𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐓𝐘 → original

fifteen

Dinner was awkward, but they forced themselves to suffer through it. They didn't need Tyler getting suspicious. Amory was the only one who didn't join them, who had grabbed the gun and locked himself in the guest room before Tyler came in. Lou didn't know that he had the gun, but she lied and told Tyler that Amory wasn't feeling well. She was grateful, really, that Amory had chosen to sit this one out.

Tyler drank throughout, talking jovially as if nothing was wrong. In fact, he seemed friendlier than he had most days there. Nadia suspected that he was at a level of drunk that made him happy and talkative, but if he kept it up, he would reach the level he was at the night before. She planned to be upstairs by the time he got to that point, hoping that he would drink until he passed out and they could all make their escape.

"None of you are drinking tonight?" Tyler looked around at them, a small smile on his face. "Come on, you guys only have two more days here, none of you have even really gotten drunk."

"Not really in the mood tonight." Marc shrugged, toying with a crumpled napkin in his lap. He couldn't look at Tyler, so distracting himself was his best option.

"You guys are so lame." Tyler barked out a laugh, causing Ophelia to flinch. Luckily, he didn't seem to notice. "No wonder I had to teach Vallie how to really drink. What did you guys do in college, sit around and read?"

"So she's Vallie now?" Nadia couldn't bite her tongue it seemed. She sat forward in her seat, fixing her eyes on Tyler with a venomous glare. "Last night, she was 'my wife' or 'bitch' or 'cunt.' We're back to Vallie, huh?"

The room went silent. Even Tyler seemed stunned, reeling back as if she had physically slapped him. He took a moment to recover, closing his mouth and scoffing. He rolled his eyes lightly and took a swig from his beer before looking back at Nadia.

"I was drunk, okay?" Tyler shrugged. "If Vallie were here, she wouldn't care. She knows how I am when I'm drunk, she knows I love her."

"That's the thing, though. Vallie isn't here." Nadia bit back. "And it's really fucking odd. You know, you didn't even bother explaining yesterday why she didn't show up. Or today, for that matter. The trip is almost over, have you just given up on lying to us?"

"Nadia." Marc shot her a warning look, his voice firm. They did not need this, they needed to keep calm and get out.

"What the hell do you want me to say?" Tyler shot up out of his seat, spilling his beer in the process. He swore under his breath and rolled his eyes, but made no movement to clean it up. Instead, he looked back at Nadia, who was now standing as well. "I don't know what goes on in her fucking head. Maybe she realized she didn't actually want to see any of you guys, ever think of that?"

"Then why would she invite us?" Nadia laughed mirthlessly, throwing her hands up in the air.

Lou, Ophelia, and Caspar looked between the two, though they stayed silent. It was an impending train wreck, one that they did not have the power to control. Lou bit down on her lip, wishing she had had the forethought to tell Nadia to stay upstairs as well.

"You know, I couldn't tell you." Tyler shook his head. "Vallie and I have plenty of friends now, ones that we actually would have had a good time with. Don't think that I wanted you guys here, in my house—"

"It's not your house." Ophelia finally spoke up, her voice angry. Marc sighed, there was no saving this now. "It's Mr. Wright's house. You have no control over who is invited here."

Tyler whirled around on her, his eyes angry and his jaw set. He took a step forward, but Marc was quick on his feet, placing himself between Ophelia and Tyler. He knew that he was stronger than he was in college, having taken on working out, but he also knew that if it came down to a fight with Tyler, he probably wouldn't win. Tyler was 6'4 to his 5'10, with the muscle to accompany his height.