Secrets Abound (Supernaturally Bound Book 1) (2 page)

“Okay, let’s go.” I grabbed the camera and a jacket.

“Must you bring the camera?” She pressed her eyebrows together.

“Actually, yeah, I do. I have to finish my project.” I frowned.

“Then you can title it ‘Exhibit A’ since it’ll be used as evidence when the cops bust us.”

“This is for school. Obviously the pictures will be kept G-rated.” I rolled my eyes.
Yeah, as if I’d actually take pictures of everyone drinking
. “And don’t worry; I’ll be sure to get your good side.”

“Bitch, please. I don’t have a bad side.” Cassie lifted her arms in a model pose. I snapped a couple of shots of her, feeding her ego. As if her ego needed to be fed, obese as it already was.

We silently snuck out the window with expertise. Rounding the house, we strolled to her BMW, which she parked down the street. You could never be too careful with Judy. Even if she was completely hammered and so passed out that she appeared dead, she still somehow managed to wake up at the most inopportune moments. That’s usually when she’d get violent.

As I slid into the passenger seat, I choked on the new car smell. “What is it with rich people needing everything to smell new?”

Cassie shrugged her shoulders as she shifted into drive. “It’s all about appearances.”

A truer statement had never been spoken. Everything was two dimensional in the world of overindulgence. I rolled my eyes.

I stared out the window as we drove along a highway that was lined with thick trees. I glanced at the glowing clock on Cassie’s car radio. Anxiety gripped my chest as I realized how far this party was from Waverly. I had become accustomed to being ditched by Cassie at parties, but they had never been more than a couple miles from my house.
Aiden might meet us later,
I reminded myself. The thought brought relief with it.

Cassie had texted Aiden directions to the party earlier for me. I didn’t have a cell phone, so I was unable to do it myself. My part time job at Betty’s Diner was barely sufficient for buying groceries and school supplies. There was no extra cash for a monthly bill. Aiden had offered to buy me one, but that seemed like crossing the line between friend and charity case. Besides, I would hopefully have my own phone in a few weeks. Aiden and I were entering a contest where the prize was a new smartphone with a two year paid contract.

After a few more minutes of driving, Cassie finally turned off of the highway onto something that seemed less like a road and more of a path that just so happened to be free of trees. After a bumpy ride, we ended up at a large clearing amongst the trees. Cars were parked along the edge of the tree line. In the center of the clearing, there was a bonfire that appeared to have been burning for a couple of hours. A few feet away were some tables set out with a keg and various types of liquor. There were a couple of guys that lingered near the drink table. They were obvious as they checked Cassie out.

“I’m going to get us drinks.” She grinned. “I’ll be right back.”

She sauntered off in the direction of the boys. I seriously doubted she’d be “right back”, so I tugged out my camera. The party was well underway. The scale of drunkenness ranged between buzzed to speaking incoherently to a tree. Everyone seemed to be having an excellent time. Couples were cuddled under blankets having whispered conversations. There were a few guys having deep “drunken” discussions.

“Dude, I’m telling you, it’s all a conspirasssy,” some guy proclaimed rather loudly. His words were slurred and hard to understand. “The moon isss fraudu… fraudu…” He paused to regain himself. “It’sss not real. It’sss a hallogram.”

Laughing to myself over the guy’s crazy theory, I turned away. As I snapped pictures across the cluster of people, my eyes connected with someone else’s. It was apparent he had been staring at me, but he did not appear to be embarrassed over being caught. Ironically enough, his lack of embarrassment sort of embarrassed me. I bit my lip and glanced away.

I decided I’d taken enough pictures for now and found a place to sit near the fire. I glanced over to where Cassie was supposed to be, but she was nowhere in sight. I suspected she might have taken off into the woods with one of those guys. It was a record, actually. She ditched me in zero point two seconds.

