Page 4 of Slayer

The bouncer looked surprised. “Happy birthday.”

“Thanks,” I said.

Rae gave him a see-what-I-mean look, and we passed through the double doors.

As we entered the club, my senses were assaulted by loud music, flashing lights, and a smoke machine. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and cheap perfume. It was jarring coming from a quiet street, but by the time we’d squeezed our way to the back VIP section, I was feeling the vibes.

I stopped in my tracks when I noticed that the corner table had a Happy Birthday sign hanging behind it, a small cake in the center of the table, and a half dozen of my friends grinning as they waited for my reaction.

“Happy birthday!” they screamed in unison over the blaring club music.

It was like in Linda’s office all over again. Emotions swelled within my chest as everyone came forward to greet me. Heat climbed my neck, and the mix of strobe lights and affection made the whole moment feel unreal in the best way.

“Stella!” Melanie screamed and was first to run over to me. Melanie was twenty-two now, but I met her at the group home when I was twelve and she was sixteen. She was like an older sister to me at the time, but I hadn’t seen her in a few years. “Happy birthday!” She hugged me.

“Thank you.” I squeezed her back, noting that I was getting more hugs today than I had all year.

Three girls from my school were next to greet me, along with one guy from my group home. It was sweet to see the turnout of all my old group home roomies, and I knew it was all because of Rae. I wasn’t good about keeping in touch with people, but she made an effort, even when life was messy.

“Thanks for coming, guys!” I screamed over the music. Then I turned to Rae. “And thanks for letting me stay with you. It will only be until I can get my own place.”

She nodded. “Once I save enough for Paris, I’m out of here anyway. I applied to culinary school there and sent in everything for my student visa.” She was grinning, and my heart overflowed for her.

Culinary school in France was perfect for her. Rae had been talking about getting out of Spokane since I met her. Paris was the dream, and it sounded like she was finally doing it.

“Rae.” My voice caught. “I’m so happy for you.”

She looked pleased with herself. “Now I just need, like, five grand to get my ticket and get started over there. I’ll be working doubles for a while.”

I nodded. I knew that struggle. “You’ll get there.”

Rae grabbed my hand. “Okay, enough chitchat. Let’s dance!”

I laughed as she dragged me to the dance floor and Melanie and the rest of the people in my party followed. The music was trancelike with deep bass, and we carved out a little spot on the dance floor as Rae threw her arms into the air and twirled around me. I laughed, thinking of how much this day meant to me.

Eighteen.

Adult.

Freedom.

My entire life fit into a faded blue duffel bag I got at Goodwill for $3.99, and it felt so freeing. I was finally excited to make something of myself. There was nothing wrong with getting a handout, and I was grateful for the support I’d had until now, but I didn’t want it anymore. It felt transactional. I wanted to pave my own way. I wanted to sit on a couch I bought with my own money in an apartment I rented with my own name and say that I got myself there.

“Are you having fun?” Rae screamed over the music, and I snapped out of my super not-fun thoughts. Today is my birthday!

“Totally!” I lied. I thought I would be more excited about today, but it turned out I was just going over all my childhood trauma in my head.

I spun around while dancing, and suddenly a well-dressed dude in a three-piece suit appeared behind Rae. His dark hair was slicked back, showcasing a chiseled jaw, and his alabaster skin practically glowed in the black light as he peered down at Rae with half-lidded eyes. He wrapped his arms around her, and she went slightly limp, gyrating into him but with a robotic look on her face.

What the hell? Where did this guy come from? Did she know him?

He leaned into her neck and started to kiss her as her arms flopped at her sides and she stared at the wall with a glazed expression.

My inner alarm bells went off then. This wasn’t right. I didn’t want to tell Rae who she could and couldn’t hook up with, but this felt off. She seemed…drugged or something. Rae didn’t do the hard stuff, but had someone slipped something into her drink?

“Hey!” I barked at the guy, but he never took his lips off her neck.

I turned around to see if maybe Melanie could help me out with this situation when I noticed a redheaded chick behind Melanie, kissing her neck. Melanie had the same glazed expression on her face as Rae, and now I was starting to panic.