Twisted Proposal (37 page)

“Young ladies shouldn’t be drinking,” he teased, tilting the bottle to his lips and taking a swig.

“I don’t see any young ladies here.”

He reached out and stroked my cheek. I felt a rush of adrenaline and licked my lips.
I thought he didn’t like me.
When he gazed longingly into my eyes, I wanted to kiss him.

Then he stepped back. “I’m sorry. But this can’t happen.”

              Pitching forward, I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed up against him. “Not yet, but maybe later,” I whispered, my mouth against his ear. I noticed how still he’d become.             

              “I should be getting back.” His voice was hoarse as he placed his hands on my hips. He leaned into me, causing me to release him.
He wanted to play.

I stared into his eyes and slid my palm over his rock-hard stomach down to his crotch, where I left my fingers rest. “I want you.” He looked nervous, and I felt him shivering. 

Removing my hand, he regained his composure. His eyes never left mine. “I think it's best I get back.”

              I blocked his path.
What was I doing? This was crazy.
I planted a quick kiss on his lips before bolting out the front door. Outside, Kristen honked her horn as she pulled into the driveway.
Perfect timing.

Chapter Thirty Seven

Kristin talked non-stop about how much fun the party was going to be. It was nice to listen to her excited chatter, but I kept worrying about Mr. Van Buren.
Had I made a terrible mistake throwing myself at him?
By the time we arrived at the party, I was in the mood to get trashed and forget about what I had just done.
I shouldn’t have come.
             

Carli, dressed in a short white dress and red heels, greeted us as we entered. “Glad you could make it.” She handed us drinks and frowned at me. “Addie, I thought you were going to wear the pink dress.”

              “I forgot.” I didn’t know it was going to be this big of a deal.

“It’s fine. I don’t expect anyone important to be here tonight." She grinned. “Drink and be merry." She raised her glass in a toast. “Well, what are you waiting for?”
Was I missing something?
The way she looked at me gave me the creeps. Kristin had already downed her drink. I peered into my glass. It was the color of red Kool-Aid, but I was almost positive it wasn’t Kool-Aid, and it wasn't just alcohol.

“I’m not in a great mood, and adding alcohol to it is not going to make things better.”

              “We’ll be the judges of that. So drink up. All of it,” Carli ordered.
What was the worst that could happen? And what did it matter?

“Fine.” Then I chugged the tart liquid, confirming my suspicions that something was off.

“I think we’re going to have a lot of fun.” Carli's voice sounded faint and far way. The next thing I knew everything was moving at warp speed. I was dancing, drinking, and making out with whomever Carli pushed my way.

                            The world came crashing to a halt hours later when I dunked my face in a bathroom sink of cold water. I came up staring at my reflection. I had dark smudges under my eyes, and my lips were really red.
What was I doing here?
I almost toppled over, but caught myself on the side of the sink.
How did I get here?
Remembering only bits and pieces, I stumbled into a dark room.

“Come with me,” Carli beckoned, grabbing my arm.

“What happened?” I asked, but she didn’t answer. Instead she led me outside and to the far end of a balcony. The view was amazing. We must have been on the third floor, because the people below us seemed so small.

              “Nice.” I leaned over the railing.

              “Hey, hey.” She grabbed me and turned me to face her. Her bright blue eyes mesmerized. “Focus. Now, I need you to understand something.” I couldn’t help but notice her lips: smooth and shiny.
Luscious
.

I blinked, breaking the spell. “Yes, what?” I shook her hands off me

“I want to ask you something.” She smiled and looked down, playing with something I couldn't see.

“What?” I rested against the railing.

Then she stood in front of me and draped a necklace around my neck. “You’re a Jade now!” To my surprise, she kissed me. Her embrace was gentle, loving, so much so that I felt lost. Finally, she pulled away. "How do you feel?"

              “Okay, whatever. Fine.” The alcohol churned in my stomach. I wished now I had eaten more than a stupid salad and fruit.

              “Good,” she said as she walked back into the house.

              After stumbling downstairs, I stopped in front of a mirror and inspected the necklace: a silver chain with a green jewel hanging from it.
Maybe it was an emerald
. I shrugged.

