Chapter 5

As we drove into the street, the pulsating rhythm of music became evident. At the end of the road stood the house, its vibrations perceptible as we neared it.

Various colored lights illuminated the scene, and numerous vehicles dotted the area outside, indicating that this party would be unforgettable—and that the neighbors must have a high tolerance for such events.

Brady parked the car and walked around to help me out. It seemed everyone recognized our arrival; many eyes followed us, likely due to Brady's eye-catching new blue BMW.

Entering the crowded house, we found ourselves surrounded by teens in varying levels of intoxication. I felt oddly self-conscious, realizing how modestly dressed I was compared to others.

Finally, we reached the room where Brady's friends were. This party was thrown by the most popular student at my new school, though I hadn't caught his name yet. Clearly, he wasn't concerned about the disturbances caused by his gatherings, and attendance didn't require an invitation.

"Hey guys!" Brady greeted. Here, the music was less intrusive.

"Sup Izzy! Who's the girl?" asked a brown-haired boy, his speech slightly slurred.

"Hands off, Milton. This is my little sister," Brady said, sitting on a free couch. I joined him.

"I'm Trent, and those are Chuck, Freddy, and Shane," a dark-haired boy with gray eyes introduced. So, 'Milton' was actually Chuck.

"Pleased to meet you all. I'm Lillian," I smiled.

"Nice to meet you too!" Freddy acknowledged.

"Izzy, I didn't know you had a sister. You two don't look much alike," Chuck observed.

"That's because we're step-siblings. My dad passed away when I was twelve, and my mom remarried. She married Lillian's dad," Brady explained. The realization dawned on the group.

"So where have you been all this time?" Trent inquired.

"I lived with my mom," I replied, leaving the details vague. Just then, a group of giggly girls entered the room, saving me from further questions.

"Would you like something to drink?" Shane asked me. I glanced at Brady, who gave me an approving nod.

I turned back to Shane. "Sure."

He offered his hand, which I took, and he guided me out of the room. As we navigated through the bustling crowd, I experienced an unwelcome touch from someone's wandering hands, unnoticed by Shane.

"Do these things happen often?" I asked once we reached the kitchen.

Shane chuckled. "What? Parties?"

"Yeah," I nodded.

"Not really! Actually, it's odd that the host is having this party. He doesn't usually throw them, especially not ones like this," he replied.

"What do you mean by 'like this one'?" I probed.

"What would you like to drink?" he deflected.

"Uh, soda," I answered. He nodded and fetched a can for me.

"What I mean is that his parties are typically more exclusive and invitation-only. This open-invite style is unusual. Maybe he's celebrating something significant, or perhaps he's not even here," he clarified.

My eyes widened. "Not here? Then who's throwing the party?"

Before Shane could respond, the music volume dropped, followed by a piercing screech. Despite the jarring sound, everyone seemed to understand what was happening as they headed toward the dining hall. Shane led me along, and soon we were packed in to see a redhead on stage clearing her throat.

"Welcome everyone! Thanks for coming. As you know, Homecoming is approaching, and we thought it'd be great to host a Pre-Homecoming bash. Hope you enjoy!"

The crowd erupted into cheers, shaking the floor with their enthusiasm. The excitement was palpable. Feeling overwhelmed, I needed fresh air, and thankfully Shane understood. He led me outside, where I breathed a sigh of relief.

"You don't go to many parties, do you?" Shane remarked perceptively.

I blushed. "That obvious?"

"A little," he chuckled.

"I used to attend parties occasionally, but things have changed in the past year since I lost my mother," I explained.

"I understand, but why are you here then?" he asked.

"Try telling Brady no," I huffed.

He rolled his eyes. "I know how that goes!"

I narrowed my eyes at him. "You have a thing for Brady!"

His eyes widened. "What? No, I don't!"

"Oh really?" I crossed my arms, trying to maintain eye contact despite the height difference.

"Please don't tell him!" he pleaded.

"I won't, but why haven't you told him yourself?" I asked curiously.

"I, uh, well... it's complicated," he stumbled over his words.

"Come on, Shane! Spit it out!" I urged.

"I'm not sure if I'm gay or not!" he blurted out.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked, eyebrows furrowed.

"I've only recently started having these feelings for Brady, but I'm not certain if they're genuine. All I know is that I feel strange around him, yet I still find myself attracted to girls," he explained.

"So you might be bisexual?" I suggested.

"I'm not sure. Just promise me you won't tell anyone, especially not my cousin if you ever meet him," he replied.