Author's Note: One month without an update! I'm so sorry, but university started again and I just didn't feel like translating a single word. I hope I didn't make too many mistakes (it's almost half past one in the morning and I wanted to get this done before I go to bed) and that I won't have to put you off again. Enjoy!

--

The Mitchells were a family of wealthy bankers, and their house made that clear. It was huge and surrounded by an overdimensioned garden in front of and behind the rambling building, which loud music leaked from.

Eleanor sidestepped the many parking cars, which belonged to Anthony's buddies. The vehicles outclassed each other in elegance and decadence. Luckily no one had seen her arrive in her Dad's old Capri.

The neatly paved gravel walk that approached the house was edged with aesthetically trimmed plants, from which the dim flare of small party lights gleamed. Everything looked very inviting.

Eleanor scaled the stone steps up to the front door, examining the pretty wrought-iron handrail, and concentrically positioned herself in front of the door. She adjusted her hair and rang the bell. It took some seconds before the door was opened.

"Hi, Eleanor! I'm pleased to see you!" There stood Anthony with a soft smile on his lips, his white shirt sloppily pulled out of his jeans. Before she could answer he went on, "Come in!"

He opened the door a little more so she could enter. Eleanor was overwhelmed by the extravagance that surrounded her. Everything was polished to a high finish: she was walking on a white marmoreal floor, an opulent chandelier hung from the ceiling and the furniture was made of finest wood. A cantilevered staircase led from the huge entrance hall, whose walls were covered with all kinds of paintings, to the upper floors.

A couple, that was lingering in the foyer as well, glanced upstairs curiously. When they put their feet on the lowermost step, Anthony's imperious voice filled the room, "Hey, drop it, will you? Upstairs is a no-no!"

They backed off the staircase, as if the carpet had tried to bite them. With an apologetic grin towards Anthony and a hissed "I told you so!" from the girl they disappeared into the living room. Anthony shook his head.

"They think they can have sex everywhere, even in the john," he sighed. Eleanor made herself smile in agreement. His slanguage needed getting used to. Besides, she was a little shocked given the fact that apparently several guests had already tried to make love in the other rooms.

"You look drop-dead gorgeous," Anthony remarked and startled Eleanor out of her thoughts.

"Thank you," she aspirated and blushed. She let him lead her to the living room. The music came from here, and most of the guests were standing and sitting here. They gabbed loudly to drown out the music, they screeched and laughed. It was a dissonant mix of voices. The boys and girls who didn't speak lay on the couches, cuddling, or they replaced the spoken conversation by kisses. Eleanor could spot even more people outside on the patio. Most of them were smoking and some of the girls let themselves be thrown into the pool without resistance.

"Sparkling wine?" Anthony asked. He held a tray that was brimming with elegant champagne cups.

"No, thanks," she replied. "Can I have a coke instead?"

"Sure!" he nodded, slightly disappointed. "Wait, I'll get you some."

Eleanor had the chance to analyze the overall situation a little closer. His question regarding the drink had called her attention to the fact that nearly everybody held a glass with the sparkling liquid. And those who didn't drink from glasses feasted on bottles which, Eleanor supposed, contained beer. She was outraged and disappointed at the same time. She hadn't expected the guests sitting around quietly, but the unrestrained and carefree consumption of alcohol deranged her immensely. At least the friskiness kept within a limit so that she didn't have to worry about being trampled down by an uncontrollably dancing pack of people.

Anthony turned up at her side again, holding a large glass filled with coke.

"Do you promise to clink glasses with me at midnight?" he asked and looked at her expectantly. If there was something like the notorious look with puppy dog eyes, he had it down pat. But Eleanor stood firm. She shook her head.

"Oh, come on!" Anthony hustled her. "One little sip won't hurt."

"We'll see," she said. It was an answer without obligation that seemed to satisfy him. He offered her a seat on one of the couches and beamed at her while she sat down. Did he feel uncertain in her presence?

Some silent minutes followed in which both of them looked everywhere, but avoided looking in the other's face. Reason enough for the annoying little voice in Eleanor's head to pipe up again.

"I beg your pardon?" she barked at her. "He's sitting next to you, you're alone. Do something!"

"Um ... ," her actual voice started, "... your house is beautiful." She sheepishly took a sip. What a stereotype statement!

"Yup," Anthony agreed and outstretched his long arms. When he put them down again, one of his hands stayed on Eleanor's shoulder. The touch made her shiver.

"C-can you show me the garden?" she spluttered. She really needed some fresh air, but also time to deal with his excessive affection. It hadn't escaped her that they were constantly being observed by the others. Most likely, there was also whispering again. But there was something positive about Anthony's permanent presence: no one would approach Eleanor in bad faith.

--

The garden behind the house was even more gorgeous than the front garden. The flowerbeds were planted with huge rosebushes, which were in full bloom, and other adorable flowers. In between stood baroque lanterns which reminded her of the typical street lighting in Paris. It was like a fairy tale, so surreal. To make sure that she wasn't dreaming Eleanor touched one of the many blossoms. It was as soft as silk and exuded an odor which she would never have expected from such a delicate creation of nature.

