"Oh shit," he mutters as I scoop up my clothes and rush up the steps. I can't remember where my jeweled flip-flops are, but at this point, barefoot it is.
I run across the lawn, Grant right behind me. "Do you need a ride?"
"Uh, Lily's supposed to drive us."
"She left."
"What?!" I'm full out panicking now. I stop in front of a girl I saw speaking with Lance earlier. "Do you know where Lance is?"
"He went inside with Stefan."
I continue into the house.
"I'll get you a ride," Grant hollers to me from the porch as I start calling out for Lance.
I climb the stairs to the second level of the cabin and begin opening doors. "Lance!" The third door down, I find him ... with Stefan ... on a bed. I close the door quickly. Never saw that one coming. "Shit." I hope they didn't notice. They looked a little too pre-occupied to realize I was there for that second. Thankfully, they were still clothed, well, mostly.
I rush back down the stairs and out to the front of the house, searching for my bag under the porch.
"Lana?" I hear Grant call from above.
"Yeah?" I answer, my hand touching upon the fabric.
"Uh, are you under the porch?"
; "Getting my bag." There's something glowing red inside of it. "Fuck." I pull out the phone and hold my breath when I answer. Mr. Garner's face fills the screen.
"Where are you?"
"On my way back. I'm so sorry. I'm with Lance, and ..."
"Lance has an overnight pass. You don't." Now that makes sense. Wish I knew that ... oh, a couple hours ago when Brendan and Ashton left.
"Sorry. I didn't know, and lost track of time."
"I can cover for you for the next half hour. When I call back, it's your official curfew check-in. Be in your room."
"Thanks, Mr. Garner." I stuff the phone in my bag. Above me, Grant is standing next to a girl in a cute blue sundress.
"This is Talia. She was about to leave and can take you back to Blackwood. I'd come with you, but she's going home."
"It's okay." I'm really hating that I'm literally running away from him right now. I look to her. "Ready?" She already has her keys out, recognizing the frantic look in my eyes.
"Let's go," she says, striding down the driveway to the Honda Accord parked a few cars down. "Trust me, I know all about missing curfews."
"Bye, Lana!" I hear Grant call after me in the distance, but I don't look back.
I duck into the passenger seat and collapse against it as she zips the car out of the spot and races down the road, like she's trying to get me back before the last chime of midnight. Which isn't far from the truth.
I hate having a curfew. And running. I really hate running.
The man's heart was filled with cunning and deceit. Savagery and death. Thaylina saw that he was not a man at all. Beneath the charming mask hid a cruel and heartless monster. And he intended to take away her power, so she could no longer see the goodness in any heart, forever cursed to only see their lies and betrayal.
"Go away," I groan, reaching blindly for my beeping phone.
I roll onto my back to hold the screen above my face, even though my eyes are still closed, and scan my thumbprint.