As We Lost the Light

IX.

The wooden gate gave way as I pressed my palm against it. I let it fall shut behind me as I padded quietly around the perimeter of the house.

"Sadie!" Alysha hollered as I came into view. She jogged over to me, giving me a quick hug. Mike stood at the grill, Casey flanked to his right. There were about fifteen other people gathered about the quaint backyard, a few I recognized, most I didn't. I scanned the crowd, searching for that tell-tale curly brown hair, but I never found it. My body relaxed, but at the same time I felt something else - disappointment.

She led me around the patio, introducing me as her friend to the people that we passed, and I was thankful for the anonymity - at least among a few of them. The small group of people that I did know, however, watched me intently as I followed Alysha across the yard, some with confusion etched on their faces, other with pity.

Poor Sadie was falling under Vic's spell again.

"Hey!" Mike shouted over the music, smiling as I approached. "You made it!" He hooked his arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his side. I could feel eyes on me, watching us.

"You want a beer Sadie?" Casey asked.

"Sadie doesn't-" Mike began.

"Sure," I spat out, interrupting him. He looked my way, raising his eyebrows, a small chuckle falling from his mouth. I reached out, grabbing the cold bottle from his hand and taking a long pull of the amber liquid.

Alysha and I took a seat at the small table next to the grill. She asked me about my career and I asked her about hers. To hear she was a model was not much of a surprise; Mike always did have a type. But she was different than any other girl I had ever seen him with - she was more than just a pretty face; she actually had substance. And her kindness was almost overwhelming. I found out that her and Mike had been together for two and a half years. They seemed very happy, and Mike looked at her as if she was the only thing he would ever need.

I honestly couldn't remember if Vic had ever really looked at me that way, or if I had just convinced myself that he did.

As daylight began to fade the party thinned, and eventually there were just four of us left. We had gathered around the fire pit, words flowing as easily as the alcohol did. I pulled my legs up underneath me, finishing another drink. Mike, Alysha, and Casey passed a blunt between the three of them, but I abstained, content with only the alcohol to hinder me. I hadn't drank this much beer since college and I was feeling a nice buzz; for the first time in weeks I had a break from my conflicting thoughts and emotions, and I was able to just relax and enjoy my time with friends, both old and new.

The glass door leading from the house to the yard slid open with a thud and we all turned towards the sound in time to see Vic making a beeline towards us. I gulped, trying to sink into my chair, to make myself invisible.

"Sup, man!" Casey shouted as he blew out a cloud of smoke, his words slightly slurred and laced with the alcohol he had consumed. The fire cast a shadow over Vic's face, and I couldn't tell whether he had noticed me right away or not. If I could've just disappeared in that moment I would have.

"What're you doing here, bro?" Mike asked, glancing at me and then back to his brother. "I thought you and Kayla were going to Big Bear?"

I felt a pang in my heart. I kept my head down but allowed my eyes to travel upward. Vic was staring at me from where he stood a few feet away.

He cringed. "Yeah, change of plans." He grabbed a beer from the cooler and sat in the empty chair next to Casey, popping the top and downing half the bottle in one big gulp.