Dean, where the heck are you? We were supposed to be at Taylor’s Halloween party an hour ago. I look out the window for the fiftieth time to see if his black Chevy four-wheel drive is anywhere in sight, and of course nothing… nada…zilch. He always does this to me! What am I thinking? Maybe after senior year is over, he’ll grow up. He’s technically an adult, but so am I— we all are. I turned eighteen over the summer, before senior year started, as did Dean and Sterling, as well as Lucy. Come to think of it, most everyone in our senior class is already eighteen. We’re all legal adults just itching to get out into the real world.

I just don’t know if Dean and I fit anymore. After all this time, I’m not sure there’s a lot he could do that would change my mind. I know him too well—and I think I’m losing him anyway. He’s changed. He’s almost distant.

“Ahh,” I sigh out loud, thinking about going off to college. What a breath of fresh air that’ll be… if it’ll just hurry up and get here.

“Okay, Dean!” I almost scream in frustration as I pull out my cell, flip it open, and call him. Great. Just perfect. Straight to voicemail. That boy does not have a responsible bone in his body. “Hey, Dean, it’s Ivie. We were supposed to be at Taylor’s party an hour ago, and I haven’t heard from you, so I’m just going to drive myself. Lucy’s been calling me every five minutes. Call me when you get this.”

Now let’s call Lucy back and tell her to chill. I smile a little, thinking of how anxious she is tonight. She’s wanted to be Taylor’s girlfriend for a while, and since they started talking in September, he’s her sole focus. If you ask me, that’s a mistake, since we’ll all be going our separate ways in May. But you can’t tell a girl in love-slash-lust anything.

“Hey, Lucy—”

She butts in immediately. “Oh my gosh, Ivie, are you on your way yet? I’m headed over to the party now, and I’m going out of mind. Taylor’s going to be smoking hot, and I need my best friend so I don’t screw up!” I laugh and roll my eyes at her drama.

“Yes, Lucy, I’m getting in my car right now.” There’s a pause.

“Oh, where’s Dean? I thought he was picking you up?”

Now I can’t hide my aggravation. “I don’t know where he is. I left a message telling him I’m going on without him. Lately, Lucy, he just doesn’t get it. I think we’re holding onto something that’s not as solid as it used to be. Anyway, I’m on my way. I’ll see you in about ten minutes.” I hang up the phone before she can get another word in. After double-checking that my note for Mom and Dad is on the fridge, I grab my coat and head out the door.

 

 

Ivie’s going to kill me if this reckless driver behind me doesn’t ram my bumper first. She’s been pulling away from me lately… I can feel it. Maybe she has every right to. I haven’t been the ideal boyfriend, that’s for sure.

I just hope she can’t see right through me, but the way she looks at me sometimes, I think she can. I was her first everything, so she feels a tie to me, and that’s probably all it is anymore. I lost her trust after she answered my phone and Jade Lancaster was on the other end.

Everyone, including Ivie, knows that Jade’s always had a thing for me. After the night I made out with her, she’s become almost obsessed with me. She hates Ivie, because she knows even though I gave in to temptation a few times, I still love Ivie, and I won’t ever love Jade.

Someone else knows about it, too, which is one reason why I’m so late to go get Ivie, the other being Jade lured me in again this afternoon. Someone’s blackmailing me and told me they would spill my dirty little secret if I don’t meet with them tonight at the party.

I bang the steering wheel in frustration.

“What have I gotten myself into?” I yell. This is all one big mess, and Jade is pure seductive evil. She’s supposed to be Ivie’s friend. Guilt settles further in my stomach. They’ve never been best friends like she and Lucy, but they all run in the same circle— always have. Ivie’s dad is a judge here, and Jade’s dad is an attorney, and now Ivie’s going to the party without me. I’ll just have to catch up with her there.

I look down as my phone rings— it’s Sterling. I’ll be damned. I wish I could tell him what’s going on, but I’m afraid he’d tell Ivie everything. Something about the way he looks at her makes me worry. I think he likes her but won’t dare cross that line because of our friendship. Truth be told, he’s the better man for Ivie.

