Here Comes the Light (Cambrooke #1) (12 page)

“I am alright.” I say crossing my arms across my lap.
I can no longer look her in the eye now and am relieved when I hear the door swing open and Hudson flies out.

“You
’re still here.” He sounds surprised to see me. I nod. He looks over at his mom, then at the ground. “I’m sorry mom.” He mumbles.

Amy gushes
. I wonder if she has ever received an apology from him before, she jumps up and hugs him. He doesn’t look too thrilled with his mom’s hug. Amy kisses his cheek. “I love you.” She says. He doesn’t respond. What I would give to hear my mom say she loved me one more time.

Chapter 9

“M
iley,” I see Jess eyes roll in the mirror she is standing in front of. She smears the lipstick over her lips. “I told you to stay single for this weekend.” She says before turning back towards me in the small dorm room her step sister and another girl occupy.

“Did you tell Hudson you were going to be here?” Nova asks.

Jess laughs at this, “Are you kidding? He would throw a hissy fit.”

“As far as everyone knows I am staying at Jess’s tonight.” I say.

“Okay,” Leah says as she stalks back into the room. Leah, Jess step sister and Brandy, the roommate look like a couple of models. Leah with her porcelain looking skin and dark hair and Brandy tall and curvy with long blond hair assess us before we leave for the party. “You guys ready?”

“Be careful.” Brandy warns us. “Do not take drinks from anyone, even soda.” She looks at me when she says this. Brandy has come home with Leah a few times on the weekends and tried to get me to drink with them. They all know I would rather not.

“Don’t leave any drinks sitting anywhere either.” Leah adds.

We walk into the smoky dark chaos, my stomach in knots.  The music in the room blares in my ears, the same stuff Hudson listens to. The small house smells like liquor, stale smoke and sweat. There is also a heaviness, something I can’t explain, like the darkness has a weight all its own.  I follow Jess as she obviously makes her way to any sort of alcohol that is being offered up.

“I don’t like it here, Jess.” I shout in her ear over the loud music. I run into a couple practically having sex with their clothes on in the middle of the hall. The girl glares at me for a second before rejoining her mouth with the guy.

“Miley, loosen up.” Jess says as she stands in line for a cup from the keg. “I’m getting me a drink and going to find me a college guy.” Her smile is wide as she looks at me. “If you want to hook up with someone tonight I won’t tell Hudson.” Jess pulls the now filled red solo cup to her mouth; before she leaves me for the dance floor, or should I say living room lacking furniture. 

Leah and Brandy are long gone now after giving us the lectu
re about how not to end up date raped; made me feel like I was preparing for war not a party.  Nova is already grinding on some guy. Jess now has two interested in her one behind her and one in front. Here I am left alone crammed in this full house, drunken people everywhere. I slowly make my way to a wall and lean against it. I check my phone wishing it were time to leave already. What am I going to do up here for the next several hours while Jess and Nova get their party on?

I am not
paying attention when someone bumps into me. My phone nearly flies out of my hand. “Oh, I am sooooo shorry.” The goofy looking guy slurs. I look away, trying to ignore him. Though he just stands there and stares at me. I pretend not to notice.

“You new here?
Cause dang I know I would remember a face like yours.” His words come out slow as he wobbles from side to side.

I continue to stare ahead, wishing this guy would just take a hint and leave me alone. I watch Nova being pulled off the dance floor willingly by the guy she was almost having sex with in the middle of the room. I don’t understand how her and Jess can be so care free about this, did they not see the nasty pictures in Health class of what you can ca
tch by sleeping around?

“Mason, leave the girl alone.”
I hear a voice say, “You scare everyone off.” I turn towards the voice he is decent looking and seems sober, in a nice button up shirt and jeans, his dark hair still perfectly in place unlike the other guys here who are all sweaty and wobbly their hair style was probably the first thing to go tonight.

“Hey,” Mason holds up his hands palm up as he continues to sway I am surprised he hasn’t fallen over yet. “Jest
tryin to be… to be… hospit…hospitit…hospitabru…” he is still trying to say that one word as he stumbles away.

My savoir flashes a smile at me.
“Sorry about that.” He shakes his head, “freshman.” He leans on the wall beside me, like he is now my best friend or something. “Did you get a drink?”

“I’m not drinking, thanks.” I try to sound uninterested so he himself will take the hint as well.

“You can’t just lean up against the wall and look pretty all night.” He says flashing me his killer smile I am sure he is use to girls swooning over.

“Yeah I can.”

“Why are you here if all you’re going to do is stand by the wall?” he asks nicely. Okay maybe I am being a little harsh on him.

“My friends drag
ged me here.” I sigh.

“Oh, yeah?” he shoves his hands in his pockets and
tilts his head to the side. “I’m not much of a partier myself.”

I glare over up at him, me being short he stands about a foot taller than me. “I’m in high school and have a boyfriend.” I say flatly.

He smirks and raises his hand to his chest. “Oh, ouch, I’ve been denied.” He says all dramatic like making me want to laugh. He smirks when he sees me holding back a smile. “So high school girl, if you aren’t drinking alcohol can I get you a soda or something?” he smiles again, making me feel at ease. I am glad I am not the only sober one here right now.

“Sure.” I nod.

“What would you like?” He pushes himself off of the wall.

“Diet Coke if you have it.” I reply.

“So you are one of those.” He throws his head back.

