Nightfall

Chapter 4

The wind blowing through Thea's window fed to her adrenaline even more after her little stunt with her father. She pushed the speed limit as much as she could without risking a siren behind her. The radio was almost full blast and pounded her eardrums without mercy.

She turned down Bonnie's quiet street and reluctantly lowered the music to a decent volume so she could sneak through the neighborhood without disturbing anyone. When she pulled up to the right house, Bonnie was already outside on the porch waiting. She quickly raced to the car and they made their getaway.

"What took you so long?" Bonnie asked, adjusting her curls over her shoulders the way she liked it.

Thea smiled. "Just had a little run-in with my dad that's all."

Bonnie opened her mouth to say something but then slowly closed it. She wanted to ask what they had said, but she already had a pretty good idea of what went on in Thea's house.

"So," Bonnie drew out slowly. "What's up with this... new Thea?"

Thea frowned even though she knew what Bonnie was getting at. "What do you mean? I'm still same ole boring Thea that you've known since third grade."

Bonnie laughed. "Damn right, Ginger."

Thea laughed and they rode the rest of the way getting pumped up to the music so they'd be ready for the long night to come.

~~~

"Sweet mother of pearl. You didn't say the party was here," Bonnie exclaimed.

Thea shrugged and looked over the isolated house on near the cliff. It had earned the title of 'A Scary Story Around the Campfire' long ago when this little boy's sister disappeared without a trace and three days later, the police found her body at the bottom of the cliff with her body all mangled from all the rocks. She had been weighed down by rocks and seaweed from the tide.

Bonnie really didn't like going anywhere near there. She glanced over quickly to her best friend and bit her bottom lip nervously.

Thea rolled her eyes. "Relax, would you," she said. "Tonight's gonna be great. I promise."

Without another word, Thea grabbed Bonnie's hand and led her toward the entrance where there were already people crowding he door while they danced to the pounding music. There were snacks and drinks on three tables lined up against one wall where the kitchen was. It was a really big house with a grand staircase that looked too old for its time and a large den that overpowered the place. Upstairs must've been even more spectacular, because there were even more people up there it seemed than down where Bonnie and Thea were. To sum it up though, it looked like one humongous bachelor pad.

"Damn."

Thea's eyes widened. "I know."

They both looked at each other for a moment before they finally laughed uncontrollably and surrendered to the world of swaying hips, too loud music, too much alcohol, and a stranger who no one realized was lurking in the shadows of the night.