Saturday

"What's up, party people!" Chloe called as she walked through the Wexlers' front door. Adjusting her grip on her box of supplies, she swept through the living room and out to the back deck where a very pissy Tori stood waiting.

"Are you doing this on purpose?" She snatched the box from Chloe without waiting for a response.

"What, being this sexy?" Chloe shot her a suggestive grin, "Because this is all natural, baby."

Rolling her eyes, Tori strode to the other end of the deck. "No, stressing me out. I told you to be here twenty minutes ago."

For a short girl, she sure was fast. Chloe hustled to keep up with her until they stopped at the beer pong table. Tori began unpacking the cups, staring fixedly at them and not her.

"It's barely noon so you're lucky I'm here at all. I was still in my jammies when you texted me." Checking that no one was around, Chloe leaned in until her mouth rested by Tori's ear. "Besides, you know I like it when you're riled up."

Fighting off a smirk, Tori flipped her hair and took a pointed step away from her. "Well, that makes you the only one. Darren and I have gotten into it, like, twice already, and this isn't even my party. You'd think he'd be rich enough to hire real help instead of bossing the squad around. Half of them didn't even show."

Chloe noticed the man in question through a window that looked in on the kitchen. Even from outside, she could tell his mood was shit. He stood stoically against a kitchen counter, his phone up to his ear. Whatever the other person was saying, it clearly wasn't what Darren wanted to hear.

"Which is exactly why I didn't volunteer. I've never taken orders from a guy before, and Darren sure as hell isn't gonna be the first."

"Just a girl, right?" Tori dragged her eyes up the length of Chloe's body. "After last night, we both know you're very good at doing what you're told."

When their eyes met, Chloe had to physically restrain herself from taking her right there on the table. The girl was kinky, but something told Chloe her standards were a bit higher than that.

"Am I gonna see you tonight?" she asked instead, her implication clear.

Tori shifted until their thighs grazed. "Oh, you'll see me. Question is, will I see you with someone else?"

Chloe knew she didn't mean Amber or Mark, and she immediately dropped her gaze. Any mention of Jane, direct or otherwise, always ended in poignant silence, and now was no exception. Lingering a second longer, Chloe broke contact and headed inside again.

"Don't be mad if I'm late tonight," she said, turning her back before adding, "She's the one driving."

New Text: wtf. been here ALONE for 3 hrs. where the hell r u guys?

Chloe split her focus between texting Mark and maneuvering through the bodies packed on Darren's staircase. Apparently, she wasn't the only one seeking refuge from the crowded living room, or the first to think of escaping upstairs. As she took the steps, the house tilted like a boat, the waves dipping her up and down, up and down.

Putting it bluntly, she was drunk.

Which made getting in contact with either one of them more challenging than usual. All day, Amber had been ignoring her texts, even ones about getting ready together. Chloe wasn't surprised that Mark flaked; knowing him, he was working another late shift. Still, she had hoped he would be a little more responsive. So much for that.

"Dumb phone, work," Chloe groaned once she reached the second floor, shaking it for emphasis. Finding a spot out of the way, she leaned against a wall and tried to focus harder, but the screen was pitch black. It took her time to realize that meant it was dead.

"Where's Amber?"

Did she ask herself that in her head? It wasn't until a hand nudged her shoulder that she noticed Carter.

"Ah, finally a familiar face, just not the one I was looking for," she laughed, clapping him on the back. "Haven't seen that hoe all night. I was kinda hoping you two were hiding away in the basement or something."

He looked at her sharply. "She told you about yesterday?"

Chloe's eyes widened. "There's a yesterday to tell?"

"I need to talk to you."

Turning at the sound of a familiar voice, Chloe found a distressed Tori, drink in hand. Based on the way she swayed in her heels, it wasn't her first. Her hair was tustled around her annoyed face, and sweat glistened on every inch of exposed skin. Her low cut crop top left little to the imagination, but Chloe's was running wild anyway.

"Mmmm, decided to dress up for me, huh?" she purred, tugging the belt loops on Tori's jeans until their bodies were flush. "Got a trade for ya — your phone for my services," she wiggled her brows, "all inclusive."

"Uh," Carter looked between them, dumbstruck, "what is happening right now?"

"Go away, Carter, we're talking." Pulling her by the wrist, Tori dragged Chloe into the nearest bedroom and shut the door behind them. Thankfully, it was unoccupied, the guest bed free of thrashing teens mid-hookup.

"Soooo was that a yes to using your phone?" Chloe reiterated, running her hands down to cup Tori's ass. "I'll make it quick, then we can do whatever you want. Promise."

Tori eyed her suspiciously. "Are you using it to find Jane?"

"Um, no thank you," Chloe slurred, doing her best to keep track of what they were talking about. "More like a best friend who has some major explaining to do."

Hesitating for a beat, Tori finally handed it over. Navigating the phone to the best of her ability, Chloe opened the contacts list.

"You don't have their numbers," she pouted.

