Innocence Lost

Chapter 77

I felt a rush of nervousness run through my veins the closer we got to the Pit. I couldn't recall ever being this nervous about going out before. Jax was definitely going to be there and I had no clue what I would say once I saw him.

The music in the Pit was blaring loudly. We start shuffling through the hoards of people standing around drinking, dancing, and smoking.

"Jesse said to meet him by the DJ booth" Amanda says guiding me through the insane crowd.

Luckily we were able to spot Jesse waving us over amongst the numerous Dauntless. As Amanda pushed our way through I saw a waitress carrying a tray of drinks and grabbed one off, downing it to calm my nerves.

Once we made it to Jesse he pulled me into a bear hug "Kate! Your here! You came!"

"Hey Jesse" I hug him back. He's definitely been drinking.

"Where is everyone?" Amanda asked noticing he was alone.

"Dylan managed to get us a table up on the higher levels"

"How did he manage that?" Amanda asks as my heart is pounding out of my chest. Eric would likely be up there if he decided to show up.

Jesse shrugs "You know Dylan, he knows everyone. Come on, I'll take us up there. He's with Hec, Damon, and Thomas"

We quickly pass the guy that serves as a guard that makes sure no one gets up there that isn't supposed to. He lets us through with no problems, looking Amanda and I up and down like we were a strip steak. There are already other groups gathered in their own little areas that we pass on the way to where our friends were sitting at the far end. I was relieved to see that both Eric and Jax weren't there. Cherry was sitting at one of the other sectionals with Donovan and a few other a Dauntless.

"Kate, my best girl" Dylan greets me with a drunken hug "I've missed you"

"I've missed you too" I laugh. Leave it to Dylan to be hammered this early in the night.

"When Amanda told me you were coming I-I got soooo excited" he hugs me tighter "I love you"

"How much as he has to drink?" I ask Damon who gives me a hug next.

"He was like then when we got here" he laughs.

After greeting everyone I slide onto the black, sleek leather sectional shaped as a U that was reserved for us. There is a huge lighted table in the middle that has a buckets filled with ice, beer, bottles of wine, vodka, whiskey, and cranberry juice. Made me wonder how Dylan managed to pull all this off.

I place my clutch down in between Amanda and I before reaching for the bottle of white wine starring me in the face. Looking at it closely I see that it is a sparkling wine from Erudite. One that is very popular and that I've seen Jeanine drink on more than one occasion. As I pour myself a glass I notice the bottle of whiskey standing next to it and realize none of us really drink the stuff, so why is it here? 

"Damn girl, you look hot" Thomas greets me.

"Hey Thomas, long time no see" I give him a hug.

"Where's my cousin?" He asks drunkenly.

"She couldn't make it" I answered.

"Sucks she has to work theses crazy hours. She can't even have fun" Jesse says sitting across from us. He was clearly upset.

"Hopefully it won't be much longer" I try to sound reassuring.

This was a topic I was definitely going to bring up at tomorrow's meeting. Erudite needs to send us more help especially once initiation starts.