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Chapter 14

Deirdre

“Science has not yet taught us if madness is or is not the sublimity of the intelligence.” Edgar Allan Poe

C laire rummages through her closet like a woman on a mission, tossing clothes over her shoulder as she searches for what I can only assume is my impending doom.

“You are not wearing all black to this party,” she announces, her voice muffled as she now digs through a drawer.

I roll my eyes, sitting cross-legged on my bed in my robe, watching as the hurricane of fabric is tossed to the floor. “What’s wrong with black?”

“Nothing…if we were going to a funeral.” She spins around, victorious, holding up a lavender high-waisted pirouette skirt and a black off-the-shoulder terry sweatshirt. “University colors, babe. You’re showing some school spirit, whether you like it or not.”

I groan, flopping back onto my pillows. “Claire, I refuse to dress like an enthusiastic freshman.”

“You have no choice.” She tosses the outfit onto my lap before grabbing my wrists and hauling me off the bed. “Now put it on.”

With a dramatic sigh, I slip into the clothes, eyeing my reflection in the mirror. Internally, I admit to myself that I actually look pretty cute and the lavender compliments my skin, but I refuse to admit that to Claire.

“I look like a wannabe cheerleader who moonlights as a hooker.”

Claire snickers, but when she reaches for a pair of black knee-high stiletto boots, my mouth gapes open. “Absolutely not. That just proves my point.”

Ignoring me, she shoves them in my hands. “Put ‘em on, Ravencroft.”

I crinkle my nose at her and slide my feet into the boots, standing tall.

She squeals.

I cross my arms. “No.”

Walking over to the closet, I smile when I find a pair of comfy tennis shoes. Kicking the boots off, I replace them with black pearl-studded court shoes.

“There. That’s better.”

Claire exhales dramatically, putting a hand on her hip. “I mean, at least you’re not in head-to-toe black.”

I shake my head, applying a light shade of lipstick and fluffing my curls around my shoulders. “Keep pushing it, and I’ll change into the most gothic outfit I own.”

She gasps, clutching her chest. “You wouldn’t.”

I smirk, winking at her in the mirror. “Try me.”

While Claire is in the bathroom finishing up, I take one last look in the mirror. The outfit isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. It’s still me , just with a little more color than usual. Claire would call that a miracle.

Before I can overthink it, I snap a quick picture of myself in the full-length mirror and open my messages. My fingers hover over the keyboard before I type out a message to Kieran.

Deirdre: “I promise I’ll behave tonight…maybe.”

I smirk at the message, my thumb hovering over the send button, debating whether or not I should do it. I’ve never been the flirtatious type. Trevor and I only dated because we were friends for so long first it just felt like the right and safe thing to do.

Boy, was I wrong.

With Kieran, everything is different. It’s risky, and I know I shouldn’t be tempting fate like this. But before I can talk myself out of it, Claire reemerges from the bathroom, adjusting the straps of her top.

I panic, quickly hitting send and shoving my phone into my purse before she notices.

“Ready?” she asks, her eyes bright with excitement.

“As I’ll ever be,” I say, grabbing my jacket. My phone buzzes in my purse, but I choose to ignore it so as not to raise any suspicious looks from Claire.

We step out into the crisp night air, walking across the courtyard toward the row of fraternity and sorority houses lining the university’s social district. The distant pulse of music and laughter grows louder with each step, guiding us toward the party like a siren’s call.

Claire loops her arm through mine, her grin growing wider the closer we get to the house.

“So, reminder: we are not wasting time on Brandon.”

She nods. “Agreed. But that just means Tyler and his friends are fair game. Ya know…since you’re so unattached .”

I groan, laughing. “You’re making my job as wing woman super complicated.”

She gasps in mock offense. “Excuse me, I make your job complicated? If anything, you should be grateful I’m giving you options to distract yourself with.”

I arch a brow. “I better not have to babysit you tonight.”

Claire giggles, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “I make no promises.”

As we near the Kappa Theta Nu house, the music vibrates through the pavement, and I feel the bass in my chest. The party is already in full swing. The front yard is packed with people, red solo cups in hand and laughter spilling into the night.

I take a deep breath, squaring my shoulders. This is just a party. One night of fun. No complications.

But as I step inside, the only thing I can think about is the unread message waiting for me in my purse.

The Kappa Theta Nu party is more than I expected. The house is packed wall-to-wall with people dancing, drinking, and shouting over the pounding bass of the music. Colored lights flash across the makeshift dance floor in the living room, illuminating the swirl of bodies moving in sync with the music. The atmosphere feels carefree, and not one student has the stress of studying or assignments weighing them down.

