2. Isla

2

ISLA

“ T here it is,” Selene says, pointing ahead.

My eyes follow her gaze to see a large, two-story house with several cars parked haphazardly in the driveway. Colorful lights flash in the windows, and I can see shadows of people moving inside. The music is so loud now that I can feel the vibrations in my chest.

We walk up the walkway, dodging red Solo cups and empty beer cans that were carelessly discarded. A group of guys are playing beer pong on a folding table near the garage. Their eyes are on me as we pass. I keep my eyes forward, trying to act like I belong here.

“Hey!” one of them shouts. “Wanna play a round?”

Selene flips her red hair over her shoulder and smiles. “Maybe later!”

I just nod and give a tight-lipped smile, not trusting myself to say a word. I consider myself lucky that Selene has no issue with pretending that we belong here when it’s clear that we don’t. At least, it feels that way to me.

We make our way up the front stairs, the pulsating music growing louder with each step. I hesitate at the front door, suddenly feeling more unsure.

It is no surprise that Selene notices. “Come on, let’s go in,” she says as she hooks her arm with mine. Before I can protest, she swings the door open and practically drags me inside.

The house is packed with more people than I expected, most of them older college guys. They’re holding drinks, talking loudly over the music. A few turn to look at us as we enter, and I feel my cheeks grow warm, convinced they know we shouldn’t be here.

I barely have time to process it all before I spot my older sister, Grace, standing near a makeshift bar. She radiates confidence while dressed in fitted jeans and a t-shirt. Although we look similar, down to both of us wearing our blonde hair down, she looks as if she belongs here, while I'm sure I look as if my stomach just dropped to my toes.

Why hadn’t we thought about her being here, especially since she was talking about the party?

Her eyes widen as soon as they land on me, and I can see her mouth my name. She makes her way over, her expression shifting between confusion and concern. The first thing she asks is, “What are you two doing here?” Her voice is just loud enough for me and Selene to hear over the music.

“Uh… just hanging out.” We are so screwed.

“Do Mom and Dad know you’re here?” Grace crosses her arms and stares me down.

“No… they don’t. And please don’t tell them,” I plead, glancing toward Selene.

“Come on, it’s just one night,” Selene says, trying to keep things light.

Grace lets out a sigh, shaking her head. “You know this isn’t a good idea, right? If Dad finds out…”

“I know, I know,” I interrupt, my nerves already frayed since we came up with this plan. I don’t need her to confirm what I already know. “We just… we wanted one night of fun before senior year starts. Please, Grace. I promise we’ll be careful.”

Grace studies me for a moment before her expression softens. “Alright, but you better be careful. And if anything happens, you call me. I mean it. I’ll check on you guys in a bit, and if you leave before I do, text me.”

Relief washes over me. “Thanks, Grace. I will.”

She gives us a tight-lipped smile, still unsure but willing to let us have this moment. “I’m serious, Isla. Don’t do anything stupid.”

“I won’t,” I assure her.

Grace finally steps back, giving me one last warning glance before turning and disappearing into the crowd.

“Well, that was a close one.”

I glare at Selene out of the corner of my eye. “But, Isla, we aren’t going to get caught. I promise,” I say, mocking her because what would she call that?

“It was just Grace, and everything is still fine. Now let’s chill and...” her voice trails off for a second. “There’s the keg, let’s get a drink!”

It’s apparent that she still doesn’t trust that I will stay, so she grabs my wrist and drags me behind her. We make our way through the crowd, trying not to bump into anyone. I can feel the stares of a few guys as we pass by. My face burns, and the thought of blending into the wall and disappearing becomes more appealing after this and our run-in with my sister.

We reach the keg, and it is just my luck that a group of athletic-looking guys are standing around it and filling their cups. Selene grabs two empty red Solos and hands me one with a grin.

“Ladies first,” one guy says with a wink, holding the tap out toward me. I freeze, not sure what to do. Selene nudges me from behind.

“Go on, it’s easy. Just pull the tap toward you,” she instructs.

I can’t help but wonder how she knows what to do, but I don’t question her. With shaky hands, I take the plastic tap, fumbling to get it into my cup. Foamy beer splashes over the sides as I fill it. The guys around me chuckle. I pass the tap to Selene while my face heats up in embarrassment.

She fills her cup in one smooth motion. We step out of the way, and Selene turns to look at me. “Cheers,” she says, bumping her cup to mine. I take a wary sip of the bitter liquid. It’s not great, but I have something to cling to now, so I don’t look so out of place.

Selene and I make our way through the crowded living room to find a place to stand and not be in the way. Even with the alcohol flowing through my body, I still feel out of place.

I take a big gulp of my beer and let my eyes dance around the room. Eventually, they land on a guy who is staring in our direction. He’s tall, with shaggy brown hair and light-colored eyes. The slight haziness I’m feeling because of the liquid in this cup is making me more brave. I hold his gaze for a moment, admiring the seconds of courage I had before turning my attention back to Selene.

