Chapter 68 Trouble
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I swallowed, tearing my eyes away to scan the area Ember said they'd be. They were nowhere in sight.
I threw a final glance toward Kayn and Belinda before turning back to Derek.
He refilled his drink, sneaking out a small bottle from his jacket, and poured the golden liquid into his glass. He raised the bottle. "Want some?"
I cringed. "No, thanks."
"Are you sure?" he asked. "This is some pretty good stuff."
"No," I cut short.
"Suit yourself." He slid the bottle back into his coat and handed me my punch which stank suspiciously of alcohol.
I ditched the drink and trailed after him. We stopped at a table near the dance floor, close to where Kayn and Belinda were dancing.
My evening was going downhill. Fast.
I had no idea it was soon about to go from bad to worse.
Derek rambled on about nonsequential things, such as football, his new car, and how he snuck out an entire bottle of his dad's expensive, top-shelf whiskey.
I contemplated excuses to escape, trying hard not to glance toward the dancefloor. No doubt Kayn felt my dismissal feelings, which is also where I noted I hadn't felt much from his part.
Did he find some mysterious way to block me out? If he knew how I wanted in on it. He had no right invading my emotional space when there was a way to stop it.
He did lie about the underwater breathing thing. Who said he wasn't lying about this, too?
I needed to find Ember.
"Let's dance." Derek slammed down his cup, and the remainder of his drink sprayed in my face. I scowled, slapping down the funky-smelling liquid from my face.
"I—" before I could protest, he seized me by the arm and hauled me up onto my feet. As he steered me to the dancefloor, his fingernails dug into my skin.
I tried to pull my arm away. "You're hurting me."
"Oops." Derek released me to slip both his arms around the back of my waist. He dragged me toward him. "Perfect song for a slow dance."
At this point, the last thing I noticed was the music.
My heart climbed into my chest, and panic set in. I scanned the vicinity for my friends, but I have yet to spot any of them.
Adding to my dismay, Kayn and Belinda were lost in a slow dance.
As if noticing the weight of my stare, Kayn glanced up at us.
I quickly turned my attention back to Derek, wrapping my hands around his neck, and pretended I was having a blast.
Whatever I did, I was so not letting Kayn know I was miserable or that he was getting under my skin.
It annoyed me that I allowed him to get to me in the first place. Why did I even care?
Pffft.
My act remained strong for several songs, up until a point where Derek had sprouted more hands than I liked. He repeatedly attempted to kiss me, and I kept turning my head away to avoid the onslaught of slobber.
"I need a break," I informed him. "I haven't had anything to eat yet."
"Aww, come one," he whined. "The night is still young."
"No, I'm hungry," I retorted, attempting to tear my arm from his steel grip. "Can you let me go, please?"
"How about we both grab something to eat?" He hauled me to his side and steered me toward the table where all the snacks and treats were out on display.
He helped himself to a pile of bite-size burgers while I placed unappealing meatballs on a paper napkin inside my hand. I wasn't close to hungry and figured they were the easiest to dispose of without getting noticed.
I reached for a third meatball when Derek pulled me away from the table and directed me toward the exit.
"Wait, what are you doing?" I pushed down on my weight, but he managed to keep dragging me with him. "I don't want to go outside."
"Come on, we can eat in peace," he persisted. "And chat a bit."
By the time we reached the door, unbridled fear set in. I flung around, hoping any bystanders would help, but everyone was too busy enjoying themselves even to acknowledge my distress. I dropped the meatballs and attempted to pry his hands off me. "Let me go!"
"Don't be like that."
"I said I don't want to," I snapped. "If you don't let me go, I swear I will hurt you."
He chuckled. "Oh, come on, you'll enjoy it."
"I said—"
"Let. Her. Go." Kayn's voice demanded.
Relieved, I glanced at him in time before I got pushed through the door.
The doors closed, enveloping the three of us in darkness. The only light came from a small window overhead, but it was enough for me to see them.
"Kayn, what are you—" I started, but my voice died when I looked at Kayn. He was pissed, and his focus dead set on Derek.
And then everything went to shit.