              “Nice,” Trent said.

              I turned around. “What?” My head was spinning, and I felt sick.
Why was everyone so happy?

              “You’re a Jade.” Trent lifted up my necklace to inspect it.

“Whatever that even means.” Peering over his shoulder, I saw Kristin glaring at me. Her face was bright red.

“It means you’re one of them now. How did you do it? I was supposed to be a Jade,” she cried as she ran off. Then I remembered how bad she wanted to be a Jade and felt horrible. She shut herself in the bathroom and locked the door. "Come on, Kristin." I knocked, but she didn't answer.

Trent came up beside me and tapped me on the shoulder. “It’s cool. She’ll get over it. This is a great opportunity for you.”

              “I don’t see how.” I banged on the door again. “Kristin, open up!”

“The sky’s the limit,” Trent said.

“I don’t want the stupid sky. Do you have a credit card?”

              He produced a wallet full of plastic, and I pulled a card out and slid it along the crack of the door, popping open the lock.

              “Leave me alone!” Kristin screamed as I marched in.

              "Hey--" Trent began, but I slammed the door in Trent's nosy face. He didn't need to be a part of this.

              I turned toward Kristen, who hunched in the corner like she was in pain. “What’s going on?”

              She rose, her face twisting in anger. “I have been dying to be a Jade since I was ten. They’re the meaning of the word perfect. Everyone wants to be a member! And then you come in with all your blond hair and glory and steal it away!”

Who cared if my hair was blond? Hello. I was in California. Everyone’s hair was blond!
I removed the necklace and handed it to her. “It’s yours if it’s that important to you.”

She batted the necklace away. “You can’t just give it to me. Carli has to deem you a Jade, stupid!” I wasn’t used to her flipping out like this. “It’s useless now. There was only one opening left. She chose you! I’m such a failure.” She broke down in tears again.

I had to find Carli and sort this chaos out. “I’ll be right back.”

              “Whatever!”

First, I returned Trent's credit card to him, then went in search of Carli. She was flirting with some older boy in the kitchen. He wasn’t interested in her or else had already had her, but he was obviously annoyed.

                            “Excuse us.” I grabbed her arm.

              “What’s your problem?” Carli snapped as I pulled her toward the bathroom.

Ignoring her, I knocked until Kristin opened, then dragged Carli inside with me and locked the door.

“What are you doing? Are you crazy?” Carli shrieked.

              “Shut up!” I yelled at her, and she looked scared. “Now, you tell Kristin you made a mistake by giving me this. It was for her,” I said, picking the necklace up off the floor. She looked from me to Kristin. “Kristin, honey, I didn’t forget you,” she lied, taking off the necklace from around her own neck and putting it on Kristen, who was still sniffling but doing her best to stop crying. Carli faced me, her hands on her hips. “Now, are we finished?”

“For now,” I muttered and opened the door.

She paused as she squeezed past me. “You do that again, and I will ruin you,” she whispered.

“I’d like to see you try.”

Carli answered with a bitter smile and sauntered off.

When she was gone, Kristin ran to me and hugged me. “Thank you,” she whimpered. I helped her clean up, and we rejoined the party. Trent poured two more shots, urging me to drink up. After the second one, everything tilted. Trent, of course, was there to catch me. I shook my head and stood, pushing him away.

“Hey, that wasn’t very nice,” he said. “Come back.” I shook my head, fighting off the dizziness. Kristin was passed out on a couch, oblivious to the two people who were making out across her lap. I shooed them all away and sat next to her. “Where are your keys?” She mumbled something but didn't move. It wasn’t the best idea for me to drive home, but I had to get away from Trent and the craziness of this scene.

“Leave me alone,” I yelled, as I staggered to my feet. Bracing my hands against his chest, I shoved him away. The world spun again, and I blindly grabbed for something solid, anything to keep from falling.

Trent steadied me. “Wait here. I'll get you some water.” He hurried off into the crowd.

Unable to maintain my balance, I sat down again next to Kristin. I managed to pull her phone out of her pocket and called Stuart, the only number I could remember.

“Hello?” Mr. Van Buren answered.

