Price of Trust

"Listen, if it was my way we would have never left home," I told my sister, Leena. She'd begged for days to go out with her and I finally caved after she promised me I could leave if I really hated it. "Well, thank the heavens you decided to not be a buzzkill for once," she smiled, mischievously. It had been around a forty-minute drive to reach the beach party, and after countless pestering I told myself I would actually try to have fun. Of course, I'd never tell Leena. She'd balk at the idea of me willingly doing anything she does.

I stepped out of the car, having nothing but a purse in one hand and my phone in the other. The sun was surrounded by a brilliant pink as it began to set. Even from here I could see the dazzling sea—literally. I had to put my sunglasses on if I wanted to actually see anything. If there was one thing I would enjoy it would be the beach part.

"At least it isn't hot." I turned around, looking for the direction of the party. "Where are they?" I asked Leena, unable to spot anything remotely party-like. There were a lot of people sunbathing, though. "They're over there!" Leena pointed to the far right, at a group of three people sitting on foldable chairs. Without a second thought, she started walking over there before I could say anything.

I tried to catch up to her, but she was already greeting the group before I was even halfway there. Three guys sat in a triangle as Leena leaned in to hug one of them and waved to the other two. And suddenly the feeling of dread filled me. She had dragged me into one of her little dates. I'm guessing no one else was available if she begged me of all people to come with her here. When I finally marched through sand to the group everyone was already laughing.

"Hey." The guy Leena hugged turned to me, he was blonde while the other two were brunettes. He smiled, exposing perfect teeth. "You're Leena's sister, right? What was your name again?" He was absolutely dreamy, so much so that I almost forgot how to talk. "Ah..my name is Ayla, and yeah, I'm her younger sister." I smiled politely, very much hoping to get over the awkwardness. "Elijah. Nice to meet you." With another awkward nod, I walked away, towards Leena. She was speaking softly with the other two boys.

"Ayla! This is Bryce and Jayden, do you remember them?" Leena smiled at me, clearly trying to get me to say something. "Hey, nice to meet you." I smiled, but I'm sure it only came off as a grimace. Bryan, the one with a large nose and overgrown facial hair only smirked, while Jayden, who was covered in tattoos, just stared at me. I wasn't sure if they felt awkward too or were just..weird. "Anyways...here, it's the good stuff. I asked them to get it before we got here." Leena winked, handing me a red cup. I lifted it to my nose and cringed at the harsh smell. "What is that? Eugh." I tried handing it back but Leena just rolled her eyes. "We all know how boring you can be, just take a sip. It'll loosen you up...probably." She chuckled like it was the funniest thing in the world.

I think she saw the exact moment my face dropped. It was like a silent panic in her face, as if she made the wrong move. At least she's aware. Sure, I can be calm and maybe I don't do many exciting things but I wouldn't say I'm boring. I just don't crave stupidity. "No, I'm good. You drink it." I handed Leena back the cup before reaching in my bag for a towel. If I was forced to be put in this uncomfortable situation I might as well make the most of it and enjoy it.

"Sorry about her, she's a bit shy." Right. I had almost forgotten why we weren't very close. Leena would rather cater to other people's emotions, even when I'm the one wronged.

"I don't think she meant what you think she meant." Elijah walked over to me as I began setting down my towel. "Yeah, sure. You don't know her like I do." Not meaning it like that is exactly what Leena wants people to assume. "No, seriously," he gestured towards Leena , "she's told us all about her sister. Pretty, smart, sweet. I doubt she says that about people she doesn't like." I tried not to roll my eyes and just smile. And god if that wasn't the hardest thing to do. "I don't doubt she loves me, but she doesn't have to be rude about me either." I honestly have no idea why I'm trying to reason with him, he's just going to defend her.

"True." He turned towards me again, his eyes on mine, "that was rude, even if she loves you that's rude. I nod my head once because that's the only reaction I can give. I never expected someone to agree. That was silly. I bent down to set my things on my towel as he walked back to the red chair. It was uneven in the sand and looked like it was about to fall. As soon as Elijah set his hands on the armrest to brace himself, he fell over. I choked back a laugh before turning away.

Leena continued talking to everyone about hobbies, interests, and future plans to hang out. It felt like I was just here so she wasn't alone. I scrolled on my phone for a while before getting up to take some scenic pictures. A camera would never capture the sun the ways the eye does, but at least I have the memory of it. "Why don't we take a picture together?" Leena snuck up behind me, smiling. "Hey! Can one of you guys take a picture of us?" She waved over Elijah quickly, before grabbing me to pose. "Say cheese," Elijah laughed, before snapping a shot. I walked over to grab my phone, zooming in to the picture. Leena's face was a little off and I couldn't help but smirk before looking up. Elijah winked at me and I turned away. "let's do s'mores. I'm hungry," he walked back to the group and reached towards some marshmallows on the ground.

Elijah waited all of two seconds before opening up everything and roasting his marshmallow on a stick. "You'd really use a stick from the floor to put on your marshmallow?" I cringed, disgusted by the idea of bugs crawling all over the marshmallow he planned to eat. "Yeah," he grabbed another one from the floor to give to me, "you wouldn't?" I hoped he was joking and decided I was fine with uncooked marshmallow. "You sure you don't want anything to drink? My brother bought this for half price so you don't have to feel bad or anything," he had put the stick down and gestured his head towards the bottles of alcohol. "Maybe later, I honestly just hate the taste of it." I tried to move the conversation away from drinking, I really hated the idea of acting stupid in front of people. "What are you guys doing over here?" Leena walked over to us, leaving the two guys to get their own s'mores ingredients ready. "Trying not to burn my marshmallow and getting Ayla to just use a stick," Elijah answered back, giving me a quick smile as he teased. "Ew, babe. Nobody wants to eat on a bug infested s'mores, that's disgusting.