“Hey, Dean. Ivie just got to the party without you… Where are you, man? I thought you were picking her up.” Of course he’s watching Ivie.

“I fell asleep and the alarm I set didn’t go off, so I’m running late. Listen, tell V I’ll be there in about fifteen minutes.”

“Okay, Dean, I’ll let her know. Just be careful on your way, okay?”

“Yeah, man, see ya.” I snap my phone shut and glance in the rearview mirror once more. Dang if that vehicle back there isn’t so close to my tailgate they could spit on it.

My headlights reflect off his black tailgate. Yeah, I bet that pisses you off, doesn’t it, Dean? I smile as anticipation of what’s to come rolls through my mind.

You had to get caught up in Ivie’s web, didn’t you? Sorry for you, Dean, but that was your fatal mistake. I’m going to destroy everything around Ivie Davis. She’s going to suffer. Little miss perfect will finally know what it feels like to have her world crashing down on her. Dean is just the preview. Not to mention he thinks he’s a golden boy, anyway. I love putting people in their place.

It’s kind of poetic, in a way. I’m doing her a favor, because you have been messing around, although you seem to have kept that hidden. Don’t know how, because you’re sloppy, but you fit perfectly in my plan to destroy Ivie. I’m proud of myself for all the knowledge I’ve gained lately. I’ll tear apart Ivie’s world anyway I can. Dean, whether he needs to be taken down a notch or not, fell for the wrong girl. I check the mirror and catch the nasty gleam in my eyes and smile. Tonight’s just the beginning.

 

 

Ivie’s beautiful tonight, just as she is every time I see her. I know it’s awful, but I think I fell for her the first time she smiled at me when we were kids. Do people really find their soul mates when they’re kids? I guess it’s possible, but not in the cards for me. She’s not my girl. But man, what I wouldn’t give to have her. Dean’s my best friend, and I’d never betray him like that, even though he takes her for granted. We’ve been best friends all our lives. I’ve watched Ivie from afar for years, before Dean ever asked her out. I was just too chicken to make a move, then Dean did, so I’ve been stuck in the friend zone ever since.

Sometimes I catch a glimmer in her eyes, and I think for a second she sees me as Sterling Brigg, the man I am, a man she could almost see herself with, not Sterling Brigg, my boyfriend’s best friend. Ivie’s such a great person, not to mention gorgeous, with her long, dark hair and beautiful sea green eyes. Brigg, shake it off, just go say hi and tell her that her boyfriend will be here in a few minutes. Sometimes it just sucks to be the good guy.

 

 

Here we go, I think to myself, walking around this party. A bunch of people making fools of themselves and it’s barely ten o’clock. Tonight, everyone’s dressed up in different costumes. I see the normal Halloween spooks. Lucy is, of course, dressed as a princess, tiara and all. Taylor dressed up as a prince, from what it looks like—ugh—and there’s Tess Rollins as an angel. Yeah, right. She’s the furthest thing from an angel I’ve ever seen in my life. I see witches and vampires to tooth fairies and mythological characters. I dressed as a cowgirl. Not very original, I know, but it was what I already had at home.

My heart skips a beat as I notice Sterling Brigg walking toward me. Why do I do this every time he so much as looks at me? And why is it, every time I look at him, he’s already looking at me? I swallow nervously and lick my lips, wondering if anyone can hear my heart over the thump of music.

None of these thoughts are ones I should even entertain, but something inside me won’t let go. He has dark blonde hair and dark brown eyes. He’s absolutely gorgeous and a great guy. He’s going to make someone very happy one day. That somebody just won’t be me.

“Hey, Ivie. How are you tonight?”

I make myself speak over the relentless beating of my heart.

“I’m pretty good. How about you?”

He tilts his lips up in a smile. “I’m good, just hoping your boyfriend hasn’t made you too mad tonight. I just talked to him, and he told me he’s running late, and he’d be here soon. Don’t let him ruin your fun, okay?”

I laugh a little, embarrassed. “I wouldn’t dream of it.” He looks at me with such intensity for what seems like a few minutes but is in reality a few seconds, and grins that gorgeous grin of his.

