“Ta-da!” Heather announced, swiveling the chair around to face the mirror.
My face was caked in makeup, my eyes covered with dark blue eye shadow. My hair was teased to almost twice it's size, combed in directions I never thought possible. It felt like I had a basket on my head.
“John is going to come his pants when he gets a look at you,” Heather said, doing some finishing touches on my hair.
“Why are you always so disgusting?” I asked her, still trying to comprehend my new look in the mirror.
Heather giggled. “You know you want it. Don't deny it.”
I shook my head. “Byron is going to freak if he finds out I'm going to a frat party.”
Heather glared at me through the mirror. “He's not going to find out, Emily. You need to get out of your brother's shadow. You're in college now. A full-grown woman. You can make decisions for yourself.”
But Heather didn't know much about my brother. Probably because I rarely brought him up and always kept her away from coming over to our house. Byron knew how to find out information. Being the head of an MC gives you those kinds of perks. He also had a famous temper that wasn't to be trifled with.
Heather had a point though. I let Byron run my life ever since we were kids. I couldn't let him control me for the rest of my life.
“You can't go to the party wearing that old t-shirt. Let's see if I can find you something,” Heather said, walking over to the closet. “Here, try this on. It will go good with your jeans.”
The off-the-shoulder top was bright and colorful with reds and blues streaking across. It showed off my black bra straps and way more of my shoulders than I was comfortable with. “I don't know if it's for me,” I told her.
“Are you fucking kidding me! You look so fuckable that I might switch teams.”
I shoved Heather away. “Come on. Let's just get this over with.”
Heather rubbed her palms together with a devious grin. “Time to go out and make the boys drool over us.”
The two-story frat house was overflowing with students as we made our way inside. Nena's “99 Red Balloons” boomed through the home, shaking the foundations. Heather told me this was supposed to be an invite-only party but the door was wide open and people off the streets were flooding in.
“I'm going to go get us a couple drinks,” Heather shouted to me over the music. I nodded and waded through the crowds of dancers. Alcohol would really help in this situation. I kept my eyes on the lookout for John but couldn't find him anywhere.
Heather was taking way too long to get those drinks so I went searching for her. The kitchen was packed with frat guys doing keg-stands and cheering each other on. I walked back towards the front door and found Heather being pulled up the stairs by a guy. They stopped at the top to make out and the boy sneaked his hand up her miniskirt. It felt wrong watching but I couldn't look away. I imagined myself in her place being felt up by John.
“Some show, eh?”
I looked behind me to see John holding two red plastic cups in each hand. His blond hair was combed to the side and his red letterman's jacket was an instant turn-on.
I couldn't help but blush crimson around John. He was just so dreamy. But I had to keep it under control. Couldn't show him how much of a dork I was. “That's my friend up there. She's only been here five minutes and couldn't keep her hands off the first guy she met.”
“Want a drink?” he asked, offering me one of the cups.
“Desperately.” I didn't even care what it was. I grabbed it from John and took two long gulps. It was a classic margarita and the tequila scorched my throat on the way down. Heather and the guy sneaked into a nearby room and the show was finally over.
“I've seen you in a couple of my classes,” John said, sipping his drink.
My knees wobbled. I couldn't believe John was talking to me! Maybe he'd take me upstairs and do dirty things to me. No! I wasn't like Heather. It would be nice if he took me on a couple dates first.“Yeah I've noticed you too,” I replied smoothly.
His smile was infectious. I couldn't keep my eyes off him. I took another swig of tequila and let the alcohol dull my senses. I kept telling myself over and over in my head, “Don't make a fool out of yourself, Emily.”
“Your hair looks really nice,” John took a loose strand and tucked it behind my ear. My entire body turned lobster red. I wanted John to kiss me right now.
There was a commotion behind me that distracted me from John's penetrating gaze. Holy fucking shit! Byron and two bikers came barreling into the party pushing and shoving people out of the way. His eyes locked on me and I knew I was royally fucked. How did he find me so fast?
“You're coming home with me right now, Emily,” Byron yelled.
I steeled myself. I knew I was in for a big fight. “I'm not going with you.”
Byron looked offended. I'd never disrespected him before. He grabbed my wrist and tightened his grip. “We're going now.”
John stood in between Byron and I, breaking his hold on my wrist. “The lady doesn't want to go. I think you and your boys should leave.”
I wanted to scream at John to stay out of it. He didn't know who he was dealing with.
Too late.
Byron swung his right hook and connected with John's temple, sending him crashing to the ground like he was nothing. My hand reactively slapped Byron across the face. I'd never hit my brother before and it felt kind of good.
But it only infuriated Byron even more. He tried to grab me but I escaped his grasp. “Don't you touch me!” I screeched for the whole party to hear. I walked past Byron and left the party. He called out after me but I didn't care. I was done with Byron.
I walked the middle of the street at a quick pace, hoping to lose Byron and his men. I could hear their motorcycles in the distance but they weren't close. It was late at night and the moon was high in the sky. It was chilly out and I wished I had brought a cardigan or something.
I definitely wasn't going to live with Byron anymore. Maybe Heather would let me sleep in her dorm until I figured things out? But I couldn't go there now because she was still at the frat party. I walked towards the school, thinking that the library would be a good place to hide out.
Bright headlights approached me slowly in the dark. It looked like a car until it got closer and I realized it was two motorcycles. Byron had caught up with me. There was no running away now. I stood in the middle of the street, full of defiance. He wasn't going to get me to go with him. He'd have to knock me unconscious like he did with John. Poor John. He didn't deserve that. I hoped he was okay and that he'd forgive me.
I shielded my eyes from the blinding lights as the bikes rolled to a stop at my feet. It wasn't Byron and his buddies. Two white guys stared at me with evil eyes. The strong one grabbed me and covered my mouth before I could scream for help.