Chapter Four

Standing out in the cold evening, frozen in the cold, I stood in place, my hands wrapped around my arms, rubbing them, caressing. I couldn’t believe Nick had abandoned me in the middle of nowhere.

From behind, a flashlight came drawing closer. I tried to stop it by running toward it, but zoom—it went away.

“This can’t be happening to me.”

I reached for my bag, hung on my shoulder, and grabbed my phone.

“And now, I’m out of battery. Goddamn… Fuck! That asshole!”

I stood at a corner, and with no means of transportation, I started walking, but I was still in the middle of nowhere. I stamped my foot on the ground so hard that I almost broke my ankle.

Out of nowhere, a car’s headlights beamed at full speed.

“Hey! Hey!” I reached out to stop it.

“Fuck yeah, don’t stop. I bet you’re a serial killer. I probably dodged a bullet there!” I shouted aloud.

Screeching, the car stopped, and suddenly, it reversed, making my heart pound like crazy.

“Shit!” I said, holding my hands to my chest as I turned away from the car that was now close to me.

“Hey! Are you okay?” Jackson asked.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m okay. Some jerk left me stranded here,” I said, pretending to walk away.

“All alone? In the middle of nowhere?” Jackson asked, looking concerned.

“Yes, all alone. In the middle of nowhere. Alright, bye,” I replied, walking away.

Jackson slowly drove closer to me.

“No, hey! Wait. Okay, I know that sounded bad, but it’s true. I can’t leave you here… all alone in the middle of nowhere,” Jackson said, making me feel better.

“Okay, that sounds better,” I chuckled. “Do you have an iPhone charger?” I asked before getting into the car.

What a day. I couldn’t even take my charger out of my suitcase. Plugging in my phone, I turned it on, and my hands pressed my keypads nonstop.

“So, where am I taking you?” Jackson asked.

“Where are you headed?” I asked in return, still pressing my phone.

“To some random party at a villa spot out there. I’d invite you, but if what I said sounded bad, you’d think I’m gonna dismember you,” Jackson said, and we both laughed together.

“The surprise guest, right?” I chuckled, and Jackson joined me.

“So, where do you live?” Jackson asked, his eyes fixed on the road.

“Know where the Leisters live?” I asked.

“Of course. Do you live near there?” Jackson asked, giving me a quick stare.

“I live there,” I replied, still staring at my phone.

“What? Do you live in Nicholas’s house?” Jackson asked, confused.

“Worse. He’s my stepbrother—the one that left me stranded,” I replied.

“Nick? What an asshole. Well, now I get it. He didn’t have much time to drop you home,” Jackson said, smiling.

“What do you mean?” I asked, looking confused.

“He wanted to get there early.”

“Get where?” I was still a bit confused, not understanding what Jackson was saying.

“To the party I just told you about,” Jackson replied coldly, giving me a glance, his hands on the wheel.

“Hold on. Nick is there?” I asked, surprised. “He was supposed to be at Nickel’s. But at a party? Oh, what a big damn fat liar he is,” I spoke to myself.

“There’s no party without Nick,” Jackson said, bringing me back.

I emerged from Jackson’s vehicle, my arms crossed in mitigation of the night air. The mansion towered over me, glowing and humming with laughter, but I had no plans to enter. I had had enough of my new family for one night.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Jackson said, leaning against his vehicle. His brown eyes examined me carefully, as if he wasn’t convinced.

“I’m fine,” I muttered. “Thanks for the ride.”

He hesitated. “You know, Nick is not that bad of a guy. He just—”

“—is an arrogant jerk?” I finished for him.

Jackson laughed. “I was going to say complex.”

I rolled my eyes and faced the house. “I better get home before my mom starts freaking out.”

Out of nowhere, someone bumped into me.

“Can’t you— Are you blind?” I said angrily, dusting my dress as I stood up.

“Nona, okay, listen up. This is a gang get-together party, so be careful. That’s the most dangerous one over there—the one in white. That’s Ronnie. He got out of prison yesterday, to give you an idea of what the deal is,” Jackson pointed out to me.

Standing there, I was stunned. What gang is this? The fact that Nick was in it—lying to his rich dad to come somewhere like this—made no sense to me.

“Listen. You’ve got the Purples, the Greens, and the Blues. And then there’s ours. That is our leader,” Jackson said, pointing at Nick, who was jumping up and down with women all over him.

I could swear he looked hotter than before. His hair, once gelled, was now scattered all around him. His abs sent shivers down my spine.

I stood in a gaze as he turned around.