I look around the room as people continue to pile in. I don’t even know the majority of them. That’s the reason for a party like this, to get to know people. Although, making friends isn’t on my agenda; I already have the ones I need.
I’m a few beers in, and the house is packed full. Some mingle in the front yard, some in the backyard, but the majority are body to body in the small house. I walk down the hall to the bathroom, pushing my way through the line.
"Hey shithead, wait in line like everyone else," a tall guy with a neck the length of my leg barks.
"Fuck off," is my only reply. The bathroom door swings open, and a couple girls stagger out. I catch the door, pushing it open to go inside, but the giraffe comes flying up to my side.
His head’s held high and his shoulders are drawn. "We've all been waiting here, now you can wait your turn." He grabs a hold of the back of my shirt, pulling me out. His pencil thin arms gripping my shirt, humor me, as if he thinks he stands a chance against me.
"Listen, asshole." I spin around and grab him by the throat, pinning him up against the wall. "This is my house and unless you want to be dragged out of here by your balls, you better shut the hell up." I grip his neck tighter with my arm stretched up, watching as his eyes bug out of his head.
"Axel, what in the world?" A familiar voice carries from the end of the hall. I know exactly who it is.
"Stay out of this, Harper," I demand, as she comes into view out of the corner of my eye, but my focus is still held tightly on the face in front of me.
"Kick his ass, Axel," I hear someone shout, as the entire crowd begins gathering around us in the narrow hallway.
Harper puts a hand on my arm. "He's not worth it."
"Get your hand off me now. You're not helping anyone by touching me." I clench my jaw, glaring through my narrowed eyes at her hand on me.
I release my grip abruptly on the asshole, letting him catch his breath. “You’re a psycho.” He rubs his fingers over his neck and disappears down the hall.
“Huh, he must have decided to piss outside.” I shrug casually. Completely ignoring Harper, I go into the bathroom and close the door behind me. My hand holds the doorknob tightly, as I catch my breath. I try to gain some self-control before I run back out there and pin her to the wall for putting her nose in my business. Especially since she shouldn’t even be here.
I walk over to the small sink and turn the water on, letting it run for a moment, before cupping my hands under it and carrying the water to the spot on my arm that she touched. I rub my hand over it, drowning out the burn her fingers left on my skin. Everything this girl touches burns. She wears those cute little dresses and puts her hair in pigtails, but it’s a mask for what’s beneath it—she’s made of hellfire and smiles through the flames. I may be the only person who sees her for who she really is, but I’ll be damned if I get torched again.
I finish up in the bathroom, and the line has grown even longer. Guess that’s the downfall of having only one bathroom. I make my way down the hall, and all eyes are on me. Everyone moves to the side. After seeing my little outburst, I’ve put a bit of fear in their eyes. As it should be. People here will soon learn that I don’t get pushed around, just like the student body at Redwood had to learn. I’m a nice guy, I really am—but only to those who deserve my kindness.
I zero in on Harper, who has her back to me. My self-restraint must have gotten flushed down the toilet because I find myself ambling towards her. As if she senses my presence closing in on her, she spins around quickly.
“A word?” I say, looking her body up and down, searching for a flaw, but all of hers are on the inside. Outside, she’s pure perfection. Harper is a fine glass of wine, a field of wildflowers, and Easter Sunday. I’m a forest fire, Devil’s day and Halloween night. Looks can be deceiving, though. Deep down, she’s dark and hollow, just like me. The difference? I don’t pretend otherwise.
“I don’t have anything to say to you.” She turns back around, facing the guy she was talking to.
I don’t even know who this boy scout is in his tan button-up shirt and white shorts. Narrowing my eyes at him, I tap his shoulder aggressively and nod my head to the side, telling him to get the hell out of here. Without even a second thought, he follows orders. “Hey, Boy Scout, could ya grab me a beer?” I holler over my shoulder. He probably didn’t hear me, but it was worth a shot. If I have to stand here and put this girl in her place, I’m going to need a drink.
“What do you want, Axel?” She crosses her arms over her chest, forcing her cleavage up.
I peel my eyes away from the smooth skin of her chest. “What do I want? How about for you to stay the hell out of my business.”
“I was just trying to—”
I cut her off. “I don’t give a damn what you were trying to do.” I take her chin between my thumb and index finger, pulling her face close to mine and grit through my clenched teeth, “You don’t have the right to try and help me anymore, because, last time, you failed miserably. Stay the fuck away from me, or I will make your first year here a living hell.” I use my thumb to push her chin out of my hand. She looks like she is on the verge of tears, but I don’t focus on that. Instead, I let my mind wander to how she made me feel when I did, in fact, need her help. She left. For that, I don’t give a shit how many tears she cries.
Boy Scout comes out of nowhere, handing me a beer. Bringing a smile to my face. “Would you look at that. He did hear me.” I tip it back and take a drink, watching her over the rim of the cup, as she scowls at me. “You look tense. Maybe you need to get yourself one of these.” I hold the cup up in cheers, then watch as she storms away.
I keep my eyes on her until she disappears into the crowd, feeling satisfied with the fact that I can still make her lip quiver with my words alone.
I peel my eyes away. “Let’s fucking party. Woohoo.” I throw my hands in the air, my beer sloshing around in the cup. The place is raging now. The sun has set, the drinks are cold, and the music is loud. Kip comes through pulling a black trash can, and I know what that means. Shit is about to go down. “Yesss, that’s what I’m talking about.” I tip my cup back and finish off my beer then drop it to the floor, forgetting, for a moment, that this is our house, and I’ll have to clean this mess up. I wonder if Ruby, Dad’s housekeeper, would drive three hours to clean for us. I’d pay her good. Either way, it can wait.
Tonight, it’s all about babes and booze.
4
Harper
God, he’s such a jerk. I swallow down the lump in my throat and push my way through the crowd. I was a fool to think that this would be okay. My plan to escape out the back, away from his sight, is quickly forgotten when I see Taya standing by the door. She won’t let me leave without an explanation. I’ve already used cramps, a headache, and tired, far too often. I need something new. If I’m honest, she’ll make a scene with Axel. I’ve seen it before, and it’s not pretty. Taya is loyal to a fault when it comes to her girls. Axel is as stubborn as a mule, and he won’t back down until he has the entire room shaking in fear.