, so different than Becca and my other friends. I was a dancer, on the honor roll, and I didn’t smoke, drink or do drugs, but Ashley did. And she convinced me that my life would be so much better if I did too.
In my starry-eyed mode, I’d turned away from everything I had known, including my family. And then Shane had started acting out, and my parents had blamed me, which in turn made me push them even farther away.
Music blared through the open windows of the gray stone cottage that had a gingerbread house look about it. My heart picked up speed with every step that brought us closer. I had spent an hour getting ready and I hoped I wasn’t overdressed. I’d opted for a black, button-up shirt, and dark jeans with a pair of wedge heels. For the first time in months I had curled my hair and put on makeup. As I’d been getting ready, I couldn’t help but wonder what Ian would think of the outfit, or how I looked.
Shane knocked on the door. A second later the door flew open and Milo was there, smiling from ear to ear. “Welcome, American friends,” he said with a terrible American accent.
His gaze caught mine and he whistled through his teeth as he looked me up and down.
“Dude, seriously,” Shane said, sounding irritated.
I had to admit Shane’s behavior surprised me in a good way. I liked knowing he had my back.
Milo threw up his hands. “Dude, I’m just saying big sister’s smokin’ hot.” The words sounded strange with his Scottish accent, but his effort to come off as American made me smile. The compliment didn’t hurt either.
Milo gestured for us to enter.
“Thanks,” I said, slipping past him, anxiously looking around the room at the others who stared back at us. Uncomfortable, I shifted on my feet.
Aside from the pounding music, the voices had quieted, and as Milo shut the door, I fought the urge to turn and run, back to the safety of my room and Ian.
I finally relaxed when I saw Megan come toward me. She had a drink in one hand, and when our eyes met, I could tell it wasn’t her first.
She grinned. “Hey, I was wondering if you were gonna show.” She gave me a big hug and spilled some of her drink on my sleeve and the rest onto the floor.
“Thanks for inviting me,” I said, grabbing onto a nearby chair to keep from falling over with her on top of me.
“Watch it, love,” Milo said, righting the glass and pulling Megan toward him. “My mum will have my head if I make a mess of the place.”
Megan snorted. “Yeah, your mum will be livid once she learns you had a party while she was away.” I could tell she struggled to focus. If she drank much more, she’d be on her ass in no time.
I looked around the room and saw Shane was already busy tossing back a straight shot. A small crowd had rallied around him and they roared their approval.
At the front of the crowd was a younger girl with black hair, multiple piercings, and black, emo-style clothing. She appeared to have her eye on Shane, and I had the feeling he had noticed her too, from the way he watched her.
My little brother was definitely growing up.
“You want a drink?” Megan asked.
“I don’t know,” I said, and both Milo and Megan groaned. I had no desire to get drunk in front of strangers. My dad had always said you only had one shot at making a first impression.
Megan’s lower lip jutted out. “Come on, Riley. Don’t be a buzzkill.”
Buzzkill Riley—not a nickname I was wanting.
“Sure, why not.” I was determined to sip on the drink in case Shane might need my help walking home later. One of us had to be clear-headed when we faced our dad who’d been surprisingly chatty at dinner. Both Shane and I had contributed little to the conversation, other than nod and answer each of his mundane questions. He seemed to like his job, which was good, but it also meant any chance of moving back to Portland wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.
“And you must be Riley,” said a gorgeous guy with light brown eyes and shaggy brown hair. He had an athletic body, and wore a button-up blue and white striped shirt, dark jeans, and skater shoes that he hadn’t bothered to lace. Aside from the unlaced shoes, he seemed fashionable and was definitely a hottie…and every girl in the vicinity seemed to notice him.
“Yeah, that’s me.”
“I’m Johan,” he said, shaking my hand.
“An original name.”
He flashed a grin, and my heart actually skipped a beat. “My parents would like to think so.”
Milo pushed a drink into my hand. “Drink up, Riley,” he said, waiting for me to do just that.
I brought the neon green plastic glass to my lips and winced as the strong liquor burned my mouth.
Two girls came up to me and introduced themselves, but I quickly got the feeling they were using me to get to Johan, since they kept throwing glances his way. To his credit, he seemed oblivious to all the attention.
I listened to the conversation going on all around me, while keeping an eye on Shane. I felt uneasy when he took yet another straight shot. I didn’t want to go off on him like our dad would if he knew Shane was drinking, but I didn’t want him getting sloppy drunk in front of people he’d just met either.
“He’ll be okay,” Johan said.
I smiled. “That obvious, huh?”
“It’s good you’re looking out for him. That’s what family is for.”