“Hey.” I heard a voice say from beside me. The sudden noise made me jerk in a mortifyingly obvious way. I glanced up to see the guy that had been staring at me earlier. “Want a beer?” Being this close to him, I could make out his features. He was tall, tan, and had shaggy, light brown hair with dark brown eyes. His smile revealed a set of perfect teeth. “Is that a yes?” His smile widened and I realized I’d been staring at him.

“A beer sounds great.” A deep flush spread across my face as I accepted the second beer he was holding.

“Mind if I join you?”

“No, I don’t mind.” I answered.

“I’m Eli.” He told me as he slid down next to me.

“Bridget.” I smiled.

“I noticed your friend took off.”

“Yeah, well, she’s a Gemini.” I explained.

“Ah, so she’s superficial and flighty.” He nodded.

My eyebrows rose in surprise. “You know the zodiac signs?”

“My sister is pretty into the whole astrology thing.” He explained. “What’s your sign?”

“Cancer.” I smiled.

“Which makes sense since Cancers are loyal to a fault.”

“What makes you confident that I’m loyal?” I asked skeptically.

“You weren’t surprised that your friend ditched you, but you still came with her.” He pointed out.

“Fine, you got me.” I felt slightly uncomfortable with his freakishly accurate assessment of me. I was quick to change the subject. “What’s your sign?”

“Pisces.” He answered.

“So, you’re laid back.” I stated.

“I guess you could say that.” He smiled.

A sudden breeze blew across my skin causing goosebumps to rise and my muscles to shiver. I tugged my tiny jacket tighter, but it did nothing. Eli noticed and silently slid his jacket over my shoulders. It was still warm from his body.

“What’s with the camera? You some sort of narc?” He quirked an eyebrow.

“Yep, I work for the sheriff's department. I’m going to have to arrest you now.” I teased.

“If you wanted me in handcuffs, all you had to do was ask.” He winked. “What’s the camera
really
for?”

“School project. I have to take pictures of ‘one hundred strangers’ and write a short biography about them.” I explained.

“Sounds like you might get to meet some interesting people.” He commented.

“In Waverly? Not so much.”

“That’s where you live? No wonder I haven’t seen you at any parties before.” He observed.

“Yeah, we usually don’t go to parties this close to Lincoln, but I guess my friend wanted to try something new.” I explained.

“I’m glad she did.” He smiled over at me. I bit my lip nervously under his gaze.

His grin grew at my reaction. He seemed to enjoy making me nervous. My attention caught on his mouth. His smile appeared to radiate a genuine happiness that was infectious. I couldn’t help but compare it with Aiden’s. Aiden’s smile was cute, too, but it was more of a smirk. I had never seen Aiden simply smile because he was genuinely happy for a moment. He always seemed to hide his emotions with quips and sarcasm. I never knew what he was actually thinking, which was both frustrating and intriguing.

“Bridget!” I heard Cassie shout as she sauntered toward us with some guy in tow. She had a bottle of tequila in one hand and the guy’s arm in the other. I could tell she was already buzzed and it wouldn’t be long before she was drunk. “See, I told you I wouldn’t ditch you. This is Bryan.” She flopped down on the ground next to Eli and me.

“Actually, it’s Ryan.” The guy corrected, sliding down next to her, but Cassie didn’t act like she heard him. She passed me the bottle of tequila and I took a swig.

“This is Eli.” I told her. “Eli this is Cassie.”

“Hi, Eli, you are
cute
. Are you single?” Cassie asked bluntly.

“Uh...Yeah.” Eli answered. I could tell he wasn’t expecting to be asked that right off the bat. He obviously didn’t know Cassie.

“Ah, really? Bridget is, too.” Cassie wiggled her eyebrows.

She was always trying to hook me up with guys. She desperately wanted me to lose my V- card. She thought that virginity was overrated, which was why she gave hers away so quickly. I didn’t know if the tight grip I held onto mine with had to do with my trust issues or if I merely wasn’t ready to let go of the one thing I felt I could control in my life. Maybe it was both.

