I looked to Leila still lost in her world, "Did you see someone behind me? Dancing with me?" I ask.
The alcohol clearly hit her system and whatever else she took because she looked at me as if I were the universe.
"Oh beautiful Maeve, I did not. But to be fair I see 12 of you right now." She laughs as she leans into me almost falling over. I grab her arm putting it over my shoulders.
"Let's go sit down, maybe find Aiden," I suggested, starting to pull her through the dance floor.
"Where Have You Been" by Rihanna starts playing, of course, a favorite of ours. She unlinks herself from me and jumps back into the crowd. I look around, starting to panic.
I feel a pat on my shoulder and turn around, "I've got her," Aiden says as he heads her way.
"Thanks, Aiden," I shout as he passes by.
I take a breath and start towards the kitchen. I pass couples making out and holding each other. I finally see the table filled with all the drinks. As I approach, I see in the corner, familiar brown hair being tugged by pale fingers. A piece of my heart stutters seeing Xavier groping and making out with a random girl.
I ignore the tug on my heart and I steadily grab a cranberry jug that lies in front of them and see a handle of vodka at the end of the table. I go to grasp it and someone's hand lands on mine before I have the chance to grab it.
"What are you doing here, Maeve?" a rough voice presses. Taking the vodka out of my hands with ease.
Standing in front of me is one of my brother's best friends, Seven. His once clean-shaven face is now covered in a thick beard. His hair mused in different ways on top of his head. He's sporting a worn sweatshirt from a random college and baggy jeans. The familiarity of him made my heart warm slightly. My brother and him used to be inseparable.
Sev used to stay at our house all the time. Before his dad found his current wife, he focused a lot on work and a little on Sev and his brother, Brayden. They basically lived with us for an entire summer when their dad was on a 'work trip'. There was always something off with that man. Him and Luke got into all kinds of trouble over the years, they loved playing pranks on people especially those of authority so you figured how that went.
"I'm with Leila." As if that would be enough of an answer for someone like him.
"It's her boyfriend's frat. I figured that out but why are you here? This is the last place you should ever be. You need to go." He begins to take the cranberry juice container out of my hand.
"I'm not going anywhere. I'm living it up." I say with a faked enthusiastic smile. He begins to pull me out of the kitchen and down a hall. Holding my arm, he pushes me into a room. I look around, instantly knowing it was his brothers by the frat memorabilia and a photo of him and Luke hanging on the wall.
"You are going to come to the type of environment that got Luke killed? What the hell are you doing?" Everything about him was tense.
I pull my arm back from his grip. "You know that wasn't it," I spoke quietly.
"If he hadn't come here that night, he wouldn't be dead. That is more than clear enough. He got on that bike after drinking too much and thinking he was fine. He climbed on that bike to get back home to you. He made a reckless decision that cost him his life."
Tears began to form in her eyes. Luke had tried to get home because it was the anniversary of their parent's death. They normally spent that day mourning together. He didn't show up at the house for the usual Chinese takeout they'd get (a favorite pastime of mom and dads) and got drunk at his frat house instead. When she called him asking when he'd be home, that's when he tried to come home.
"God, Seven. I fucking know I'm at fault for it all. I fucking know."
I hear his labored breathing and then I am enveloped in warmth. "Maeve, it's not your fault." He enunciates every word, rubbing my back in soft circles. I cry softly into his arms.
"He made that choice. You didn't. You just shouldn't be here. These aren't the people who genuinely give a shit about anyone but themselves. If I had been there that night, he never would have gotten back on that bike. Yet everyone in this house, let him. People he considered friends -- didn't even give a second glance at him stumbling or grabbing his keys. Nothing." His tone was covered in anger.
"I want you to stay safe for him, Maeve. This crowd is not one you want to be around. If you want to go out, I can take you somewhere else. Just not here. Please." He nearly begged.
"Okay, Sev. I - I'll go. I honestly have been over since the second I walked in here. Can you take me home? I would ask Xavier but he seems pretty busy." I fidgeted with my jacket sleeve.
"Of course. You know I love you Maeve, right? I'm sorry if I came off like a dick. Just seeing you here around everyone got me freaked out." His eyes lingered on mine.
"I get it, I do. Why are you here? Were you visiting Brayden?" I glanced around the room, seeing clothes thrown all over the floor and photos on the walls of Sev, his brother, and the rest of his family.
"Yeah, I had dropped him off from our parents. I came in to get a drink and saw you there. Let's get going." He ushered me out the door.
The loudness was increasing as we made our way back through the maze of a house to the front door. Adrian was drinking and talking to someone on the side.
"Where's Leila?" I asked concerned.
"She's lying upstairs in my room. After I caught up to her on the dance floor, she started throwing up so I had to bring her up. Sorry you guys only spent a little time together. You heading out? Everything okay?" He glanced at Seven at my back. His stance instantly inflated.
It's not that I didn't like Aiden but I didn't love him either. He was kind to my best friend and respectful, that's what mattered most.
"Yeah, yeah. Sev is just taking me home. Tell Leila to text me when she's up and sober."
"You got it. See you later" he said as he went back to talking with a guy with fraternity letters on his shirt.
We came out to the fresh air, cold on my skin. Seven led the way down the drive. His black Acura waited at the end.
"Want to stop at 711 and get a Slurpee like old times?" Sev asked as he went around to the passenger's side to open my door. A gentleman as always.
A glimpse of a smile hit my lips, "I'd love that. The last time I did that was with Luke. You know how much he needed to have every flavor in one cup."
He started the engine and started pulling out of the driveway, "Oh yeah. Never got how he liked the coca cola flavor mixed with grape and sour green apple. That shit almost made me throw up when he had me try it." A laugh escaped him.
After a few moments of silence, I whispered "I miss him".
I felt a warmth at my hand as his hand held mine, "I miss him too, Maeve. Every damn day."
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The Soul of Shadows
Short StoryMaeve is an ordinary and beautiful girl. From an outsider's perspective, even normal. You wouldn't know that she lost both of her parents and her only sibling. Or that she is gifted and the key to a shadow kingdom she has no idea about. Caspian is...