Reckless Vengeance

chapter 7

I hate loud music. Music should be sweet and soft and calming. This loud raucous is giving me a migraine already and we haven't even made it to the house yet. 

"Do we have to be here?" I ask Ivy, walking beside her on the sidewalk. 

Ivy loops her arm through mine, somehow propelling us faster toward the party. "Live a little, Ellie. You've been at Northgate for almost two months and you haven't been to a single party yet." 

"Yes. I prefer it that way."

I'm not the best person to be around these days. My home life is shit. I haven't really even eaten a proper meal in days. All the money I'm making working at the diner by campus, Lucky, goes straight to my dad.

The name is the exact opposite of what I feel every time I have to work there. 

At least he paid this years tuition in full for both Logan and I. I have no idea what we're going to do when next August arrives if we continue down the spiral at this rate. 

Ivy nudges my shoulder with her own, bringing me back to reality. We're the same height. We have the same hair, brown and down to the middle of our backs. When we're turned around, you can't tell who is who. So often people think we're twins until they see our faces.

"What's on your mind tonight, Ellie?" 

Ivy is the only person who calls me Ellie, other than Logan. She heard him say my middle name that way once and decided that she, too, would stick to calling me Ellie forever. So far, she's stuck true to that promise. 

A feeling vibrates through my stomach. Hunger. Ivy would buy me food in a heartbeat, because she's just that kind of person. In fact, she'd buy me a week's worth of groceries. But I don't say anything. Instead, I ignore the feeling and flash her a smile that I hope looks genuine. 

"Nothing," I say, climbing up the steps with her. The music gets louder and I almost wince at the sound. 

The second we step inside the house, Ivy's current guy obsession spots her instantly and rushes over. The only reason I came tonight was so that she wouldn't be alone when meeting him. Her other friends were too busy apparently. I think it was a lie she used just to get me out of the house. 

But now that I'm here, I actually don't mind it. It looks fun and maybe exactly what I need right now. 

None of these people know you, Kaia. You can start over now. 

I wave bye to Ivy, telling her quietly that if she needs me to call me and we can go. But I don't think I need to worry about that. Sam seems kind as he flashes me a nice smile, leading Ivy into the throng of people. I head to what I hope is the kitchen. Suddenly I am so parched. 

As I enter the arched entryway, a girl slams into me while walking backward. 

"Oh, shit, I'm so sorry!" She yells over the loud music, whipping around to face me. It's Layla. Grayson's girlfriend.

I stumble but quickly regain my footing. "It's fine," I say, shooting her a quick smile. "No damage done."

She laughs. "Good. I can be so clumsy sometimes. I'm Layla, by the way." 

"I know," I nod. "You're friends with Kade, right?"

"Yeah." She looks slightly confused.

I shake my head, laughing. "I'm Kaia. I am ... acquainted with Kade."

At that Layla laughs, too. "Acquainted?"

I follow her into the kitchen. "Long story."

"Talking about me, girls?" An infuriatingly familiar voice drawls. I turn to find Kade, making his way over to us with a red solo cup in his hand, Grayson at his side.