Chapter 8

Aliyah's POV

Music was already swirling in the air and blaring from loud speakers by the time our car found a spot amongst the others that were lined there.

Roaring laughter poured out from the house and into the night. I instantly felt out of place as the sounds began to register in my mind. This wasn't my scene.

Jude stepped out and helped me out as well, offering me his hand. I smiled and offered him a soft thanks before we started to head up to the front door.

"Is it always this rowdy?" I asked, feeling as out of place as a fish would in mars.

He glanced at me briefly, a find smile on his lips. "Truth is, it's only like this when we're celebrating something big."

I didn't miss the way he used the term 'we', implying that he was a regular in scenes like this. Refusing to dwell on how uneasy that made me feel, I pushed the conversation forward. It was better to focus on that than dwell on memories of stories that had drifted from parties like this in the last year.

"And what's the cause of celebration tonight?"

He looked at me again, almost like he was studying me now. I felt unsettled under his gaze and tucked my hair behind my ear with shaky hands.

"You really have no idea what goes on in school."

I laughed nervously. "Well, I've been busy trying to keep excellent grades. Some of us don't have old money to fall back on."

He nodded like he completely understood what was being said, or could relate. "Yeah."

We turned our attention back to the house, a sprawling three story that had arched entrances, and statues that were placed dramatically through every new floor.

The architecture screamed money, and for a brief moment, I allowed myself to envy the people who lived their life like this was a natural thing.

When Jude knocked on the door, a slender girl with bright brown eyes and a wave of blue curls on her head pulled it open.

She smiled the moment her eyes landed on Jude. "Thurnbull," she drawled, announcing that she was already out of the line of sober. "I was thinking I'd have to hunt you down for those orgasms tonight."

I bristled at the words. What. The. Hell? My stomach rolled at the image and I struggled to keep my thoughts off my face.

He chuckled, a low sound that made the girl sway - or maybe that was the alcohol, I had no idea."Not tonight, Jen. I have company tonight."

As if his words suddenly summoned me into existence, she turned her attention to me, rolling her eyes when she realised who it was by his side.

"Oh, please. It's plain old Aliyah."

I had no idea what that meant, but from the way she said it and the way Jude winced, I would assume it meant I wasn't enough to put a damper on their plans.

"If you have plans, I could just head back and we'll..."

He didn't let me finish before he spoke up. "No, Aliyah. Come on."

He pulled me in and we slid past Jen, while I made a very valiant effort to not bump into her with my shoulder.

We moved through a sea of humans, most of which were scantily clad and soaked in layers of booze and gods knew what else. The room reeked of rebellion, sex and just... everything I should be on the opposite side of.

"Do you want something to drink?" He asked.

The sight around me made me shiver, but he translated it into a reaction to cold, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and steering me in the direction of the kitchen.

"It's warm in here." He offered me a smile. "Now, tell me what you want to drink. This party is only fun if you're floating on cloud booze."

I shook my head and offered him a small smile. "Nahh, I'll pass on the booze. Can I get a cola?"

He looked like he was about to argue but thought better of it and headed for the fridge. I pulled my phone out, scrolling through my unread texts from Leah.

"Where the hell did you go? I saw Thurnbull's car outside a while ago."

I dragged in a deep breath and typed back. "He helped me get the Cassandra role and insisted I come to a party with him as a thank you."

"Here you go," Jude's voice snapped me out from the hum of technology and back to the not so pleasant present.

This was the last place I wanted to be right now, especially since I was still paying for the sins of my callousness from two nights ago.

On the one hand, Professor Deville - Skylar - hated me, and on the other, his brother kept asking to meet up like we were distant lovers caught in the throes of a forbidden passion.

I had been ignoring his texts, and I still hasn't figured out how he had gotten access to both my phone and number that night, or worse... why I had yet to block him from being able to reach me.

"Are you going to drink that?" Jude prompted, bringing my attention to the soda he had slid in my direction before.

I reached for the drink with a small smile and offered a thanks, then I slid onto one of the stools lined around the island.

"What do you want to do?" He asked, seating on the other side of the counter. "We have games, karaoke, skinny sipping, other fun stuff."

His eyes glitter with mischief at his mention of fun stuff, so I ignored him and dragged in a sip of the drink in my hands.

"I'll just observe for now. I haven't ever been to parties like this and have no idea what rules govern them."

He chuckled like he found my assessment amusing. "The best part of a college party is the fact that we are bound by exactly zero rules."

When he offered me his hand again, I took it and followed him to the poolside where a karaoke machine sat. We sang a few songs, played some rounds of two truths and one dare, and by the second round of the game, I felt loosened up. Like maybe this wasn't such a bad idea anymore.

The longer we played, the lighter I felt. Laughter came more easily now, and when Jude offered me a glass of cola, I was grateful.

I took a generous gulp, enjoying the way the cold liquid hit my parched throat. Then the bottle spun and spun, finally coming to a stop with its neck facing me.

Everyone in the circle clapped and cheered as they waited for the question to be asked. But my head no longer felt as it should. My thoughts were swimming, and my vision was spinning. I shook my head, trying to clear the haze that I was in.

"Ask her, Jude." I heard a male voice prompt, the sound hollow and distant to my buzzing ears.

Jude's lips stretched on a grin. "Would you like to go somewhere private with me, Aliyah?"