Page 31 of Mistaken Prejudice

“Ugh, what is this shit?” she complained, twisting her lip-glossed lips in disgust.

Andrei snickered while I answered, “I believe it’s a mix of vodka and blueberry juice. Maybe raspberry? I’m not sure.” I took the cup back from her and brought it to my lips. The drink was, indeed, awful, but I couldn’t care less at the moment.

“So! Andrei, you’re sexy.” Give it to Margot to be as straightforward as possible.

“What?” she asked as I side-eyed her. “He’s hot. Just stating the obvious.” Turning away from me, her focus was back on Andrei. “And new. I would have remembered a face like yours. So what’s your story?”

“Just transferred to Bay High from Pacific Green.”

“No shit! That school that burned to the ground?” Her eyes widened with curiosity. “How did it even happen?”

Andrei rubbed the back of his neck. “A kid thought it would be smart to light up a bong in the library.”

“For real?” Margot and I both asked together.

“Yeah, but I swear it wasn’t Jessie.”

This made me laugh because the image of Jessie trying to put out a fire while smoking was hilarious.

“Who’s Jessie?” Margot asked.

“My bro,” Andrei answered while pointing over to the porch, where a game of beer pong was going on. With his pink hair and green neon cropped top, Jessie stood out like a light stick.

“Oh my God, I love his outfit and hair.” Margot gasped. “Is he single? Can you set us up?” She gave Andrei her puppy eyes that usually got her what she wanted.

Well, not in this case, Margot.

Andrei chuckled. “I don’t think his boyfriend will approve.”

“Oh, dammit! All the good ones are gay…” She sulked. “And what we’re left with is that.” She pointed to the firepit, where the football team was sitting. At that moment, the twins, London and Berlin Kingston, held a kid by his ankles and made him drink from a keg of beer while all the others watched and laughed. It was a well-known party game, and one would think they were just having fun among themselves, only that the person handstanding on the keg didn’t seem to enjoy it. The guy’s name was Felix, and we shared a biology class. Needless to say, he wasn’t friends with the football team. But like many others, he was easy prey for guys like Don and Lin, and I hated to admit, like Shay-Lee, who at the moment was sitting on his chair like the king he was. Quietly observing as Felix’s face turned red and his bloodshot eyes filled with tears. Anger filled my guts, and I was about to walk there, when the twins finally let go of Felix and dropped him to the ground. The guys surrounding him were laughing and drinking, while poor Felix tried to catch his breath.

“That was impressive, Charlie!” Shay-Lee laughed as he stood up from his chair and helped Felix to his feet.

“I-it’s F-Felix.”

Shay-Lee shook Felix’s words away. “Sure thing.” He wrapped his arm around Felix’s shoulders and raised his glass. “To my friend Charlie!” The loud cheers and wolf howls he got from the guys and girls gathered at his feet made Felix’s cheeks turn red as a goofy, yet proud smile spread on his face. It sickened me what people would do for love and acceptance.

Andrei’s eyes were also fixated on where Shay-Lee was acting all buddy-buddy with Felix, moments after they joked at his expense. He didn’t say a word, and not a single emotion was shown on his face. His reaction was as calm and composed as the night I ate with them. He examined the situation as if he were calculating risks and considering a course of action while keeping his thoughts to himself. Unlike him, Margot wasn’t as self-observant and chose to express herself in a much more vocal way.

“Poor Felix.” She sighed. “I hate them. Just hate them. They’re a bunch of idiots. If you ask me, the smart thing would be to castrate them all. Starting with their leader.” After she snapped her fingers together like scissors, she turned her judgmental gaze toward me. “How are you even friends with him?”

Maybe because I knew most of it was just an act? Shay-Lee was acting like an idiot to keep himself from getting bored, and sometimes he crossed the line. Like tonight, for example.

He wasn’t really cruel. He just liked to make people believe he was. Besides, since when did I need to explain my friendship with him to others?

Not wanting to dive into it, I simply shrugged before I grabbed Andrei’s hand and yanked him to follow me.

“Let’s dance.”

On our way back into the house, I managed to spot Andrei’s friends. Jessie and Levi were still busy with the beer pong game, playing against two guys from the swimming team, and not too far from them was Diesel. He was leaning against a porch column, smoking and talking with Tiff, who was Chloe’s best friend. While Diesel looked like his usual grumpy self, Tiff was giggling and leaning toward him in a way that showed her cleavage. Watching Diesel flirt with her was an odd sight I quickly brushed off as soon as we entered the room and were hit by a strong smell of weed mixed with sweat.

An hour and five tequila shots later, we were completely wasted, and by we, I mean me, myself, and I. Even though Andrei took two drinks for each one I had, he was far from being drunk. And for some reason, it was hot, so freaking hot. By now, I concluded that no matter what he did, I found it hot. Fuck, I am using the word hot way too many times.

“You’re so hot. You know that?” I blurted into the smoke-filled air. At the moment, we were surrounded by dozens of drunk teenagers who danced to the sound of “WAP” by Cardi B.

My neck rested on his shoulder while my back pressed against his front. We’d been in this position for the past three songs. With each move, I rubbed my ass against his hips with a perfect rhythm to the music. Or not so perfect. I was too drunk on booze and Andrei to notice anything but the euphoric ways he made me feel.

“You’re the hot one.” He pressed his lips to my ear before moving them to suck on my neck. Oh God.