Chapter 9

"How does Katie keep managing to drag me to these things?" Emily asked, glancing at Effy.

Effy gave her a look but didn't say anything. Emily knew it was because she wouldn't stand up for herself; she generally liked to avoid confrontation, though, which meant letting Katie get her way. It wasn't that she wouldn't stand up for herself—she would if it truly called for it—but she didn't like to disappoint her sister. This was the second weekend in a row where Katie decided to drag them to a party when Emily just wanted to stay in her dorm and maybe catch up on someone homework.

The party the previous weekend hadn't been terrible, but that was because Katie had quickly found some guy and mostly left Emily alone. She did try to hook her up with one of the guy's friends, but Effy had saved her by saying she needed to go home. Of course she would have appreciated it a little more if Effy hadn't watched her squirm for so long before finally taking pity on her.

"Will you stop fidgeting with your damn costume," Katie bellowed from across the room.

Emily sighed and dropped her hands. "Sorry."

Someone Katie had met in class was throwing a costume party since Halloween was in just a few days. Katie was dressed up a sexy pirate while Emily was dressed as a renaissance girl, and Effy looked much like her usual self, but with fake vampire teeth. Emily had suggested going as the Sanderson Sisters, but Katie didn't think she would look sexy enough.

"Let's go," Katie finally said when she was done looking at herself in the mirror.

Emily followed behind her sister, and Effy was lagging even further behind; the brunette didn't look very enthusiastic about going to this party, but then again, she never looked very enthusiastic about anything. Emily had no idea where they were going, but her sister seemed to know the way, so she followed along without question. Eventually she slowed her pace to fall in line with Effy, but the brunette didn't seem very chatty today, so Emily remained silent as she walked with her friend.

She knew the house as soon as she saw it; there dozens of people on the lawn in an assortment of costumes. A blonde guy waved to Katie the moment they walked by and the girl made a beeline for him. Effy just shrugged, walking on, and Emily followed her into the house. As Emily looked around, Effy disappeared into the crowd and then emerged after a few minutes with a shot for each of them. They both downed them and Emily grimaced slightly as it burned her throat on the way down.

"Do you think Katie would notice if we only stayed for a few?" Emily asked. "Eff?" Emily looked around and her brunette friend was nowhere to be seen. "Great."

Emily looked around to see if there was anyone she recognized, but the fact was that she didn't know many people in this town. There were a few people she occasionally talked to in class, but Katie and Effy were her only real friends. Plus, half the people in the room had masks on, so even if she did know more people, she probably wouldn't recognize anyone.

"Excuse me," Emily repeatedly said as she made her way through the throng people

The room was packed and she bumped into several people on her way to the sliding doors in the back. She was hoping Effy just needed some fresh air and would be outside. When she finally made her way to the door and opened it, she scanned the backyard for her friend. At first she didn't think the brunette was there, but then she noticed the light from a cigarette on the other side of the yard, and she walked over to find Effy sitting on the ground with her back against the fence.

"Are you okay?" Emily asked, sitting down beside the other girl.

"Wonderful," Effy said.

"Liar," Emily responded.

Effy smirked but didn't contradict her.

"What are you doing out here, then?" Emily asked.

Effy shrugged. "Didn't feel like being in there. Too much going on—too loud, too many people."

"Why don't you tell Katie to fuck off when she tries to get you to come to these things?" Emily wondered.

"Why don't you?" Effy countered.

Emily sighed. "Fine, but it's not because you're worried about disappointing her."

"No," Effy agreed.

"So why?" Emily asked.

"I want to get better," Effy replied.

"I know," Emily quietly said.

"You don't have to be out here," Effy stated. "If I need—I'll find you if anything happens."

Effy didn't like to admit that she needed help and she wouldn't even say the words, but Emily knew what she meant.

"It's too crowded in there," Emily said, leaning back. "I think I ran into a dozen fucking people trying to get back here. And that music is terrible."

Effy smirked. "Yep."

Emily didn't used to mind huge crowds or being around a bunch of wasted people, but something had changed in the past year. Even though she wasn't very close to him, Freddie's death had affected her and the rest of her friends in one way or another. For Emily that meant she had withdrawn; she was always a little less social than the rest of them because she pretty much lived in her sister's shadow, but it had only gotten worse. She knew part of the reason was because she internalized everything, unable to really talk to anyone about it since she had spent so much time trying to take care of Effy and help her.

"Where are you going?" Emily asked as Effy suddenly stood up.

"In," Effy replied. "You coming?"

Emily shook her head. "I think I'll stay out her for a bit."

"Suit yourself," Effy said, shrugging as she turned around and walked away.

Once Effy walked into the house, Emily looked around the yard; it wasn't crowded, but there were a good number of people around. One couple got up and headed for the gate, and Emily stood up and walked to the bench so she didn't have to sit on the ground. Her phone buzzed just as she sat down and she pulled it out to find a text from Katie asking where she was. Emily rolled her eyes and put her phone away without responding to her sister's inquiry.

"This seat taken?"

Emily looked up to find a girl staring at her. Their costumes were very similar; they both had on elaborate dresses, masquerade masks, and wigs. The other girl's costume was slightly more gothic than hers, though; she was mostly in black whereas Emily's was a dark green color.

