Academy of Blood and Magic

4🖤

On Saturday, I put on my best pair of black jeans and threw on a red blouse, curled my pink, blue, and purple hair, applied blush and mascara on my face, threw my purse over my shoulder, and started heading out the door.

Shelbee had texted me the directions to Nick's house and Brandon was going to pick me up. I was excited. I hadn't gone to a party in what felt like ages and I wanted Brandon to meet Shelbee.

"Where are you going?" Dad asked from the living room couch, causing me to pause in front of the door.

"To a party at Shelbee's place," I said.

Dad furrowed his brow thoughtfully. "Shelbee. . . That name sounds familiar."

"I was friends with her in middle school. We saw each other when we were testing and she got in with me. She gave me her phone number and asked if I wanted to go to a party to celebrate."

He beamed. "That sounds great! I remember her. Such a nice girl. Ashamed you lost contact after middle school. You two were pretty close."

"Not that close. She wasn't my best friend or anything, but it was still sad when she had to go."

"Yeah, it was. Tell her I said hi and remember to be safe."

"I will."

Lights flooded through the living room window. Brandon's Mustang drove up to the driveway and sat there, idling, waiting for me to come out.

Dad's eyes narrowed. "Let me guess. Brandon's coming too, isn't he?"

"Yes, he is. And he was invited too. I'll try not to stay out too late. See you later."

"See you," he called back, his voice losing all the cheer it had only moments ago. I rolled my eyes and walked out of the house, slamming the door a little too hard after me.

I walked over to Brandon's car and got in.

He leaned over the console to press a quick kiss to my lips. "Hey, beautiful. How are you?"

I grinned. "Great, now that you're here. I'm so excited. I feel like I haven't had a night out in ages."

"'Cause you haven't. You've been cooped up studying."

"At least I'm out now. Did you get in trouble for not picking up Jo in time?"

He grimaced. "Yep. I'm nineteen and my mom still scares me. If it weren't for the fact that I'm an adult and paying rent to stay there, she'd have grounded me and used the belt. But Jo kicked me in the leg, so I got all the punishment I deserved."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Jo always liked to kick you."

He glowered at me and backed out of the driveway. "It wouldn't be so funny if it was you. Where's this place again?"

I pulled my phone out and looked at the directions Shelbee had texted me again. I read them to Brandon out loud.

"I know where that area is," he said with a nod. "Not too far from here."

We arrived at Nick's house about twenty minutes later. There were about seven cars parked in the driveway, filling it up so Brandon had to park at the curve. He parked the car, turned off the engine, and we climbed out.

Music was playing from the house loud enough that the whole neighborhood could probably hear it. Bright, flashing lights emitted from the windows, causing me to squint. I prayed someone with epilepsy didn't drive by and wondered how no one had called the cops yet.

Brandon had the same thoughts as we continued to gaze at the house. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" he shouted over the pulsing music even though we weren't even in the house yet.