Teresa Mummert - Pretty Little Things

The door opened, and both our heads snapped to look at Colin as his eyes narrowed. His anger wasn’t directed at me, and I instinctively took a step in front of Annie. “I should let you get back to the party,” I called over my shoulder as I looked him in the eye. I turned to face her when he didn’t move from the doorway. “I hope you have an amazing birthday. I’ll see you later? Tonight?” She nodded fractionally. The adrenaline spike that was coursing through my veins escalated as I placed my hands on either side of her face and pulled her lips against mine. It was brief and innocent, but the softness mixed with the undeniable electricity would forever be burned into my brain. I’d kissed many girls, but something about her sweet innocence amplified the emotions that swirled around us tenfold. She was different. I turned back around, glaring at Colin before my shoulder bumped against his on my way out of the door. I hoped that whatever big brother macho test I was being put through, he would respect my ability to stand up to him.

I kept my eyes downcast as I wove through the crowd, my hands shoved into my pockets.

“You leaving already?” Reagan asked, her chest pushing against mine as she stepped in front of me. It was like every girl from our school had shown up just to glimpse how the other half lives.

“I have shit to do.” I avoided her eyes as I looked around her to the front door.

“I need some brown sugar. My step-monster found my stash.” Her eyes were pinned, and her hands trembled as she pushed her light brown hair over her shoulder.

“Where’s Nat?” I glanced around the endless sea of bodies. I was hoping that I could find her and convince her to keep what we had done together just between us.

Reagan shrugged as her head cocked to the side, waiting on my response. “You’re the only juggler left after last month’s bust.”

I lowered my voice as I glanced over my shoulder to the room I had left Annie in with Colin. “Stop by later and I’ll hook you up. Just keep it hush. I don’t want bedbugs swarming.”

Colin looked pissed off as he stared me down. I squared my shoulders, ready to take the brunt of his attitude.

“He’s just a friend.”

“That the friend you’ve been sneaking off to see?” he asked as he ran his palm over his jaw.

“What does it matter?” I asked as I slipped on one of my heels. Colin stepped forward and grabbed my arm to help me steady myself as I put on my other shoe.

“He’s not a good guy, Annie. He’s a fucking druggie, and he looks too old for you.”

“He’s not a druggie. He smokes a little pot. So what? He’s funny and sweet.”

“Listing off his good qualities isn’t going to sway my opinion of him,” Colin said.

I looked down at where he still held my arm. He released his grip as I shook my head. “No one is ever going to live up to your ridiculous standards. Just don’t tell Connor. He won’t understand.” I lifted my head, looking into his angry blue eyes, pleading with him to keep my secret.

“I don’t understand.” He shook his head. “Just don’t lie to me anymore. We don’t keep secrets from each other.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry.”

“While I have you alone…” He stepped closer to me, towering over me as a mischievous smirk played on his lips. “I have something for you.”

He reached in his pocket and pulled out a small box. I looked up at him as I took it from his hand and slowly opened the lid. Inside was a silver cross.

“Do you like it?” he asked.

“It’s beautiful.” I ran my fingers over the delicate filigree carving over its surface.

“Let me put it on you.” He pulled the thin chain from the box. “Turn around.”

I turned on my heels and lifted my hair from my neck. Colin’s hands went around me as he slid the cold metal across my skin.

“This was my mother’s.”

My breath caught in my throat as my fingers reached up to my chest, and I slid them over the cross. He hooked the clasp, and I spun around to look up at him, a million questions on my lips. He smiled down at me, and his eyes went to the necklace.

“Beautiful,” he said before clearing his throat. “Now go have some fun. I have to find Amanda.”

I smiled up at him as I walked out of the door and was immediately greeted by guests.

The party was in full swing, and the music was loud enough that it drowned out the many conversations. I stopped the nearest waitress and took a glass of wine from her tray as I looked around, wishing Jacob hadn’t left so soon, but I couldn’t blame him. I would leave too if I could. I thought that idea was over as I took a drink from my white wine. It was bitter and dry like chewing on a piece of tree bark, but I drank it down anyway. If I was going to party, I was going to try to enjoy it.