“That guy in the blue shirt wants to fuck you,” Selene says, having noticed our silent exchange.

“Selene!” I reply with wide eyes, my actions slightly delayed due to what I’m consuming.

“What? I’m just saying what we’re both thinking.”

I hadn’t been thinking about that, but that isn’t the point. Should I say what I’ve been thinking? All it takes is a millisecond before it slips out of my mouth. “He’s cute,” I admit.

“Excellent. Maybe I can get him to come over.”

Before I can process what is happening, Selene’s already waving over the cute stranger across the room. The all-too-familiar sensation crashes over me like a wave I can’t escape. I can’t help but wish for the floor to open and swallow me whole.

The guy with the dark blue shirt and jeans makes his way over as I turn and look in the opposite direction. My heart rate picks up, and I take another big swig of beer to gain some more liquid courage. I hate that I can still see him out of the corner of my eye. When he’s finally standing in front of me, it’s hard to not notice how attractive he is up close. His strong jawline, bright green eyes, and the smirk on his face all make me want to fold like a lawn chair.

“Hey,” he says, his eyes locked on mine. “I’m Asher.”

“Hi,” I squeak out. Smooth. “I’m Isla.”

“And I’m Selene,” my former best friend and now mortal enemy chimes in. “Nice to meet you, Asher. Are you a student here?”

“Yeah, well, I will be in a couple of weeks,” he replies. “How about you two?”

I freeze, unsure of how to respond.

“We’re starting here this fall too,” Selene lies effortlessly. “Just moved into our dorm yesterday.”

I nod along, trying to look casual as I take another sip of beer. I can’t stand still because of the alcohol and because Asher might find out we are lying.

“Cool,” Asher says with a smile. “Which dorm are you going to be living in?”

Crap. Although my father has been a coach here for as long as I can remember, and I know parts of this campus like the back of my hand, my brain stops once more.

Luckily, Selene saves us again. “Oh, we’re going to be in Thompson Hall. How about you?”

I try not to react to her lie. Thompson Hall is the co-ed freshman dorm on the east side of campus. I know this because my dad has complained about the rowdy freshmen living there for years. I bet if I’m admitted to Crestwood, Dad will do everything in his power to make sure I’m not placed there.

“Nice. I’ll be in Clarkson once the school year starts,” Asher replies. “So what are you planning to study?”

“Photography,” I blurt out before I can stop myself. It’s not a total lie because I do love taking photos. However, right now, it’s more of a hobby than anything. I have my first big gig in a couple of days.

Asher’s eyes light up, surprising me slightly. “That’s awesome. I’d love to see some of your work sometime.”

It takes everything within me to keep my mouth from falling open. He wants to see my work? I force myself to clear my head so I can reply. “Oh, um, maybe. I’m still learning.”

“I’m sure you’re great,” he says with a warm smile that makes my stomach flutter. Or maybe that’s the alcohol.

Selene clears her throat. “Well, I’m going to go mingle. You two chat!” She winks at me before disappearing into the crowd.

Great. Now I’m alone with this cute guy who thinks I’m an incoming freshman. What could possibly go wrong?

“So,” Asher says, leaning in closer so I can hear him over the music. “What made you choose Crestwood?”

I take a big gulp of beer to buy myself time as I try to calm the loud thumping of my heart. Or maybe it’s the bass from the music. “Oh, you know. Good programs that fit my interests. Nice campus.” I’m rambling now, praying he doesn’t ask for more details because I can already see where this is going.

Asher nods. “Same here. Plus, the hockey team is awesome. Do you follow hockey at all?”

My heart skips a beat. Of all the topics he could bring up, it had to be this one. “A little,” I say carefully. “My dad’s kind of into it.” That is an understatement.

“Cool. Maybe we can catch a game together sometime this season,” Asher suggests.

Did he just ask me out? I take a split second to stop my mind from overanalyzing the situation. Chances are, this is nothing more than a friendly conversation. “Yeah, maybe,” I reply. Part of me wants to come clean and tell him why I follow college hockey. But a bigger part is enjoying this fantasy, pretending to be someone else for one night.

We continue chatting, the conversation flowing easily. Asher tells me about growing up in a small town a couple of hours away and a bit about what he’s looking forward to as a freshman. I share vague details about my life, carefully avoiding anything too specific. However, I find myself relaxing more. Maybe it’s the beer, or perhaps it’s just how easy Asher is to talk to.

“Hey, want to get some air?” Asher asks, gesturing toward the back door. “It’s getting pretty stuffy in here.”

I hesitate for a moment, glancing around for Selene. She’s nowhere to be found. “Sure,” I reply, surprising myself with how quickly I agree.

Asher leads the way through the crowded living room, holding my hand so we don’t get separated. The contact sends a shiver up my spine. We step out onto the back porch, and the cool breeze helps soothe my skin.

While there are a few people nearby, it’s much quieter out here. Asher leans against the railing, looking out at the backyard. I stand beside him, aware of how close we are, but pretending I’m not.

