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Soundproof windows, rolled shut couldn't keep the loud bangs of the music from reaching them.
Mason packed along the rows of other parked cars in the open clearing.
"When you said Grayson's party needed people," Rain turned to Nora. "I should have asked just how many."
But Nora didn't look her way.
They stepped out of the car, and the cold night's air instantly embraced them. Rain hugged herself tightly, regretting not bringing a jacket.
It was an outdoor party, held beside Rock Cove.
She walked closer into the sea of moving bodies. Her eyes glanced past familiar faces, and lingered on those she barely recognised.
Her gaze shifted to Nora, whose head was glued to her phone, oblivious to the world around her.
"Who are these people?" Rain asked. Her arms wrapped across her body trapping the little warmth she could.
Nora took a quick glance at the few she could and returned her gaze back to her phone. "Probably people from school."
"Are you sure?" Rain asked. "I have never seen any of them before."
Nora shrugged, her head still inclined.
Rain squeezed her arm tightly, and after what seemed longer than a minute she turned away.
"Okay, I think this was a bad idea." She blurted out. "I am going to leave." Heading back to the car.
Quickly, Mason and Nora held her back, stopping her from walking off.
"Would you relax!" Nora insisted. "And so what if they are a bunch of people you don't know? We are here to have fun and that's what we would do."
"Yeah. Listen to Nora. Loosen up will you." Mason suggested.
Rain sighed, it took a moment. Then she gave a small nod. "Fine, I am going to have fun."
"Exactly." Nora smiled. Then glanced back at her phone.
"Ah… why is it glitching?" She frowned. The screen flickered, then went black for a second too long. "Work, stupid thing." She smacked it lightly.
Finally, a smile crept on her lips "Great, it's back to normal. Okay, have fun." She said, leaving Mason and Rain behind.
Rain stared at her as she walked into the life of the party. Her camera turned on, capturing bright, intoxicated smiles and faces exhaling smoke.
Her gaze shifted to Mason, about to say a word. But before her lips could part open, he had walked away to join his crowd.
Rain stood still for a while. Her eyes swept through the crowd, everyone lost the moment.
But yet, she couldn't quite tell why it felt—off.
She inhaled deeply and exhaled just the same. "Time to have fun." She muttered quietly before walking into the crowd.
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Rain leaned against the side of a tree. Her arms still folded, as her fingers tapped and head nodded to the sound of music.
A fact still remained, she was cold and slightly uncomfortable. But watching everyone have fun brought a small smile to her face.
"What's with that smirk?" A soft familiar voice called out. Rain's head turned to her side. Her gaze fell on a petite and attractive girl.
Short dark hair, and large almond brown eyes.
"Hazel!!" Rain said. "I didn't notice you?"
"It's fine." She said, her lips curled upwards.
"Drink?" She held out a can of soda.
Rain hesitated, then took it. "Couldn't find a soda, I thought they only had alcohol." she said, popping the can open.
Hazel maintained a slight grin . " Didn't take you for a party-person?" she said, gently swirling the can of beer in her hand.
"Me?" Her brows lifted. " No, I'm not." she said, "Nora invited me."
Hazel's grin immediately vanished, as she took a quick sip from her drink.
"Cool." She said, with a hint of disinterest in her tone.
"Oh…" Rain voiced out. She couldn't quite understand why Hazel was speaking to her.
Was she bored?
Looking for a means to kill time?
Something about her tone… felt different. Rain took a quick glance at the party, then her eyes landed on Grayson.
The host, going all out.
Surrounded by a bunch of other guys, he chugged down a large bowl mixed with different types of alcohol.
A few drops spilled down his dark skin and onto his white shirt.
"He's having fun." Rain muttered softly, sipping from her drink, unaware Hazel had picked up her words.
"Yep. There goes my man." a smile tugged at her lips. "Speaking of men," she continued. " I see Luke can't keep his eyes off you.
Rain almost choked.
"What… no way," Her gaze landed on him.
He was already staring.
Then she quickly shifted back to Hazel.
"that's impossible…"
The music suddenly cuts. Hazel and Rain stare around as the crowd murmurs in confusion.
"Why did the music go off?" Someone from the crowd mentioned.
"Hey. What's going on?" Another yelled.
Then a boy picked up the microphone and laughed into it.
"What's Grayson doing?" Hazel called out. Her eyes wide with curious interest.
"Good evening everyone." Grayson said.
" Sorry for the interruptions, but I've got bad news." He added, " We are out of drinks."
Instantly, the crowd erupted. Boos from each side, laughter and someone shouting, "No way!"
"Does anybody have any solutions?" Grayson asked, too drunk to stand upright and almost missing his steps.
Hazel rolled her eyes, then gulped her drink empty. "Looks like I need to rescue my man."
She muttered, giving Rain a quick nod before slipping into the crowd.
Mason lifted up his hand, then yelled. "I've got some in my trunk." he suggested.
Grayson took slow steps towards him, trying to walk as sober as possible but still failed.
Almost falling to the ground, but Hazel quickly caught him.
"I'm fine babe." He said, brushing her hands off his arm. Mason quickly ran forward, closer to him.
Grayson gave an uncanny grin. Then turned to the crowd " Everyone give it up for…."
"Mason." Mason said.
"Mason….," Grayson quickly corrected. "He's a life saver. A real hero."
The crowd cheering Mason's name even louder.
"i'll go get them." Mason excused himself, hurrying to the car.
Rain watched. The music turned back on, as the people returned to their carefree moment. Their bodies sway to every rhythm of the beat.
She glanced through the crowd and then her gaze stopped at the woods.
The darkness within, a deeper shade than ever.
The woods were still. Too still.
As though time had stopped, and the only moment that existed was that the light from the burn fire could reach.
Then suddenly a word caught her attention.
"Your phone is still glitching?" A guy by her side asked his friend.
"Yeah." He said. "Couldn't get the damn thing to work, so I just gave up."
Rain's brows drew closer.
But then went back to normal as people cheered loudly for Grayson, chugging the little drink he had left.