DEAD INSIDE

(30)

I hadn't counted the shots and bottles that were given to me after that but an hour later, I was pretty buzzed as we followed Marla's improvised choreography on Avicii's Wake me Up.

All my friends, Vanessa included, seemed to be having a good time and if I was honest, so was I. I had put my earlier strange reaction to Gregory to exhaustion and was now releasing all my pent-up energy on the dancefloor.

Nobody had questioned our presence so far and the girls kept being propositioned by NewEast students. Only Deedee paid attention to the boys taking their chance on her but so far, she didn't look too impressed.

No boy had approached me, which suited me just fine after my crazy week.

"How come everybody's avoiding you?" Mel asked me as we took a breather outside.

"Because they know better than to get close to homeless, orphan me..." I only half-joked.

"Not funny..." She commented with her lips pursed.

"I'm trying..." I pouted and after rolling her eyes, she hugged me.

"You know we love you, right?" I nodded, my eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"I'm lucky to have amazing friends like you guys..." I muttered next.

"And we, to have you..." She interjected.

"Is everything ok?" Marla's concern was hard to miss as she gathered her afro bob into a high pony tail.

"Yep..." I answered just as my phone started buzzing in my front pocket.

I frowned when I saw the caller ID.

It was Milo.

I let it go to voicemail and waited to see if he'd leave me a message.

I didn't have to wait long as the black device buzzed again in my hand. I played the message and my frown worsened when I heard his slurred voice. Milo had clearly drunk-called me.

"Hey, Little Spy..." He said. "I just wanted to apologize..." He huffed. "... Again!... I know you probably don't want to talk to me anymore but I've f*cked up really bad... As in really, really bad..." I could hear his hoarse breathing. "And I... don't know who else to talk to..." He went on and I then heard a metallic bang as if he'd dropped his phone or something. I started panicking and tried to call him back, hoping he was just drunk and had dropped his phone but he didn't pick up and a message appeared at the bottom of my screen telling me he was already calling someone.

I didn't hesitate and selected Scott's phone number before pressing CALL.

He answered almost immediately.

"Ali?!" Even though people were shouting around him and the music loud enough to wake up the dead, I could tell that he was worried.

"Is Milo at your party?" I asked him before he had time to finish his sentence.

"Hmm, no... Why?" He sounded confused now.

"Where is he then?" I pressed.

"At his place. His usual babysitter wasn't free tonight so he decided to stay with the twins but..."

"You need to go there as soon as possible..." I said, struggling to keep my panic in check.

"What's happening?" He asked but I was no longer listening to him.

"Mel!" I shouted having forgotten that she was standing next to me and her eyes were wide when I put my hands on her shoulders.

"You need to drive me to Milo's place right this second, please."