“One of what?”
I chide throwing my arms across my stomach.

“A skinny girl who thinks she’
s fat.” He smirks at me again, and this time I scowl. He laughs, “I am not trying to offend you I am telling you that you’re not fat.”

“Maybe I like diet.” I say with a pout.

“Okay, one diet coming up.” He smiles then leans his face close to me his breath tickles my ear. “Be careful who you talk to while I am gone, college guys can’t be trusted.”

“Aren’t you a college guy?” I come back at him. He winks at me
before disappearing into the ever growing crowd of inebriated college students. I search the room again trying to make note where everyone is. I can no longer spot Jess, Nova, Leah or Brandy. Good thing I got this nice college guy keeping me company while they do their thing.

“Hope you weren’t too lonely while I was gone.” I hear college guy say
a few minutes later as he leans in beside me again. This time he stands even closer to me and I am not sure I am crazy about that. He hands me a Diet Coke, the tab already open. “You didn’t talk to any college guys did you?” now he is leaning really close when he talks to me I have to lean my head back a little.  He must read my body language. “Sorry it’s loud and crowded. I want you to be able to hear me.” he explains why he is so close. “I’m not hitting on you, I promise. It is just nice to have a sober conversation,” I nod as I pull the drink up to my mouth.

Suddenly the can is knocked out of my hand. “Miley, I thought we told you not to take drinks from anyone.” Leah scolds me and glares at the nice college guy. My heart rises to my throat. I hate this place.

He holds his hands in the air. “Chill out.” He says before she grabs my arm and yanks me through the house.

“He seemed nice.” I say in my defense.

“They all seem nice. That is how they get you to let your guard down.” I find a vacant chair now and flop myself down.

Soon Leah is
wrapped back up in her partying and forgets all about me again. I sit like this for maybe an hour while messing around on my cell. I think Nova and Jess have had plenty of time to party now.

I spot my ‘nice college guy’ in the corner slobbering all over a limp drunk girl. I realize then he probably did spike my drink with something. If it w
asn’t for Leah I would be that girl. My heart sinks thinking about how close I was from being date raped. I stalk down the hall having to maneuver around people I finally find Jess she is been mauled by a guy; pressed up against the wall.

“I am ready to go, Jess.” I stand staring at her with my arms crossed. I don’t care if I am interrupting she has had plenty of time to do what she came her
e for.

“What, Miley?” she says irritated as she pulls her lips away from him. His lips however stay on her traveling down her neck.

“I’m done, Jess. We came, you had your fun, and now I want to leave.”

“Quit being such a baby, Miley.
” she rolls her eyes as the college guy continues to kiss and paw at her.

“I am not having any fun, Jess.” The horny college guy stops what he is doing to look at me.

“You wanna have some fun?” he lifts his eyebrows. “I can handle you both.” He says with hopefulness in his voice.

I just glare at him, don’t even kno
w how to react to that one. “Gross, no.” I say flatly.

“I am not leaving now, Miley.” Jess says.

Jess can be infuriating sometimes. “Whatever.” I mumble before storming off.  Maybe Nova has the keys we can just leave Jess and Leah can bring her home in the morning. I squeeze my way back through the crowded hallway hoping to find Nova as I approach the kitchen I hear chanting.

“Nova, Nova, Nova.” Sounds like I found her it isn’t like Nova is a common name. I make it to the kitchen and there is a crowd of guys standing in my way a few have girls dangling from their
sides.  I try to look over them when I see feet up in the air above heads as the chanting continues. Those are most definitely Nova’s heels.

I stand on my tip-toes two guys hold Nova upside down her mouth is connected to the beer keg. Well that answers my next question she isn’t going to be ready to go anytime soon. My chest feels like it is caving in and the room
is getting smaller.

I try to breathe but no matter
how much air I suck-in it isn’t enough. I quickly push my way through the crowd; I have to get outside fast. I find the front door and flop onto the narrow steps leading up to it.

The fresh air helps, but I soon realize that I am in the way of partiers going in and out. I make my way to the side of the building, a dark alley. This is how horror films start
s the girl in the alley is killed first before the murderer makes his way to the rest of the party.

How am I going to get home? I lean my back against the cold brick building. Nova and
Jess aren’t going anywhere. I am not going back into that party. Every little sound makes me jump. Maybe I am just being a baby, I need Hudson. I don’t know how he is going to feel knowing I am here, but I need to get home.

I pull my cell phone out and swipe my thumb across his name his gorgeous smile flashes at me before I pull it up to my ear.

“Hey.” His voice comforts me a little. There is some commotion in the background.

“Hudson.” I try to hide the terror in my voice.

“Miley, what is it?” his voice is concerned.

“Can you…” I look around the dark scary alley. “Can you come get me?”

“Why? Are you and Jess fighting? What did she do this time? You still at her house?” the questions seem to all run together and it makes me feel good he wants to protect me. The noise in the background quiets.

“No. I’m not a
t Jess’s.” I speak slowly.

“Where are you?” he asks.

Tears fall from my eyes. “Jess and Nova wanted to come here; I didn’t. I am ready to leave and they won’t leave.” My voice cracks as I talk.

“Where are you at?” I hear the clanging of keys.

“At a Frat Party at Indian Acres.” I say through a sob. He doesn’t respond. “Hudson?”

“I’m sorry
. It sounded like you said you’re at a frat party at Indian Acres.” He replies.