Max catches me frowning at the mirror and he cocks a brow. I sigh flustered and slam the door shut. Why does he too think that I can't have fun? He obviously must've  figured out that I am going to a party judging by the dress I am wearing. It's not a huge change, right?

I groan as I slide the bobby pins in my hair. I look down at my long silk gown. Finely cut jewels adore the sides of the rich violet frills. Two long ribbon sashes run along my waist and down the length of the dress. I tie them in to a bow. My hair gradates into black curls that reach till my waist. I look at my sleeves, assessing if they suit the look or not and noting how well it goes along with my dress, I smile satisfactorily.

I remember wearing this dress to a high-end business party that my father had hoisted a year ago. Ma selected this dress out along with Avi. Confusion swarms my head. Is this dress alright for the hottest party in town or should I wear something a bit more extravagant?

I have never went to a party before so everything I do makes me feel jittery and nervous. Even when I was with Jayden, Kayla and Avi, I always refused invitations to party. Max had left a bad impression of parties with my parents and because of that, I never really wanted to attend one. That is, until now.

Challenging Kayla and proving her wrong became my top most priority and the thought of my parents didn't even cross me. I sigh and grab my sling purse. Spraying some deodorant, I walk out my room. Pa catches my eyes as he hears the click of my heels.

"Where are you going?" he quickly asks as he looks me up and down. I frown thinking if I need to really specify the place. I think of lying but my guilt overtakes. 

"Um, to a friend's party," I say as I try to keep my face as neutral as possible. He raises a brow.

"Is it Avi's?" he asks and I stand in silence. He knows that something is up with me since I rarely visit their houses these days. I shake my head.

"No."

His expression hardens and he thinks deeply. I frown and play with the sashes. What if he says no? He immediately speaks, increasing my heart rate.

"I don't want you to be around any bad company. Is this friend of yours compatible?" he asks and I wince a little. Compatible? Does he think I am getting married or something?

I sigh and speak through gritted teeth.

"Her name is Lora."

He frowns.

"She sounds familiar..." He zones out and immediately speak, "The daughter of Mr.Jones?"

I was about to ask him how he knew about her but he beats me to it.

"Mr.Jones is a very well established businessman. Countless schools under his operation. Even St. Anthony's," he says and zones out again. His wise eyes immediately meet mine.

"You should get to know her" he says as expected. I resist the urge to roll my eyes. Pa said the same thing about Avi. Look what happened.

I swallow my spit and nod glumly. He later ushers me out the house.

"Have fun!" I hear him say and I repeat that sentence over and over in my head.

Have fun...

It doesn't hurt to loosen up a bit, right?

That's what Max must've said when he started partying.

I heave a sigh and start walking towards her house.

*

My heart races as I catch glimpse of the familiar mansion. Only this time, it's livelier. Balls of light flicker around as I look through the huge windows. The sound of pop music blares out the building as smell of food wafts around. I take a deep breath and enter the gates.

Passing the grand metal gates, I walk through the pathway and observe the students gathered around. Some familiar and some not. I immediately assume some to be college students.

They look at me quizically and I feel their gaze burning through my skin. I tuck a stray hair behind my ear and fidget with my fingers. Is it about how I look? Or is it because they didn't expect me to come here?

I try peeping at them again and observe their dresses. Most of the dresses are flashy and sequined. Some are simple but do their part in the cleavage. I look down at my dress with a frown. Is this too grand?

I fasten my pace and enter her mansion. A friendly gentleman opens the door and greets me inside. I smile forcefully thinking if he too is in shock of my dress.

My eyes squint as I try to adjust to the dark lighting. A rainbow of colors flash here and there in arbitary directions and I walk carefully, trying not to stamp on anyone.
I don't even know if Lora will be around. I don't want to look like a deer in headlights when she arrives.

People part ways as their eyes glaze over me. I hear slurred words thrown around at me—an aftermath of the drinks. I squeeze through a tight knit group of students as I hear some of them snicker.

"Cinderella upcoming guys," someone yells and earns a few giggles. I try not to let it get through my head.

Once they recognize you, they'll shut up.

I bite my lip and ignore the stares as I scan the crowd to find a familiar face. I head in deeper and find a couch unoccupied.

Thank God.

I walk towards the couch and carefully—a recent habit of mine—sit down. The white cushion compresses under my weight and I lean back, enjoying the comfort. I look straight at the television that's switched off and unknowingly my mind darts to Max. How does he even enjoy this?

He has friends.

I don't.

I feel pathetic enough to no enjoy a party alone and need someone to enjoy it with. The last thing I want is for everyone to know how lonely I am. I pull out my phone and star surfing the web just to make myself lol occupied.

As I read through the newsletter, a hand presses against my bare back. A chill runs down my spine as I turn back.

A gorgeous boy smiles smugly at me. His brown eyes stare at mine with wonder as I chew the inside of my cheek.

"Did you jump straight out of a Disney movie?" he asks and for a split second, I thought he complimented me. As realization kicks in, my ears heat up and I abruptly stand up.

"Leave me alone," I say and walk a step forward but am quickly shoved back by another college student. She eyes me up and down and smirks.

"Worth some huge bucks," she says as she runs a hand down my silk gown. I widen my eyes and try pushing her back but she doesn't budge.

"Isn't that your face?" someone asks as they show me a picture. I feel my  eyes sting with tears as I look at the photo Kayla had snapped of me that day I got my marks. She made a meme out of the entire situation and managed to get a good amount of awkward photos of mine.

