Sneaking Out

A high school party.

I'd never been to one before and hadn't planned on since I started high school. However, my best friend—Isabella Freeman—had as much persuasive skills as she had beauty. Which meant that she was very persuasive.

The high school parties at Southern Field Academy were well-known for their fun, late nights, and wild energy. All of which rang alarm bells in my head. Who knew how they defined 'fun' in this instance, but I preferred a quiet evening to myself. Books and TV shows were enough to keep me entertained.

Absentmindedly, I started scratching my arm as I pictured myself standing in the middle of a high school crowd. Being surrounded by loud teenagers and alcohol. The thought made me grimace.

"Why that look?" Bella asked from beside me. We were both assessing our outfits in the body-length mirror in my room.

"Hmm, I look ridiculous. I've never worn this dress before, and now I see why." I twirled around, hoping Bella would understand my point. Mom bought it a year ago, adding to my collection of dresses I never wore.

"What do you mean?" Bella asked, scrunching her nose slightly. She was giving me that look—the one that said she thought I was being unreasonable.

"It's too short," I began listing my complaints. "And it's too revealing. I was supposed to wear it with the matching leggings Mom got for me. Remember? The black ones that came with the dress?"

"What are you talking about? The dress is not even mid-thigh. You're being dramatic." Bella laughed dismissively.

Sometimes, I really hated Bella.

"I'm not being dramatic," I said flatly. "I just feel stupid."

"That's because you usually wear longer dresses. Whenever you have a photoshoot with your family, your legs are always covered." She pointed out. "If you're more comfortable in a longer dress, just choose a different one."

I gave her the driest look imaginable. "You made me try this on."

She flashed an innocent smile, winked at me through the mirror's reflection, and walked away. "We have about an hour before the party starts. The drive is thirty minutes, so we have the remaining thirty to finish dressing and sneak out without any of your staff noticing."

I groaned and stepped away from the mirror, feeling defeated. My eyes fell on the pile of discarded clothes strewn across the floor of my once-clean room. Maybe all my indecision about what to wear was just a way to delay leaving the comfort of my house for the party.

"Fine, whatever. I'll keep this dress on," I said in resignation. I glanced at myself one last time in the mirror, biting my lip as I struggled to like the way the dress looked on me. It was a beautiful, off-the-shoulder, dusty pink dress. It fit snugly at the top but flowed gracefully from the waist, ending just below my knees. My jewelry consisted of a gold necklace and bracelet that complemented the pink well. I didn't want to admit that I actually liked the look; I just didn't like how I looked in it.

I couldn't quite explain why I felt so insecure, especially since many people in my life, and society in general, considered me beautiful.

I had long, naturally wavy golden blonde hair that fell to my waist, ocean-blue eyes with long lashes, and a petite frame with a flawless face. It felt obnoxious to even think about these traits, but my family, friends, classmates, and even the media never missed a chance to remind me of them.

Feeling 'ugly' was an insecurity that came from somewhere I couldn't pinpoint, leaving me feeling ungrateful. Only my family and closest friends knew about this secret struggle.

"Pair it with these pretty black ankle-strap heels, and you'll look perfect," Bella said, her excitement evident as she eyed my outfit.

"Can I wear flats instead?" I asked.

"Flats don't go with that dress, Sera."

"I just know I'll feel even weirder in those heels," I said, shuddering at the thought.

"Sera..." Bella's voice softened as she stepped closer. "No one is going to judge you or think badly of you, I promise."

I could hear the shift in her tone.

"I know," I shrugged, though I didn't really know. "I'd just rather stay in tonight. I always act weird in front of people."

"That's not true. Besides, you said you were going to come out of your shell a bit before senior year, remember? Your words, not mine."

"Ugh," I sighed. "Yeah I remember, but it was only to make you and Caitlin happy because you're always telling me that I'm missing out."

"That's because you are."

I stuck my tongue out at her, trying to brush off the nagging voice inside my head that begged me to stay home. There was also a strange feeling in my gut about the party, but I chose to ignore it.

Bella was the one person who understood me the most, besides my parents and brothers. And even though she tried to lift my spirits and was always patient with me, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was holding her back from having fun.

That was the only reason I agreed to go with her tonight—to the biggest party of the year, the year-end bash. Yet, I pretended to be eager to waste my Friday night just to "break out of my shell." In truth, I had no plans to leave my comfort zone anytime soon.

