✓ | WELCOME TO DEADTOWN → original

nine

                         GENEVIEVE ORITZ PUSHED OPEN THE DOOR TO HER SPARE BEDROOM, HER EYES WIDENING AS SHE SAW WHO WAS ON THE BED. Two heads shot apart from their tight embrace, their eyes widening and faces turning bright red as they realized they had been caught in the middle of their makeout session.

"This isn't what it looks like," Hudson said sheepishly, his hand on the back of Milo's neck.

Milo hit the back of his head, his eyes narrowing. "What the everloving fuck do you mean? This is exactly what it looks like, dipshit. I would have ripped your shirt off in about two seconds if she hadn't walked in."

Hudson closed his eyes briefly. "Sorry, Genny. Do you mind not telling anyone about this?"

"Christ, does everyone call me Genny?" Genevieve said, obviously annoyed. "I'm going to kill Bodner, mark my words."

"Yikes, maybe don't say that so loud," Milo said, grinning slightly. "Bad timing to use the word 'kill', don't you think?"

"Fuck off," Gen said to him, turning exasperatedly towards Hudson. "I won't say anything, don't worry. I just wanted to know if you two were planning on going to Kyle Becker's party tonight. It's at his house. The dean closed the school for tomorrow too until everything gets cleared up about the murder in the backwoods. Everyone's gonna be there."

Hudson shared a look with Milo. "As long as people go with us, we'll be there. No way am I driving alone."

"That's what Aiden told me to pass along," Gen said grimly. "Our find-out-who-the-murderer-is group has a set of rules."

Milo groaned, sinking onto Hudson's shoulder. "I swear to God, for being such an asshole all of the time, O'Conner sure knows when to lay down the law."

Gen ignored him, scrolling through her text messages to find the list Aiden had given her. When she did, she began to read the text that she had already forwarded to practically everyone else in the group's expedition. It was obvious Aiden was taking the whole thing extremely seriously.

Aiden: 1. No going anywhere alone. Always bring a few other people, or at least one other person.

2. I don't think it's safe for people to be sleeping at their houses. With half of our parents out of town, you should definitely be with other people.

3. NO BACKWOODS. PERIOD. I know a lot of people party in there, but don't be that stupid. If someone is extremely eager about going in there- especially if there's no parties, no anything else- DO NOT GO. Get away as fast as possible.

4. No one can know what we're doing. There's been two murders in the past two days, so it's obvious the police are going to be little to no help.

5. Stay with crowds, don't go anywhere sketchy or unsafe- especially at night.

6. I know a few of us have our differences, but we need to learn to work together; especially right now. It's the only way to save Slayden.

Thanks guys. See you tonight if you're headed to Becker's house.

"Jesus fucking Christ on a bicycle," Milo said again, his eyes wide. "It's like I'm in the mafia. Only with drunk teenagers."

"That's the rules," Gen said. "It's what we all signed up for. Personally, I think everyone should have a buddy. Like a partner or something."

"Gen, you're my buddy," Reed called, appearing from behind her and resting his head on top of her own. Reed was about a foot taller than her, and the height difference was comical. Gen turned a slight shade of pink as Reed continued, "Don't want you doing anything stupid, now do we?"