stupid bear or not. All he cared about was winning. “It's not a big deal. Let's play a different game.”
“I need another beer,” he said. He led me toward the bar that was set up near the stage where the band was playing.
I thought he'd had more than enough beer. He was supposed to be driving me home in a few hours. But I had a feeling if I mentioned his drinking right now, he would flip out on me. Instead, I kept my mouth shut.
Luckily, we ran into Lark and Allison near the dance floor.
“Hey!” Lark ran up and gave me a hug. “I feel like I haven't seen you all night. Are you having fun? Isn't this party to die for?”
I nodded. “It's great.”
“Allison and I were thinking about going to get our faces painted. You want to come?”
I looked to Drake. “Do you mind?”
“Nah,” he said, taking a swig of his beer. “I'm gonna see if I can find Foster. I'll catch up with you later.”
To be honest, I was relieved to see him go. The more I got to know Drake, the less infatuated I became. My mind kept turning to Jackson Hunt and his piercing green eyes. I kept wondering what he was doing tonight. Maybe he was with Morgyn. And what was her deal anyway?
“Gosh, don't look so serious, Harper,” Allison said. “This is a party remember?”
I smiled and shook my head, trying to shake away my thoughts. Yes, this was a party and we were supposed to be having the time of our lives. “That cotton candy upset my stomach,” I lied. “But I'm sure I'll be okay in a few.”
“Aww,” Lark said. She put her arm around me and stuck out her bottom lip. “That sucks. Can I get you anything?”
“No,” I said. “I'll be fine. Let's just find something fun to take my mind off of it.”
Once we got to the face painters, I chose a cluster of hearts for my right cheek in bright blues, purples and pinks. The girl even added some glitter. I felt kind of like a kid again.
“Do you think Brooke's having a good time?” I asked. I was standing around watching the face painter put a large blue butterfly on Lark's cheek.
Allison rolled her eyes. “Are you kidding me? She's the center of attention on a night where almost everyone in school came out to celebrate her birthday. Look at this place. There's got to be almost five hundred people here.”
Allison was right. There was a huge turnout and everyone seemed to be having a great time. People would be talking about this party for ages. But I hated that I hadn't been able to keep my eye on Brooke like I wanted.
I had spent a lot of time that week thinking about the ritual and where they might perform it. Lark had said the ceremony was performed at Shadowford. Underground.
My plan was to head home before my one o'clock curfew, pretend to go to bed, then sneak out into the garden to wait for the members of the Order to arrive. As long as I could follow them, I knew I wouldn't miss anything.
I spotted Brooke dancing near the stage, and I pointed her out to the others. “We've got to go join her,” I said.
“Oh my God, I love this song, too,” Lark said.
We ran out onto the dance floor and Brooke screamed with excitement.
“Are you having fun?” she yelled.
“Yes, this is awesome,” Lark said.
We all danced together for what seemed like hours. It was great to just let loose and stop worrying so much. I closed my eyes and let my body move to the music. When the lead singer announced that it was time for a very special midnight surprise, I was disappointed to have the night come to an end.
“This is it!” Brooke said. She took my hand and told us to follow her so we could get the best seats. She led us to a spot in the grass beside the pool. We laid down together like four little matchsticks, side by side on the grass. “Watch the sky.”
Seconds later, the sky erupted in color. Fireworks! It had been years since I'd seen a live fireworks show. I stared up at the sky in complete awe. It was so beautiful! Pink, green, blue, purple, every color you
“I need another beer,” he said. He led me toward the bar that was set up near the stage where the band was playing.
I thought he'd had more than enough beer. He was supposed to be driving me home in a few hours. But I had a feeling if I mentioned his drinking right now, he would flip out on me. Instead, I kept my mouth shut.
Luckily, we ran into Lark and Allison near the dance floor.
“Hey!” Lark ran up and gave me a hug. “I feel like I haven't seen you all night. Are you having fun? Isn't this party to die for?”
I nodded. “It's great.”
“Allison and I were thinking about going to get our faces painted. You want to come?”
I looked to Drake. “Do you mind?”
“Nah,” he said, taking a swig of his beer. “I'm gonna see if I can find Foster. I'll catch up with you later.”
To be honest, I was relieved to see him go. The more I got to know Drake, the less infatuated I became. My mind kept turning to Jackson Hunt and his piercing green eyes. I kept wondering what he was doing tonight. Maybe he was with Morgyn. And what was her deal anyway?
“Gosh, don't look so serious, Harper,” Allison said. “This is a party remember?”
I smiled and shook my head, trying to shake away my thoughts. Yes, this was a party and we were supposed to be having the time of our lives. “That cotton candy upset my stomach,” I lied. “But I'm sure I'll be okay in a few.”
“Aww,” Lark said. She put her arm around me and stuck out her bottom lip. “That sucks. Can I get you anything?”
“No,” I said. “I'll be fine. Let's just find something fun to take my mind off of it.”
Once we got to the face painters, I chose a cluster of hearts for my right cheek in bright blues, purples and pinks. The girl even added some glitter. I felt kind of like a kid again.
“Do you think Brooke's having a good time?” I asked. I was standing around watching the face painter put a large blue butterfly on Lark's cheek.
Allison rolled her eyes. “Are you kidding me? She's the center of attention on a night where almost everyone in school came out to celebrate her birthday. Look at this place. There's got to be almost five hundred people here.”
Allison was right. There was a huge turnout and everyone seemed to be having a great time. People would be talking about this party for ages. But I hated that I hadn't been able to keep my eye on Brooke like I wanted.
I had spent a lot of time that week thinking about the ritual and where they might perform it. Lark had said the ceremony was performed at Shadowford. Underground.
My plan was to head home before my one o'clock curfew, pretend to go to bed, then sneak out into the garden to wait for the members of the Order to arrive. As long as I could follow them, I knew I wouldn't miss anything.
I spotted Brooke dancing near the stage, and I pointed her out to the others. “We've got to go join her,” I said.
“Oh my God, I love this song, too,” Lark said.
We ran out onto the dance floor and Brooke screamed with excitement.
“Are you having fun?” she yelled.
“Yes, this is awesome,” Lark said.
We all danced together for what seemed like hours. It was great to just let loose and stop worrying so much. I closed my eyes and let my body move to the music. When the lead singer announced that it was time for a very special midnight surprise, I was disappointed to have the night come to an end.
“This is it!” Brooke said. She took my hand and told us to follow her so we could get the best seats. She led us to a spot in the grass beside the pool. We laid down together like four little matchsticks, side by side on the grass. “Watch the sky.”
Seconds later, the sky erupted in color. Fireworks! It had been years since I'd seen a live fireworks show. I stared up at the sky in complete awe. It was so beautiful! Pink, green, blue, purple, every color you
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