Monsters' Crew (Crude Hill High 1)

I wanted her.

“Well, I’d say this is my cue to leave, but go and get her. Don’t let her get away.” Ashley shoved me toward the woman of my dreams.

I kept on walking, not stopping.

Emily turned and I saw her looking for someone, and then she caught sight of me. Now, when it came to this girl, I knew for a fact, she wasn’t the easiest girl to get to smile. Seeing her now, and those eyes, all of it, she made me ache for her in the best kind of way. That smile, all for me, took my breath away.

She moved toward me and I took her into my arms, not caring who saw as I cupped the back of her head and kissed her.

Sliding my tongue across her lips, I captured my woman, kissing her so she knew, without me needing to say words, exactly what I felt.

I stopped the kiss, but I noticed she gripped the lapels of my jacket.

“Wow,” she said.

She hadn’t pushed me away, nor did she look around to see who saw us.

This was progress. She was like this with all of us.

One day, she wouldn’t need to worry. I didn’t care what our dads thought was right. If they had any respect for Bethany at all, they’d allow us to keep our woman.

“Hey, you … wow.”

She giggled. “You like it? I was so worried. Look at it. It’s gross. I like purple but I didn’t think it worked as a dress.”

“It’s stunning. You are, and you have nothing to worry about.” I cupped her hip. “Wait until the other guys see you. They’re going to lose their minds.”

“I haven’t seen them.”

“Where’s Caleb?” I asked.

“I don’t know. I waited for him, but my driver ended up dropping me off. The others went before me.” She shrugged. “I was worried I’d be turned away at the door.”

“Anyone who dared to turn you away will be shot.”

This made her smile.

She took my hand, locking our fingers together. “So how about you make my night and dance with me?”

****

Emily

I hoped I was fooling everyone who looked. I wasn’t calm or collected. I was fucking terrified. There were so many people here. What startled me was how I saw some politicians, businessmen, but also all the people who made their money in illegal deals. Crooks, criminals, and civilians. It was kind of funny.

This wasn’t news to me how the good and evil lived side by side, constantly rubbing together. I guessed I never expected it to be so blatant, but that was what made the best kind of parties.

There were good people here who had no choice but to be in the pockets of those who did the dirty work. This was how it worked.

There was a dancefloor near Caleb’s house, and Gael walked me toward it. He’d stopped talking and texted on his phone. I didn’t mind the lack of attention. It gave me a chance to look at the beauty.

Even if the party had been thrown by monsters, they certainly knew how to hide their true nature.

So beautiful.

I love fairy lights. They lit up the night sky so perfectly.

Gael cursed and shoved his phone into his pocket.

“What is it?”

“Nothing.”

“Gael, don’t treat me like I’m a kid.”

“Believe me, I don’t think of you as a kid.”

“Then talk to me.”

We arrived at the dance floor, and he pulled me into his arms. Chest to chest. Body to body. We were so close, and it was so perfect. I didn’t want to pull away.

“Do you have any idea how perfect you are?” he asked.

“Don’t go saying all the right words to get me to shut up. That’s not fair.”

“But it’s true.”

I smile. “Come on, don’t be that guy who believes you can think better than me. Please? Please?”

“Fine. Fine. They had to go and pick someone up at the airport. Him and Vadik. They’ll be here in ten minutes. It’s why he couldn’t pick you up.”

“Where’s River?”

“He’s also running an errand. He didn’t tell me what, but he said he’d be here soon.”

“So very vague. Is this what it’s going to be like?” I asked. “You guys keeping me in the dark, thinking you can protect me?”

“You deserve to have a good life.”

I burst out laughing. “Gael, look around you. I could be killed at Crude Hill High. I don’t have a normal life. Out of all of us, the closest person to it is Ashley.”

“I’ve seen her.”

“She came?”

“Yes, she didn’t want to.”

“I know, she told me. Her mom kept saying they weren’t going. Then obviously she changed her mind. How is she?”

“Em, you’ve got to stop playing protector.”

“I’m not.”

“Do you mind if I cut in?” River asked. His brown hair was slicked back. Even though he wasn’t currently holding a knife, I knew one would be on him, if not several.