All Wrong

Chapter Twenty Five Saturday At The Party

Sydney

When dark falls bodies show up to drink and who knows what else. Gabby finds another envelope and brings it into the kitchen. I groan inwardly.

‘Secrets can be quite cozy if you’re not the one at risk. Whose secret is the worst?’

“Wait a second.” I say looking around the group whose faces all match mine I’m sure. All except Bryce of course.

“This is shit.” Jen says finally.

“Flip it over.” Gabby says pointing the back of the card.

‘Participation is mandatory. Don’t hold back now. It’ll all come out tonight either way.’

“We don’t have to spill the beans we just have to pick whose is worse.” Brenna shrugs. “Bryce.”

Hands down everyone agrees but Bryce just looks smug. We all know why.

I chug my drink and make another.

“Slow down.” Henry warns but I ignore him.

My phone pings and I glance at it.

Unknown

It’s about to get a lot messier in here. Buckle up Syd. ❤️

I swallow hard and put my phone down. Nobody’s noticed so I down another drink. We dance but I still feel uneasy. My phone pings again.

Unknown

Ready for the next part? I am shaking in my seat.

Jen comes back from the bathroom with another envelope. Grace takes it this time.

‘How many bodies have you buried? By the end of the night this answer will matter. Confession time. Go out to the pond.’

We all walk outside like the March or shame.

“Whose going first?” Jen asks crossing her arms.

“This is lame.” Bryce quips and we all glare at him. His body is going to be my answer by the end of the night.

“I shoplifted last week.” Gabby shrugs.

“Do you do that often?” I ask in disbelief.

“Not lately.”

“Lately?” Jen gasps.

“She got arrested for it last year.” Bryce shrugs. Gabbys face pales. There it is. The dirt on her.

“I bullied this girl in first year. That’s why I was transferred to your school. She attempted suicide.” Jen says quietly. I gape.

“I sold steroids to all the jocks to pay the teachers to give me passing grades.” Brennan says. Henry looks at him in disbelief.

“Down to four.” Gabby says.

“Not playing.” Bryce yawns.

“I’ll do mine if you do yours.” Grace says looking at me. I cringe and look at the water.

“I don’t remember my mother. My dad won’t talk about her. What he did tell me was that when I was a baby she got so high that she left me in her burning house when he was working. She fed me baby food with methamphetamine in it. I almost died. And I know it’s wrong but I want to know her. So I decided this week that I’ll find her.” I say.

Nobody moves or blinks for awhile.

“Freshman year. Before I started hanging in your clan all the time. I had a girlfriend from a private school across town. She was my first love. I surprised her one day by taking Grace and my good friend Bryce to meet her.” I hear the malice in the words. “Anyways long story short we went to party and Bryce recorded us having s*x. He streamed it live. For a few weeks she tried to deal but then she tried to kill herself. I was embarrassed so I stopped talking to her.” His words fade as Grace speaks.

“She came to our house. I sent her away. I was embarrassed by both of them. That was the day. They moved three states away after that. We never spoke of it again.”

Jesus Christ.