              “Uh…hi…is my dad there?” I wasn’t expecting Mr. Van Buren. My head really hurt.

              “He’s here. Would you like to speak to him?”

              “Is he in…?” I pushed Trent away from me. “I said back off. So back off!” I yelled. Still woozy, I stood and wandered away from Kristin and the safety of the couch.

              Trent thrust another glass of red liquid into my hand. "Take it. You'll feel better."

“Is he in a good mood?” I asked Mr. Van Buren as Trent grabbed me around the waist. “Let me go!” I yelled at Trent and the phone at the same time. I held the glass high to keep from spilling it.

“Addison, calm down,” Trent said.

“No, can someone pick me up, I’m at--” Trent snatched the phone from my hand and clicked it off.

“No more phone. Drink,” he said.

I glared at him. “Fine, fine. Just leave me alone.” I drank whatever was in the glass. It definitely wasn’t water. Suddenly, I felt relaxed and light-headed.

“She said leave her alone,” a familiar voice said behind me.

Before I knew what was happening, I was pushed aside onto the couch. Trent swore and swung his fist at someone running toward me. A girl screamed. A table tipped over, and a lamp crashed to the floor. There was too much happening at the same time. I couldn’t figure out what was all the fighting was about, and I didn't care. I rested my head on Kristin's shoulder and closed my eyes. That drink had totally trashed me. Perhaps I should just go to sleep here. The fighting continued with shouts and someone threatening to call the cops. Then it was quiet.

"Addison," Jackson said.

I opened my eyes.

“There you are,” he said. I threw up.

An hour later, I was lying next to him on Carli’s bed watching cartoons. “What happened?”

“Don’t worry about it. Do you feel better?”

“Not really.” I muttered, as I leaned against him and passed out.

***

              The next morning, sunlight poured through the window, reflecting a rosy glow. I was in Carli’s bubble gum pink bedroom, but I wasn't alone. Jackson lay between Carli and me. Both of them were still sound asleep. Slowly, I rose to my feet and wandered toward the bathroom. Every step made my head throb.

              When I returned to the bedroom, Carli was draped over Jackson as if something happened during my absence that didn’t. I smiled. If she was so desperate, she could have him. Downstairs, I found Kristen zonked out on the couch. “Take me home,” I said, shaking her.

              She sobered up quickly, and we drove home in silence. Our farewell was short, as we were both too exhausted to say much of anything. Inside, my own bed had never looked so welcoming.

              Zach woke me a short time later to tell me I had a friend waiting to see me. He’d snuck him in to the sun room so Stuart wouldn’t know.

“Who is it?”

              “I think it’s that guy you’ve been seeing.”

              “Kevin.” 

              He nodded.

I dragged on a pair of sweats and pulled my hair back. When I opened the door, Kevin turned around. His face was swollen with bruises and abrasions, he had two black eyes, and he balanced his left arm like it was broken, but it wasn’t in a sling or anything. I reached out to touch him, but he backed away.

“I came to tell you to leave me the hell alone. Don’t ever call me or even speak to me again. Understand?”

              Too stunned to speak, I nodded.
Jackson. He had done this.
Kevin jerked his chin in acknowledgment and stumbled out the back door without another word. I collapsed onto a couch, trying to calm my racing heart. I knew something bad would happen. It was only a matter of time.
This was all my fault.

“I told you not hang out with him,” Zach said.

How dare Jackson interfere in my life!
I stormed past Zach to the basement where Lexus was having a party with her friends. She wasn't pleased to see me. "What do you want, Addison?"

Glancing at her friends, who were all staring at me like I was an alien being, I said quietly, “I need to borrow your car.”

She shook her head. “Uh, no. Do you even have a license?”

"Look," I began, but she was already turning to go back to her party, so I grabbed her arm and pulled her out into the hall. When we were alone, I said, “Come on, I really need to talk to Jackson, and he’s at Carli’s.”

The anxiety in my voice must have caught her attention. She hesitated, then frowned. "No, I don't think so."

This girl was so dumb. I wanted to slap her, but I kept my composure. "It's an emergency."

“Really?" She chewed on her lip. "Okay, but what are you going to do for me?”