Page 87 of Cruel Abandon (Fallen Royals 5)
We all nod, and Taryn opens the app to do so.
I lean in. “I can’t figure out your costume,” I admit to her.
She grins. “Zenon, girl of the twenty-first century? Kind of obscure, I guess, but if the shoe fits…”
This is why I hate Halloween. It’s so awkward asking what people have dressed up as, and if they’ll take offense.
Jeff chuckles. “We won’t be able to lose her, at least.”
“Have you been over to LBU yet, Skylar?” Willa asks. “The parties get a little intense.”
I swallow and shake my head. “I’m afraid I don’t know much about them.”
Everyone’s heard of LBU’s legendary parties, but attempts by Ashburn students to sneak over usually resulted in failure. Unless you were one of the popular girls and had a connection. I wouldn’t have made that association with Willa in her Wednesday Addams costume, but as Taryn said: if the shoe fits…
“What year are you?” Willa asks me. “I transferred in this semester from community college. I’m still trying to meet people.”
“Junior. So, I guess same as you if you’re graduating next year?”
She beams. “Cool.”
The car pulls up, and we all slide into the back. Jeff climbs in the front and immediately asks to change the radio station.
Taryn groans. “I don’t know why we keep him around,” she whispers to me. “I just feel bad. He’s not an awful guy. The opposite, actually, but…”
I can’t put my finger on him. Whether he’s good or bad or a mixture of everything wrapped up in grief. I just don’t know.
At least the drive passes quickly. Willa talks about her art history class, Taryn mentions a student government meeting she sat in on, and then we’re there.
We pile onto the sidewalk. Here, there are actual fraternity houses. Big ones on large, manicured lawns. We’re only a short drive from campus, but it feels like an entirely different world. Not like the frat brownstones all smushed together in one block.
“We’re here!” Willa yells. “This is the hockey team’s house. They’re sort of looped in with frats, same as the baseball and football teams.”
“Wow.” I glance around. There are so many people, enough to make my head spin.
No masks. And the twisting in my gut is ramping back up—but it’s manageable.
This is a baby step.
“James!” someone yells.
Willa squeals and throws her hands up, rushing to meet a guy jogging toward us.
The dude is massive. He picks her up and spins her around, then sets her on her feet. He’s dressed as the guy from Grease. Slicked-back dark hair, white t-shirt, and leather jacket. It’s a cool look, helped along by how handsome he is.
Willa clears her throat and turns back. “Guys, this is Sam, my best friend since… literally forever. Sam, this is Taryn, Jeff, and Skylar.”
We all wave, and Sam nods to each of us.
“Well, come on in. There are some other Ashburn students here already.”
Taryn perks up. “Really? Who?”
He shrugs. “Didn’t catch their names. We don’t usually let dudes in, but they know our captain.”
Sam leads us into the house. It’s like being swallowed whole by noise.
I stick close to Taryn and Willa, although Jeff disappears almost immediately. We’re handed cups of beer from the keg, and while the girls both cheers, I set mine down on a table.