Charlotte could barely contain her excitement all day Friday. It was like she was buzzing, she was so excited to go to this party. Not everyone at the school had been invited since it was technically Kyle's party, and he was older than Carter.
Although Charlotte hadn't talked to Carter since the day on the roof, it made her feel special that he had asked her to come. She definitely felt there were flirty vibes between them, and she couldn't wait to hang out with him.
After school, Charlotte and Madison went over to Amelia's house again, this time to get ready for the party.
Charlotte had told her foster parents that she was going over to Amelia's to work on a school project. Her foster parents seemed to have bought the story, although Danny had shot her a suspicious look over the dinner table.
She was pretty sure Danny was going to the party tonight as well. She didn't think he would snitch on her, but she was still going to do her best to avoid him while she was there.
Amelia and Madison knew the situation and they said that they would have her back if Danny tried to start anything.
"Ok girls, are we ready?" Amelia asked clapping her hands.
Charlotte and Madi were wearing the outfits they had picked out the other day. Amelia had finally decided on an edgy snakeskin skirt and black lacy top for herself. Charlotte could never pull it off but somehow it looked stunning on her.
"Wait, not yet I smudged my eyeliner." Madison shrieked running to get something to wipe it off with.
"Madison, honey, you are flawless. Literally, no one does make-up better than you." Amelia chided.
It was true, Madison had done Charlotte's makeup and it was literally flawless.
"Ok, fine, I'm good, I just needed to make sure my lines were sharp," Madi mumbled, pouting.
"I think we're ready now," Charlotte said laughing.
"Alright, let's go," Amelia said grabbing her purse and keys. She had decided to drive them there.
They were running a little bit late. It was already 10:30 PM, an hour and a half past when they were originally supposed to arrive.
Charlotte was beginning to feel a bit nervous. Sure, she had been to parties, but from what Madi and Amelia had told her, this was more of a college-age party. Most of the people there were going to be between 19 to 21.
Charlotte rubbed her arm anxiously as they pulled into the drive. It was packed, there were cars everywhere, parked like tetris blocks.
Amelia pulled in beside a red Kia, throwing the car in park.
"Before we go in, I just want to say you both look stunning and I am so happy we are friends and I love you guys." Amelia gushed looking at Charlotte and Madi. She was always pumping them up.
"Aw, we love you too!"
"You are beyond stunning!" They replied in unison.
Music was already pumping from the house when they arrived, nearly drowning out the sound of people talking and laughing. It seemed there were more people here than Charlotte expected.
The house was large, albeit not as large as Amelia's house but it did back up to the river. Charlotte could see a big back porch and firepit area around the back, the ground slopped down until it met the edge of the river. A little bit further down there was a wide pedestrian crossing bridge. It looked big enough for a car to cross but there was no road and on the other side there was a thick forest.
"Sup girls," An older guy greeted them as they walked through the door.
Amelia breezed past him as if he didn't exist and Charlotte and Madison followed suit.
"Let's get a drink," She yelled to them above the music.
There were some people dancing and grinding on each other in the living room while another group was off to the side playing beer pong in the dining room.
Amelia found the bar cart and poured them each a glass of gin and juice which she garnished beautifully with lime before handing it to them.
A couple of other girls noticed Amelia mixing drinks and came up to ask for one as well, clearly impressed with her cocktail skills. Amelia seemed to be eating it up, showing off her bartending talent as she laughed and joked with the newcomers.
"Let's split up and see if we can find Carter," Madison suggested. "Amelia seems like she might be preoccupied for a while."
"Good idea" Charlotte responded, shouting above the music.
She wiped her hands against her silky dress, feeling nervous. Did she make the right choice with the dress? Would he think she looked good?
"Um, Charlotte... I found him." Madison said, suddenly reappearing. She had gone to check if he was in another room while Charlotte stayed and looked around the kitchen and living room.
