Sometimes Never (32 page)

             
“I’ll be up front watching,” I promise. She grins and does this weird finger flutter wave as Guy drags her farther from me.

I grab a Coke off the
bar and squeeze my way through the crowd. I want to get as close to Hope as possible so she can see I’m there. Also, I want her in my sight at all times. I find a spot on the wall with a perfect view. Damn she’s sexy behind those drums. She twirls her sticks and I’m impressed she’s still able to do that without dropping them.

             
“Hey, Mason,” Bailey purrs. I glance sideways at her. Her strawberry blonde hair is a mass of curls. Her red lipstick is smeared onto her chin like she’s been making out with someone and she smells like tequila. I don’t like the way she’s looking at me, like I’m her next victim.

             
“Hey,” I say, tipping my head to acknowledge her.

             
Her hand sweeps up my arm, wrapping around my inner elbow. It’s clammy and I raise an eyebrow at her. “Do you want to dance?”

             
“Uh, no thanks.” I step away from her, detangling her arm from mine. “I don’t really dance. And I’m just watching the band right now.” I flick my gaze to Hope and wink at her. She wrinkles her nose and shakes her head, but she’s got this cute little grin and I laugh.

             
Bailey looks over like she’s seeing the whole set up for the first time. Her nose crinkles. It’s not adorable like Hope’s. “Why?”

             
I huff out an exasperated breath. “Because they’re my friends and they’re really good.” I focus my attention back on Hope, trying to ignore Bailey. After our exchange in school, I can’t believe she’s still trying to talk to me.

             
“We could do something more interesting than this.” Her hand slides down my arm and I swing my head to look at her. She’s got fuck me eyes and I realize I could have this chick right now. If I wanted to, I could lead her upstairs to an empty bedroom and probably do whatever my dirty mind could conjure up. The key phrase here being: If I wanted to. I take a step away, trying to put some distance between us, but it’s difficult with so many people.

             
“I have a girlfriend, Bailey.” I explain slowly, carefully, so there’s no misunderstanding.

             
She laughs without humor. “Who? Hope Love?”

             
I just stare at her, challenging her to say something negative about my girl again. I wish she would take a hint and back the hell off me. Even if I wasn’t with Hope, I wouldn’t be into this girl. Not since she’s shown me how bitchy she’s capable of being. And not in the fun way Hope is bitchy, but in that smug, holier-than-thou way that makes my skin crawl. I don’t want to be a dick ‘cause she is a girl and all, but I will if I need to.

             
“Look Bailey, if this was a month ago, I’d have been all over your ass, but…” I trail off, finding Hope again. She’s concentrating on her drums, but I can see the tension in her shoulders. She’s not relaxed like she usually is when she loses herself in the music. It’s like she’s only halfway paying attention and I know it’s because of me. Because of Bailey being all up on me. “I’m with Hope now,” I finish. The first song ends and I’m irritated that I missed the entire thing.

             
“You don’t want to mess with her,” Bailey continues. She leans in conspiratorially, but doesn’t bother to lower her voice. “Her mom was some crack whore psycho or something. Mental illness is, like, hereditary or whatever. Plus, I heard they
shared boyfriends
.” Her eyebrows lift and she shakes her head, disgusted. “You’ll probably catch a disease.”

             
There are so many things wrong with those five sentences; I don’t even know where to start. I’m too pissed to speak right now anyway. Before I get a chance, Hope is there, her hand on Bailey’s shoulder as she pushes her back against the wall. It’s surprising gentle for a girl who kicked a football player into submission.

             
“My mom didn’t smoke crack,” Hope says. “She was an alcoholic who liked pills.” Bailey rolls her eyes and crosses her arms. “She did have mental issues, though,” Hope continues in a soft, matter-of-fact voice. “And yeah, she also had problems closing her legs, but no more than you do.”

             
Bailey pushes back at Hope who barely moves. She’s always got herself braced for an attack. Knowing her history, it makes this weight settle in the pit of my stomach. I hate that she’s always ready for someone to hurt her.

Now Bailey
raises her hand to strike. Hope smiles at her, inviting her to swing. It’s almost like she wants her to do it. Of course, with Hope, I’m sure she does. She probably will welcome the pain.

             
“Chick fight,” someone yells.

             
Hope swats Bailey’s hand away, causing her back to thud against the wall. “Don’t ever talk about me or my mom again,” she says in that eerily calm voice. “You never know what a mentally ill person, like me, might do.”

             
“Hope,” Guy breathes. “Honey, come on. Let’s finish our set.” He reaches for her and she nods, following after him.

             
“Awe, come on! Kick her ass,” someone shouts.

             
“It doesn’t matter,” Guy says quietly. “She doesn’t matter. Let’s just play.”

             
“It doesn’t matter,” Hope agrees. Her voice cracks and I can’t stand it. I want to go with her as Guy leads her away from Bailey who is now surrounded by several of her shocked friends.

             
“Wait,” Hope says, stopping in the middle of the living room. She pivots around and the crowd, anticipating another altercation, parts as she makes her way back toward Bailey. “Where did you hear about my mom?” She barely whispers the words, making my head jerk toward her.

             
Bailey glowers at Hope, braver now that her friends flank her. “Why don’t you ask Annie,” she hisses. A cruel smirk twists her mouth when she notices the hurt expression masking Hope’s face.

             
“Ooh,” some guy coos. “Shit just got real.”

             
Hope turns around and makes a straight line for her drums.

             
Park moves up behind her, arms crossed over his chest, hands in tight fists. “Come on, Hope. You don’t have to play if you don’t want to. Let’s just go. Fuck these people.”

