Page 241 of Lessons in Cruelty

I sense a drop coming in the music, and my eyes are about to slide shut so I can lose myself in it when a guy comes up behind Haven and puts his hands on her waist.

She snaps out of her trance and spins around, shoving his chest.

Ha, ha. Loser.

She makes a point of turning her back on him, but the guy’s obviously on way too many drugs, because he doesn’t seem to realize she doesn’t want him near her. He slides up to her again, grabbing her shoulders, skating a hand over her tits, squeezing⁠—

My breath knocks out of me as I leap off the platform.

Nobody touches Haven but me. Nobody.

Even when I hate her.

Even when she hates me.

Party goers make way for me, those that see me. The others I twist and writhe past, trying not to knock anyone over.

The guy definitely sees me coming, because when I get there, he’s already a few yards away.

Fucking yellow bellied⁠—

Someone grabs my wrist. Shouts, “Thank you!” over the music.

Only then do I realize what just happened.

Fucking molly.

Haven lets go of my wrist, and when I risk a glance over my shoulder, she has her eyes closed, dancing to the music. With my mask on, she didn’t realize who saved her from the creep.

I should go back to the platform.

And Haven should be on GAZ’s own little party raft, wherever the hell theirs is. But I guess her and Melissa prefer being in the thick of things.

I’m not hating it down here either.

Just enough room to dance without knocking into anyone. The acoustics are a fuck ton better, with the speakers aimed into the crowd.

Plus, with my mask, the trash bag, and the body paint, Haven doesn’t know it’s me.

I flex my hands, breathing deep as the music drops, fades. There’s a moment’s silence, and Haven opens her eyes like she’s wondering what happened to the party.

I’m between her and the DJ booth, so when she turns to the source of the now non-existent music, her eyes land on me.

On my mask.

The music starts up again, and every hair on my body stands on end.

I fucking love this track.

Haven shivers, her eyes closing, hands going to her hair. Her jaw clenches and releases as her head falls back.

Jesus, is she rolling?

What is even happening right now?

Just seeing her slip into such a state of ecstasy as the music pounds out of the speakers sends me on my own delirious roll. I lean back, hands clenched into fists, and howl at the fucking clouds.

Around me, several guys and girls pick up the call, sounding like a pack of wolves trying to find each other in the dark.