My heart was feeling lighter now that I had made amends with Jacob, and Jacob meeting Colin was not nearly as bad as I’d imagined.

Amanda wasn’t hard to find. She was loud and the center of attention in the formal living room, a crowd of girls around her, hanging on her every word. Her hands moved animatedly as she talked, the wine in her hand dangerously close to sloshing over the edge of her glass. I’d upgraded from beer to scotch, and it flowed like water as the hours ticked by. I couldn’t get my mind off Annie’s new friend. The idea of letting him walk out that door in one piece was eating me up inside.

My cell vibrated against my leg, and I pulled it from my pocket, my heart rate accelerating as I saw Connor’s name scroll across the screen. I motioned to Amanda that I was going upstairs to take the call. She nodded and smiled brightly as she continued to entertain our guests. I answered and hurried up the first flight of stairs.

“Any news?” I asked as I made my way down the hall and up the third flight of stairs.

“Dead end.” Connor sighed, and there was a rumbling on the other end as he tried to suppress a cough.

“How long is this shit going to go on?” I snapped as I walked into my office, my hand dragging angrily over my hair.

“As long as it takes, Colin.”

I dragged my hand over my face with a groan, thankful the alcohol was numbing my anger, but it wasn’t enough. “Keep me posted.”

The floorboards creaked behind me, and I spun around to see Annie standing in the doorway, her body swaying slightly under her own buzz. I ended the call and shoved the phone back in my pocket.

“What are you doing up here?” I asked in a clipped tone. What I really wanted to know was how much she had heard.

“Who was that?” she asked, her chin in the air.

“That was Connor. He wanted to know how your party was going.” I walked toward her, my hands shoved in my pockets.

“You’re lying.” She folded her arms over her chest angrily as she blocked the office doorway. I grabbed her shoulders and easily moved her out of my way as I went toward the stairs.

“Go enjoy your party, Annabel. I’m not in the mood for your shit right now.”

“Actually, I was just leaving.”

I stopped and slowly turned to face her. She took a small step backward as her confidence shrank under my gaze. “Not now, little one. Just go back to your party and hang out with your friends.”

“No.”

“Excuse me?”

“Colin, I’m an adult now.”

“Hardly.”

“Oh, that’s rich coming from you,” she retorted angrily, and I struggled not to laugh.

“It’s not safe. It’s the middle of the night, and I’m not going to trust some half-baked prick to keep you safe.”

“That prick cares about me.”

“I don’t?”

She didn’t answer, and I swallowed back my anger as I took a hesitant step closer to her. “Come here. I want to show you something.”

She looked at me skeptically for a few seconds before she nodded. I walked down the flight of steps to the second floor, glancing over my shoulder at her as I unlocked the door to my bedroom. I pushed it open and stepped aside, waiting for her to enter. She crossed the room, turning around as she reached my bed.

I stepped inside the doorway and grabbed the glass decanter of whiskey that sat atop an antique dry sink. I poured myself a drink and held up the bottle for Annie to see. She nodded, her lower lip pulled between her teeth as she sank down on the edge of my bed.

I hated that Colin and Connor were keeping secrets from me. It made me feel more alone than ever. The only person who seemed to care about me at all anymore was Jacob, and I had nearly destroyed that.

I stared at Colin’s back as he poured our drinks, not speaking.

“I’m sorry I was being such a bitch. I just hate that you never tell me anything. I’m not a child anymore. If something is happening, I have a right to know.”

Colin hung his head as he leaned with both hands on the wooden stand. “It’s not that simple.”

“Yes it is.”

He turned to face me, a drink in each hand, sadness on his face. He held a glass out to me, and I took it with a small appreciative smile. I sniffed as I raised it to my mouth, scrunching my nose at its harsh smell.

“Breathe out, drink, then you inhale,” he said before pouring his drink back like water.

I expelled all of the air from my lungs and tilted the glass back, fire burning its way down my throat as a drop of amber liquid slid over my lip and down my chin. Colin wiped it away with his finger before it could hit my stark white dress.