Complete Undoing

SIX

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TILLY

"Uh, I stan a good party!" Evangeline squeals while swaying to the beat of the loud music.

"Tell me why are we here again?" Amelia asks, glancing around cautiously.

"To let loose and have fun, duh." Evangeline dragged Amelia, Anastasia, Hazel, and I out tonight to the Ledger mansion for their first party of the year.

In her words, we needed a change in scenery and a good time.

Rumor has it that this place is a party animals' dream. You can buy just about anything here. Plus, I heard that the basement is off limits. Some say that they've heard screams coming from down there, so loud it over powers the music.

That's all hearsay, of course, but I wouldn't put it past them.

I take a moment to look around, noticing a couple of people are naked and having sex on different surfaces, and others are smoking and snorting powder off of a girls breasts.

I spot Lincoln and Nate playing beer pong. They nod when they catch my eye.

Leighton and his cousin Lance are standing by the sliding glass door, sharing a joint.

"He told me that he wasn't going to be here." Hazel mutters from beside me, I notice she's talking about Lance from the way her pouty face is facing his way.

"Well, he does live here, Haz."

She sighs, "I know. I just thought he'd.. Nevermind." She shakes her head, "he's going to ruin everything tonight."

"Not if you let him, babe." Mills rubs Hazels arm, trying to bring her a small ounce of comfort.

"Yeah fuck him." Evangeline bumps her shoulder with mine. "Lexington is here, and you don't see Tilly freaking out."

I whip my head around so fast I'm surprised I don't have whiplash. But I don't see him.

Lance, who is taking a drag of his joint, pauses and tilts his head in our direction.

Hazel whispers "shit" under her breath as she matching his glare.

No words are spoken between the two, just some sort of weird tension. She tries to maintain eye contact but fails. She huffs and turns her back to him, switching her attention to Evangeline.

"I'm surprised he's not dragging me out of here by my hair."

"He doesn't get to dictate what you do with your time or how to spend it." Evangeline takes out mini crown apple shot bottles from her purse. "You're a big girl, Haz, now drink like one."

She passes each of us one, "cheers bitches."

I down mine in one go, the burn that goes down my throat makes me shiver.

"Lance can't do anything to me." She downs hers, her face squinches in disgust. "You're right." She chokes out.

"I can't, huh?"

Hazel and I freeze. Her reasoning is that Lance Ledger-Williams is behind her clenching his jaw, face filled with rage.

My reasoning is who is standing beside him. The woodsy scent is evading my space, making me hyperaware of his presence.

I've been avoiding all things Lexington since that night at the pier two weeks ago. I've tried to get through my embarrassment from that night to stop eating at me.

I've taken up running, going to the campus gym and hanging out with Tate in the library.

In the moment, it works, but as soon as I'm alone, he conquers my every thought.