“Well, then, I’ll leave you to it. Have fun tonight. I’ll see you around.” He tips his Stetson at me and I realize he’s dressed as a cowboy himself. He really does live on a ranch, so that’s not too far from his reality. His family owns the Valley B Ranch.

“Okay, Sterling, have a good time.” I watch as he walks toward Lynn, his— Well, I don’t know what they are. Sometimes they date, sometimes they’re just friends. Just another reason to leave this town after graduation… leave it in the rearview mirror.

 

 

Dang, there’s a lot of people here tonight. I hope Ivie isn’t too pissed at me. I grab my cologne and spray a little on my shirt as I hop out of the truck. I hope that’ll cover any trace of Jade that may be lingering. Jade. Damn you, Jade. I shouldn’t have gone to see her this afternoon. She has strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes, she’s hot and… What’s wrong with me? I’m such a fool. Ivie’s in there waiting on me. She’s who I should be thinking of— her and her alone. My heart and my mind don’t agree.

As I open the front door to Taylor’s house, I see Sterling and Lynn talking. I never know what the deal is with those two. I really don’t think he feels anything more than friendship for her, but she seems to really like him.

“Dean. Where have you been?” I look over and see V. Beautiful, smart, and the keeper of my heart—Ivie. The one girl I do love. Even though you’re skirting around behind her back… come on Dean, get real. A new wave of guilt hits me like a ton of bricks.

“Hey, baby… I’m so sorry. I fell asleep and my alarm didn’t go off.” I lean in to kiss her, but she purses her lips and narrows her eyes into that don’t even think about it look.

“I can take a hint. Can I at least get a hug from my pretty little cowgirl?” She smiles at that, the quirky smile I fell in love with. Maybe I’m not in as much trouble as I thought I’d be.

“Just a hug, Dean, if you’ll go grab us something to drink. I’m going to go talk to Jade for a minute… she just walked in.”

Oh shit. Jade needs to be far away from me right now, and nowhere near Ivie. I pull Ivie’s face to mine and tip her chin up and look right in her eyes. “I am sorry, Ivie. Really. You know I love you.”

She looks back with her intense green eyes, and I kiss those perfect lips of hers. I run my tongue over them, and she lets out a little sigh as I deepen the kiss. I pull back and tell her I’ll be right back and catch Jade staring in disbelief. I glare back at her. Jade returns the glare but waves and smiles at Ivie. That girl’s going to cause major problems for me.

 

 

“Jade. It’s about time you got here!” Jade gives me a quick hug as I reach her. We aren’t best friends by any means, but we’ve grown up together, always in the same circles. I do consider her a good friend.

“Yeah, I was having trouble keeping my outfit on, but I finally made it. How’s the party so far?”

I look at her and smile, a little puzzled by her comment. “Just the usual, but hey, I’ll see you later. I’m going to go hang out with Dean, just wanted to say hi.” She looks like she forces the smile on her face.

“Okay, girl, have fun.” Was that a hint of anger in her voice? Nah, come on, Ivie, you’re just overreacting because of Dean being late tonight. I turn in search of my boyfriend. Where’s Dean now? I thought I asked him to go get some drinks for us. I guess I’ll do it all by myself. Nothing new about that.

 

 

My phone beeps in my pocket. Blocked number. A chill runs down my spine. The text says, Meet me at the pool. You need to see something.

What does this person want? I head to the pool quickly. In the late October air, I get a chill deeper than just the cool, autumn air. It feels like someone’s watching me, though I don’t see anyone anywhere. What kind of game are they playing now? I’m not going to play it anymore. I’ve got to quit cheating on Ivie. I’m getting my relationship back on track with her. I’ve got to get back in there to the party with her, or she really will be ticked.

“Damn it,” I mutter under my breath.

I feel someone walk up behind me, but before I can turn around, I feel pain explode in the back of my head. I’m stunned and start to turn, but all I see is a wooden 2x4 coming my way. The next thing I know pain explodes through my face as it connects, and I start to fall. I feel the sticky blood running down my face and at the back of my head. Right before the darkness pulls me under, I think of Ivie. Her beautiful face flashes through my mind.