𝐁𝐋𝐄𝐄𝐃 🩸

CHAPTER FOUR

"Parties aren't really my thing," I said, my voice trailing off as I glanced around our cramped room. "Plus, I have to go get some things later." I was mostly making excuses, though I had mentally noted earlier that I wanted to talk to Roxie about eventually decorating these bare, water-stained walls.

"For Christ’s sake, Saph," Roxie scoffed. "It’s just one party. One party won't kill you."

I swallowed hard, holding back a sigh. I can't go to a party. I absolutely hate parties.

"Parties are a really big deal here in Oakhaven," Roxie continued, her tone softening just a fraction as she saw my hesitation. "It’s how we get along. It’s a small town, Seph. Trust me, just come tonight and you won't regret it."

I looked down at my lap, "Even if I wanted to come, I literally have nothing to wear."

"That's nothing to worry about."

Roxie smirked, sliding effortlessly off her mattress. For a few seconds, I was stuck staring at her bare, tattooed ass—the dark ink tracing the curves of her skin with a raw, unapologetic boldness as she moved without a shred of shame. She marched over to her closet, her hips swaying, and pulled a piece of fabric from a hanger. I physically flinched. It was a slip of neon mesh that looked more like a bandage than an outfit. I didn't think I was going to be comfortable wearing her clothes, especially ones that felt like they should be illegal to wear in public.

"Okay, okay," she rolled her eyes, tossing it aside after reading the pure horror on my face. "How about this?"

She dug deeper into her wardrobe and pulled out a second option. It was a bodycon mini dress. It was still entirely too tight, but at least it didn't require warning label.

I stared at it, realizing with a sinking feeling that there was absolutely no way of saying no to Roxie.

An hour later, My dark hair was curled into thick, bouncy waves that fell over my shoulders. After a massive, stubborn debate with Rosie about not wanting makeup, I had finally settled for just a swipe of mascara and a lipstick.

Now, I stood in front of her cracked full-length mirror, glaring at my reflection. I wondered if the girl staring back at me was actually me. The black dress hugged every single curve of my brown skin, making me look older, sharper—and incredibly vulnerable.

To distract myself from how exposed I felt, I looked over at Roxie, who was applying a fresh layer of heavy black eyeliner. Her bare shoulders exposed the sprawling, dark ink trailing down her spine.

"Does it hurt a lot?" I asked quietly, breaking the silence.

"The tattoos or the piercings?" Roxie asked without looking up, her hand perfectly steady as she drew a sharp wing on her eyelid.

"Both," I confessed.

At first," she murmured, glancing at me through the mirror with a sudden, unreadable softness in her eyes. "But then you get used to it."

I winced, not sure while anyone would want to go through pains just to have that on their skin, I look back at the mirror. I instantly tried to tug the hem of Roxie's dress down, desperately hoping it would stretch to at least cover my knees

"Don't do that. It's meant to be short," she chided playfully, swatting my hand away.

If I was secretly dying inside over how short my own dress was, then I was completely paralyzed by Roxie's final choice of clothes. She pulled out a sheer, completely fishnet top to wear over a black lace bra paired with a leather micro-skirt. I tried desperately to keep my face completely blank, forcing a neutral expression so I wouldn't seem like a judgmental prude.

"So," I cleared my throat, grabbing my small purse. "Where is this party, anyway?"

"At a friend's place. It’s about a ten-minute drive into the deeper part of the woods," Roxie responded, tossing her lighter into her bag.

"I thought you didn't have a car."

"I don't," Roxie said simply, sliding a heavy leather jacket over her fishnets. "Nate is going to take us."

Nate?" I asked.

"Yep. The guy from yesterday," she said with a casual shrug.

The memory of the dark-haired guy from yesterday morning instantly flashed through my mind—the brutal, frantic way he had been pressing her into the mattress, and that slow, dangerously charming smile he had flashed me before walking out. I didn't know if I really liked him, and I definitely didn't feel comfortable with the thought of him driving us out into the pitch-black Oakhaven night.

" so... is he like your boyfriend?" I asked.

Rosie turned to look at me. " Nate?"

I nodded and she laughed. " Christ, No. Nate is just someone I f**k with".

I blinked, completely shocked.The casual, raw bluntness of the word hung heavily in the air between us.

"We don't do the whole holding hands and feelings thing," Roxie added, checking her phone. "He brings the car and the drugs, I give him a hole to stick his d**k, and we call it a day. Trust me, Saph, emotions in this town will get you killed faster than a car crash."

She walked toward the door, her combat boots thudding against the wood, before pausing to look back at me. Her dark eyes swept over the tight emerald dress clinging to my skin.

"Now come on," she smirked, a wicked, dangerous glint in her eyes. "Our ride is waiting, and Nate doesn't like to be kept waiting when he's already high."

Nate was parked out front of the building, next to my rusty van.The heavy bass of Travis Scott’s "FE!N" was blaring from the half open windows.

The moment we reached the curb, Roxie didn't hesitate. She practically melted into his arms, pulling him into a deep, sloppy kiss right there in the open and for a second I think they might actually start making out. I instinctively looked around to make sure none of our neighbors were watching the exhibition. Nate pulled back with a low chuckle and slaps Roxie’s ass,as she giggled and climbed into the passenger seat.

Before I could slip into the back, Nate turned his head to greet me.

"Hi, Seph. We didn't really get a chance to introduce ourselves properly yesterday," Nate said, reaching out to take my hand. his fingers smelling faintly of weed as he caught my hand. Instead of a normal handshake, he slowly brought it up, his dark eyes locked on mine as he kissed my knuckles. His lips were unnaturally warm, his pupils slightly blown out from whatever he’d been smoking.

"How are you seeing Oakhaven so far?" he asked, his voice a smooth, slightly slurred drawl.

"It's... quiet," I mumbled, uncomfortably pulling my hand back from his grip. I gave a quick nod as I hurriedly opened the rear door and got into the back seat.

After what felt like absolute ages, I was genuinely surprised Nate had managed to get us there in one piece.

We pulled up in front of a massive, two-story house that looked exactly like the ones from every classic college movie.

" wow it big" I gulped. the lawn is completely filled with people holding red cups, couples making out and it takes all my self control not to puke.

We got out of the car, . Almost instantly, a wave of people flooded toward our group. I watched as a few guys high-fived Nate, passing around a freshly lit joint, while two different people leaned in to give Roxie a sloppy, lingering mouth-kiss by way of greeting.

I blinked, utterly fascinated and slightly horrified. Honestly, watching them pass saliva around so freely made me wonder if anyone in this town had ever heard of mono, or if they were all just immune to the sheer, terrifying exchange of oral bacteria.

" c'mon" Rosie called, pulling me out of me thought, she grabbed my hand and led the way into the house.