Hidden Within

41 | twisted games

The gym looks like something out of a fairy tale.

It's been decorated for the occasion, decked out with streamers and lights in our school colors. The room is packed with students, all of whom are dressed up for one of the most attended dances of our high school careers. Loud music blares around me, the voices of my peers echoing as they sing along to the words, bodies moving to the rhythm vibrating off of the floor boards.

"This is insane!" Mason cries over all of the noise, addressing our group as she holds hands with Marigold. "I've never seen so many people excited to be at school!"

"Speak for yourself," Kai—who decided to attend the dance solo—mumbles. "This shirt is itchy. And my shoes are too tight."

"Come on," Mason groans, shoving Kai's shoulder lightheartedly. "Live a little! You'll only have fun if you let yourself."

"I'm with Kai on this one," Clover retorts. "School dances make me cringe."

Luna, Clover's date, shakes her head. I've never met her before tonight, though she seems to fit into our group well. She's gorgeous. Her flawless dark skin leaves me envious, and her warm brown eyes easily reflect her emotions.

"You're such a buzzkill," Luna teases. "Why'd you ask me to be your date if you didn't even wanna come?"

"Because I was hoping you'd ditch with me," Clover says boldly, shooting Luna a smirk. I giggle to myself at their conversation, smiling as I turn to Devon.

"Aren't you happy I convinced you to come tonight?" she murmurs to me, tone low to keep our conversation exclusive.

I roll my eyes. "I wouldn't say you convinced me. You just asked me to come with you and I didn't say no."

"Yeah, okay." Devon chuckles. "If that's how you remember it. Come on, beautiful. Let's dance."

So we do. I dance alongside Devon and my friends, allowing myself to live in the moment. My cheeks hurt from how hard I grin, my voice becomes raw from singing, and my body aches from moving. Yet I'm having the most fun I've had in ages, finally starting to resemble the version of Hadley I had been before the summer took place.

"I'm going to get something to drink!" I tell Devon, gesturing to the snack table set up against the far wall of the gym. Devon nods in response, her gaze following after me as I wander off. Her body language conveys worry, to which I laugh at. Devon is definitely protective, though it's cute.

Upon reaching the snack table, I flinch as I'm reaching for a bottle of water. I hadn't been expecting the presence that suddenly appears by my side.

"You look like you're having fun."

I recognize the voice instantly. A shiver crawls up my spine as my stomach twists into knots. I turn to face my assailant, finding my suspicions to be confirmed. Delaney seems to have a habit of appearing when I least want to see her.

"I am," I admit in a bored tone. I don't want to let her know just how much she manages to get under my skin. I refuse to let her see how much she irks me.

"Good to know." I don't like the smirk Delaney offers. She looks much too smug for her own good, as if she knows something I don't. Everything is a game to her. She always has to be one step ahead, never failing to come out on top.

"Trust me," Delaney mutters with a snort, grinning as she sips from the cup in her hand. "Your night is about to become so much more fun."

I study Delaney quizzically, blood turning to ice in my veins. I want to ask her what the hell she means by such a cryptic remark, yet Delaney turns her back to me before I have the chance to utter a word. I watch her walk off, a sinking feeling settling into my bones. I no longer want to be a player in Delaney's twisted games.

I just want to be free.

___

a/n: idk if y'all have heard about the olivia rodrigo/joshua bassett/sabrina carpenter drama but all of their songs (driver's license, lie lie lie, and skin) are bops and i can't stop listening to them 🤭