Chapter 21

Everyone’s eyes were on Jade as she and her friends stepped into the barely recognizable gymnasium. A blush crept up her cheeks, and she silently thanked the gods for the oversized cat mask—complete with ears—that came with her costume. Lacey and Sam were giggling and holding hands, oblivious to the crowd Aiden and Alex had already made a beeline for the snack table, leaving Jade standing awkwardly by the entrance, feeling every stare directed at her.
She was used to people staring at her—her voluminous sun blood red had always drawn attention—but she had never felt this exposed. Damn Lacey, she thought, mentally cursing her friend for convincing her to wear the skintight Catwoman outfit. The extra “cat scratches” Lacey had cut up the sides of her legs didn’t help either. Flashes of skin peeked through up her thighs, and one particularly bold scratch cut across her entire back. Jade avoided making eye contact with the senior boys who had all but started drooling the second she walked in.
Twenty minutes earlier, when Aiden’s trusty pickup had pulled up outside her house, Jade had sprinted from her room, down the stairs, and out the door, hoping to avoid any comments from her mother about her outfit. Once she was safely in the car, Lacey had gushed about how much she loved the glittery black eye shadow and mascara Jade had put on, but the boys had still been mysteriously silent. Jade was starting to understand why—and she didn’t like it. It was one thing to feel sexy, but it was another to have guys openly staring at her like she was on display.
She took a deep breath, glancing around the gym once more. The decorations were over the top—fake cobwebs from the ceiling, skeletons lining the walls, and a giant cauldron bubbling with dry ice smoke in the corner. But it wasn’t the decorations that held her attention. In the back of the gym, she spotted him.
Benjamin.
He was sitting with Shaun, Owen, and Skye at a secluded table in the corner, away from the crowd and the lively energy of the party. All three boys were dressed in sharp suits, and Skye wore a floor-length black ball gown. They looked like they had missed the memo about the costume party and had dressed for a black-tie affair instead. Despite Skye’s somber choice, Jade begrudgingly had to admit—she looked stunning.
Of course, Jade thought bitterly, the one guy I actually want staring at me is completely absorbed in his own world.
Benjamin didn’t even seem to notice her. His expression was unreadable, his gaze distant, as if the party around him didn’t exist. Meanwhile, she felt the weight of every other stare in the room—except his.
She shook her head, forcing herself to leave the thought behind as she looked for her friends. There was no point in dwelling on Benjamin. Not tonight.
Lacey had snatched a table next to the dance floor, and Jade joined her to wait for the boys, who were happily gorging themselves on hors d’oeuvres.
“Aren’t the decorations just amazing?” Lacey gushed, her eyes lighting up as she glanced around the room. Jade had to admit, the party committee had outdone themselves. Cobwebs draped across the ceiling and walls, filled with plastic spiders and glowing with white Christmas lights. Carved pumpkins lined the floors, their flickering faces acting as centerpieces, and the entire room was bathed in an eerie purplish glow from the black lights.
“Very mysterious looking,” Jade agreed, her gaze sweeping over the dark, atmospheric room. Lacey, however, seemed unusually fidgety, shifting her weight and glancing between Jade and the dance floor as if holding back something she was dying to say.
“Spit it out,” Jade finally said, more amused than annoyed by her friend’s obvious restlessness.
Lacey bit her lip before leaning in with a grin. “I just have to ask about Benjamin. What is going on there? I’ve been giving you space, waiting for you to bring it up, but I can’t take it anymore! The way he stared at you when we walked in—I mean, even I blushed.”
Jade’s head snapped toward Benjamin’s table. “He was looking?”
“Looking like he wanted to devour you!” Lacey said dramatically. “So, spill.”
Jade felt a warmth creep up her neck. “It’s complicated...”
“Because of Aiden?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Jade silently thanked Lace for offering her a convenient excuse. “Yeah. Aiden would hate it.” It wasn’t exactly a lie, but it definitely wasn’t the real reason for her hesitation.
