Being back to updating this story is a great feeling.
Scarlet Fever: Part Two
The closer they got to the farm, the quieter the drive was becoming since they were getting further away from the city and entering the outskirts of town. Even with the music blasting and conversations booming in the car, the lack of city noises was prominent, almost as if a background of sound was missing. It doesn't help that it's also so much darker since the farms barely had streetlights compared to the city. The roads are barely paved and in the centre of fields and grazing lands.
Everyone quiets in the car as Cinder lowers the radio and turns on her high beams to concentrate. They turn their phones off and watch mailboxes go by each time they pass a property. The last thing Cinder wants is for a forest animal or a drunk classmate to barrel out onto the road and her not noticing.
One of their classmates in the country was having a party and they all decided to go because why not. It's a party at a farm, open space, non-humid weather, and starry sky. Beautiful landscapes but super creepy en route, especially if they spotted something from afar that might as well be a cow.
"The party was today, right?" Kai asks to make sure.
Wolf turns on his phone, the light glowing on his face. "Scarlet texted us saying she just got there."
"Okay, but are we going the right way?"
"GPS says yes," Cinder responds.
The GPS didn't say anything, but it didn't recalculate the route at any point so far so she assumes they were going the right way. Eventually, they start seeing more lights, heading music, and seeing parked cars scattered on a driveway and a lawn. Cinder turns in, parking nearby, and they step out to see some of their classmates waving.
"This is how horror movies start," Winter starts, singing the words a little. "First, it'll be me to go, then probably Wolf or Cinder, then Kai. Cress and Thorne have the winning white chance to make it out!"
The barn house is unsettling in the dark. The fairy lights on the doorframe and windowsills create shadows against the walls, blending in with the darkness. They all stare for a moment before shrugging because they're already here.
"Here you go," Cinder says, handing Cress her car keys.
"Do I need this?" Kai says, referring to his jacket.
Admittedly, it's a cold night and nobody wants to party in their jacket. It's a nuisance and they'll be moving around a lot, dancing, and drinking which would warm them up. Wolf ditches his jacket immediately.
"Freezing air is sobering," Wolf reasons.
"You don't get cold!" Thorne exclaims.
Cinder chucks her windbreaker in the back. "Won't be needing that either. Let's go drink so much until the barn starts spinning."
They walk up the property, music and chatting getting louder. They head past the side of the main house to the back where they see the party at the barn and more of their classmates scattered amongst the fields. There's dancing near corn fields and kegs set up near the sheds and house. People talking everywhere up to the expanse of the farms where they can't even see the next house. At least there won't be any noise complaints since they couldn't hear all this until they reached the house. Fog hazes the lights, blurring it around the edges as music blasts. All under the dark and starry sky.
"I like this horror movie," Winter comments.
"I could get used to it," Thorne adds.
He notices Cress shivering despite still having her jacket on so he takes his off and wraps it over her shoulders. He holds the collar together as he leans in closer, grinning before kissing her nose.
"I love you," he whispers to her.
Cress's blushing warms her up. She could give his jacket back if she didn't enjoy the sentiment. "I love you too."
"Let me know if you want to leave at some point because I will drag everyone's drunk ace self over even if it's before midnight. When you leave, we all leave."
"Thorne, it's fine."
"Cress."
"Thorne."
"Crescent."
"Carswell."
"Crescent Moon."
They stare at each other for moments longer, faces still inches apart. Cress's heart skips as if they were in the forest that night where they barely knew each other but kissed for the first time since they thought they wouldn't find their way home. Now, after every kiss that followed that one, she still feels the same longing and hopeful sentiment of her long-time crush towards her first love.
If anyone told the Cress in the forest that she would be this close and this in love with Carswell Throne, more than she knew to be possible, she wouldn't believe you. She would've fainted at the thought of him putting his jacket on her, let alone his face so close to hers and the I love you.
"Babe!" Scarlet yells. "Friends!"
Scarlet runs over from inside the barn with a drink in her hands. She's only in jeans and a sleeveless crop top with sneakers. For all they know, she's used to the cold farm weather and probably finds it warm. It's a miracle how it could be so different from city weather despite the short drive. She jumps into Wolf's arms and her drink spills a little on his leather jacket but he kisses her before taking her drink to down the rest.
"Welcome to the farm at night!" Scarlet yells as Wolf still holds her. She locks her legs around his waist as he wraps an arm around hers. "I'd raise my cup if Wolf didn't drink it all."
"How many have you had?" Thorne asks.
Scarlet shrugs. "The night is young and the barn isn't spinning yet."
"Find me when the barn is spinning," Cress tells them, "unless you want to get dizzy."
"Where are you going?" Cinder asks.
Cress shrugs. "It's a barn. I'll entertain myself."
"It's a creepy barn," Kai corrects. "So there's loads to entertain yourself with."
"Come dance with me at some point," Thorne begs.
Cress grins, nodding. "Promise."
Winter smiles, linking arms with Cress. "I'll find something to entertain us with. I'm used to doing so at parties. Besides, this is a new setting for us to have fun with."
"I'm getting a drink," Cinder announces. "Scarlet, lead the way."
"Will do, my friends," Scarlet states, leaping out of Wolf's arms and taking them towards the kegs. "We're having the best night of our lives."