"No," Emily finally responded, scooting over to make room for the other girl.

Her phone buzzed again and Emily rolled her eyes; when she looked at the text, she rolled her eyes again. Katie informed her she was heading down the street and that she better still be at the party when she got back. Emily threw her phone roughly into her bag and the stranger next to her gave her a look.

"Problems?" she asked.

"No," Emily lied.

"So you're out here all alone for no reason?" she prodded.

"I didn't want to come," Emily replied.

"We have something in common, then," the girl said. "My bitch of a roommate threatened me if I didn't come."

"She threatened you?" Emily asked.

The girl nodded. "I think she's completely fucking mental. She talks about herself in the third person sometimes and likes to say she's going to go 'all Lima Heights' on people—whatever the fuck that means. She said I would have fun, but of course the moment I walked in, some wanker spilled his drink all over me and then he tried to feel me up while 'helping' me dry off my dress."

"I'm sorry," Emily sympathetically said.

"He is too," the girl replied. "I kneed him in the balls. I did warn him, but he wouldn't get his hand off my tit."

Emily laughed. "I sort of wish I'd seen that." Emily smiled at the other girl. "I think I'm going to go in and get a drink; want anything?"

As the girl shook her head, Emily saw Effy out of the corner of her eye. She stood up and walked toward her smirking friend.

"What?" Emily asked as she approached.

Effy shrugged. "Nothing."

Emily rolled her eyes and said, "I'm getting a drink."

By the time Emily made it back to the yard, the other girl was gone and Emily was on her way to being drunk. She had done several shots and then Katie showed up, giving her more to drink. She hadn't intended to drink so much, but part of her hoped it would make this night more bearable.

When she turned around to go back into the house, she nearly collided with someone, and rushed out an, "I'm sorry. Oh, it's you. Hi."

"Hi," the other girl said, steadying her.

"I didn't think you were out here," Emily said, frowning. "I was looking around and you were gone."

"Bathroom," the other girl said. "There was a long line; I think my roommates were fucking in it."

"Your roommates—"

"Total muff munchers," the girl interrupted. "I don't care, but if I walk in on them one more time, I'm going to kill them both."

Emily swayed a little and an arm wrapped around her.

"You alright?" the girl asked.

"Yeah, I—oh I love this song," Emily said, getting distracted by the song change.

The girl snapped her fingers in front of Emily's face. "Focus."

"I want to dance," Emily stated.

"So dance," the girl replied.

"I don't want to dance alone," Emily said, shaking her head.

The girl sighed and then slowly held out her hand. "Fine."

Emily giggled and took the girl's hand. "You want to dance with me?"

"I want you to not fall on your ass," the girl stated.

"You're nice," Emily said, smiling

The girl shook her head. "I'm really not; I'm quite the bitch, actually, so don't go spreading it around that you think I'm nice or people might start to believe you. So, promise you'll keep your gob shut and I'll dance with you."

"Deal," Emily said.

The girl awkwardly put her hands on Emily's hips while the redhead wrapped her arms around the other girl's neck, nearly falling into her as she did so. The song was slow and they swayed back and forth to the music. Emily was a little clumsy about it, stumbling over her own feet, but she eventually found the rhythm.

"What's your name?" Emily asked.

"Why do you want to know my name?" the girl asked back.

Emily shrugged. "Can't I be curious?"

"Yes," the girl replied.

"So, are you going to tell me?" Emily asked.

She shook her head. "No."

"You're not a bad dancer," Emily commented. "I mean—I haven't ever danced with a girl, but—" Emily cleared her throat and glanced away to find Effy watching them. "I-I should go."

Emily ducked her head, suddenly feeling a lot more sober, and walked toward Effy; the brunette had that knowing look on her face that annoyed Emily.

"Having fun?" Effy asked.

"Are you ready to go?" Emily asked.

"Whatever," Effy said, shrugging.

"Hopefully Katie won't see us," Emily said. "Maybe we should go out the back gate."

Effy shrugged again like she didn't care whether or not Katie saw them, but she headed for the gate nonetheless. Emily followed her and as Effy undid the latch, she looked over her shoulder at the mystery girl. She looked at Effy, who was several yards away now, and then back into the yard.

"Be right back," Emily said.

She turned and jogged to the girl; she wanted to thank her, but when she opened her mouth, the words didn't come out. Instead, she leaned up and gave her a quick kiss.

At least she meant it to be a quick kiss. The moment their lips connected, though, Emily felt a jolt go through her body. She had kissed a girl before—a girl named Mandy that she had sort of dated the previous year—but this was different. This was everything all the other kisses were missing.

When she pulled away, the other girl looked surprised, but she almost thought she saw fear in her eyes as well—or possibly anger. It took Emily a moment to really register what she had just done, but when she did, she started blushing, and looked around to make sure no one had seen it.

"Thanks," Emily found herself saying before she turned and walked away again.

"What took you so long?" Effy asked as she leaned against the house.

"Forgot my bag," Emily lied.

Emily looked over her shoulder again, but the other girl was gone. She shook her head, trying to get the kiss out of her mind; she very much doubted she would ever find her again, so there was no point in thinking about it.