“You’ve got to let that go,” Lacey said, shaking her head. “Aiden can manage it, and you and I both know you really like Benjamin. Your eyes lit up like stars when I mentioned his name.” Jade blushed even harder, cursing her obviousness.
Luckily, the boys returned just in time to save her from further interrogation.
“We are definitely the best-dressed group here,” Aiden declared, dropping into the seat next to Jade. She couldn’t help but agree. Sam made an excellent Batman, with his tall frame and brooding expression, while Lacey was every bit the part of Poison Ivy, complete with ivy tendrils in her hair. Alex, forever the geek, wore his Robin costume with pride, and Aiden—with his maniacal Joker makeup—had an energy that perfectly matched his character. Jade couldn’t help but grin at the sight of her friends.
As she watched Aiden, he caught her gaze and, for a split second, Jade thought she saw something in his eyes that went beyond friendship. Her heart skipped, and she quickly looked away, blaming her ridiculous costume for confusion.
“Hey,” Aiden said, grabbing her hand. “Let’s go be evil and mischievous together.”
Jade leaned in as they plotted, exchanging conspiratorial whispers. Aiden, of course, opted for the easy route—he snatched Sam’s Batman mask and bolted. Jade laughed and ran after him, with Alex and Sam close behind, their shouts of mock outrage echoing through the gym.
The chase was on.
It didn’t last long Sam tackled Aiden behind the bleachers within minutes. Laughing, Aiden tossed the mask to Jade, who found herself cornered by Alex. In a last-ditch effort, she flung the mask as far as she could, watching it soar across the gym just before Alex leaped onto her. She landed in a fit of laughter, hoping at least she’d made the recovery difficult.
Out of nowhere, Lacey appeared, snatching the mask mid-air with a triumphant grin. “Catch me if you can, Batman!” she teased, running circles around Sam until he finally caught her, scooping her up in his arms and reclaiming the mask.
“No one can beat Batman and Robin, fools!” Sam and Alex yelled in victory as they headed back to the table, laughing the entire way.
Jade followed behind, breathless but smiling, the tension from earlier easing as she soaked in the simple joy of being with her friends. The laughter, the teasing—it all felt so normal, so far removed from the chaos that had consumed her life lately. But as they sat back down, her thoughts wandered back to Benjamin, to the way Lacey said he had looked at her.
What are you thinking, Benjamin? She wondered, stealing a glance at him across the room. She shook her head, trying to push the thought away. Tonight, she was with her friends. Tonight, she was going to let herself have fun.
“Hey, Jade.”
She jumped at the unfamiliar male voice saying her name and turned around. Mike Ryans, the school quarterback, was standing right in front of her, flashing a charming smile. Of course, she thought, put on some leather, and suddenly the most gorgeous guy in school wanted to talk to you.
“Want to dance?” he asked, his tone confident but easygoing.
Jade hesitated. Mike was nice to look at—tall, broad-shouldered, with that classic all-American vibe. He was the kind of guy any girl would be thrilled to dance with, and maybe, for once, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to enjoy herself with someone who was completely normal. As she glanced at Lacey, who was practically vibrating with excitement, her decision was made. She took Mike’s open hand and let him lead her to the dance floor.
The gym was more of a pulsing, chaotic mosh pit than anything resembling organized dancing, but the music blared, and the bass rumbled through her, making it impossible not to move.
“You look amazing,” He whispered in her ear, his hands resting on her back as he pulled her closer.
Jade found the rhythm of the music, letting herself relax into the moment. For now, she would forget about Aiden about Benjamin about Seraphine and demons, and be a normal, hormonal teenage girl dancing with the most attractive guy in school.
Mike wasn’t much of a talker, Jade quickly realized as they danced in near silence. The crowd of students moved as one, the heat of bodies pressing together almost overwhelming. As the music thumped louder, Jade started to feel uncomfortably hot in her leather jumpsuit. Even with the cutouts showing flashes of skin, sweat was gathering beneath the fabric. After a few more songs with her body pressed tightly against Mike’s, Jade finally had to pull away.
