Don't Be Scared

When I move almost uncomfortably, hating their eyes on me and the way it burns and sizzles at my skin, the taller boy turns to glance at them over his shoulder, unmoving as they walk out the back door instead of staying.

“Go back to Nic and Nolan, little cat,” he sighs, releasing his grip on my throat. In my drunken state, I don’t think to question how they know my friends’ names. The alcohol tells me that’s normal, that they’re probably Nic’s classmates, since they’re at a party hosted by her friend.

They’re right, of course. I have no business acting like this with two men I don’t know; especially with my head swimming just enough to be dangerous. The taller one slides a bottle of water into my hand, closing my fingers around it before he and the other boy step back.

“Scat,” his friend chuckles. “But don’t talk to anyone on the way back.”

“Why?” I ask, cracking the seal on the miniature bottle and downing half of it. “Will the spell break, fairy godmother? Will everyone at the ball know who I am?”

“Because I said so,” he teases. “Isn’t that good enough?”

I can’t help rolling my eyes as the coolness of water hits my throat and trickles down to my stomach. I definitely should’ve eaten more today, but at least the cold water is helping chase some of the fuzziness out of my brain.

I hope.

Without another word, I push away from the kitchen island, disappointment sinking into my bones as I walk. I’d liked their company, their mystery, and even the prickle of unease that they’d instilled. It had been more interesting than most of this party, anyway.

But if they don’t want my company, then I’m not going to force it on them. Especially if they think I’m too drunk to say yes or no with any kind of confidence.

A hand snatches at mine, pulling me to a stop. It’s the redhead from before, Fritz, with the friend that had bodied him out of the kitchen so nicely.

“Are you okay?” he asks, sweetness on his face. His grip is kind and soft on my hand, fingers stroking along my skin. “I’m sorry if I came on too strongly. Is that what happened?”

For a moment, I consider just walking away. I’m reallynotinterested in him the way he is me, and nothing he’s said or done has really held my attention.

But I smile, turning on my heel and stepping closer to him. “It’s not that,” I promise. “You were really nice. I just—”

The hand that curls around my shoulder is much tighter than his on my arm, and I can’t help but tense.

“My my, aren’t we terrible at following rules, little cat,” the voice in my ear whispers sweetly. “Seriously, Fritz. She’s not into you. She’s into me.”

The redhead glances between us, but lets his hand fall. “Sorry,” he says finally, in a way that makes my teeth grind with guilt and the urge to apologize. “I didn’t realize.”

“It’s okay,” I said quickly, wanting to assuage his hurt feelings. “Really, it’s not like that. It’s kind of complicated.” Complicated, because I don’t know them and I’m about to skip back to my friends and probably never see any of them.

But maybe that’s for the best.

“So, so complicated,” the boy behind me purrs. “Say your goodbyes now, little cat.”

I can’t help but roll my eyes again, and I tell Fritz to have a good night before I turn, once more facing the direction where I think Nic and Nolan might still be.

Except, the hand on my shoulder won’t let me, and the person sidles in closer, until his smooth mask is pressed against my ear.

“What are you doing?” I ask, not turning to look at him. “My friends are over there.”

“But you broke therules,” he purrs, hands sliding down to my waist to rest there lightly. “So now you can come play with us instead.”

Chapter7

There’s no good way to stumble after the boy that pulls me along with a hand on my wrist. No graceful way, at least, and my stomach turns nervously as he leads me through the house, and finally upstairs to a bathroom that I’m pushed into.

The door’s lockclicks, and the noise makes my stomach drop ten stories straight to hell.

Did I make a mistake?

Did I fuck up and let these two take me somewhere they couldhurtme?

As if sensing my thoughts, the taller of the two approaches me, hands up to cup my cheeks before I really know what’s happening. “No, it’s okay, little cat,” he purrs, his words the sweetest kind of promise. “You don’t need to hold your breath like that.”