A Scandalous Love

The party was loud. Too loud. Music blasted over the speakers, vibrating the house’s walls until it was physically and emotionally jarring. The smell of liquor and marijuana hung in the air, assaulting my nose and throat. I didn’t want to be there, but I would be for him.

I shouldered my way into the crowded kitchen, scanning the faces to find the one I was looking for. He said he’d be here waiting for me.

“Renee!” a male voice called over the crowd, and I turned, hoping it was the person I was here to see.

“Oh, hi,” I said, playing off my disappointment as a familiar teenage boy approached me. “Aaron, right? I was looking for Matt. He invited me here tonight.”

There was something in Aaron’s expression that I couldn’t read, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to. He nodded and shrugged his shoulders, looking sheepish.

“Yeah, Matt is upstairs waiting for you.”

“Upstairs? Really?” A growing excitement smoldered in my belly. This was it. This was what I had been waiting for, for so long. “Thanks, Aaron.” I was grinning now, thrilled I’d come as I swam through the crowd of people and made my way upstairs. I didn’t realize Aaron was following me until I stopped at a closed door and looked over at him. He nodded once, and I twisted the handle and pushed the door open.

Matt was lying completely naked on the bed, with a dark-haired girl curled around his midsection. They both looked up at me as the door opened, and the girl snarled something that didn’t even reach my ears. Matt met my gaze over her head and smiled. My stomach twisted, and nausea rolled in my gut.

I wanted to vomit.

“Glad you could come, Renee,” Matt said with an easy chuckle. “Want to join us? Three is always better than two.”

I stepped back out of the bedroom, stumbling blindly into Aaron, who reached out to steady me. Bile clawed up my throat, but I shoved it down and focused on the tears instead.

“Sorry, Ren,” Aaron said. The worst part was that he looked sorry, making it worse.

“Oh, hey, Renee,” said a second voice, and Jake Denny, the school jock and one of Matt’s best friends, came up behind Aaron. “Matt’s been expecting you. Aren’t you going to go in?” He laughed mockingly, and I was so close to throwing up that I could taste it. Tears pressed against the back of my eyelids, threatening to spill over.

“I have to go,” I mumbled, dropping my chin so they wouldn’t catch the tears. Turning on my heel, I rushed past Aaron and Jake. Jake was still laughing, and even Aaron was smiling now. I despise them for it.

Quit being such a know-it-all, Renee…

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