"Ok, where is he?" Charlotte asked, judging by Madi's tone something was up.
"Come on." Madi grabbed her wrist, dragging her down the hall. She wanted Charlotte to see what was going on for herself.
They turned into what looked like a game room where several people were chilling and hanging out. The music wasn't quite as loud here.
Charlotte was confused until she spotted Carter sitting in a leather chair with a girl in a sparkly multi-colored party dress. The girl was half on top of him as they made out.
Madi dragged Charlotte up to them
"Hey Carter, we just wanted to let you know we made it. Thanks for inviting us!" Madi said sweetly, although Charlotte caught her annoyed undertone.
Carter managed to pull his face away momentarily.
"Hey guys, glad you could make it," He mumbled, still making googly eyes at his female friend. The girl looked at them seemingly annoyed by the interruption. She flipped her strawberry blonde hair over her shoulder dismissively before going back to her make-out session with Carter.
Charlotte felt a little sad. Here he invited her to this party, which she got all dressed up for and he was not the least bit interested.
"Let's go Mads," Charlotte whispered, she felt dumb for thinking that he was ever into her.
"Hey, I'm sorry Char. I know it was only a crush, but it still sucks." Madison said.
"Yeah, it's fine. I'm going to get another drink, you want anything?" Charlotte asked sullenly. She knew she would be over it soon but as Madi had said, it still kinda sucked.
"No, I'm ok. I'm going to look for a bathroom." Madi said.
Charlotte nodded, heading off to the kitchen.
This time the kitchen was empty when she walked in. Well, there was one guy, but he was looking for something in the fridge. She ignored him, instead going for the drink container with the punch.
"You want something better than that trash?" He asked suddenly.
"What?" Charlotte asked surprised, turning to look at him. The guy looked a bit older than her, but he was moderately attractive. He had dirty blonde hair and hazel eyes.
"I said do you want something better than that trash?" He repeated, walking up to her and gesturing at the drink container and her cup.
"Um... sure?" She said hesitantly.
"Come on, it's out on the porch." He said putting his arm around her waist and leading her out the back door.
Charlotte felt the hairs on the back of her neck stick up, something about him seemed off, but she was momentarily distracted when she heard Danny's voice from not so far away. She hadn't seen him when they were inside so he must have been hanging out, out here.
Charlotte looked over Mr. drink guy's shoulder to see Danny sitting down by the fire pit with Seraphina. They were cuddled in close, and she was leaning her head against his shoulder. It was kinda cute.
"Here," the guy said leading her in the opposite direction. They walked away from where Danny and Serafina were sitting and around the side of the house to a table. There was a bottle on the table and a stack of glasses. He grabbed two glasses and poured from the bottle.
Charlotte stared at the drink curiously. She hadn't seen anything like it, it was very pretty, kind of like a silvery grey.
"What is this? And I'm sorry, I don't think I caught your name..." She asked.
"Moonshine and it's Kyle. What about you pretty? What's your name?" He asked leaning in close, there was a lustful gleam in his hazel eyes. He loved the way her dress showcased her cleavage.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were Kyle. I'm friends with Carter. My name is Charlotte." she said blushing. So, this was Kyle.
She thought about refusing the drink but he had not given her that much and he was drinking it himself so it couldn't be poisoned or drugged.
Charlotte took a sip, it was good. Weirdly kind of sweet and earthy which she enjoyed.
"Do you like it?" He asked.
Before she could respond a guy ran up to the porch, leaning against the railing to talk to Kyle.
"Hey, man. You going to throw the ball around with us?" The guy asked.
Charlotte felt the blood drain from her face, she recognized the guy from school, it was one of the guys that had pushed her around in the hallway. She still didn't know his name.
"No, you idiot. Get lost." Kyle growled.
"Whatever man." The guy said before disappearing.
Charlotte stood up, suddenly feeling woozy. The alcohol was stronger than she had realized, and she didn't feel well.