Claire and I weave through the crowd with our drinks in hand, laughing at how ridiculously over-the-top the party already is.

“See?” Claire shouts over the music, spinning around to face me. “Isn’t this fun ?”

I smirk, taking a sip of my drink. “It’s loud .”

She rolls her eyes before grabbing my free hand and dragging me toward the dance floor. “You need to loosen up, babe.”

Before I can protest, she’s already swaying to the music, her blonde hair bouncing with each movement. With a sigh, I give in, letting the beat carry me. The alcohol makes it easier, warming my limbs and dulling the usual tension in my body. Claire grins triumphantly, spinning in a circle, her laughter mingling with the music. She grabs my hand and twirls me around, and a breeze flutters my skirt against my legs, blowing it upward.

As the night presses on, we dance, we drink, we laugh. It’s the most carefree I’ve felt in a long time.

At some point, Claire’s attention shifts. She locks eyes with someone across the room, and I follow her gaze to Tyler, one of the fraternity guys. He’s tall, broad-shouldered, and watching her with obvious interest. Claire winks at me before slipping away, her drink still in hand.

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” I call after her.

She throws a wink over her shoulder. “That does not narrow it down!”

I chuckle and shake my head as I pull my phone out of my purse to check the unread message from Kieran.

Professor McKnight: Behave or not. My hand is twitching.

Butterflies immediately begin to flit around in my stomach, and heat blooms between my legs.

With Claire occupied, I step away from the dance floor, my fingers tightening around my cup as I find a quiet corner near the staircase. The momentary thrill of the night and Kieran’s message starts to fade, replaced by the familiar itch of unease.

That’s when I feel it.

A pair of eyes burning into me.

I shift uncomfortably, as I glance across the room, and my stomach tightens when I see Brandon Danforth staring at me.

His gaze is dark, but there’s a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips that sends a shiver down my spine. Before I can look away, he pushes off the wall and starts walking toward me.

I resist the urge to roll my eyes.

Great.

“Didn’t think this was your scene, Ravencroft,” he teases, leaning against the wall beside me. His voice is dripping with arrogance, the scent of alcohol strong on his breath.

I shift away slightly. “I’m here with Claire.”

He smirks. “Figures. She’s got a taste for frat boys.” His gaze rakes over me, lingering in a way that makes my skin crawl. “But you…you seem more like the type who likes a challenge .”

I set my drink down on a nearby table. “Not interested, Brandon.”

He lets out a short laugh. “Come on. No need to play hard to get. You’ve been staring at me all night.”

I scoff. “I think you need your vision checked.”

His expression hardens, his playful tone vanishing in an instant. “You think you’re too good for me or something?”

I glance around, searching for Claire, but she’s nowhere to be seen. I need to get out of here. “Excuse me,” I mutter, stepping past him.

His hand shoots out, fingers curling around my wrist. My breath catches.

“Don’t walk away from me,” he says, his voice lower now, more threatening.

I yank my arm back. “Let go.”

For a moment, he doesn’t. Then, with a scoff, he releases me, but the tension between us is palpable. I don’t give him another glance before making a beeline for the door.

The cool night air hits me as I step outside onto the front porch, inhaling a deep breath to steady myself. The muffled music and laughter from inside spill out into the night, but out here, aside from a few stragglers loitering in the yard and staggering around, it’s quieter.

Until I hear him behind me.

“You think you can just walk away like that?” he shouts. The loud boom in his voice causes the drunken students to snap their heads in our direction.

I whip around to find Brandon standing in the doorway, his features twisted with irritation.

I cross my arms. “I already told you I’m not interested.”

He lets out a bitter laugh as he descends the steps of the house, charging after me. “Right. You’d rather spread your legs for McKnight, huh?”

Shock and rage collide in my chest. “Excuse me?”

“You think I don’t see the way he looks at you? The way you look at him? Don’t act so innocent, Ravencroft. We all know how girls like you get ahead.”

My pulse pounds in my ears, my fists clenching at my sides. “You’re disgusting.”

He steps forward. “And you’re a…”

“Say another word, and I swear to God, you’ll regret it.” My voice shakes with fury.

For a moment, he looks like he might push further, but then he scoffs, shaking his head. “Whatever. Your used pussy isn’t worth it.”

I don’t wait around. I turn on my heel and walk down the steps, needing to put as much distance between me and that house as possible. My heart is hammering against my ribs, my skin still crawling from his words.

I need to get out of here.

Now.

I make it only a few feet before I hear the commotion.