Country Mile

SELF CONTROL SNAPPED

Music blared so loudly through every speaker, Genna could barely hear Delilah who was standing mere inches away. Though it was chilly outside, all the bodies made the rooms inside warm.

Alyssa pressed out her Dead Prom Queen gown. "Wanna meet back here in an hour?"

The girls nodded and smiled gratefully at her. "Thanks again for the ride!"

"No problem, see you later!"

"I'm gonna go find Logan," Delilah said discreetly, adjusting her woodland fairy princess crown.

Genna pointed to her bunny ear and shook her head.

Drawing a big L and then an O, Delilah laughed when Genna drew a big heart and then batted her eyelashes exaggeratedly in response. She nodded and then kissed her sister's cheek before heading off to find the host of the party.

Genna walked around, stopping to talk to different people from different classes. She was mid conversation with her lab partner, Chelsea, when someone came up from behind her and put their hands over her eyes.

Letting out a small screech which drew the attention of those closest to her, she turned around to slap the unwanted hands away. She stopped before making contact when she looked up to see Archer's devilish grin.

"You scared me!" she giggled, lightly smacking his arm.

"Sorry, I was just playin'," he smirked.

"Well don't do that! I almost punched you. I still could if I wanted to. I don't—" her words were stopped by Archer placing a finger over her lips.

"You look beautiful, baby bunny," he spoke loudly over the music.

Blushing scarlet, Genna ran her finger over the dried fake blood on the front of his shirt. "Thanks, you're looking pretty handsome yourself, brain eating zombie."

"You thirsty?" he asked smiling.

She nodded and her smile grew as he laced his fingers with hers.

"I'll catch up with you later, Chels!"

Chelsea smiled and waved her off as Archer led her into the kitchen. She stood beside him as he fixed them some drinks. She looked around, smiling and waving at different friends. She mouthed, 'I love your hair!' to one girl dressed as Medusa, and blew a kiss to another who was dressed as a bunny like her. As her eyes continued to sweep across the room, she came upon three girls staring back at her. The two on the side kept glancing back and forth between her, and the one in the middle.

The girl had long mahogany hair and piercing hazel-green eyes. Her black cat outfit was skin tight and left nothing to the imagination. She stood twirling a piece of hair around her finger, her dark red lips were pursed into a slight frown. Genna would think she were beautiful, if she weren't so angrily glaring at her all the time. As much as it irked her, she understood why Valerie Davenport had it out for her. She was dumped by Archer less than six months ago, and there would be no making up. He didn't want her, no matter how often she texted him to reconsider. There would be no getting him back so long as Genna was in the picture.

Archer turned to hand Genna her drink, but when he saw her face, he immediately followed her line of sight and it settled upon Valerie and her friends. His jaw clenched when seeing the dirty looks being thrown at Genna. Just as quickly as anger raised, excitement followed; it was in that moment that he knew for certain his feelings for Genna. His need to protect her made it clear: she was his. It didn't matter that they weren't official, to him, she was it.

"Here, Genna." He offered her the drink, then took her free hand in his and led them through the kitchen and out the door to the back yard.

He walked her over to the swinging bench where they briefly sat in awkward silence before Archer spoke out.