“So, anyway, Ryan, do you live around here?” I asked trying to change the subject.

“I’m originally from Omaha, but I’m going to school in Lincoln, so I live on campus.” He said.

“Oh, what school?” I asked.

“I go to KU.” He answered. Cassie appeared to be bored with the conversation.

“Where do you live, Eli?” Cassie asked, steering the topic back towards Eli.

“Lincoln.” He stated.

“How old are you?” She pried.

“Seventeen.” He laughed, amused by her constant stream of questions.

“Bridget is sixteen and she doesn’t have a curfew. She’s so lucky. She can stay out as late as she wants. She doesn’t even have to go home if she doesn’t want to. No one would sick the cops on her like
my
parents do.” She was beginning to babble, so I knew she was getting tipsy.

“Absentee parents?” Eli asked me.

“You could say that.” I told him.

I hated telling people about my situation, so I usually kept things nondescript when it came to my parents. Not that I could be more detailed, even if I wanted to.

“More like a mystery. Her life is so dramatic. She could totally star in a soap opera. She doesn’t even know who her parents are. Those deadbeats abandoned her as a baby, no offense, B.” Cassie blurted.

“Cassie!” I scolded her, but she didn’t stop.

“Her parents are totally MIA. She’s been living in foster homes since like
forever,
and the foster parents she lives with now are total drunks. So, she can totally do whatever she wants.” Cassie said. I was furious at her for telling Eli things I told her in confidence. Unfortunately, Cassie was drunk by this point, which left her without a filter.

“
Anything
you want?” Eli said smoothly as he raised an eyebrow in question. I smiled in response as I pictured the possibilities. By now, Cassie had lost interest in us entirely and was making out with Ryan. Eli continued, “Such an eventful life for a sixteen year old.”

“It’s not as dramatic as it sounds.” I explained, hoping he wasn’t completely freaked out.

“Too bad. It would have made for an interesting biography one day.” He grinned.

“Yeah, it would.” I agreed with a smile. Eli really
was
laid back.

“Okay, we’re headed out. Bryan is going to give me a tour of his apartment.” Cassie announced with a giggle.

I knew Cassie was aware of Ryan’s actual name. This was merely her subtle way of letting him know he wouldn’t be around long enough for her to bother remembering it. She turned to Eli and asked, “Is there any way you can give Bridget a ride home?”

“No problem.” Eli replied.

Cassie didn’t waste any time as she staggered behind Ryan toward her car. I was relieved to see her hand the keys over to the mostly sober Ryan. Cassie was in no condition to drive. She was actually in no condition to be making sexual decisions, either, but last time I said as much, she nearly bit my head off.

“I have another friend that’s supposed to meet me here, so you don’t have to give me a ride.” I told him.

“I don’t mind taking you home.” Eli asserted. His eyes met mine with a gleam, and I felt a warm flush sweep over me. I glanced away in an attempt to hide it.

I cleared my throat. “So, you know a lot about me now, thanks to Cassie, and I know nothing about you.”

“You know my name is Eli and you know I’m a Pisces.” He grinned.

I pursed my lips. “And that’s all I know. That’s not exactly enough for a biography.”

“Is that all I am to you, just some project?” He said sarcastically dramatic.

“Shut up.” I laughed.

“Fine, you can ask me five questions, and I promise to answer them honestly, but I must warn you, there’s not much about me worth knowing.” He flashed a side grin.

“I’ll be the judge of that.” I told him. “Question one: Where do you go to school?”

“Wellington Academy, next question.”

"Wellington Academy, isn't that a private school?” I asked.

I wouldn't have guessed Eli was a rich kid, but now that I thought it over, I was starting to notice the minute things that separated him from all the foster kids I knew. He had on those ripped jeans that you could tell came already pre-ripped and cost a fortune. On his wrist, he wore a watch that looked like it was made of real gold. His shoes were a spotless white with a Nike symbol on the side. I remembered seeing the same pair at the mall. They cost a few hundred.