Still, I forced a smile and said, "You're right, let's get going."

A huge grin spread across Bella's face. "That's the spirit!"

After one last check of our hair and outfits in the mirror, followed by a spritz of perfume, we grabbed our purses and left my room.

The farther we got from my room—my comfort zone—the heavier my heart felt. I suppressed a sigh. The thought of being around my fellow students filled me with anxiety, especially when it came to the boys. Immature guys I could ignore, but the cocky and mean ones were harder to deal with. And then there were the persistent types—the ones who didn't take "no" for an answer.

As we descended the staircase, my eyes widened when I saw my brother stepping out of the living room and into the front foyer, right where the east and west staircases met. Gabriel wasn't supposed to be home on a Friday night—I'd just assumed this Friday would be no different.

Panicking, I tried to make a quick U-turn, nudging Bella lightly to signal her, but her excitement must have blinded her to the situation. She walked ahead of me, completely unaware of Gabriel's presence.

There were two big problems: first, my parents had a strict rule about not letting me out this late without a bodyguard, which they never enforced on my three older brothers when they were my age. Second, Gabriel wouldn't hesitate to stop me—and worse, rat me out to our parents. I guess that made it three problems.

Our loud heels had already given us away, though, because it took Gabe less than thirty seconds to spot us. I took a deep breath before descending the last of the steps, preparing myself for whatever was about to come.

Gabriel stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes narrowing as he sized us up. His posture tensed when his gaze landed on me. "Why are you girls playing dress-up on this lovely Friday night?"

Bella, now aware of the situation, froze in her steps and shot me a quick glance. She hadn't expected Gabe to be home either.

"Well?" he pressed.

"We... uh, we have somewhere to be," Bella said sheepishly, her fingers fidgeting nervously with her purse.

"And where might that be? Because I don't recall our parents giving Sera permission to go anywhere tonight."

In a panic, I blurted, "It was Bella's idea," pointing a finger at her without thinking.

Bella's mouth dropped open in shock, her eyes flashing with betrayal.

"Are you serious, Isabella? Dressing her up like this?" Gabriel asked in annoyance.

"Sera's not twelve anymore, okay?" Bella snapped, stepping in to defend me. "Geez, can all of you just chill out? She never goes anywhere except to school and pretentious social clubs, and you all still hover over her like she's a kid. Our junior year of high school just ended, and we want to celebrate. Please, can Sera come with me?" She stepped closer to Gabe, hands pressed together in a pleading motion, flashing her sweetest smile.

I sighed at her choice of words, already bracing for the incoming scolding from Gabriel, the youngest of my three older brothers and the one whom I was closest to. Bella wasn't wrong, but she wasn't entirely right either. Sure, my parents were strict and had way too many rules specifically aimed at me, but it wasn't like I was dying to be more social.

As suffocating as their rules could be, they also gave me the perfect excuse to turn down opportunities to socialise.

Maybe their overbearing nature was the reason I was so sheltered. Sheltered and terrified of doing so many normal things outside. My comfort zone was incredibly small, limited to my room and the few familiar spots I frequented in the mansion. Sometimes, though, I wished I was different.

Gabriel's eyes narrowed as he stepped closer, looking like a younger version of our dad. He stared at me with an accusing glare, almost as if Bella's words had come from my mouth.

"Go to your room and put on your PJs, or do whatever it is girls your age do," he said, completely ignoring Bella's plea. "But don't think for a second you're leaving this house dressed like that."

"I'll get Ben to go with us," I suggested, already feeling defeated. The mere thought of our forty-eight-year-old bodyguard shadowing us at the party made me cringe.

"You didn't ask Mom and Dad beforehand if you could go, so that automatically means you can't. They're already at their dinner party, so you missed your chance."

"Why are you even home?" I rolled my eyes, frustrated. "You weren't supposed to be here."

"I came back because I forgot something. Must've been heaven's way of stopping you from sneaking out. Now, go to your room."

"You're not her dad," Bella snorted.

Gabriel shot Bella an irritated look. "When our parents aren't home, or neither of our older brothers, my word is law. So, you can head off wherever it is you're going, dressed like that, but Sera stays."

