Read Bloom for Free Online Page B

you know? I just want to relax.”
    “Hey, now! Miss Perfect Grades wants to have a little fun! Everybody watch out!”
    It took another ten minutes before Kayla turned away from downtown Scottsdale and drove slowly through the wealthiest neighborhood in the city. Haven thought that her own house was nice, but it was a shack compared to the mansions lining both sides of the street.
    They passed a sprawling two-story home on the left. Cars were parked on the perfect lawn at angles that would make them nearly impossible to move later.
    Kayla drove by the house with her mouth open, staring through the huge glass windows at all of the people inside. “Oops,” she said. “We’re here.” She pulled her car into an empty spot on the side of the street a block away, then opened her door and started to get out.
    “Wait!” said Haven. “What if my parents wake up and find out I’m not there? What if Noah has another nightmare?”
    “Oh, come on. It’s a little late to be thinking about that now, isn’t it? You’re just nervous about Jason. Forget about it and relax.” She got out of the car and shut her door.
    Haven sighed and did the same. They walked across the lawn, navigating around teenagers they recognized from school. Everyone had a red cup in hand and seemed to be having a great time.
    “What are they drinking?” asked Haven as they walked into the house.
    “Shh! Don’t be a dork! Did you think they’d be serving fruit punch?” Kayla looked up and spun around to take in the view. “Wow, this place is great!”
    Haven saw a massive chandelier hanging down from the ceiling thirty feet above. A spiral staircase ascended around it and led to the second floor.
    “That probably cost more than my whole house,” she said.
    The place was packed. Haven saw a few people she knew from her classes, but there were just as many that she had never seen before. Most of them moved to the constant, steady thumping of loud music. Small spotlights swiveled and flashed from their mounts atop bookcases and cabinets to paint the crowd in a rainbow of bright colors.
    “Come on, let’s get a drink.” Kayla grabbed Haven’s hand and pulled her through the mass of people.
    “But we don’t drink!”
    “Keep your voice down! Just soda or something.”
    Kayla waved to friends she knew from school as she moved toward the kitchen. There was an opening at the drink table and Haven waited while Kayla filled two red cups with soda. She turned back and handed one of them over.
    “There!” she said. “No one will know the difference.”
    “I’ll know!” boomed a loud voice behind them.
    Haven turned around. Jason stood on the other side of the table, smiling at her. He had a cup in his hand and his cheeks were flushed red.
    “You made it!” he said. “I thought you were gonna stand me up!”
    Haven leaned closer to shout over the music. “I just had to wait until my parents—”
    Kayla reached out and quickly pulled her back. “We had to ditch another party!” she said loudly, squeezing Haven’s arm.
    “Oh, right,” said Haven, finally getting the hint. “This one is way better!”
    “Yeah it is!” said Jason. He walked around the table and stood between them, turning his back to Haven. The smell of alcohol filled the air around him as he took the cup out of Kayla’s hand and leaned toward her. “Let’s get you something a little more apopriate—perpropriate—a little more tasty!”
    The group of teenagers around the table shouted their approval as Jason tipped a bottle of clear brown liquid over Kayla’s cup and filled it to the brim. He passed it back to her and took a long chug from his own cup. Kayla smelled her drink and wrinkled her nose.
    “Drink it!” he said happily. “Drink it, drink it, drink it!” He started a chant and everyone standing by the table joined in.
    Kayla shrugged and started to lift the cup to her lips.
    “Kayla!” said Haven.
    “Oh, come on,” said Kayla, leaning forward and