The Alpha Beast

Chapter 17: Having Fun

Evelyn

We continued talking and joking for the rest of the day. Kira was toasting with every sip she would take and Theodore would most of the time take the drink away from me before I would drink it. Finally we got ready to go to the Glade. Kira gave me her hiking boots and winter jacket to wear. I wasn't sure what time it was, it was dark outside. But here the sun goes down pretty early. And I don't know was it the anticipation but the road seem quite long. The further we went the denser the forest was. I couldn't help but remember that time I tried to run away. Now I see what a vain attempt it was. 

Reaching the Glade, I started feeling slight unease. There was quite a number of people. And I haven't been in a crowd for a while now. Furher behind I see rooftops of houses. It seems Glade is a small village. But it still has quite a number of locals. 

"Hey Kane!" 

"What's up T?" 

"OMG Kira! I haven't seen you in ages!" 

As we slowly entered the crowd almost everyone started greeting them or nodding their heads. A lot of them gave me a questioning or intrigued look, I guess they were wondering who the new face is. Then I started to perceive my surroundings. Closest to us, by campfire, is a group of young people. One of them has a guitar and is singing a song I can't recognize. Close to them are four to five men by the grill. As we approach them the smell of the food is captivating me. Just now I realise I'm hungry. 

"Hello kids!" 

"What smells so good Luke?" 

"Hamburgers. We went out of chicken. You hungry?" 

We all get a hamburger each. Kira takes me to another camp fire, and the guys get lost somewhere. Here, almost everyone is a teen and they are caught up in storytelling. 

"…young woman who had a child but couldn't afford to take care of it by herself, so she put a blue baby bonnet on it's head and carried it two miles away from her house and left it in the woods." Ash blonde girl was narrating. 

"As she began to walk home she heard 'Blue Baby Bonnet One Mile Away'. As she reaches her home she hears 'Blue Baby Bonnet, One Mile Away' " she makes her voice sound creepy as she repeats those words. 

"As she sits in her living room to read a books she hears 'Blue Baby Bonnet, Coming Up The Driveway' As she runs upstairs and sits on her bed she hears 'Blue Baby Bonnet, Standing At Your Door' She hides under the bed and hears… 'Blue Baby…' " 

"BOOO!" Yells Kira in one voice with the girl. 

I startle and let out a scared scream. 

"Kira! What the…!" 

"Calm down!" She says in between laughter: "It's an old story. Oldie but goodie. Want me to get us punch? I'll be right back!" 

She jumps up and leaves and I turn my attention back to the stories. This time a girl with glasses is telling. "Once their were two girls who shared a college dorm together. Their names were Meg and Venida. The girls were out partying one night. Meg noticed she forgot her purse and went back quickly to the dorm. With out turning on the lights she walked in and grabbed the purse. Then she returned to the party. Later on in the night, Venida got tired. She left to the dorm to go to sleep. The next morning, Meg went back to the dorm. The police officers were outside. 'Officer, what’s the problem?' She asked. 'There has been a murderer.' 'Oh my god. Please let me see.' 'No. It’s a bit to sloppy.' Said the officer. Finally, the officer let Meg upstairs. When she walked in the room she saw her roomate covered with a clean white sheet. On the mirror in big, red letters words said: 'AREN’T YOU GLAD YOU DIDN’T TURN ON THE LIGHT?' " 

Everyone then stays silent, openmouthed. 

These stories are giving me real creeps. Is it because I'm not used to it or I'm too sensitive, I don't know. But this uneasiness is just getting worst. Suddenly I feel someone sitting down next to me. I expect it to be Kira but when I look it's not her. 

It's Ben. He still has this arrogant attitude. 

"Like it scary and dangerous blondie?" He is eyeing me intensely, sitting too close to me. 

I'm seeing him only for the second time in my life but I feel like a prey. I can see dark lust in his eyes. Kira where are you by now. All of a sudden someone crouches between us. 

 "Yo Ben, didn't expect you here." 

It's Theodore, thank God. He puts his arm around my shoulder, in demonstrative manner. I already feel saved. 

"I hang out sometimes." 

"Yeah. Wanna go dancing?" Theo says turning to me. 

Yes please! Take me away! He doesn't wait for my reply, just pulls me up and leads me away. We go a little bit furher, away from the Glade and closer to the woods. Here is smells of alcohol and something more. Something I don't recognize. There is a car parked with loud music blasting from the loudspeakers. Most of people here are young adults and they seem to have a lot of fun. Dancing, laughing and screaming. We get right in the middle, joining Kane who is dancing to the beats. It's the mainstream music, the greatest and latest hits mixed with house and techno beats. 

"There you are…" At last Kira comes, breaking through the crowd. 

"What?" She looks confused at Theodore, but he stays silent. Then she turnes to Kane and looks surprised. It's like they're having some silent conversation. 

"I'm really sorry Evelyn, I got caught up by Mary and she can talk a lot so I barely escaped. I shouldn't have left you alone. I'm so sorry." 

I chuckle. I bet Mary wasn't the only one who was gabbing. 

"It's ok, nothing happened." 

"Punch?" she offers me the drink with an apologetic smile. 

Then she joins Theodore and Kane who are already moving to the rythm. They have serious face expressions but their moves are like they're fooling around. I, on contrary, am stiff, feeling discomfort. I just can't relax, I'm not used to this. Noticing that, Theodore starts making an imaginary ball in his hands and slowly 'transfers it' to Kane, who further 'gives it' to Kira. I chuckle watching them. She then moves her hands around it and gives it to me. As I'm hesitating, they start rooting for me. Fine. I 'take it'  and they start cheering in approval. After another round with the 'ball', Theodore and Kane start 'cleaning the windows'. They are ridiculous. After a while I'm totally relaxed, dancing and fooling around. Kane brought us some more drinks and I have to admit they are doing the job of easing the tension in me. We dance and we sing. Theodore takes me by the hand and makes me spin around. I don't know if I've ever had such a good time in my life. We dance some more. Drink some more. Sing some more. Theodore moves behind me to shield me from the crowd. I'm having all the place to move, facing Kira who doesnt mind the crowd and all the pushing around. I feel Theodore's hand gently touching my waist. I turn my head to look at him. He gives me the sexiest smile I've ever seen. I smile back at him. Is this flirting? I'm feeling slightly embarrassed. He takes my hand and turns me toward him, making me dance again. We're dancing together now. Dancing the night away.