Free Angels of Moirai (Book One) by Nicole Salmond Page B

hall.
     
    I raced towards the stairs, my heart pounding in my chest. I felt like what a mother must feel like when their worst fears were coming true. I tried to keep my thoughts at bay; the endless possibilities burning my heart with what had happened? Was she okay? Did someone…
    I raced towards the bathroom and didn’t even bother knocking. I opened the door to find Poppy vomiting in the toilet bowl while Hayley held her hair back from her face.
    Hayley looked at me in desperation, and I knew now wasn’t the time to be upset at Hayley.
    “How much has she had to drink?” I asked as I kneeled down beside her.
    “Five, maybe six shots of Vodka. She’s never done shots before,” Hayley replied. “She’s going out with Tom now, and they were playing this drinking game…”
    I nodded. She didn’t need to tell me anymore. Tom was in my grade and just like Dale, had girls flocking to be his next girlfriend. They would do just about anything for him to show some interest in them and looks like Poppy wanted to keep the interest on her.
    “Her mum is coming to get us at ten. She would be pissed if she found out Poppy’s been drinking.”
    “So…”
    “So I need you to help me get her sober up by then.”
    I raised my eyebrows. “In an hour?”
    She nodded.
    I sighed. “Okay, you stay here and I’ll go find something to eat and some water.”
    I didn’t want to go back downstairs in case I saw Maddison again, but I had to. So I toughened up and went and got what I needed to get. Thankfully, no one was around, apart from a few people I didn’t know, they were all outside; one crises down, one to go.
    Poppy seemed to come around a lot quicker than we both thought she would. I made her eat some sandwiches and drink water. We redid her hair and make-up and come ten o’clock, she was still drunk, but not vomiting and looking like she might just be able to fake it until she got back home without her parents realising what had happened.
    We made our way out of the party without anyone seeing. Poppy’s orders and I didn’t object. I didn’t want to see anyone either.
    As we were waiting out on the driveway for Poppy’s mum, Hayley pulled me aside to talk.
    “I am so sorry, Lila. I didn’t want to drag you into this, but I had no one else to go to.”
    “Why were you here in the first place?”
    “It wasn’t my idea, trust me. Tom told Poppy to come. I tried to talk her out of it because I know what Dale’s parties are like, but I couldn’t and I didn’t want her to come alone.”
    I nodded my head. It was enough of an explanation, as I needed. I knew she was telling the truth. We were both terrible liars to each other.
    “Are you okay?” I asked.
    “I’m fine. I only had a couple of drinks.”
    I sighed in relief that everything was okay. “You scared me tonight. I’d thought something had happened to you.”
    Hayley smiled and gave me a hug. “I’m sorry.”
    “It’s okay,” I said hugging her back. “Are you going to still stay at Poppy’s tonight?”
    “I thought that would be better. Make sure she’s okay.”
    Poppy’s mum pulled into the driveway in her red Audi.
    “I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?” Hayley said as her and Poppy walked towards the car and jumped inside.
    It wasn’t until I watched them get in the car and drive away did I remember why I’d come.
    “James,” I said quietly.
    “There you are,” a familiar voice said.
    I turned back towards the house to find Dale walking, or should I say, stumbling , towards me.
    “I’ve been arr looking everywhere for you missy moo,” he slurred. “The boyssss told me you were here, buda thought you’d left me!”
    Great. Just when my night couldn’t get any worse.
    “Dale,” I smiled grimly in reply, “I was just leaving.”
    “Noooo. You can’t leave now,” he said holding onto my arm. “The party just started!”
    I took a step back. “Well, I am.”
    “Commonnn! Stay with me! We can have some fun!” He stepped