             
“From what I hear she already has.” I blink in surprise and search the crowd to find who the voice belongs to. Christian Dunkin. And he’s smirking at Hope in that same smug way he did the first time I saw him. I immediately push my way through the bodies, trying to get up close to Hope. “I’m just waiting for my turn.” He takes a step toward her, his eyes scaling her body like he’s picturing her naked. I flex my fingers, struggling to restrain the urge to tackle him. “Too bad you and Annie aren’t really related. I’ve never had sisters before.”

             
I step into his personal space, cutting him off. He’s talked way too long. “You have no idea how lucky you are that I promised Hope I wouldn’t fight tonight,” I sneer.

             
“Fuck that,” Chase scoffs, pushing past me. “I didn’t promise shit.” He pops his arm back and lets his fist fly into Christian’s jaw. The room goes quiet as Christian’s head snaps back. The only sound is Chase hissing as he shakes his fist.

             
“Fight!” people cheer in unison.

             
In the moment it takes me to register what happened, Christian’s friends are blocking our path. Drunken arms start swinging. I glance at Park who shrugs, a sly smile turning up his mouth like he’s been waiting all his life to scrap with these people. I raise a brow and smirk back. This is my element. I am always down for a fight and now it’s in my girl’s honor. I nod at Park, declaring a temporary alliance between the two of us before jumping into the mayhem. I catch sight of Hope being shuffled backwards as I land my first blow.

             
I get knocked in the head twice by a guy I’ve never even seen before tonight. I don’t know when Guy got into the mix, but I see him punch that kid, Zack, that Hope complimented on his stupid-ass shirt. Chase takes a hit to the eye that doesn’t look like it had enough force to do much damage, and then I lose sight of everyone else because Christian is right in front of me. I’m pretty sure someone kicks me in the shin. I don’t fully feel it. All I can concentrate on is the sound of my knuckles pounding against Christian’s flesh. God, I love this feeling. I have so much rage and it feels so damn good to release it on an asshole like him. All I see is red. Blood trickles from his lip, pours quickly from his nose. There is something satisfying about someone else’s blood on your knuckles. That’s twisted, right? Yeah. Yeah it is. I don’t even give a shit right now.

             
Someone hits me in the stomach, knocking the air out of me. I grunt and swing, catching the guy in the side of his face. He stumbles back, falling into Christian and they both go down. I’m pretty sure they’re getting trampled. Hope takes the opportunity to grab a hold of my arm and yanks me away. And now I notice the sirens. The fight wasn’t going long enough for cops to be here already. The neighbors must have called in a noise complaint. Though I don’t think that qualifies sirens. 

             
“Come on,” she huffs. “We have to get out of here.”

             
“Cops,” Chase pants. His cheeks are bright red, the collar of his shirt is ripped, and his eye is swollen. A few guys give up and make a run for the door, wanting out before they get busted.

             
“Where’s everyone else?” Hope asks. Her eyes dart around the room as she pulls us to the back door, which is genius since everyone else is heading for the front. I don’t see Guy or Park anywhere.

             
“Man, my bass,” Chase sighs.

             
“Leave it,” I say. I’m not getting arrested over a guitar.

             
“I have to find the others.” Hope stops at the door. “Park’s wasted and Guy can’t drive.”

“They went out the front,” Chase says.

“What about Annie?”

Chase shrugs. “I didn’t see her.”
I can’t remember the last time I saw her. I was too occupied with Hope, as usual.

Hope closes her eyes for a second.
She shoves her keys into my hand. “Go, find them, and get them home. I’ll find Annie and get a ride.”

             
I pull my hands back, refusing her keys. “I’m not leaving without you.” What the fuck? I am not going anywhere if she isn’t beside me.

             
“You have to. You’re the only sober one.”

             
“No,” I insist. I would do just about anything for her, but I’m not leaving her.

             
Hope rolls her eyes. The sirens sound like they’re close. Maybe a few houses away if we’re lucky. She turns quickly and heads back through the house. The living room is empty, except for some guy that had his ass handed to him. He’s lying in a heap on the floor. I follow Hope and she shakes her head. “At least go outside, Mason. Don’t let Park drive.”

             
The sirens stop. Red and blue lights flash through the windows. I ignore her, staying close. If she’s getting busted, then I’m going down with her.

36

Hope

I find Annie perched on the stairs. Black mascara runs down her cheeks, mixed with fresh tears. She jumps up when she sees me. I grip her wrist tighter than is necessary, but I’m still pissed at her for telling Bailey about my mom. Plus I’m irritated I had to come back and look for her.

             
“Come the hell on. Cops are here.”

             
“Hope, I’m sorry. I said that stuff before I knew you.” She won’t stop crying and she’s being too loud as we make our way out the back door. I hear shouting from inside as the screen door closes behind us. Chase and Mason are pressing into us as we sneak around the back of the house. Neko’s parked in the driveway right beside two police cruisers. Seriously?

             
“You’ve got to be shitting me,” Chase hisses. “We are so screwed.”

             
“No,” Mason murmurs. “They’re empty. They must be inside.”

             
I shove my keys at him. “I don’t see Park’s car,” I say.

             
Mason takes my hand. “You guys ready? Run like hell.” We do, sliding into the car and gently closing the doors as quietly as we can. Mason turns the key and shoves it into gear. We roll out of the driveway and he takes off down the street. He sails through the stop sign and rounds the corner. I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

             
“Wooh!” Chase shouts.

             
I laugh, relieved and glance at Mason. He grins at me as I let my head fall back against the seat.