Ride or Die

6. You Shook Me All Night Long

~ WILLA's POV ~

“Oh my god, I’m so horny!” said a girl in a butterfly costume. “Aren’t you just horny?” she said again, linking her arms around mine.

“Um, sure,” I replied.

I literally met this girl five seconds ago. She was standing alone by the bar, so I came and struck a conversation with her. I said “Hi,” and that was what she said to me in return.

“Do you want some E?” she whispered to my ears.

E? As in ecstasy?

“No, thank you,” I shook my head and pushed her away. She staggered back and gave me a lazy smile before turning around.

I need to find someone sober to talk to!

Scanning around the room, I locked eyes with a tall guy in a Mad Max costume and mask. He was standing on the other side of the room, and he was totally checking me out. Flipping my hair to the side, I gave him a seductive smile and motioned for him to come closer. He didn't need to be told twice. He strode across the room and stopped when he was an arm’s length away.  

“I must say,” he said as he stood towering over me, “The lights out here are beautiful, but you shine even brighter,”

Ugh. What a lame pick up line!

“Aw, you’re sweet,” I batted my lashes and gave him my best fake smile.

“I haven’t seen you around before, you must be new?”

“Elle,” I stretched out my hand to him. “And you are?”

“Derek. Nice to meet you, Ella,”

“So, Derek, tell me…” I said cautiously and seductively. “Are you one of those secret society people? Because this is my first time at you guys’ party and I have a lot of questions,”

“No, I’m not a member,” he chuckled. “I never got formally invited, but I go to their parties a lot,”

I raised an eyebrow at him. “They do a lot of these parties?”

“Oh yeah,” he nodded matter-of-factly. “They’re crazy ass people, but they throw the best damn parties,”

“I see,” I paused for a second to gauge his body language. It was so obvious that he was looking to score. That bulge in his pants was a dead giveaway and we were only talking. Placing a hand on his elbow flirtatiously, I asked him, “So, how close are you to the people at the society?”

“I know a friend who’s in it, sometimes he’d tell me stories,”

“Oh, do tell,” I squeezed his elbow tighter.

“Well, so, apparently they’ve been around since the 70s or so. J.D. Salinger and Jake Gyllenhaal were members,” he was trying not to stare at my boobs, but he was doing a bad job at it. “A lot of people that were members ended up being senate or some high government officials,”

“How interesting,” I tilted my head to the side and played with my hair.

“They scout for new members every year, but every four years they’d elect seven people to be the leader of the group,”

“The Secret Seven?”

“Yeah,” he nodded. “Wow, you know your stuff,”

“I’ve heard a little something here and there,” I shrugged.

“Well, anyway, there was a guy in my intro to art class and I heard he was one of the seven,”

“What’s his name?”

“He’s a senior and he cuts class a lot, you might not know him, but his name is Wes,” he paused for a moment before continuing, “Wes White, I think?”

“Wes is part of the Secret Seven?” I gaped.

“That’s what I heard. What, do you know the guy?”

“I’ve seen him around,” I stammered.

“Well, he’s a weird guy. Doesn't talk much,”

“I see,” This was getting interesting. I leaned closer and looked up at him seductively, hungry for more information. “So, what else do you know about this club? What do they do other than throw parties?”

“Well…” his eyes were hooded and he couldn’t help but lick his lips. “I can tell you, but I’d rather show you,”

His hands reached to grab my ass and he gave it a firm squeeze. Rolling my eyes in disdain, I pushed him away and said, “No, thanks,”

A decent guy would take the hint and walk away, but this guy wasn’t one of them. He looked offended that I rejected him. Instead of backing away, he scoffed and stepped closer, trapping me between the bar.

“Aw, come on,” he pressed his body against mine and taunted, “There’s a secret party in my pants and you’re on the guest list,”

“Wow,” I rolled my eyes even harder than before. “Does that line ever work for you?

“Come on now, don’t be shy,” he chuckled sinisterly and inched his face towards my neck.

“Stop it,” I squirmed and pushed back.

“You don't mean that, do you?” He huffed, gripping my hands tightly in his hands, “I mean, why else would a girl like you be in a place like this?”

“Get off me or I swear to god—”

I was about to punch or kick and scream, whatever, I was prepared, but suddenly a guy stood in between us. His hand reached out to grab Derek’s hand, clutching him firmly.

“Get off her before I throw your ass out,” the guy snarled.

Derek turned to him and gaped. “Connor,” he stammered and let my hands go instantly. “I’m sorry,”

It was Connor, the guy I met at the other party. Yes, the same guy I kissed to get information about this party. He was dressed in an all-black leather jacket and mask, but I recognized his eyes. Those piercing blue-green eyes were unmistakable.

“Go be a jackass somewhere else,” Connor glared at Derek. His tone of voice dropped an octave lower and I was shaking in my boots when I heard him, and he wasn't even talking to me.

“…Sorry,” Derek muttered again before scurrying away like the loser he was.

“You okay there?” Connor turned to me.

“Thanks, but I got it,” I replied, my hands went to straighten my dress.

At this point, I was having enough of this party. People here were so… rapey. Anyway, I had gotten some information, I should go home and rethink my strategies. I was about to turn to my heels, but Connor put a hand up and blocked me.

“Where are you going?” he asked.

“Out of here,” I gave him a bored stare. “What’s it to ya?”

“Well, I didn’t think I was gonna see you again,”

“Well, here I am,” I sighed lazily. “So, now what?”

That wasn't very nice of me, but I was tired and I just wanted to go home. I had been a witness to several illegal activities, I took pictures of random girl’s t**s, I had to turn down drugs several times already, and I was groped by a lame-ass guy with cheesy pick up lines. Enough was enough.

