Hayden Starling is finally in a good place after the overdose that nearly cost her her life, and so when Blaize Hamilton, the new resident bad boy and werewolf-in-hiding arrives in Beverly Hills with a seemingly ulterior motive, she has no problem d...
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We hurry to catch up with Bronte The Lightweight, who has already reached the muscular bouncer at the entrance to the club and started chatting him up. From the look on his face, I can tell she's not making much of an impression.
Flirting has never really been one of her strong suites. Kara has always been the one who can march up to guys at a bar so full of confidence. Kara has always been the one who can seduce a boy within minutes.
The same Kara who, now it seems, likes the other gender.
Although we did all try to hide it from her in the car, it was a big shock for all of us. Even Jake saying that he got all A's in his latest set of exams was less of a surprise. I guess it was because she had always been the one who seemed the most comfortable with boys; the one who every boy seem to want.
In front of us, the poor guy looks relieved as we approach and steps quickly away from Bronte, who notices and turns around, rolling her eyes.
"Finally! You guys take forever!" She turns back to the bouncer and, when he glares at her in return she folds her arms impatiently. "Well?" She says as if it's obvious, "Let us in. What are you waiting for?" To anyone else, it would be, and I can tell Bronte is thinking the same thing.
"I'm sorry miss, but I can't let you in unless your name is on the list. And I don't know if your name is on the list because you haven't told me it." He's began to grind his teeth in annoyance and I can tell if one of us doesn't do something soon, we'll get kicked out before we've actually made it inside the club, which I can tell you, will be a first.
Bronte snorts and giggles at the same time, which has the bouncer looking at her in disgust. "Is it just me, or did that sound like a pickup line? You know, the 'I don't know if your name is on the list because you haven't told me it' part. No?" She drifts off, glancing at us. "No? It would be an awesome pickup line." She continues to babble on and the bouncer begins to reach for his radio. Time to step in.
"I believe our names are on the list. I'm Hayden Starling. She's Bronte Rodriguez," I point to Bronte who has finally stopped muttering under her breath, "And this is Kara de Winter and Harper Young. We're with the Touchstone Pictures group?"
He slowly flicks through the list, and eventually finds our names. "I guess you can go in. Any trouble though, and this is your last warning."
As we walk in, we hear him mutter, "Would have been helpful if you'd told me that in the beginning."
Bronte whirls round. "Excuse me? Do you know who we are?" Her hands are on her hips and even the fact that he's not too bad looking won't deter her.
"No." He roles his eyes. "If I did, I wouldn't have had to ask your fucking names." He faces the next people in the queue, turning his back on us.
"Oh no he didn't!" Bronte leaps back, but we restrain her.
"Come on Bront. The night hasn't even started and you're already picking fights with people. People who could squash you in an instant." Harper eyes the bouncer's muscles hungrily, and before Bronte attacks him or Harper molests him, Kara and I drag them both into the sweaty crowd.
Bronte flips him the bird and says, "I need a drink. Anyone else?" I know if I leave her to choose the drinks she will come back with the most alcoholic drinks she can find, but at the moment I don't really care. I'm too busy thinking about a) Kara and why she didn't tell us sooner and b) Isaac and what he said on the phone.
I've been trying to forget it all evening but I can't. I can't help but think that the fact I mentioned Blaize's name to him and he stood me up the moment later is more than a coincidence. I can't help but think that he knows more than he's letting on about our new least popular transfer student. And what hurts the most is that he can't confide in me. Me, his girlfriend, the one person he's supposed to trust more than anything.
It makes me think that I've done something wrong, that he's lost his trust in me but I can't think about it. Not right now.
"Make that two. Preferably something strong." Bronte looks at me in surprise and I realise with shock that that voice came from me. And so in the end, all it took was a second to fuck everything up again.
"Are you sure, Hayden?" Bronte counters, looking nervous. "I mean, aren't you supposed to... Not drink?"
"Come on!" I say, giving them an annoyed look. "It's just one drink. I'm not going to become an alcoholic." Again. I can tell it's what everyone's thinking, but none of them say it. Instead Bronte slowly gives in.
"If you're sure..." She says and gives me a small smile before sauntering off, dodging the already drunk couples scattered about.
And that's all it takes. A few persuasive words and they're already under my fucking spell. They're supposed to tell me I shouldn't drink, to remember what happened last time, but instead they worry that'll I'll throw a tantrum and give in. And it's all my fault. Even my own friends think I'm the bitch who has to get her own way every single time.
So when Bronte returns a minute later with a tray of shots, I promise myself 'just this once' and try to forget. "Four rounds." She says triumphantly, almost as if she's challenging us.
I smirk up at her. "Bring it on." It's refreshing to just be crazy for once, to let go and have fun. It's nice. I can feel myself starting to understand Bronte and the way she just lets herself go for a night each week. It's so tiring having to keep up your appearance when you know everybody is watching, everybody is waiting, for you to make a mistake. For you to let your walls down and show people that you do have cracks after all - that you aren't perfect.
A huge grin forms on Bronte's lips and she takes a deep breath. "It's going to taste like your on fire, but it'll get us drunk in no time, so grow some lady balls and suck it up."
Kara and Harper each take a shot, and so I follow them, equally as confident.
Bronte grabs one herself and scrunches her face up at the yellow liquid. "OK, three, two," I squeeze my eyes shut, preparing myself for the bitter taste. I've done shots before, I'm just not a regular. "One!"
And so I forget my promise to mom and throw my head back and down the liquid as fast as I possibly can. All at once, my mouth feels like it's on fire, burning from the bitterness. I feel a moment of regret and guilt before I shake my head and swallow, slamming the glass down in the table, just before Kara. The table jumps and my friends grin at me.
Bronte breaks the split second of silence. "Come on girls. Let's get this fucking party STARTED!"
