Night Moves (The Night Songs Collection) by Kristen Strassel Page B

my feet gently by the arm. I wobbled, and she had to steady me with her free hand. I heard some murmuring in the background but I couldn’t register who or what it was.
    “Thank you.” I said, rubbing my hands hard on my face trying to regain my bearings. The parking lot continued to spin, but less violently than before. I turned to see who came to my rescue, and was surprised to find Catelyn, the super fan, holding me up, her friends flanking us.
    “Venom?” Catelyn asked without judgment. I nodded. “It’s a beast, huh? Our room is right around the corner. Come wash your face and get something to drink.”
    I didn’t have the energy to ask questions or protest. I let Catelyn lead me back to her room. She brought me straight into the bathroom, and closed the door from behind, giving me some privacy.
    I looked like hell. My hair had already been fuzzy from the hot tub, and my makeup was melted. It ran down my face in rivulets. My skin was blotchy from the trauma of getting sick. Dark circles framed my tired eyes. Too many things had happened tonight.
    After washing my face and gargling with someone’s mouthwash, I headed back out to thank the girls. I hoped to make a quick exit.
    “Feeling better?” One of the other girls asked. I didn’t know if I’d been introduced her yet. I had no idea what her name was.
    “Yeah. Just tired. Thanks again.” Man, was I tired, now that I thought about it. I just wanted to fall into bed and sleep like the dead. I’d come to the right place, considering my roommates.
    “Melanie, wait.” Catelyn stopped me as I turned to leave. “Can you get us into the party?”
    I should have known that no good deed went unpaid. I tried not to roll my eyes at her. “I don’t know. I mean, can’t you just walk in?” I wasn’t in the mood for this right now. I couldn’t care less who was partying down the hall. I just needed to lie down.
    “Is your last name Vaughn?” She asked, crossing her arms and looking smug.
    Crap. “Yeah. Why?”
    “You know, people are looking for you. Have you watched the news? They think you killed those people.”
    The room started spinning again. I held on to the doorknob for dear life. My knees felt weak. How long before more people caught on? And did something about it?
    Please, don’t let me pass out here. I closed my eyes and counted to ten. “Why are you telling me this now, Catelyn?”
    She smiled, but it wasn’t friendly. Catelyn didn’t look like someone who was used to having the upper hand, on anyone. I could tell she was relishing the moment. “I think the two of us could work out a little agreement. I mean, we both have a way we want things to happen.”
    “What do you want?”
    “We want to get closer to the band. Your friend doesn’t like to help us. She doesn’t really care about her reputation, but I can tell you do. So I think you can help us.”
    “Fine,” I sighed. I just wanted this night to be over and at this point I didn’t care what I had to do to make it end. “Follow me. Just come into the room when I do. I’m not staying at the party, so once you’re in, you’re on your own.”
    “Thank you so much!” one of Catelyn’s nameless friends gushed. “You’re the best.”
    Catelyn shot her a look, shrugged at the girl, then smiled at me.
    We walked down the hallway in silence. The girls followed me like a subservient harem. I had to look straight ahead; the carpet still made me dizzy. I didn’t think I had any more lunch to lose, and I sure as hell didn’t want to find out.
    A few people near the door looked at me funny when I arrived with Catelyn’s crew, but I blew past them in an effort to find Ryder. The room was thick with bodies now, humidity and smoke clung to the ceiling tiles. I had a hard time seeing over the crowd, and the smell of the bodies and spent booze nauseated me all over again. I pushed my way all the way through the deck, which probably had enough people on it to make it collapse. But no