The Mute and the Liar (62 page)

“
I
think
what
she
means
it
that
it’s
a
bit
unnecessary
dragging
us
all
out
here
all
the
way
from
Elmview
just
to
go
to
some
party
where
we
won’t
know
anyone.
That’s
all. No
need
to
get
your thongs
in
a
twist.
”

Jayce
groans
and
rolls his eyes
in
an
almost comic,
cartoon
fashion.

“
To
have
a
good
time
obviously!
Free
party,
free
beer,
what
more
do
you
want?
It’s
not
like
you
had
anything
better
to
do.
Besides,
you’re
all
here
so
you’re
not
going
to
be
alone,
are
you?
”

The
others
are still
not
convinced
and
all
remain
motionless
and
avoid
eye
contact.

“
Look,
Ryo
and
Sasha
are
my
oldest
friends.
They
did
a
lot
for
me.
The
most
I
can
do
to
pay
them
back
is
show up at
their
crappy
party.
”

We’ve
only
been
driving
for
fifteen
minutes
and
it
only
takes
another
five
before
we
arrive
at
what
must
be
our
destination.
It’s
a
detached
manor
house
just
off
the
town
centre,
so
it’s
shielded
with
trees,
allowing
for
privacy,
but
is
not
dislocated
from
life.
It’s
boastful
and
extravagant,
with
red
tiles
scaling
the
roof
at
the
same
pace
as
the
ivy
scaling
the
white
walls.
Arched
windows
keep
watch
over
the
house
and
through
them
glinting
crystal
chandeliers
can
be
seen.
It
could
be
beautiful,
if
it
were
not
littered
with people.

They’re
everywhere.
Strewn
across
the
mowed-to-perfection
front
garden,
charging
in
herds
through
the
blue
front
door
with
arms
raised
high,
coupling
under
the
trees
outside
the
house…
Everywhere.

I
feel sick.

Jayce
is
already
out
of
the
car
and
by
the
time
I
have
cautiously
slipped
out
after
Mel
and
Tyra,
he
is
already
halfway
through
the
door,
being
greeted
by
a
tall,
thin,
tanned
guy
with
a
mop
of
chestnut
curls.
He’s
quite
good
looking
actually,
the
guy
who
is
currently
throwing
himself
onto
Jayce.
He’s
got
those
cheekbones
and
tha
t
playful
smirk
and
that
absent-minded
look
in
his
soft
brown
eyes
that
altogether
create
the
sort
of
face
that
stares
back
from
every
tween
girl’s
bedroom
wall.
Seriously.
If
you
smacked
his
face on
a
pair of boxers, th
ey
would
sell
in
seconds.

Jory,
Kaylie,
Mel
and
Tyra
approach
him
and
I
shuffle
behind
them,
strongly
contemplating
whether
to
try
and
make
a
run
for
it.
But
that’s
an
impossible
idea.
I
have
nowhere
to
go
and
I
don’t
know
where
I
am.
I’m
sure
the
town
centre
is
nearby,
but
I
can’t
just
go
looking
for
it.
If
anything,
I’m
safest
if
I
just
stay
here.

“
Sash,
you
remember
Kaylie
and
Jory
right?
When
you
came
down
to
see
me
in
July?
And
this
is
Mel
and
Tyra.
And
this
is
Alicia.
”
I
am
the
last
to
be
introduced,
but
this
person, who
I
figure
must
be
Sasha,
the
person
who
sent
Jayce
that
message
earlier,
appears
to
have
taken
the
most
interest
in
me.
He
just stares at me,
a
strange tweaking
in the corner
of
his
lips
.

I
can’t
describe
it.
It’s
an
almost
comforting
sort
of
stare
.
I usu
ally burn
up
and look
away
w
he
n
people look at me
, but his stare feels… warm.
I
get
the
faint
image
of
a
crocodile.
There’s
that
myth
that
crocodiles
cry
when
luring
their
prey,
right?
I’m
sure
this
must
be
the
same
kind
of
prickling
feeling,
the
feeling
of
knowing
it
must
be
a
trap
and
that
you
should
look
away,
but
something
keeps
you
straying
in
the
depths of his eyes
anyway.

“
I’m
Sasha.
I’ve
heard
a
lot
about
you.
It’s
great
to
finally
meet
you.
”
His
velvety
voice
is
tinted
with
an
accent.
Russian,
I
think.
But
it’s
so
faint
you
can
hardly notice
it, and it’s
left
to
simply
sequin
the
occasional
word.

An
irritated
bunch
of
partygoers
behind
us
begin
stampeding
forwards.
Someone
slams
into
Sasha,
colliding
with
his
arm and
causing
him
to
drop
his
wine
glass.
It
falls
to
the
cream
carpet
and
although
doesn’t
shatter,
the
wine
floods
out,
leaving
a
pool
of
blood
red
beneath
our
feet.
The
girl
says
sorry
about
ten
times
,
but
Sasha
assures
her
it’s
all
right
and
heads
off
to
the
room
on
the
left to get something to clean it with.