A Long Night

"Has anyone seen Lila?" Alanna asked, scanning the faces of Derek's friends.

"Who?" one of them replied, brows furrowed in confusion.

"Lila, the girl we picked up earlier. She was with Gerard," Alanna clarified, her voice urgent.

"Gerard took her home," another friend chimed in, his words casual, as if it were nothing to be concerned about. 

She felt a twinge of apprehension but pushed it aside, hoping that Lila would make it home safely. Prioritizing their sleeping arrangements seemed more pressing at the moment. Sasha's house was closer, but sneaking in would prove challenging.

Her own home was farther away, but her parents wouldn't notice them if they could manage to slip inside undetected. Bonnie might wake up, but she trusted her sister to keep quiet.

"Everything all right? You're shaking," Jake noted, his tone laced with concern.

"Of course I'm shaking," Alanna replied dryly, water still dripping from her soaked clothes.

"Come with me," Derek said, motioning for her to follow him. They walked around the pool to the far end of the yard, where a beautiful, modern small house stood, bathed in moonlight

Derek led her inside and handed her a towel. "Do you guys have a ride home?" he asked, his eyes filled with genuine concern.

Alanna explained their predicament briefly, her voice wavering slightly. Derek reassured her that they could stay at the guesthouse until his parents returned on Sunday.

"Thank you, Derek," she whispered, relief washing over her.

Returning to the basement, Alanna attempted to rouse Sasha from her slumber, fearing the worst. She shook her gently, panic rising when Sasha didn't respond. But, just as Alanna was about to lose hope, Sasha stirred, mumbling, "I'm just very tired." 

"Please stay awake," Alanna begged softly, her voice cracking with exhaustion. For what seemed like a few hours, she remained by Sasha's side, keeping a watchful eye on her friend and checking her breathing periodically.

The dim basement light illuminated the worry lines etched across Alanna's face as she glanced at Sasha, still unconscious. The sound of footsteps drew her attention, and she looked up to find Derek descending the stairs.

"Everyone's gone," he informed her, his voice gentle and soothing. "I meant what I said. You guys can stay here tonight if you want. I can drive you home in the morning."

Alanna nodded, grateful for the offer but too exhausted to express that his offering of help might not be what they needed. She felt the weight of the night pressing down on her, and her head throbbed with a dull ache.

"Are you hungry?" Derek asked, his eyes filled with an understanding that seemed to go beyond their current situation.

"Maybe a little," Alanna admitted, her stomach churning at the thought of food. She followed him to the kitchen, where they began clearing away the remnants of the night's festivities.

Derek opened the refrigerator, revealing an array of bread, cheese, and ham. Alanna hesitated for a moment before making herself a sandwich, her hands trembling slightly as she assembled the ingredients.

"Is Sasha okay?" Derek inquired, watching her intently.

"Yeah, I think so," Alanna replied, her voice laced with doubt. "Have you been texting with her?"

"Sometimes," he said nonchalantly, leaning against the counter. "Did you and Jake have a good time before Lucas caught you?"

"Caught isn't the right word." She forced a laugh, but it sounded hollow even to her ears. "We were just talking. Nothing happened else happened," she mumbled, feeling her cheeks flush with embarrassment.

She took a bite of her sandwich, trying to fill the awkward silence that ensued.

"Sure," he said after a while, and shrugged, his handsome features softened by the warm glow of the kitchen lights. He resembled Lucas in many ways, but his hair was lighter. He looked more... dangerous.

Maybe it was just his bloodshot eyes and dark clothes, because he had been a perfect host and gracious gentleman all night, contrary to what Alanna would have expected of him.

As Alanna finished her meal, she couldn't help but feel a sense of camaraderie with Derek. They were both caught in the aftermath of a night filled with chaos and uncertainty.

"Thanks, Derek," she whispered.

He gave her a small, reassuring smile. 

"I'm going to bed," he announced, his voice a soft murmur that barely registered above the hum of the refrigerator. He left Alanna alone in the kitchen, the warmth of their conversation dissipating into the cool night air.

It felt strange to be alone amid the remnants of the party, in a huge house where somewhere, Lucas was probably sleeping.

Descending the basement steps once more, she was stopped by Derek's voice echoing from the top of the stairs. "Hey, Alanna." She turned to see him tossing her a soft, well-worn black t-shirt. "You might want to change out of your damp clothes."

"Thanks," she whispered, catching the shirt as it floated down to her. It smelled faintly of cedar and spice - a comforting scent that enveloped her like a warm hug.

Retreating to the dimly lit corner of the basement, she quickly changed and settled beside Sasha, exhaustion washing over her like a tidal wave. 

As sleep claimed her, Alanna clung to the hope that morning would bring clarity to how she and Sasha were going to escape this ordeal unscathed.

Sunlight filtered through a tiny window, painting golden streaks across the basement floor. Alanna's eyes snapped open, panic clawing its way up her throat.

If they wanted to go home and pretend they'd been there all night, they needed to leave now.