Chapter 28 - How Do You Know Him?

Vera's POV

My eyes squinted, jealousy sitting bitter on my tongue. My fingers tightened around the strap of my purse.

She had her arms wrapped around him, with a wide smile on her face with her body completely comfortable against him. Then she pulled back to stand in front of him, still smiling, her hand trailing down his arm before letting go.

But his eyes didn't move. They stayed on me, following my every movement, like he hadn't even noticed she'd stepped back.

She noticed his attention wasn't on her. Her smile faltered for half a second, then her head turned slowly, following the direction he was looking, and I watched her eyes trace the same path his had taken.

Her eyes landed on me, I tore my eyes away from them when I heard my name been called.

"Vera. Look at you."

Queen stood at the entrance of the mansion with a grin stretched across her face, her whole body bouncing slightly on her heels with excitement.

I forced my own smile to match hers, feeling the corners of my mouth ache with the effort.

"Do you know her?" Peter asked beside me, his head moved down toward mine, close enough that I caught the smell of his cologne.

"Yes. She's the new friend I made."

"Ohh, that's nice. Good to have a new friend." He nodded slowly, his released the hand that held mine and slidde it into his pockets.

"Yeah."

"She's coming for you. See you later, Vera."

That was the first time he'd said my name since we met. For a second, I actually thought he'd forgotten it, that it had slipped out of his mouth by accident.

He turned before I could respond and walked ahead of me into the mansion without waiting, his shoulders relaxed looking like he was ready for a hell of fun.

Queen came to stand close to me, her hands holding my hand that had my purse in it.

"I've been waiting for you." She squeezed my hand while pulling me closer to her.

"I'm here now."

She laced her fingers through mine and pulled me forward. The moment I stepped through the door, the music was so loud my ears rang for a second before adjusting.

The living room was full with people, bodies pressed everywhere, some guys already shirtless with sweat gleaming on their chests, hips grinding against hips on a makeshift dance floor lit by shifting colored lights.

In the corners, couples kissed like they were trying to swallow each other whole, hands disappearing under shirts, under waistbands. What I'd seen outside the gates was nothing compared to this. This was the real party, hidden behind these walls.

The bass thumped so hard my chest vibrated with it… but outside, minutes ago, there had been nothing. Not even a whisper of music.

Confusion settled on my face making my brows pull together as I looked around.

I leaned toward her ear and shouted over the noise. "Why is it this loud in here but nothing outside?"

She didn't answer right away. Instead she pulled me through the crowd, weaving between bodies, her shoulder bumping into a boy who didn't even look up, until we reached another door. Behind it was the kitchen, cooler air and the music reduced to a dull thump vibrating through the walls instead of blasting through my skull.

She let go of my hand and walked straight to the counter, lined edge to edge with bottles of every color and shape.

"This mansion is soundproof. That's why parties happen here."

"Ohh." My eyebrows lifted as I looked around the kitchen, taking in the marble counters, the gleam of everything expensive.

Rich kids.

She grabbed a glass from the cupboard, then reached for a bottle and started pouring, her wrist raised with practiced ease. She reached for a second glass without even looking at me.

"Queen, chill." I stepped closer and caught her wrist mid-pour. "Tomorrow's Monday. If you drink something that strong, you're not making it to school."

She let out a short laugh, then dropped her free hand onto my shoulder, leaning close to me.

"This is a test for the strongest. The whole point of tonight is to see who's still standing enough to show up tomorrow, and who misses the game."

"Uhh?" I stared at her completely lost.

"Nobody skips a game. Everybody has to be there to support the team, and anyone who misses it gets punished." She said it so casually, pouring the second glass while she spoke.

"Punished by who?" My grip on her wrist loosened without me noticing.

"The school."

"Huh?" My face twisted further, brows pulling tight.

"Relax." She laughed again, patting my shoulder twice. "They don't know about the party. It's just something stupid we students do to see who gets in trouble."

"Ohh." I let out a small laugh, my shoulders dropping as the tension left them. "I was actually scared for a second."

"So are you going to let go of my hand now?" She glanced down at where my fingers were still curled loosely around her wrist.

I pulled my hand back, my cheeks warming slightly. She turned to the counter and mixed two drinks properly this time, pouring different bottles into the same glass, her wrist twisting like she'd done it a hundred times before. She lifted one glass and held it out to me, the liquid swirling.

"I don't think I should…"

"Come on, Vera, don't be boring." She shook the glass a little, the ice clinking against the sides, waiting. "Tonight is for being free."

I stared at the glass, then at her face, her eyes

daring me. I took it from her hand.

We clinked our glasses together, and then we both tipped our heads back and swallowed it down in one go.

“Eishh!”

My throat burned instantly. My face scrunched up with my one hand holding my chest like that would somehow help put out the fire.

"Another one." She was already pouring before I could argue, tipping the bottle into my glass with a wide grin.

"One, two, drink."

We downed it together again. This time the burn was mild.

She set her glass down on the counter with a clink and turned to face me fully, her eyes suddenly sharp despite the alcohol already showing the effect on her face.

"How do you know Peter?”