Connor saw the frustration in my eyes. Letting out a sigh, the angry glare in his eyes softened. Lending out his hand, he said gently, “Come with me,”

I shook my head at him and let out a deep breath. “Connor, it’s been a long night, I’m tired—“

“I’ll carry you then,” he cut me off.

“What?” I gaped, thinking he was joking. But he wasn't. In one swift move, he hoisted me over his shoulders and held me down by my legs.

“Connor!” I yelped and squirmed. “Stop! Put me down!”

He ignored me and continued walking. The music was playing loud enough to drown my yells. No one cared or even noticed that a guy was slinging a girl over his shoulder and walking away.

“Put me down!” I kicked and punched, but to no avail.

Damn, this guy is strong!

Connor brought me to the emergency stairs and he climbed several stairs up while carrying a girl who was punching and screaming at him. He wasn’t fazed by it at all. It was scary for me to think that maybe he’d done this before?

He climbed about three flights up before he pushed a door open and I was brought to the outdoors. He finally put me down and backed away. Looking at my surrounding, I realized we were standing next to Butler Library’s emergency exit. 

“Better now?” he asked.

I didn't wanna admit it, but yes. It felt so much better to be out of that underground tunnel filled with the smell of weed and s*x, and be out here in the open air.

“What is wrong with all the guys at this party?” I scoffed. “Don’t you guys know, ‘no means no’?”

“I have to bring you up here because I have some questions,” he replied as he pulled his mask away.

Damn, he is gorgeous… wait no! Focus, Willa! Focus!

“You ran away from me last time, I couldn’t take no chances,” he stifled a laugh.

“Well, you could’ve just asked? No need for manhandling,” I replied, straightening my dress again for the third time that night.

“So, I’ve done some research,” he said meaningfully, pausing for a moment before continuing, “Your name is not Elle or Eleanor. You’re not a freshman English major, or a student in this school at all,” taking a step closer to me, he c****d his head to the side and said, “Who are you?”

“W—Why do I have to answer to you?” I stammered, but I tried my best to look unfazed. 

“Because since you’re not a student here, you’re trespassing the event. I could get into a lot of trouble for giving you that matchbook,”

“Well, don’t worry because your secret’s save with me,” I replied. “No one’s gonna know where I got that matchbook from,”

“So, you’re really not gonna tell me who you are?” he asked.

I shook my head at him and smiled.

“Are you a journalist? A reporter?”

“Nope,”

He sighed and crossed his arms. He was looking at me like I was an amusing sight. Shaking his head from side to side, he then said, “You know, I could just report you for trespassing into a school facility,”

“And when they ask me what I’m doing here, should I tell them about tell the little secret society having underground rave parties with drugs and alcohol?” I said with a mischievous smirk.

“Careful, princess,” he chuckled, “Your love for games and mystery might end up biting you in the ass,”

“Don’t call me that,” I hissed.

Uncrossing his arms, he c****d his head again and his eyes bored into mine. I gulped involuntarily as he started moving towards me again. His eyes were so mesmerizing to watch, I was unable to look away. But I knew I had to. He was coming over to me and who knows what he might do? I stepped back instinctively. 

“Stop moving, I’m not gonna hurt you,“ he said calmly.

But I wasn’t calm. If I had learned anything from tonight, no one in this party should be trusted. I was about to make a break for it, but he caught my hand last minute and pulled me back. My body slammed into his rock-hard chest and he held me tight in his arms.

“Stay still, I just wanna see your eyes,” he said again.

I stopped squirming and looked up instinctively. He wasn’t trying to force his body on me or anything. His grip loosened and he brought one hand up to my face, slowly lifting my mask off my face.

“I’ve seen your eyes somewhere before,” he said once my mask was completely off.

We were standing so close to each other, our faces were inches away. Looking up at his piercing eyes, I found myself biting at my lower lip. And somehow, my heart started racing and my breathing got heavier.

“Where have I seen you before?” he said again.

“In your dreams, maybe,” I snorted.

“Maybe,” he repeated my word.

His gaze darted from my eyes down to my lips. I gulped instinctively.

Is he gonna kiss me?

“Can you please let me go now?” I said instead, nudging on his chest, ruining this moment or whatever it was.

He swallowed hard and pulled away. A look of disappointment was splashed across his face. He let out an awkward cough before saying, “Clearly you’re not enjoying these parties. Why do you keep coming back?

I thought about telling him about my brother Wes and his supposed suicide note. But then again, it was too early to tell if I could even trust this guy.

“I don’t know,” I shrugged. “For the thrill, I guess,”

“You have an eye for danger, princess,” he said. “But, I think you should stop. A girl like you don’t belong in a place like this,”

“I can take care of myself, thanks,” I spat, taking a few steps away from him before saying, “And I told you not to call me that,”

“You never gave me your name,”

“Willa,” I paused for a beat before continuing, “That’s my name. For tonight at least,”

I let out a small smile and he smiled back.

“It was very nice to meet you, Willa,” he said. “Will I get a chance to see you again?”

Tilting my head to my side, I said, “In your dreams, maybe,”

With that, I turned to my heels and walked away. But I had only taken about three steps away before he called out, “Hey! Don’t you want these back?”

I turned around and saw him holding my two masks, the one from the other party and the one from tonight.

“Keep ‘em,” I replied and turned away again.

Thanks, but I’ve had enough masked parties for a while. And you said it yourself, a girl like me don’t belong in a place like this.

But, a guy like me might.

- - - - - To Be Continued - - - - -