The Wanderers Beginning: The Wanderers, Reborn, & Unforgiven Read Online Free

whispers from some of the kids as we made our way through the house. “Can’t believe she’s here,” “Oh my god,” “Wow,” they said.
                  “Just ignore them,” Josie whispered to me.
                  Halfway through the crowd we were stopped by Marissa. “Ella! So glad you could make it!” she cheered. Stumbling, she gave me a sloppy hug; indicating she had already started drinking. I just smiled at her politely. “C’mon, you need a drink!” She navigated through the horde of bodies and directed me into the kitchen. I looked at Josie, pleading with my eyes to help me, but she was distracted by some cute boy she had struck up a conversation with.
                  We ran into the rest of Marissa’s clan inside the kitchen, and it was obvious they’d already had a few drinks themselves. “Hey guys, you remember Ella,” Marissa said shoving me into the midst of her group. The girls said hi and I smiled back politely. “Okay, Ella needs a drink!”
                  “Um…I’m okay, really,” I said, trying to politely dodge the offer.
                  “Nonsense!” Marissa said, handing me a cup full of god knows what. “It’s a party…drink!”
                  “Why not?” I thought. Maybe it might help me relax a little. I took a sip of the beverage handed to me and regretted it the moment it hit my tongue. I had to hide the disgust on my face. It was the worst thing I had ever tasted.
                  Marissa watched my reaction. “Good, right?” she said, misunderstanding my wide eyed expression. “Chloe made it.” I regretfully swallowed and nodded my head. “Here try this,” Chloe said handing me a shot.
                  “Did you make these too?” I asked Chloe, trying not to sound panicked.
                  “No,” she replied.
                  “Thank god,” I thought, and took the shot. It tasted like a Snickers candy bar. I enjoyed it so much I took another. “Woo!” they all cheered taking another one as well.
                  “Let’s dance,” Marissa shouted, making a conga line into the living room.
                  I reluctantly followed and found Josie in the designated dancing area already talking to a different boy. I strode right up to her and she grabbed the cup from my hand, took a sip, and instantly spit it out on the floor. Marissa’s crew shrieked and scoffed at Josie. “What the hell was that? Ugh it was nasty!” Josie was never one for subtlety.
                  “Nice going, bitch!” Marissa squealed.
                  “C’mon Ella, let’s go where there are less toxins,” Josie said narrowing her eyes at Marissa and escorting me outside to where there was a bonfire going.
                  The fire was warm and inviting. People were standing around cooking hotdogs and roasting marshmallows. Josie skewered a marshmallow with a stick and handed it to me. “I don’t know how you can stand hanging out with them.”
                  “I wasn’t hanging out with them. I was just being polite,” I said. Josie rolled her eyes at me and I nudged her with my elbow. She cracked a smile and I laughed as we enjoyed the fresh air.
                 
                  While I twirled my marshmallow in the fire so it wouldn't burn, I caught a glimpse of someone off in the distance. It was Kevin and he was sitting by himself on the edge of the dock, staring out into the open water. My therapist told me that I shouldn’t be afraid to talk about what happened. That I should open up to people because talking helped. I wasn’t exactly convinced she was right, but I thought I should give it a try. I turned to Josie and handed her my stick. “I’ll be right back,” I told her. She looked at me confused. I pointed in the direction of Kevin and she nodded