BEHIND HER SMILE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

 Blake took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling as if trying to cage a storm inside. His eyes flickered with something more than anger—something darker, sharper, like the edge of a blade waiting to cut loose. The muffled bass of the party music thudded through the walls, but it sounded distant, like I was trapped in a bubble underwater, everything warping around me. The lights overhead pulsed too brightly, stabbing through my disoriented vision. Blake's grip on me tightened, and I could feel the tension humming through his body, his jaw locked.

"George," Blake's voice came out low, controlled, though I could sense the tremor beneath it, "go and get Maddie and Chris. We're leaving."

Was he scared? Was I? A flicker of doubt crossed his eyes for just a second before his grip on me firmed up again. His hand slightly trembled, but he wouldn't let me see that. Blake's anger wasn't just at George or the situation—it was at himself, for not stopping this before it happened.

George scoffed, shaking his head. "Why the hell would we leave? She should have watched out in the first place," he muttered. His casual dismissal felt like a slap.

 I tried to pull away from Blake, but the room spun in sickening waves, and the movement made my stomach churn. My legs wobbled beneath me, useless, but before I could stumble, Blake's arm snaked around my waist, steadying me. I leaned back against him, grateful for his solidity as the world became less real with every second. The music was a roar, muffled but endless, like it was seeping into my bones.

"You piece of work!" I snapped at George, though the effort made my breath shallow, and I swayed, exhaustion sinking in fast. "I'll deal with you... when I'm better." My words slurred, each one harder to push out than the last. Blake's arm tightened, his fingers digging into my side, as if he knew I was fading fast.

"You can tear into him later," Blake murmured, his voice softer now but edged with something raw. He adjusted me against his chest, cradling my head like it was fragile, his fingers brushing against my temple. "Rest your head on me. No one needs to know you're drugged, okay? I'll handle it. Is there anyone I should call?"

His words were calm, but the tension in his body told a different story. The warmth of his shoulder against my cheek felt safe, like a barrier between me and the chaos swirling around us. The more I slipped into the haze, the more I trusted him to keep me here, grounded. I opened my mouth to speak, but all that came out was a weak, "Jerry. Call Jerry." My voice falters, but I force out the rest. "And Blake... don't let me go until Jerry comes. Promise me."

His eyes narrow, but not in frustration—his gaze is searching, intense. His forehead presses against mine as he studies me. The tension between us feels palpable, like something unspoken has just shifted.

"I promise," he replies, his voice firm and resolute.

Blake lifted me in a bridal style and carried me effortlessly, his steps sure and strong despite the tension coiling beneath his calm exterior. The cool night air hit my skin, and I shivered. Every step felt like I was drifting further into the fog, my grip on reality slipping. His arms were the only thing tethering me.

As he lay me down on the hood of a car, the world spun, and I closed my eyes against the overwhelming dizziness. The distant thump of music from the party seemed miles away now, just a dull echo in the back of my mind. Blake's voice was quiet but urgent as he opened the door and carefully lifted me again, settling me into the back seat with the same gentleness you'd use with a porcelain doll.

Through half-closed eyes, I saw Christopher and Maddie running towards us, worry etched on both their faces. Maddie's wide eyes darted between me and Blake, guilt twisting her features. Christopher's hands were clenched into fists, knuckles white. He looked ready to fight whoever had done this to us.