Free The Secret Trinity Unearth by Jenna Bernel

remainder of the semester no further complications. I ran all the way back to the dorm trying to escape my own thoughts, but they were faster.

Chapter 12: Disco
     
     
    The girls and I were getting ready to go to the house party. I propped a full length mirror from the bedroom against the television stand while I sat on the braided rug and did my makeup. Kayla was standing over the bathroom vanity with the door open as she finished pulling a straightener through her hair. Morgan was sitting behind me on the loveseat, ready to go, waiting for us.
    Morgan groaned, “Come on, you two are ridiculous! We’re going to miss the whole party. Can’t you just throw on some jeans, and call it a day already?”
    I looked at her in the mirror, “Hey, you can’t rush perfection.” “I swear, only two more minutes.” Kayla chimed in. Morgan rolled her eyes and grumbled, “Yeah right, if I had a nickel….”
    I ignored her comment and continued applying eyeliner. I swept on dark shadow to give my eyes a smoky effect and brushed on two coats of black mascara. The makeup made my green eyes pop. It was hard not to notice them. Normally I would shy away from this look. I looked like I was going to a nightclub instead of a simple house party. However, after last night’s run-in with Liam; all I wanted was to bury my feelings, flirt with cute guys, and hang out with my friends. I was hoping by the end of night the encounter at the pool would be a distant memory.
    “Seriously, I need to blow off some steam. I have been doing lab homework all day.” Morgan said this as she crossed her arms and pursed her lips.
    “Okay, okay I’m ready.” I stood up from the rug and smoothed out my silvery capped sleeve top.
    Kayla swiped on some clear lip gloss, tucked her long brown hair behind her ears and came to stand beside me. She put her arm around my shoulder and steered us toward Morgan.
    “How do we look?” she inquired of Morgan, slightly mocking.
    “Fabulous, okay, every guy at the party will want to jump you. Now can we go?!” Kayla nodded as she laughed; pleased she had touched a nerve.
    I pulled on some black strappy sandals, grabbed my cell phone and led the way out the door. We all walked side by side as I gave directions to the party. I knew the area the best because of my trip here earlier in the summer. During the ten minute walk Kayla and Morgan mostly made fun of me, thinking it was hilarious that for once I knew where I was going.
    When we reached our destination, it was obvious which house was having the party. You could hear the hip-hop music from the sidewalk and it got louder as we climbed the porch steps to the aging front door.
    An adrenaline rush ran through me when we walked inside. To our right was a large living room. All of the furniture had been pushed out of the way, replaced by packs of people dancing to the music. I instantly felt more appropriately dressed. Strobe lights illuminated the dimmed room; the music was pumping, and people walked by us wearing shiny Mardi Gras beads. It seemed we had entered a homemade nightclub after all.
    A guy sitting on the staircase a few feet away spotted us. He got up and walked toward us. Still standing at the door we weren’t sure how to proceed. He looked to be about Kayla’s height, 5’6”, maybe shorter, but his arm muscles were bulging under the tight t-shirt he wore, obviously not by accident. He had what I guessed were forty sets of the Mardi Gras beads slung around his neck. He was smiling wide as he looked us over, delighted by the newcomers.
    “Ladies, welcome.” He said, spreading his arms out as he stepped back to showcase the party in motion. He was holding a red plastic cup and he brought it to his mouth, clenching it with his teeth to allow free hands. He took three of the shiny necklaces off and placed one over each of us.
    Releasing the cup from his mouth, he pointed, “The keg is in the kitchen, past the stairs. My roommate’s the bartender and he