I blinked in surprise. I'm not sure why I didn't connect the dots earlier, but it made sense. "Why don't we play a game?" Leena perked up, looking at the other two boys still sitting on their chairs. The sun had already partially disappeared into the horizon and it was getting colder. "Bet," the guy filled with tattoos stood up, walking towards a gray cooler and opened it, "but we're using this." Inside the cooler is a couple of beer bottles covered in ice.

Leena claps her hands loudly and turns to me, "are you in? I'll only play if you do." I try not to roll my eyes at her obvious bluff but give in anyways, "fine. Only if you mix mine with lemonade. I hate the taste of beer." She smiles at me before nodding and walking to the where the chairs and my towel was set up.

"Alright!" Leena motioned everyone to sit down as tattoo guy—I had already forgotten his name— served everyone in plastic cups. "Truth or dare or never have I ever?" She looks around to everyone sitting in a circle, with me and Elijah being on either side of her and the other two sitting on the other side of me. "Let's go with never have I ever," Elijah spoke up and gestured towards me, "so no one gets any crazy ideas." He winked

"Jayden, where are our drinks at?" The guy with the crooked nose—Bryan, I think turned around, "hurry up." As Jayden passed us our drinks and sat down between Elijah and Bryan Leena had already begun. "Remember, every time you put a finger down you have to take a large gulp too." Everyone nodded their head as she began the first round, "never have I ever broken a bone."

Immediately I bite back a groan. I had broken my arm two years ago trying to skateboard. I gave her a mean look as I put a finger down and took a sip, Jayden and Elijah doing the same. "Be honest, you just wanted to gloat," Elijah rolled his eyes playfully, "anyways, never have I ever refused to go to a party." All at once everyone grumbled in annoyance— and then took a large gulp.

"As if you haven't skipped a boring party before," Leena snickered. "Yeah, I have," he shrugged, as if he didn't care he lost a point too. I wasn't sure what it was but my brain had suddenly felt lighter. I'm not sure why I was so hesitant at first, everyone had been super nice so far. Even Leena, as annoying as she could be sometimes was fun to hang out with.

"Okay me next!" I blurted it out before thinking, not considering the order. "Never have I ever been in a relationship." I grinned, knowing at least two people would have to drink. Elijah and Leena glanced at each other quickly before smiling and lifting their cups to their mouth. In the end, everyone but me had actually put a finger down. "Okay, let's do Bryce next," Leena said as she looked to the boy I had been calling Bryan this entire time. Oops.

He shuffled in place for a second before glancing at me. Before I could pinpoint the look in his face he turned his attention back to the group, "never have I ever ridden a Hyundai." That was another finger down. I glanced at Leena to see her putting a finger down too, followed by Elijah. We'd driven here in the Hyundai our parents bought Leena.

"What's wrong with a Hyundai?" I questioned, unsure why I felt the need to defend a car, but I did it anyways. Bryce shrugged his shoulders, "I was just playing the game, nothing serious." I tried to get over the strange irritation building up in me and forced myself to look towards Jayden. He looked like he was already thinking of what his should be. "Never have I ever…"

Suddenly everything felt very far, as if I was watching as spectator in a stranger's body. I couldn't move, couldn't speak and just watched as everyone continued playing the game. Everyone had put another finger down, except me. What was the question? Why was it so hard for me to talk?

I want to go home.

I lifted my hand slowly, as if it was the hardest thing I had ever done. Every movement I made felt slowed down. Did I drink too much? It was only one cup, though. Wait, what was the alcohol percentage?

How do i tell Leena?

I shifted my eyes toward Leena, only to find everyone standing up and watching me already. Leena's mouth was moving but I couldn't understand what she was trying to say and I felt my panic rise higher as I began shaking my head.

Without warning, I felt two hands from either side of me lift me up in a standing position. It felt like too much effort to turn my head but seeing as Elijah and Bryce had disappeared from my direct line of sight I could only assume it was them.

My eyes were burning and I shut my eyes. I opened my mouth to speak, to tell her I wanted to leave but I felt myself being guided somewhere. My eyes wouldn't open now that I had closed them and I had no idea where I was going. Where was Leena?

Where was she?

A few moments later I heard the sound of a car door opening and I finally opened my eyes. It was the car. Leena's car. She was taking me home.

The boys shoved me inside the back seats, and I felt my entire body relax at its comfort. They probably think I'm a lightweight. I watched as Elijah turned around and walks out of my view, leaving me with Bryce.

He fit his head in the car, the rest of his body following as he shut the door behind him. Something was wrong. We were alone in the back of Leena's car and he was hovering over me with his entire body.

No.

No. No. No.

I tried to push him off and he leaned in closer to my face, forcing our mouths to connect. Every movement was still difficult, every thought was a challenge. His hand snaked around my waist and I began feeling nauseous.

All I could think about was Leena. Why wasn't she here?

She promised.

—————-

I lifted my head, finally facing the people who had hurt me. "All I could think about was my older sister, praying she would save me." Tears had fallen involuntarily and I tried to fight the shame I felt. Here they were again, about to pay for what they had done to me. For what she planned for them to do me.

Leena refused to look at me from where she sat, handcuffed. And I hoped I would never have to look at her again either.