I nodded. I seriously wondered what others would think of my family if they knew the truth, especially about me. A girl who could see and talk to ghosts wasn’t exactly the norm. And God forbid they found out about my cutting. Back home I’d managed to keep my secret relatively safe, but I’d also become a loner in the process.
“I have a confession to make,” he said, and I instantly straightened, afraid of his next words. “I saw you today at registration and tried to get your attention.”
I sighed inwardly. “I’m sorry, I didn’t see you.”
“Yeah, you seemed a bit preoccupied.” He leaned into me, his lips close to my ear. “How about I introduce you around?” His breath was hot against my neck and I couldn’t ignore the sudden racing of my heart.
“Sure,” I said, following behind him. Johan stayed by my side every second, except when I excused myself and went to the bathroom, where I poured the mixed drink into the sink, and set the cup on the cluttered kitchen counter on my way back to the living room.
Unfortunately, when I returned, I noticed Shane was getting really clumsy, nearly knocking over an end table and lamp.
We would have to leave soon, and I knew he’d probably argue with me, but I wasn’t leaving without him. I’d pull in reinforcements if I had to, although I was beginning to think I might be the only sober person in the place.
Johan put his hand on my hip. “Come on, loosen up, big sister.”
Granted, the attention was nice…but he was getting a little too comfortable, and I didn’t want anyone getting certain ideas. “We need to go soon. Our dad is pretty strict.”
He nodded in understanding, though he looked disappointed that I was going to leave. “I’ll walk you home, if you’d like.”
“Thanks,” I said, grateful for th
e offer. Shane was going to be a handful, and I could use all the help I could get. “Maybe in about twenty minutes?”
“Sounds good,” he said, flashing a smoldering smile that made me feel slightly flushed.
The warm and fuzzy feeling left me when from the corner of my eye I saw someone watching me. Uneasiness rippled along my spine, and when I turned, I noticed a girl staring at me from across the room.
My stomach fell to my toes.
Laria.
She moved behind a group of people. She wasn’t walking, but rather gliding across the floor, moving in exaggerated slow motion. Everytime I caught a glimpse of her, those dark eyes were looking straight at me and I swear she never blinked.
I stepped closer to Johan and didn’t even realize that I’d reached for his hand until his fingers threaded through mine. Terrified, I squeezed his hand as Laria stopped beside Shane.
Warning bells rang in my ears when Laria put a hand on Shane’s shoulder. She turned her face toward the side of his, her lips near his ear and she whispered something, all the while she watched me.
Shane, who had been talking to Richie, stopped in mid-sentence, his brows furrowing as he looked to his right. Richie just kept on talking, but I could see the disturbed look in my brother’s eyes. He leaned forward, set his drink on the table, and shook his head as though to clear it.
The corners of Laria’s mouth curved in a malicious smile as her hand slid toward Shane’s neck, her fingers squeezing tight—
Shane started coughing, and I rushed over to him, reached out, and jerked him toward me.
“Let’s go,” I said louder than necessary, my gaze shifting to Laria, who laughed maliciously, the sound making the hair on my arms stand on end.
My cheeks burned as the others looked at me like I’d lost my mind. I was probably coming off as a bitch, but there’s not much I could do about it.
Thank God Shane didn’t argue with me. He brushed his hand over his neck—in the exact spot Laria’s hand had been moments before.
Johan was beside me a second later, his hand resting at my back. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, I think it’s just time for us to leave. Will you walk us home now?”
He nodded, still looking surprised by my strange behavior. “Sure, no problem.”
“Thanks again,” I said, relieved to have him with me. I was terrified out of my mind, and the last thing I wanted was to face Laria alone, with only my wasted brother to protect me.
I glanced at Laria and her head tilted to the side at a strange, impossible angle, a twisted smile on her lips. I could hear bones cracking.
She was trying to freak me out, and she was doing a damn good job of it.
“Riiiiiiley—Riiiiiiley—Riiiiiiiley—Riiiiiiley…” she said my name over and over again.
Her sinister laughter rang out, and then her expression changed abruptly as her gaze jerked to something—or someone— directly behind me. She took a step back, then another, her expression a mixture of fear and anger.
My pulse skittered as I looked over my shoulder.
Ian.
I don’t think I’ve ever been so relieved to see someone.
Laria glanced at me, ran a finger across her throat, and then shot to the ceiling…and was gone.
Ian’s expression was intense, his eyes fierce, and his form more translucent than I’d ever before seen. Appearing to me had to be taking a toll on him, and yet he had come here to protect me.
“Who’s Ian?” Johan asked.
“A friend,” I said absently. I hadn’t even realized I’d said his name aloud.
I wanted to go to Ian and hug him tight, but as I walked toward him, he began to fade before my eyes.
I opened my mouth to say something––anything––but in a flash, he was gone.