I woke up back on my own bed, too see a note taped on the window.
In that nearly illegible scrawl, I managed to make out: Meet at Meet Fest tonight. Tell me your progress.
-Kier
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"Emma and Izzy basically dumped you onto your bed," Lynn said for what seems the umpteenth time.
"Because you locked me out," I grumbled.
She muttered some incoherent language, and then said a bit more clearly, "I was changing. You could have waited. Not sleeping with a gun, are you out of your mind?"
"First, majority of the wholesome human kind do not sleep with guns. Second, says the person who wants me to jump off a cliff." I said mockingly.
"It's our deal." She said stonily.
Anything for Mia.
My throat bobbed, and changed the topic, "Tonight is oh so exciting Meet Fest."
Her signature maniac grin was back.
"Then, let's go get ready, hun," her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Erin Pov
The scent of sweat, alcohol and the scene of bodies clashing together pretty much made up the whole festival. As I was swept into the heat of the festival with a tide of people, guided by the jubilant best of the music, my eyes scanned the crowds, spotting the new girl, Levi Hart, accompanied by Lynn.
Lynn has her blonde hair falling into her face. She makes herself small, barely noticeable as she peeks out from the curtain of hair.
Levi, on the other hand, would be pretty noticeable almost anywhere. The high necked dress clings to her body in ways I find painfully unfair. She holds her head high, the elegance of her neck heightened by the fall of her hair.
I want to touch it, smell it, run my hands through it, wrap it around my wrist and- Dang it, Erin. Get a grip.
After I pull my eyes from her, I realise I'm not the only one dumbstruck. Many of the boys around me sneak glances at her. She doesn't seem to notice, which makes her all the more intriguing.
And here you are, Erin, staring at her. This time, my attention hasn't gone unobserved.
Lynn is staring at me. Then, she leans over and whispers something into Levi's ear. I was about to walk away when Levi looks up at me.
Her eyes were a dark jolt. I should look away. But I found my eyes drawn to her. For a heavy, heated moment, we were immobile, content to watch each other. Lords above, she is beautiful. I smile at her, and a pretty blush appears on her face, making me feel oddly triumphant.
I wanted to ask her for a dance. I want to touch her skin and talk to her like I'm a normal schoolboy. Stupid idea, my mind warns.
But while I'm still considering, a muscular, brown haired boy comes up behind her. He touched her shoulders with a possessiveness in his eyes I didn't like. Levi, in return, stares at her as though no one exists. I scowl and look away. He's not bad looking, I suppose. But too grim to be any fun.
"Looks like she's taken, Erin," Alurra Sadie walks up from behind, smirking. Her skin glows, in an artificial way.
"Dance with me," she said, and without waiting for a reply, she latched herself onto me. I pulled myself away.
"Oh no. Don't be naughty now. Do you want me to tell that new girl your...daddy issues?" She said, doing what is supposedly an understanding smile, which is more like a leer.
I tensed up.
"My dad is none of your business," I said coldly.
"But it is." She said, winking. "I have a feeling we will be knowing about each other a lot better these coming days,"
I caught hold of her wrist, my grip as hard as steel:
"Never tell Levi." I said with menace.
"Aww, poor thing." She faked sympathy, her face almost sickening to look at, "I think she is going to know very soon."
And that sinking feeling in my stomach is impossible to ignore.
Levi Pov.
The dress hugged my body too tightly for my liking, and I was sweating profusely, my skin glistening.
Breathe Levi, Breathe.
Lynn tapped my shoulder:
"He is looking at you,"
I looked up, to see Erin staring at me. A moment passed. His lips tug up in the slightest of a smile. I feel a blush creeping up from my collarbones to my cheeks.
Just your body reacting, Lev. Ignore it.
Weighing my options on what to do next, I hear a psst. Kieran was standing against the wall, looking at the whirl of dancing people, his brows furrowed.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Will you, uh," For the first time he looked agitated, not collected, "honour me with a dance?"
Among all the things I expected him to say, this wasn't on the list. Taking me by surprise, he placed a hand on my hip, and another holding my fingers. My skin warms like being touched by the sun, his touch making it feel alive.
"You're dancing?" I asked.
A shrug. "The shocks you?"
"You just don't strike me as the dancing type," I replied.
"I'm not. Not usually." His dark gaze roams over me, making me feel exposed, like his gaze could pierce through my flesh right into my soul.
The warmth of his body envelopes me like a cocoon. I feel suddenly breathless. But then he breaks eye contact, his fine features cold. The prickly of rejection tingles unpleasantly across my skin as we continue to dance.
He's your handler, Levi. That's all.
"Get back safe, gather information." His words are perfunctory, as if he's speaking to one of his fighters. I feel like I've been doused with cold water.
Without another word, he disappears into the crowd. The dance picks up around me, and like a fool, I stare into the crowd, knowing he wouldn't come back but hoping anyway.
"Levi! Wanna get a few drinks?" Izzy asked, jazzing towards me.
Don't be stupid. I chide myself. But somehow I follow them.