Chapter 6
The bonfire was being held in the woods at the back of the main building. Cassie was right; everyone looked amazing. People were sitting in groups around the fire, some were standing. Some people were even dancing to the music that was being played out of someone’s car. Of course, there were the few guys that were drinking straight from the kegs that were set up by a nearby tree and cheering each other on like a bunch of morons.
“How can there be drinking allowed at school?” I asked, turning to Cassie whilst still watching the guys by the kegs.
Someone had decided to do a keg stand and was getting cheers from everyone nearby; even the people sitting by the fire were cheering him on.
“It isn’t, but that hasn’t stopped anyone before. None of the teachers are here anyway. They just review the tapes the next day to see if no one has done anything serious. They don’t count drinking as too serious though.”
“Tapes...?”
“Yeah, the school has cameras set up everywhere. They’re hidden so no one knows where they are.”
This school was sounding different from anything I had ever been accustomed to before every time that I learned something new about it. As we found a spot under a tree near the fire, I could not help but look around the crowd of people for Hayden. I could not see him anywhere.
My heart gave a little cry as the disappointment weighed heavily on me. Stop it, Aria. You cannot allow yourself to feel that way. Hayden is nothing to you besides a strange phenomenon… yeah, strange was the word.
“Hello?’ Cassie’s sarcastic voice cut through my thoughts.
“Sorry, I zoned out. What were you saying?” Laughing at me, Cassie rolled her eyes.
“I was asking if you wanted something to drink. I’m going to go get something for myself.”
“Yeah, that would be awesome. Do you want me to come with you?”
“Na it’s alright. You stay here. I’ll be right back; is beer alright?”
“Yeah, whatever you can get is good with me if it isn’t a soda. Thanks.” Nodding at me, Cassie headed towards the guys by the kegs.
Scanning the crowd for Hayden once more, I found Shaleigh, the girl from my class earlier in the day.
She was across the fire dressed in fishnet stockings and lots of latex. God only knew what had gone through her fucked up mind when she got dressed. She looked like a total bimbo.
Looking up from her outfit, I saw that she was staring right at me. Ok, staring was not what she was doing. Shaleigh was glaring at me. What the fuck? She must have known what I was thinking, because the next thing I knew, she was coming over to me with a sinister look on her face.
“I see you couldn’t even dress decently for tonight; it’s not surprising considering what you are…” she said whilst flicking at my leather jacket’s lapel. The nerve of this bitch!
“Excuse me?” I asked eyebrow raised, feigning boredom. I was flabbergasted, to be honest. I had not even said a word to this girl, and she was already starting shit with me?
“You heard me. To be honest I think it is disgusting that the council let someone like you into this school. And do not even get me started on Hayden. You will stay away from him. Do you understand me?” God, she reeked of cheap perfume. Did she swim in the stuff?
“Look, I don’t know what your problem is or even what you mean by someone like me. I do not even know you and you don’t know me. As for Hayden, he can talk to whoever he wants, don’t you think? Or do you maybe think you have a right to dictate to other people perhaps because your own life is so fucking pathetic that you want to control others? Oh, and by the way, it is not an audition for a porno. I think you might be at the wrong party.” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop myself. I was shocked at myself, to be honest.
I wasn’t usually the type of person to get involved with catty fights or provoke someone who had pissed me off.
“You bitch!” she shouted everyone turned and was now watching us. Great, now she was causing a fucking scene. “You will never speak to me like that!” I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at her.
I was about to say something back but forgot it as soon as she flung her drink all over my clothes. Standing there with the whole grade laughing at me, I bit my tongue and stared her down. She was smiling as if she had just won the lottery. I had never felt such rage and embarrassment.
“Oh, now you’re quiet. Good; try to stay that way.” My anger was reaching boiling point. My whole body had gone rigid. I could see red. I was about to knock the smug look off her fucking face, my hand started tingling like it had pins and needles but there was no reason why it should have.
Looking down at my hand for a brief second, there was a faint blue glow forming in my fist that I had been clenching, readying myself to throw the first punch.
That brought me back to reality fast. Had anyone else noticed or was I just imagining it? Looking back at Shaleigh who had moved back to her friends, who were all laughing and pointing at me I decided I had enough of this party. Turning back to the woods, I headed through the trees going nowhere in particular. I just had to get away from everyone at the bonfire.