"I should go, my friend will be looking for me. She just went to the bathroom."
"Hey, easy. I'm sure she's fine." Kyle said grabbing her hip and spinning them around until she was leaning up against the wall of the house and he was pressing against her.
"No really, I have to go" She protested, trying to squirm out from under him.
"Why don't you stay awhile." He insisted, forcing one of his legs between hers.
Charlotte gasped at the sudden invasion; she could feel his manhood pressing against her.
What the hell was he doing?
"Stop!" She yelped, trying to push him away, but he held her there firmly and began kissing her neck, completely ignoring her protests.
To Charlotte's horror, one of his hands traveled up her thigh, pushing her dress up and squeezing her ass.
She shoved his hand away, but she couldn't get him off of her. His hand continued groping her elsewhere.
"Please stop," She whimpered. Charlotte felt weak like all the booze had gone to her head and she was jelly.
"You're so sexy, prancing around in that short dress." Kyle moaned. His other hand began rubbing her front, through her panties.
Charlotte was hyperventilating, as Kyle continued his assault. She just wanted it to stop. She struggled as hard as she could but she couldn't get him off of her.
She couldn't scream. Her voice was caught in her throat.
Maybe she could use her magic?
Charlotte concentrated as much as she could, feeling the familiar tingle pick her skin. Kyle had just started reaching his hand into her panties when she zapped him.
Kyle yelped in pain and surprise, releasing her.
Charlotte gasped, suddenly able to breathe again, and then she took off running. She didn't run into the house because she didn't want everyone to see her like this. She was sobbing, in shock with makeup smeared across her face.
Charlotte sprinted off the porch and past the fire pit where Danny and Seraphina were still sitting. They looked up in surprise as she ran past.
She could hear Kyle's footsteps thudding behind her in hot pursuit.
Not knowing where else to go she ran toward the bridge. The woods on the other side were thick, she thought maybe she could hide there, but she only made it half-way across before Kyle caught up.
He snatched her back, mid-stride, before slamming her against the bridge.
Charlotte yelped as she hit the metal rail, pain radiating through her back as she slid down to the ground.
"What the fuck was that you little witch?" Kyle screamed, spitting in her face. His eyes were red and angry. Kyle pulled her up again, shaking her body like a rag doll.
"Answer me." He yelled, slapping her in the face. Blood ran down her mouth as her lip split open.
"Get off of me," Charlotte said, shoving him away.
Kyle growled, clearly pissed off. Then the bastard shoved her back harder.
Charlotte stared at him in horror as she was propelled backward.
For a moment Kyle looked equally surprised as if he hadn't expected her to be flung back with such force even though he was the one who applied it.
The rail couldn't stop Charlotte this time, she was already flying over it. She tried to grab something to anchor herself, but it was too late, her hands only grasped air. She tumbled backward over the bridge.
Charlette screamed as her body plummeted toward the river.
She had always imagined falling from a height such as this would feel slow but as her body rushed to meet the river below, it felt all too fast. Her mind didn't even have time to fully register what was happening, she was left completely unprepared.
The icy cold hit her like a sledgehammer, as she crashed through the surface falling, down, down, down into what felt like a bottomless depth. The water was unforgiving.
The initial shock and pain of hitting the surface soon gave way to a stinging burn. The cold water pricked her skin, like a million tiny needles. Her arms and legs felt heavy and sluggish. She tried to coordinate her limbs, to push for the surface but her efforts were slow and burdensome. The effort only served to exhaust her more.
Charlotte had inhaled some water and her lungs were aching with the effort to stay closed. Black dots filled her vision.
Just as she was on the edge of blacking out, she was snatched back.
Pain erupted along her arm, as something grabbed hold of her, stopping her descent and jerking her back up. It hurt so bad. She couldn't force her eyes open to see what it was, but she felt something, tugging, pulling at her.
Charlotte blacked out just before they reached the surface.