"It's just a small gathering at one of our classmate's houses, okay? Nothing sketchy. I mean, it's me. C'mon, have I ever done anything remotely bad or sketchy?" I flashed my signature innocent smile, the one that always got Mikhail and Sebastian—my other brothers—to do anything for me. But it never worked on Gabriel.

"Oh, Sera," Gabriel smiled widely, patting my head like I was a child. I frowned at the gesture. "Five years ago, I was your age and a hundred times more rebellious. I know all the excuses in the book, and that's one no one ever believes."

My shoulders slumped in defeat. I had no desire to argue, especially for a party I didn't even feel like attending. I turned to Bella, guilt written on my face, knowing I might not keep the promise I'd made.

"How come you can go out to parties all the time, but Sera can't?" Bella asked, her tone irritated. She only ever spoke to Gabriel this way—she wouldn't dare with my other family members. Gabe was the cocky and rebellious troublemaker, while the rest of my family was far more reserved. Maybe that's why she felt more comfortable challenging him.

"I thought you'd be smart enough to know the answer to that, Isabella."

"So what if she's only sixteen? You just admitted you were going out and being rebellious at that age," she shot back.

"She's a girl."

"That's sexist!" Bella snapped, her grip tightening on her bag in frustration.

"She's also underage, the youngest, and the only girl out of the four of us. Plus, I'll bet my car there'll be alcohol at this party. Why am I even explaining the obvious to you?" Gabriel side-stepped us, heading toward the mansion's main doors. "I've got places to be."

"Come on, Bella. He's not going to listen," I muttered, grabbing her arm and pulling her back up the staircase. 

"Then you say something!" she urged.

"He'll just call our parents and rat me out. I'll be in trouble whether I go or not at that point."

"Asshole," Bella mumbled, disappointment etched across her face.

"You know I can hear you, right?" Gabriel called over his shoulder. "Why don't you watch a movie in the cinema room? Or bake some cookies, watch a chick flick, maybe paint each other's toenails. Just don't leave the estate."

"Gosh, you're so sexist. Yeah, because girls only have shallow, cliché hobbies," Bella groaned.

Gabriel raised his hands in mock surrender. "My bad."

"Just go, Gabe. We won't leave," I said, waving him away as I turned toward the stairs again.

"I'm going to have to take your word for that, Ser-bear. You've rarely ever lied to me, and you're too much of a goody-two-shoes to risk me telling Dad." He flashed his charming smile. "Okay, I'm off."

We watched as the doors closed behind him. "He's as annoying as ever," I muttered.

"Exactly," Bella groaned. "You can't do anything, and they question it. How are you supposed to live when they constantly think someone's out to kidnap you?"

Bella continued her rant as we made our way back to my room, but I wasn't really listening. My mind was focused on a new, spontaneous idea that had sparked within me. She wasn't wrong, of course—she was voicing thoughts I'd had for years—but I'd grown used to my family's overbearing nature. It was just part of life by now.

"Sera, what are you even doing?" Bella asked, her voice tinged with confusion as she noticed my lack of responses. She stared as I rummaged through my drawers, looking for something specific.

I ignored her, my fingers sifting through old papers, searching for the one document I'd memorized ages ago. After a few more moments, my hand brushed against the familiar sheet. "Found it." A smile spread across my face as I pulled out the blueprints—the layout of the Muller Estate mansion.

Our family estate.

We had multiple employees to maintain the property, including quarters for staff, a mini golf course, and various other facilities scattered across the grounds. My family hosted both personal and business parties regularly, meaning there were plenty of ways to leave without using the main entrance.

Even with Bella's car, I realized, we could slip out undetected.

"I can find an undetectable way out using this," I said, holding up the prints.

Bella's jaw dropped as she stared at me, before a slow grin spread across her face. "I didn't know you had a single ounce of rebelliousness in you, Sera. Wow."

"I'm doing this for you and Caitlin," I pointed out.

"Fair enough, but we're only forcing you because it'll be good for you, too."

Her words echoed in my mind, stirring up that bad feeling in my gut again. Something about this party didn't sit right with me, but I shoved the thought aside. Maybe she was right. Maybe it was time to step out of my comfort zone and grow up.

"Let's go then," I said, my voice steady but my heart racing.

A long night awaited us, one that I'd never in a million years have anticipated. One that would change my life forever.

-x🦋x-

Rewritten version of Dark Love – Chapter 1.

Full and completed (unedited) version already out on my profile.