True Colors (The Masks #1)(26)

Poor Indie. I hadn’t seen fear that stark before, not ever. She was petrified and I didn’t want to know why.

“I’m getting a drink.” I nudged Stella and took off before she could follow me. I made it to the kitchen, keeping my eyes down. I didn’t want to look at anyone right now. I didn’t want to practice with masks or layers. I just wanted to be normal again!

The kitchen was devoid of ordinary drinks. I opened one of the fridges, looking for anything non-alcoholic and finally spotted a small can of Sprite in the back. I felt a bit bad for taking it. It obviously wasn’t designated for the party, but I needed something to quell my pulsing nerves.

Popping it open, I was about to take a sip when someone practically bowled me over.

Sprite splashed up my nose, dribbled down my chin and soaked into my shirt collar.

“Sorry,” the person mumbled tearfully as she bustled past.

I glanced up to see Libby frantically pushing her way through the crowd and my drink was forgotten. I forged after her, squeezing past people and trying to keep track of her.

She made it to the main entrance and started running for the door.

“Libby! Libby wait!”

Her short legs slipped on the shiny marble. She obviously wasn’t used to heels. Her ankle twisted and she hit the floor with a thud.

A couple of people around her snickered, some of them pointed. No one bothered to help her up. I wasn’t bold enough to glare them down like I wanted to. It took all my courage to openly approach her and offer my hand.

Libby looked up at me, tears spilling from her eyes, making her mascara run.

“Come on.”

She reluctantly took my hand and I hauled her up. After a few hobbling steps from Libby, I wrapped my arm around her and supported her out of the house, towards a dark patch of grass off the main driveway.

“Are you okay?” I rubbed her back as she hiccuped and cried. It was hard to see her in the dim light and I was glad. I didn’t want to read her right now. I just wanted to talk and find out the truth the conventional way.

Libby popped open her purse and pulled out a Kleenex. Her shoulders shook as she dabbed at her eyes. I just kept rubbing her back, not exactly sure how to make her feel better.

“I didn’t think you were here,” I eventually said. “I was looking for you and thought maybe you’d changed your mind.”

She rubbed her eye and shook her head with a sniff. “I wish I had.”

“What happened?”

“You were right about Carter.” She sniffed again.

“Did he—" I frowned. “Libby what did he do?” My insides were curdling. I didn’t want to hear what she was about to say as my mind raced to the worst scenario I could think of.

Libby was quiet for too long, making it worse. My imagination was working overtime.

“He took me upstairs. We’d only been here like ten minutes.” Her voice wobbled.

“Lib—"

“Don’t worry, he didn’t try to...” She flicked her hand. “He didn’t force me to do anything.”

The way she said it made me squeeze her shoulder. “What did you do?”

“Nothing.” I could just make out her eyes shining in the dim light. Tears were busting to get free once more. “He wanted me to give him a blow job and I was really uncomfortable. I’ve never even kissed a guy before and Carter just expects me to blow him?” Her voice pitched high and she took in a shaky breath. “He started undoing his pants and I said I didn’t want to. He got all annoyed and told me I owed him because he’d brought me here. If I wanted to be cool then I had to earn it and that if I didn’t do what he said, he’d make my school life hell." Her face bunched with stress lines. "I thought about it, Caitlyn. I even got down on me knees, but I just couldn’t go through with it. I freaked out and ran...and now the rest of this year is going to be so much worse than what it already is.”

She leaned her head against my shoulder and broke down with unrestrained sobs. I could feel my shirt getting wet and no doubt stained with mascara. It would simply add to the Sprite. I wrapped my arms around her.

Black rage was an understatement for what I was feeling right now. I wanted to find Carter Hanson and squeeze his balls until they popped. I knew about his asshole tendencies, but why go after Libby? There were plenty of other girls far more experienced and willing. It was almost like he was trying to scare her. I didn’t understand it.

Libby’s sobs slowly ebbed. I had no idea how long it took. I felt like I’d been standing there forever. Her fingers dug into my back as she clung to me. I knew she wasn’t ready to step away and I didn’t have the heart to push her. So I stayed where I was, giving her the silent comfort she so obviously needed while trying to hide her from prying eyes as party-goers wandered up the driveway and into the house. It became increasingly challenging as whispers spread, and when two giggling girls actually came down the driveway to investigate, I couldn’t take it anymore.

I squeezed Libby’s shoulder. “Come on, let’s get out of here. Go for a walk on the beach or something.”

“Are you sure?” Libby’s eyes rounded with surprise. “What about Stella?”

“She’ll understand.” Not really, but I wasn’t about to tell Libby that. Pulling out my phone, I texted Stella and told her to call me when she was ready for a ride.