I don't want to show this to Ma or Pa because I already know that they'll blame me from not being careful. Thankfully, the meme is only circulated the throughout our school.

But that doesn't make the situation a lot better.

"Dont stress her too much, guys. She'll make that face again," someone replies and the guy from earlier appears in front of me again.

"Aww. Too bad I missed it. Does this stress you out?" he asks and takes me by my arm and pulls my face close to his. I nearly get a shock by the sudden action but I recover myself.

"Leave me," I murmur and he smiles, satisfied. Mockingly, he trails a finger down my cheek.

"Make me," he says and I feel anger surging within. Ma would be disappointed to see me standing up in front of guys and putting myself in danger. But something tells me that the wisest option is to stand up.

I don't reply and sofly smiling at him, catch him off-guard and shove him roughly to the ground. Quickly utilising the opportunity, I rush out, trying to run us as far as my heels would take me.

"Catch that bitch!" I hear him yell but I keep running as I hear the footsteps of people behind me. I look over my back to see some college students running behind and I increase my speed.

I should've learnt how to increase my stamina instead of pouting in p.e.

Also, damn these heels.

I grunt as I feel my legs getting wobbly and getting accumulated with lactic acid. Snippets of the surroundings flash fastly on either sides as I struggle to escape. I run a bit further and noticing a sharp and subtle pathway to the right, make a run for it. I pray internally that they didn't see me and quickly spot a huge truck. I run towards it and hide behind the truck  where they can't see me.

My mind urges me to peep out my hiding space to see if they are near but my thought is cut short as I hear their voices just right in front of the vehicle. I stay still, not daring to move a single strand of my hair.

"Where'd she go?" I hear a guy ask. I immediately recognize him as the creep from earlier.

"Dunno bro. We didn't have to catch her anyway."

My blood freezes as I take in his word. What does he mean by "didn't have to"? Did someone... see them up?

But why?

"Too bad, she is kinda cute," the other guy says and I resist the urge to puke. I immediately hear the crushing of some paper.

"What's that?" the other guy asks, voicing out my thoughts.

"Some girl's insta. Wouldn't leave me till I wrote it down. Leech," he snorts and I hear the paper striking the ground. I take a deep breath and slowly look out as I hear the sounds fading away.

The ground is bare and empty. I breathe a sigh of relief and slowly walk towards the crumpled paper. If I get this girl's account I'll get to know some information on this guy. I could've asked some of my school mates but I didn't spot anyone in the short time I was in her house.

I bend down and curl my fingers over the paper ball, picking it up. Dusting the dirt off my hands, I open the crushed paper, revealing a username scrawled on the ruled chit. I try to understand the word tangled up in a cobweb of letters and give up. I fold the paper neatly and put it in my bag, deciding to figure it out later.

I turn back only to bump hard into a person.

My eyes widen in horror and I let out a tiny shriek as I stumble back.

"Um, Eline?" the person says and I gaze up, my heart beating fast against my chest. My heart rate slows down as I realize it's just Luke. His eyes soften as he takes in my panicked expression.

"Are you alright? I saw you running away so I chased you as fast as I can," he says and I run a hand down my face. I smoothen out my dress and smile.

"Yeah, I am fine," I force a smile but my shaky breath gives me away. My heart is still pumping hard from the adrenaline rush and my head is dizzy with haunting thoughts. I shouldn't let anyone know that I am scared to death. Not Luke. Not any of these people.

"Are you sure?" he asks and bends down to take a look at my face. My hair sticks out in different directions. I pat my head unconsciously as his gaze falls on my hair.

"Y-yeah," I stutter as I meet his eyes. His jaw clenches in decline and he runs a hand through his fierce red locks. Light falls on his irises, highlighting the rich brown flecks drifting amongs the dark sold brown. My cheeks heat up as he catches me staring at him. I take a step back.

"I don't think so," he says and I widen my eyes in surprise. He rarely speaks to me so what has gotten him so stubborn today? Do I look that pathetic that even he feels like consoling me?

"What are you suggesting? That I am some damsel in distress?" I ask as I furrow m brows. I fold my arms. Does he really think I can't handle any issues?

"Eline-" I cut him short.

"I know what you're thinking. Eline can't even protect herself. No wonder Alma always taunt her around!" I gesture with my hands.

"Just because I am cautious doesn't mean I can't stand up," I say as I remember how I stood up to Avi. Confidence swells in me and I look at Luke eye to eye. He blinks in confusion and slowly smiles. My ears heat up in anger and I stride towards him.

"What's funny?" I ask.

He catches my gaze and shrugs.

"I wasn't the one hiding behind a truck." He stuffs his hands in his pockets. I stutter at loss for words and I find myself blushing again in embarrassment.

"I usually don't speak out but I do when it's required. I know that you are mad at everything right now and I just wanted to check in," he says softly and tears sting my eyes. The way everyone treated me back then, me deciding to come here for a change, Max and hell, even Chester's memories rush back into my head. I always used to speak out but that all had to change. I kind of hate myself for letting others control me but I can't. And the truth hurts so bad—especially from another person's mouth.

A tear falls down my cheek and I immediately wipe it off, acting like nothing happened.

"I am sorry. I acted like a jerk. It's just that—there is just too much running in my head to focus on," I say and look down at the ground. Luke looks over his shoulder.

"You don't wanna head back in, right?" he asks and I mutter. "No shit sherlock."

A faint smile falls on his features and he asks me something else.

"How about we take a walk, then?"