“You know,” he pauses for a second before he continues. “I’m glad I came to this party tonight.”

I turn to look at him. “Yeah?”

He nods, his eyes meeting mine. “Yeah. I got to be introduced to some pretty chill people, but most importantly, I got to meet you.”

Before I can overthink it, Asher leans in and kisses me. His lips are soft and warm against mine. For a moment, I’m too stunned to react. The awkwardness fades, and I allow my eyes to close as I melt into the kiss.

Everything about this feels like heaven, and I’m convinced it has nothing to do with the alcohol coursing through my veins. I can taste the beer on Asher’s breath, but it doesn’t bother me one bit. The world around us drifts into the background until it’s just us in this moment.

When we break apart, I’m breathless. Asher looks at me, the intensity of his green eyes forcing me to keep his stare before a small smile appears on his lips. “Wow,” he whispers.

“Yeah,” I agree, my voice barely above a whisper. My head is spinning, and I don’t know if I ever want it to stop. Well, without the beverages I consumed tonight, it probably wouldn’t feel this carefree, but right now, I don’t care. I want this moment to last forever.

Asher tucks a strand of my blonde hair behind my ear, his fingers brushing against my cheek. “That was really something, Isla,” he murmurs.

I feel a pang of guilt in my chest. He thinks I’m a college freshman, not some high school girl sneaking into a party. But how he’s looking at me makes it hard to care about the lie.

“I have to agree,” I manage to say, trying to sound confident despite the butterflies in my stomach.

Asher grins and leans in for another kiss. This time, I’m ready for it. I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him closer. His hands find my waist, and I’m forced to stand on my tiptoes.

Suddenly, a loud crash from inside the house breaks the moment we shared. We jump apart, startled by the noise.

“What was that?” I ask, my heart pounding for a different reason now.

Asher shrugs. “Probably just someone dropping something. It happens.”

But I can’t shake the feeling that something’s wrong as my thoughts wander to Selene and the fact that I left her in there. I scan the backyard, half-expecting to see my dad. “Maybe we should go check,” I suggest.

Before either of us can react, Selene runs out of the back door, her face pale. We stare at each other for a split second, her eyes jerking to Asher before reaching mine once more. She mouths one word that makes my blood run cold: “Cops.”

I swear my heart stops. Cops. Here. Now.

Everything moves in slow motion as panic takes over. I look at Asher, his face filled with confusion. Then my attention turns back to Selene.

“We have to go,” I blurt out, grabbing Selene’s arm. While hanging out with the boy standing next to me was fun, Selene’s my main priority now.

“What’s going on?” Asher asks as concern crosses his face.

I can’t explain because it will only waste more time. “Cops are here! I’m sorry,” are the only words I toss out before Selene and I take off running.

We sprint across the backyard, ducking under a gap in the fence. My legs feel like jelly, and I know it’s a mix of adrenaline and alcohol. But we refuse to stop because we can’t. If we get caught, my parents will ground me for the rest of the school year.

Behind us, I can hear shouting and the sound of breaking glass. I glance over my shoulder, and I’m met with blue and red lights flashing in the distance. The only option we have is to run faster.

We don’t slow down until we’re several blocks away, gasping for air in someone’s front yard.

“Holy shit,” Selene wheezes, doubling over with her hands on her knees. “That was close.”

I nod, unable to speak as I try to catch my breath. My mind is reeling, replaying the last couple of minutes when I would rather relive the kiss I just had.

“We should keep moving,” I finally say, glancing nervously over my shoulder. “Just in case we’re being followed.”

Selene nods in agreement, and we start speed walking down the sidewalk, hoping we don’t look suspicious. Any buzz I had from the alcohol is fading away more quickly than I would have liked, but it is for the best.

“Well, that didn’t go how I thought it would,” Selene says after a few minutes of silence.

“Yeah, and it’s something we’re never doing again,” I mutter, almost daring her to respond. When she doesn’t, I let out a deep breath because the last thing we need is for us to get into a fight over this mess.

As we turn the corner onto Selene’s street, some of the tension in my body leaves. We’ve almost made it, and there’s not a police officer in sight.

I jump when my phone buzzes in my pocket, and I find a text message from my sister.

Grace: Where are you? Are you okay?

Me: Selene and I are fine. I think we’re almost back to her house.

Grace: Good. Text me when you get there.

I make a mental note to contact her when I get back to Selene’s room, but as the adrenaline fades, the guilty feeling I’m experiencing only increases. Guilt over lying to Asher. Guilt over sneaking out and disappointing my dad, even if he may never find out about what I’ve done.

“Hey,” Selene says as we approach her front yard. “Are you okay?”

I force a smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just glad we didn’t get caught by anyone other than Grace. That was way too close.”

She nods, but I can tell she doesn’t quite believe me. We sneak back into her house as quietly as we left, tiptoeing up the stairs to her room, and she softly shuts the door behind us.

This is a night I won’t forget.