Evelyn ✓

07

♚ J E S S E ♚

"You look yummy."

A redheaded girl gives me a quick, sultry smile before she slinks off into the crowd to drape herself over some guy. Or girl. Who knows?

I take a large gulp of my apple cider and make my way through the thick crowd to the front door. The loud music pumps through my body like the alcohol in my veins, making me buzzed and restless. All around me guys and girls are grinding, making out, dancing. I see two guys groping each other and hold back a snort.

The lights are off, besides the many phone screens. Good thing it's hard to see in the dark because the majority of girls here are topless.

I greet a couple of people on my way, ditching my cup when it's empty, and then spot the girl I've been waiting on. I sling an arm over her shoulders, planting a sloppy kiss on her cheek. "California," I greet her, nuzzling her neck to inhale her perfume.

She pushes me away but I catch her smile. "It's Calliope," she corrects with a light laugh. She looks sexy as hell, with her wavy hair flowing over her shoulders. Her killer figure is emphasized by a tight, red dress. "And hi, Jesse."

Two girls and a guy pass us, giggling and touching each other. California's eyes follow them before she glances around. "Wow. This is way bigger than I thought it'd be. Nice place to throw a party," she states, pushing her hair to rest on one shoulder.

I grin at her, pulling us aside so we're under the stairs. "It's not a party; it's the getting together of mutual friends," I recite.

Calliope laughs, covering her mouth as she accidentally snorts, and I laugh along with her. A mute guy named Denis - part of the elite group in the school hierarchy - hands me and California a drink, and I thank him. Calliope sniffs her open beer bottle before she takes a gulp. "Is that what you told your parents? The getting together of mutual friends?" California giggles, leaning in and touching my arm. "Jesse, half of these people don't even go to our high school!"

"Uh, yeah, that may be so but a friend of mine has a few friends, who knows a few people and those people are friends with . . . shit," I cuss as I get confused. Calliope gives me an amused look, her hips swaying to the music blaring, and it's then that I properly look at her. "You know, you look hot. Like, so hot that I wanna fuck you right here, right now."

Her cheeks flush pink but she gives me a wicked smile, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. Taking a step closer to me. My heart is a puddle of alcohol, catching fire as California's hand trails over my torso.

I place a hand on her hip, and we stare at each other as we finish off our drinks. Her eyes get glassy as she finishes her beer. She tosses it somewhere behind us while my cup falls to the floor, and we both laugh at the sound of broken glass.

"Maybe you'll get to fuck me, but not now," Calliope murmurs, wrapping her hands around my neck. "If you're a good boy," she whispers in my ear, nibbling on my earlobe. One hand slides down my chest, over my stomach and stops at the waistband of my jeans. A sigh leaves her lips as she lets her fingers play with my belt buckle, tracing her index finger over my torso.