"Duh. They're not my friends." Tori seemed even more agitated than usual, but that was hardly a turnoff for Chloe. The urge to kiss the scowl off her mouth had her heart skipping a beat, and she had to ask if she really cared where her friends were right now.

Checking the time, she noted how late it was with still no word from either of them. Yeah, she cared.

For some reason, Mark's number came easier to her. Crossing her fingers that she was remembering it right, she typed out her original message, then added a note that it was from her so he wouldn't ignore it. But when it came to Amber's number, Chloe was surprisingly torn on the last digit. Was it a five? Six?

"Where is she?"

"Kinda what I'm trying to figure out here, babe."

"No, Jane." Tori said her name like a curse word.

"Who knows," Chloe muttered, deciding on the six. Even as she hit send, part of her knew the number was still wrong. "Got tired of hovering around Madame Class President in the hopes of some attention. I'm sure she's off schmoozing somewh—"

"I'm not a side bitch, Chloe."

Blinking, she looked up from the phone. "Huh?"

"A side bitch. I don't share well with others, I require a lot of attention," Tori walked around her, stopping just before reaching the bed, "and I don't settle for less than what I deserve. Don't get me wrong, the secret shit was hot for like, a week, but I'm so over watching you flounce around with her when it's my name you're crying out in bed. So, go ahead," she hiccupped, "choose. Commit to me, or I'm walking."

Chloe's head swam, sticking on one point in particular. She couldn't be hearing this right. "Wait...you wanna date me? Like, openly?"

"As opposed to what, in a closet?" Tori huffed. "Stop deflecting and answer me."

Suddenly, Chloe felt very sober. She tried to curb her growing excitement — Tori could just be drunk. Yes they'd been having fun, and maybe Chloe was starting to feel something more, but Tori was straight. Chloe had been down this road before, and the outcome had been disastrous enough to make her change schools. She knew she shouldn't take the risk again. Jane was the safer choice, her only real choice.

Chloe eyed the drink in Tori's hand. "What number is that for you?"

"Shut up. This isn't the jungle juice talking, it's just... helping." Tori made a show of putting her cup down on the bedside table. "I know what I'm saying, I'm gonna remember it tomorrow, and I'll say it again then if you really find it necessary, but right now, you're choosing. What's it gonna be, Chlo, me or—"

"You," Chloe blurted without a second thought. "Final answer. Lock it in."

So much for playing things safe.

Tori bit at her lip in an attempt to hide a smile, then lifted her shirt over her head and tossed it onto the bed.

"Lock the door, too," she said roughly, already unbuttoning her jeans. "I'm cashing in on that all inclusive service."

 Chloe was between Tori's legs when the bedroom door opened.

"Um, occupied. I'm tryna get off he—"

By the way Tori's thighs tensed around her ears, Chloe knew exactly who it was.

Wrenching herself upright, she found Jane standing in the threshold, the light from the hallway illuminating her blonde hair. It casted a shadow that made it hard to see her face, but the shake of her shoulders told Chloe all she needed to know.

"How could you?" Jane shouted, her voice thick with tears. She rushed out of sight before Chloe could answer.

"Shit." She used the limited light to find her shirt, yanking it over her head while stumbling to her feet.

"You said you locked it!" Tori shouted after her as Chloe ran from the room, looking out over the swarm of people for any sign of a plaid headband. She finally spotted it heading for the staircase, and after knocking multiple people out of her way, she caught Jane just before her foot hit the first step.

"Jane, stop, let me just—"

"You've done enough," she said harshly, yanking her arm loose. "Do you know how embarrassing this is?"

"What?" Chloe stumbled back.

"It's not enough that you cheat on me, right?" Jane spit, her usually quiet voice carrying just fine over the noise. "No, that's not dramatic enough for you, Chloe. You just had to do it at the biggest party, with the biggest bitch in school, at the start of the biggest year of my life. Do you know how this is gonna make me look? How am I supposed to show my face on Monday?"

Chloe stared back at her in disgust. "I'm your girlfriend. You just caught me cheating, and your number one concern is your image?"

"Not sure why." Tori appeared next to them out of nowhere, crossing her arms defensively. "People will still think you're a snore after this. Image intact."

Before the three of them could get into it further, shouts from downstairs pulled their attention over the bannister. Kids were streaming in from the deck and through the living room, pushing their way towards the front door and out into the night. Over the noise, Chloe heard someone shout something about police.

"The cops? At the Wexlers' house?" Tori shouted in Chloe's ear, fighting to be heard through the chaos. "It's barely eleven!"

When they looked back, Jane was gone, blending into the stampede making its way down the stairs. Grabbing Tori's hand, Chloe followed the crowd before spotting Hannah from cheer standing at the bottom of the steps, her face a mess.

"What the hell is going on?" Tori demanded once they reached her. "Was someone actually stupid enough to snitch on the party?"

"No," Hannah wailed, her cries mixing in with the faint sound of sirens. "God, it's so awful you guys. They're saying someone's dead in the basement!"