“He is…wait…” Her eyes narrowed.
“What?” I screeched, barely able contain my exasperation.
“He’s scowling,” she finally said.
I relaxed. “Why is that abnormal?”
She had stopped dancing and looked around. I continued to move with the music, trying to blend in with the crowd. “Everyone is staring at you,” she said, her eyes connecting back to me. “You’re magnetizing.”
“What?” I said again in disbelief. This time I stopped what might have passed as dancing. What kind of mumble jumble was she going on about? Note to self, Lexi and liquor don’t mix.
“Chase is going to go ape shit,” Lexi informed, like I didn’t already know.
Somehow, a circle had formed around Lexi and me, making us the center of attention, exactly what I hadn’t wanted. People were still dancing, but they were more or less dancing around us. It was as if a spotlight was shining down on us.
On me.
I was going to puke.
I was going to faint.
Maybe both. I had to get out of here.
Leaving Lexi to her dancing, I pushed my way through the crowd, looking for some space and air. I couldn’t breathe. I kept walking and walking, until the music was just a low hum. Leaning against a beat up, rusty red truck, I drew in huge gulps of the cool breeze. It washed over my heated cheeks. I laid my head back and closed my eyes, enjoying the moment, the low music in the distance, the smell of burning wood, and the crickets singing in the fields.
Away from all the gawking eyes.
I didn’t hear the footsteps until it was too late for escape. My solitude was over. A cornstalk snapped, and I expected to see Chase’s surly face bulldoze into the clearing, even deadly with anger he looked devastating. But it wasn’t. Instead, I saw a very unwelcomed, wobbly Brody.
“Oh my God.” My hand flew to my chest. “You scared the bejesus out of me.” I didn’t even try to hide the annoyance from my voice. The hammering of my heart pounded under my hand.
He stepped in front of me with a red plastic cup in his hand and like most of the guys, forewent a costume. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to. I was being as loud as possible, I swear.” He drew a sloppy X across his chest and smiled at me.
What a dork. “I think I’m just jumpy. Too much caffeine or not enough.”
He laughed with brown eyes that looked glazed, like melted ice. “That’s what I like about you, you’re funny. Not like the other girls at school.”
If he only knew how different I was.
“I’ve been waiting all night to talk to you.” His words sort of blurred together into one.
“You have?” I was utterly clueless as to why he wanted to talk to me.
He took a step closer, our shoulders brushing. “Of course. You look great by the way. Who you supposed to be?”
I rolled my eyes and tried to ignore the sketchy feeling his lingering gaze was giving me. Did no one in this hick town watch movies? “Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas.”
He blinked.
“It’s a movie,” I added.
“Oh. Well it’s by far the best costume of the night.” He drowned the rest of the contents in his cup, whipped his mouth with the back of his hand, and set the empty cup on the bed of the truck.
Attractive.
I was waiting for the epic belch to follow and maybe even some belly scratching. It would have made my night.
Yet for whatever reason, my body suddenly went on alert.
Maybe it was the fact that he was clearly drunk.
Maybe it was the funny, slurred speech.
Maybe it was the scary gleam in his eyes.
Regardless, for his safety and mine, I knew that I didn’t want to be alone with him. I was feeling very unsure about this whole situation, unsure about this whole night. Everything seemed off, bizarro.
“I didn’t think I would get a minute alone with you,” Brody slurred his words.
Touching. Can you believe this guy?
Suddenly he was in front of me, his arms boxing me on either side of the truck and pinning me in with his bulky body. I got that icky, sick feeling and swallowed my first taste of fear. It left a bad taste in my mouth. I realized I was trapped between his much larger-than-mine body and the side of the truck.
Shit.
Well this was an unexpected turn of events.
Not good.
“Brody,” I said, trying to make my voice stern. “Don’t do this,” I warned, risking a glance up into his glassy brown eyes.
He angled his moppy brunette head. “Why not? I know you want to. I can see it in your eyes.”
What an asshat. The only thing he saw in my eyes was disgust and fear.
“Brody look, I am sure you are a nice guy.” My voice was tight, fear gripping me. I flattened my hands on his chest, pushing. He was an immovable force. I couldn’t breath. That pause was just the opening he was waiting for and then his mouth was on mine. He smelled like a brewery and tasted worse. I hated beer. An assault of memories flooded me. I was frozen in absolute panic.
This wasn’t happening.
What was happening?