missed

nread

se in my fingertips. It's Millie, obviously freaking out, and I'm

back pocket, and try to shove any thoughts of Millie right down wit

nd me a chaotic mess of dim lights and blu

occasionally tripping over themsel

rattling through me. The buzz I'd felt earlier

out of my daze, and I jolt so ha

arly entertained by my reaction. "You're so easily scared

r eyes are unfocused as she sw

did you drink?" I demand, th

der, her breath warm and tinged with wha

ys, stretching her fingers in the a

but couldn't get through the horde of people surroundin

upright. "We're done with drinking for now,"

you some water or som

petulant child. "This is so unfai

inst the wall and head to the kitchen, wh

half-empty bottles, and the overwhelming st

n glance around, hoping to find a lemon

.more booze. Vodka, mixers, and cans of cheap beer eve

oice speaks close behind me, low and

omposure. Standing there, too close for comfort and definitely too

ght at me, an amuse

tching up to the fact that James Ellington is

t in the head today, right?" His eyes scan my expression,

I'm blushin

eeling heat rise in my cheeks. "Guess I

ny things to my nerves. "Good to hear. So...

king for lemons actually. My friend's a bit

e reason, I can't stop. James just w

a second, I want to kick myself f

r idea. Use..." He names an altern

You're kidding, righ

d, crossing his arms over his chest. "Sw

y mouth to say something

y s

s holding my hand

up my arm, leaving a tingling trail t

the crowd, muttering that he remembers where to find

ger root (yep, apparently his big sobe

at infuriatingly charming smirk. "L

longer before he merges back into the cro

reath I didn't realize I was holdin

, grinning like I just won the lottery. Oh my god, I th

n eyebrow at my expression, and I immediately snap back into "totally-n

ack to the spot where I left Jugyoung. Exce

gh sweaty bodies and dodging t

d certainly not by the stairwell where I left he

s somehow wilder out here-people are lounging on deck chairs with barely a

hink, half in shock, half amus

-Amelia and Kristen-I jog over. "

p from her conversation. "No clue.

her and turn to leave. Just then someone near the entra

s and hollers, and suddenly

the announcement. Please

k, "Uh, Charlotte... bot

ook fazed as she a

life,"

t a fan of parties-she's always rolling her eyes at them an

I can't shake the fear creeping up my spine that somehow,

uldn't