"You like it?" Anthony stood close to her and looked over her shoulder. They kept aloof from the screaming guests near the house who went on throwing each other into the pool.

"Yes, I like it a lot," she responded softly. "It's wonderful here."

"Glad to hear that."

Eleanor couldn't couch the atmosphere. Something romantic was in the air, they were alone, far away from the glances of the others, and yet it was an oppressive situation. She didn't know what to do. But wasn't waiting the best thing to do right now? Anthony seemed to think the same. He looked at the bottle in his hand and noticed that it was empty.

"Your glass is empty, too," he said and took it from the rat girl. "I'll refill our drinks. Meanwhile, you can go on looking around."

With a heartrending smile he turned around and trotted towards the house in a lordly stride. Eleanor noticed that he was slightly staggering. He was obviously squiffy and she hoped that he wouldn't miss the beginning of his birthday.

As recommended, she went on strolling through the breathtaking garden and let the gently lit blaze of color affect her. She had just turned to an interesting composition of chrysanthemums when she heard a rustling in the hedgerow in front of her. In anticipation of a straying cat Eleanor bent forward to explore the source of the sound. But instead of a cat three familiar figures sallied out of the bushes: Preena, Celeste and Hannah.

Eleanor shrieked and turned on her heels to take flight, but the girls were faster. Before she realized what was happening, Hannah grabbed her arms while Celeste grasped her feet and thus they pulled her to the ground.

"HEL-!" Eleanor cried out, but Preena put her hand on her mouth as quick as a flash. The young rat tried to bite her enemy's fingers, but her free hand hit her face so hard that she lost courage.

"You little bitch are having a ball at the party that was intended to be our stage, huh?"

Preena's voice had adopted a menacing tone. Full of hate, she looked down at the scared girl.

"My gorge is rising when I look at you! You're prancing around as if you were the most adorable creature this world has ever seen. Are those natural or did you stuff your cleavage?"

Without letting Eleanor answer Preena stretched out her short fingers and put her on the bosom of her captive. She squeezed, with such a force that the rat girl moaned with pain. She kicked out, wanted to break free from Celeste's grasp, but she didn't succeed. She felt despair rising within herself. Where was Anthony?

"If we aren't allowed to come to the party, then we'll have our own one. And guess who will be our special guest!" Preena piped. What on earth was she up to?

"Come on, come with us! - Oh, silly me!" She threw a pitiful glance at Eleanor and added, "Our Majesty needs her sedan!"

She nodded to her friends and they lifted the defenseless rat in order to carry her towards the hedgerow. Eleanor prayed that help would finally come.

"What would our Majesty like to do at her party? Maybe sup some sparkling whine while you and the royal household watch your subjects make a fool of themselves?" Preena spit out.

"Or would you rather like to be ogled by a genial group of younglings?" Hannah proposed and chuckled nervously.

"Or what about -" Celeste didn't go on, for an enormous shadow was cast over the girls and a voice sounded that curdled their blood - including Eleanor's.

"Where are you girls going?"

She looked up and relief came: it was Anthony. Thank God, she thought. He put down his beer bottle and the glass and slowly walked over to the strange kidnapping scene. Eleanor was dropped ruggedly. She gratefully looked up to her rescuer, but he was concentrating on Preena and her friends. He was still staggering a little, and his voice was remarkably loud when he snapped at the girls, "What are you doing at my premises?! Haven't I told you not to come here?!?"

The three stuttered incoherent syllables and pointed at each other.

"SHUT UP!" Anthony screamed. "This is my last warning! If I ever catch you menacing Eleanor again, I'll tie you into knots!! And now get your fucking asses outta my garden!!!"

He reached for his beer bottle and aimed at the girls. They started screeching uncontrollably, but couldn't agree on whether to make their exit through the hedgerow or the garden. Apparently they were slow off the mark, for Anthony hauled off to strike and threw his bottle towards the hysterical girls.

"FUCK OFF!!!" he bellowed. Preena understood this order, for she started running and dragged her friends with her as quickly as she could.

Anthony took a deep breath when he, with a bright red face, turned to Eleanor. She had eyed the scene, stunned, and still couldn't say a word, although danger had been averted. The shock was too heavy.

"From Monday on, you'll need a bodyguard in school," Anthony said and looked complacently at the speechless girl next to him. He was obviously proud of his achievement, but Eleanor was still not able to react. Her feelings ran riot. She should be thankful, hug him, maybe even kiss him passionately to confirm him in his hero position, but it didn't feel right. She felt paralyzed, seeing the aggressiveness that Anthony exhibited when he was drunk. Did he always react like that when he got angry?

"Everything OK?" he inquired when he saw her ashen face. Eleanor shook her head truthfully. She felt very queasy. Not only because of the sudden appearance of Preena and her friends, but also because of Anthony's reaction. He scared her. He was a giant guy after all and could also dish out when he was sober, as Eleanor had experienced in school. She quickly took a big sip from the glass he had refilled. The drink tasted awful at that moment.

"Let's go inside," Anthony said and hiccuped. "That will distract you from what happened."