“Let’s grab some punch,” she suggested, her voice barely audible over the music.
He nodded and led the way to the refreshment table. Jade took the opportunity to look around, noticing the envious stares from her classmates. She quickly glanced toward the back of the gym but regretted it. Benjamin sat at his usual table, his black suit perfectly tailored, highlighting the stark green of his eyes. Even from across the room, his presence was impossible to ignore.
Stop it, she scolded herself, tearing her gaze away. Tonight wasn’t about him.
She turned back just as Mike handed her a cup of punch, which she downed quickly, hoping to cool off. After a couple of glasses, she felt better and nodded toward the dance floor, signaling she was ready to head back.
He grinned and easily navigated the crowd, pushing them further into the center, away from the tables and closer to the mass of dancing couples. The music was even louder here, the crowd tighter. She could feel the beat vibrating through her entire body.
After a while, she started to feel dizzy. The white lights and glowing cobwebs above her seemed to spin, blurring together as the gymnasium swayed in her vision. Mike’s movements slowed down, and without any reason, she began to giggle. When he leaned down to kiss her neck Jade wanted to pull away, but her muscles wouldn’t cooperate. Instead, she had to lean on him to stay upright. He smiled down at her, but everything about him seemed distant and dreamlike. She laughed loudly, the sound of his kiss on her neck striking her as inexplicably funny.
He spun her around, holding her waist when she wobbled and pressed her back against his chest. The room continued to whirl, and Jade closed her eyes, hoping it would help, but the sensation only intensified. She leaned her head back against his chest, desperate to block out the swirling lights and spinning faces around her.
Suddenly, Mike stepped back, and Jade almost fell, her balance completely gone. His arm shot out, catching her just before she hit the floor. She was pressed against him again, but he wasn’t moving. The music thumped on, but their dance had abruptly stopped. Confused, Jade opened her eyes, expecting to see Mike’s familiar chocolate-colored gaze.
Instead, she found herself staring into Benjamin’s deep emerald eyes.
She giggled at the unexpected turn of events somehow both amusing and comforting. “Hello,” she said, leaning her head back against his chest as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Over Benjamin’s shoulder, she spotted Mike on the floor doubled over, clutching his stomach.
“Did you hit him?” she asked, laughing as though it were some joke. “That wasn’t very nice.”
Benjamin rolled his eyes. “C’mon. You need some fresh air.”
“No, I’m fine,” She protested, her words slurring slightly. “Let’s just stay like this.” She leaned into him, letting his solid presence ground her in the spinning room.
But Benjamin wasn’t having it. Wrapping an arm securely around her waist, he began leading her through the mass of people. Jade tried to resist at first, but each step made her more aware of how unsteady she was, her legs faltering beneath her. Benjamin’s grip tightened as he guided her, steadying her every time her balance wavered.
After a few minutes, they slipped free of the crowd and out of the humid gym. The blast of cold air hit Jade’s face like a refreshing wave, and she inhaled deeply, her head clearing slightly. Benjamin led her away from the noise of the party, past the football field, toward the large tree by the manmade lake. He sat beneath the branches, leaning against the trunk, and motioned for her to join him.
But Jade wasn’t ready to sit. “No! I want to dance!” she declared, spinning in a clumsy circle to the faint strains of music drifting from the gym.
“Jade, sit down,” he said, his voice laced with frustration.
“No!” she protested, jumping up and down to the distant beat of the music. Her balance wavered again, and this time she almost fell, but Benjamin was faster. He stood, catching her just before she toppled over.
With a sigh, Benjamin slipped off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. Jade suddenly feeling the weight of her exhaustion, pushed her arms through the oversized sleeves the warmth of his jacket combined with the cool night air was oddly comforting. She moved with him now, no longer resisting, letting him guide her gentle movements to the music that was barely audible in the distance.
Jade sighed, leaning into him, feeling like this moment—despite everything—felt right.
“What?” Benjamin asked, his tone softer now, the frustration melting away as he looked down at her.