4

When I set foot in that house a smell of cigarettes and alcohol invaded my nostrils, people dancing, the dim lighting prevented me from seeing a little, there were lights of all colors as in a disco, the truth had only attended one in my life. I felt glances at me, the house was big, I could see the stairs at the entrance that led to the second floor, I could also notice some high school kids.

-Don't get lost," Victor whispered very close to my ear. I immediately turned to them, Colton Dashner was leaning against a wall, putting his foot on it, smoking a cigarette, while he was watching me, analyzing me. -Do you want something to drink?

-Water, please," I raised my voice to make it audible.

Victor laughed, and I could tell Colton snorted.

-How about something stronger? Like... A beer? -Victor insisted.

I had never tasted a beer in my life and I won't either, I just came following a guy to find out what he was up to, but at that moment I realized something more important, and that was the fact that I had two people talking to me.

-I don't drink, actually," I smiled a little uncomfortably. The only two people who were talking to me would think I was a bore.

-It's okay, I respect that," Victor raised his hands in peace and smiled, stepping back. I'll go get one for myself.

He got lost among so many people dancing and falling down drunk. I felt uncomfortable in a place like this, with people like this. At this point I just wanted to go home, I looked at Colton, who was looking away, I followed his gaze. There were some girls there, smiling at him and flirting with him from afar. I rolled my eyes to myself and crossed my arms.

-Bored? -his voice made me look at him again- If you want you can leave.

I pursed my lips into a single line.

-I won't go alone," I scolded. Where is the bathroom? -I questioned. I needed to clear my mind, the lights and the music were making me dizzy.

Colton pointed to a hallway, so I immediately rejoined, enduring the pushing and shoving of people, but before I got to the hallway Colton said, I bumped into someone. More like someone's chest. I looked up.

-Sorry," I articulated, separating myself a little. The boy was tall, almost Colton's height, had reddish hair and from what I could sense was strong. His lips curved into a smile.

-It was my fault," he said. Were you going somewhere? -I wanted to know.

-To the bathroom, I needed some quiet.

He smiled sideways.

-I have the solution," he took me by the hand without giving me time to protest, leading me through a door, out into the backyard. And, as he had said, the music was less audible. I thanked him at that moment. I had never seen you here before.

-No, I'm from another neighborhood," I put my hands behind my back.

-I know where you're from, the next neighborhood over, higher class than ours, right? -He sat down on a chair that was just sitting there.

-Yes.

I was getting a little nervous because it was strange that another person was talking to me, and even less with the facades he was wearing, was he still asleep? Besides the guy wasn't ugly at all and he didn't have tattoos like Colton, and I didn't see him take out a cigarette to smoke either.

-I'm Darren.

-Monique.

-Monique... -He pronounced my name as if remembering something. Are you from France? -he wanted to know, frowning a little in my direction.

I was the first person to notice it.

-Yes, my dad moved here when my sister and I were 10 years old," I smiled.

A new beginning.

Colton.

I shook my head to get my mind off that boy and focused on the one in front of me.

-You and your sister were the same age? -He looked confused.

-Yes, I have a twin sister.

He opened his eyes in surprise, then laughed a little.

-Wow, that's really cool.

I nodded, only to realize that I might have been a little late and Colton must be looking for me.

-I have to go," I announced, backing up a bit.

Darren stood up immediately.

-I'll walk you out.

-I'll walk you.

We walked back into the house, dodging people until we got to where the boys were, but I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw what was in front of me. My stomach turned at that moment. Colton was in the same place I had left him, but he wasn't alone. There was a blonde girl there, making out with him.

-Are you with Colton by any chance, Monique? -Darren stood next to me, I could hear annoyance in his voice. I looked at him, he was looking at Colton with hatred.

He just wanted to disappear at that moment, and I thought he might be looking for me.

-No, I'm not coming with him," I mumbled, turning to him. Goodbye, Darren. Nice to meet you," I patted his shoulder, then headed for the door.

-Monique! -he called a little loudly, I bet Colton heard, or maybe not. I turned to Darren who approached me-will I see you again?

I hesitated, I really didn't think so.

-I don't know," I admitted.

-Do you have someone to go with? -Auto?

I denied, I was thinking of going alone.

-You're not going alone, come on, I'll drop you off.

-He grabbed me by the waist, making me turn around. Seconds before I walked out the front door I felt Darren pull his hand away from me abruptly. I turned to him, only to find that he had not been the one to remove it, but Colton. He pushed Darren into the wall and then punched him in the face.

I covered my mouth in surprise, gasping, I didn't understand anything, it all happened so fast.

What was wrong with him?

-Colton, let him go! -I exclaimed. Those present stopped their dance and now did a wheel among us, shouting in chorus: fight. I couldn't believe they supported this.

Colton didn't stop, he kept hitting Darren on the floor, but Darren wasn't fighting back, I couldn't stand there, I couldn't witness something like that. It made me sick. I spun on my feet, opening the door and ran as fast as I could out of there.

I made it to the sidewalk, running down where Colton had come from earlier, if I was lucky I remembered the street.  

-Monique!

I stopped my pace for a millisecond when I heard Colton's voice, so I hurried my pace.

-Fuck, stop!

His footsteps sounded close, then arms grabbed my waist, making me turn to him.

-What the hell is wrong with you? Can't you see it's dangerous to walk down this street at night? You're unconscious! -he spat, taking me by surprise. I turned away from him.

-Why did you hit him? -I wanted to know, my voice was breaking. I was too sensitive for these situations.

He took a deep breath, putting a hand to his hair, ruffling my hair even more. He snorted, looking up at the sky and then back at me.

-It's none of your business," he snorted, brushing past me and walking down the sidewalk. Now walk.

I stood still for a moment at Colton's attitude, it was rude. Finally I started to walk behind him. The walk was silent, I could notice my house up ahead. I walked at a brisk pace until I positioned myself next to him. His eyes were fixed on the street, expressionless.

I bit my lower lip wanting to say something but I couldn't think of anything, I didn't even know if he would keep talking to me after what happened.

-Thank you for not letting me come alone," I muttered a little under my breath. I was a little embarrassed.

But he didn't answer, as he was in front of my house I gave him one last look.

-Come in," he looked at me, after he hadn't looked at me the whole way.

-Goodbye, Colton.

I turned to walk, feeling his gaze on me. I had ended up the same or worse than before because I hadn't found out anything about Colton Dashner, I only knew that he was a womanizer and got into fights for nothing, did he have a problem with Darren? Because I didn't know why he had hit him, nor why his repeated mood swings, nor did I know why the police were looking for him.

I really didn't know anything about Colton Dashner.

Nothing.