Colorful
"I'm sorry, but why am I dressed up as a trashy, gothic girl?"
I was currently in Astrid's room while I was being decorated as the "typical party girl" from England. I was wearing a loose shirt with a random name of a band on my shirt, a pretty skimpy skirt with lace tights on, black army boots, and a heavy necklace which was hurting my neck.
Astrid gasped and mockingly put her hand over her chest. "I'm deeply offended," she said, finalizing my hair with a sharp tug. It hurt tremendously, but I decided not to say anything. If there was something I would not do, it was annoy Astrid.
We were going to party number three, and all of the Billings girls were getting dressed. Headmaster Hathaway had banned all of our parties; so this time, we were starting things a little different.
Hathaway most likely knew were going to try because there was increased security all over campus. We told all the party members to arrive in groups and leave at separate times. By doing so, we hoped Hathaway wasn't going to notice anything. Also, the only way to get to the party was to walk across the field, which was as ostentatious as it could be.
"Astrid, please, how am I going to walk across with this heavy, ugly outfit? I mean, I don't get why you're making such a big deal about–"
"This outfit is sheer, fucking brilliance! You, my dear, look like a girl getting ready for dub-ness!" Astrid exclaimed. She clapped her hands in earnest, and forced me to get up. Astrid was making all these comments of dub and spliff and partying all night long. I didn't get what she was saying half the time.
After Astrid was done collecting her items, we ended up walking across the hall to Tiffany's room. Constance was already there, looking like an Edie Sedgwick vision. Tiffany was also dressed as a funky girl, although her outfit looking normal, as opposed to mine. To the side, I saw Amberly and her annoying self sitting in the corner, fixing her blonde hair.
As I waited for the girls to finish their make-up, I decided to text Sawyer, asking him if he was going to the party. The reply was a no.
I frowned and quickly replied back, asking him why he wasn't going. His answer was long and final.
I'm the headmaster's son, and he said not to go. Besides, I don't want to go to these parties anymore. I'm tired of them.
His curt response made me a little sad and angry. Sawyer was always judgmental and moody. Why couldn't he just go along with everyone else and have fun?
"Ready?" Constance asked.
"Yep," I said. "I told Noelle I would meet with her first. I guess after you see me walk across the field, just go. Tell everyone else that."
The girls nodded their agreement, with the exception of Amberly, and I went ahead, my horrendous boots making loud noises. I put on a long, black coat, letting it cover my body. It was six o'clock, and it would take at least two hours to get to the party.
I looked side to side, watching for any guards. It was eerily quiet; it seemed as if everyone was silently getting ready, aside from all the freshmen. Stealthy, I power walked, not wanting to get caught. Once I had reached the soccer field, my pace quickened, and I walked on the edges of the field. It was kind of odd that I had yet to see any security men.
I took a sharp left into the forest. This setting was making me feel uneasy, with its darkness and looming trees. Nonetheless, I walked, somewhat grateful for Astrid's ghetto boots. By now, I figured, some of the Billings girls probably left. Slowly, Noelle's graceful body could be seen along with a black limo. Several others were lined up also.
"You're looking shady," she remarked. She, too, was wearing a long trench coat.
"I did the best I could," was all I could say. Noelle nodded.
"Did anyone follow you?"
"Nope. I didn't see any security guards, and I told the girls to leave once they saw me leave the soccer field." I furiously rubbed my hands together, trying to keep them warm. She complied and we went inside.
There was a bottle of champagne ready and glasses. I felt like we were going to Legacy, but one look at the outfit told me I wasn't. "So, we're going to wait for everyone else?"
"That's generally the plan," said Noelle, smirking. "Let's just hope nobody gets caught." I nodded my agreement, and a round of silence swept over us.
"What the hell are you wearing?" Noelle finally asked. Grimly, I looked down at my clothes and shrugged.
"It was Astrid's idea."
She just laughed and shook her head. "Tonight is going to be . . . fun."
We were at a warehouse. A big, old warehouse. It had a musky smell, as if people had been here a lot and the sweat was a part of the building. It was completely dark, although there were some lights. The music, on the other hand, was weird and it made me feel . . . odd. The whole scene was crazy and out of this world.
I was, yet again, sitting by myself. Well, not really – I would have sat, but all the red couches were covered with people I didn't know. I had a suspicious feeling they were doing drugs. So, I resorted to leaning against the wall, watching the lights flicker above and watching everyone dance.
"Reed! Come over here! Dance with us!" Astrid yelled. She and Trey were grinding all over each other, despite not publically announcing their relationship.
"No thanks!" I yelled over the loud music. I continued to stand there with arms crossed. I was unbelievably bored. After several minutes of loathing the party, my thoughts went to sad, depressing ones.
I was still having trouble sleeping even though Noelle gave me some sleeping pills. Honestly, I didn't want to get attached to them like my mother had been. Besides, if I really wanted to get rid of my dreams, then I should get therapy or talk to a close friend. The problem was, I wasn't sure if I wanted to tell everyone.
And then I had problems with Josh and Sawyer. I wasn't speaking to Josh, and the unanswered questions just kept getting unanswered. I wasn't even sure if I wanted to talk to him. Letting everything go was a wonderful idea.
Sawyer was now in the way. He and I hadn't made any considerable advances toward each other, and I was still debating whether or not I had an attraction to him. We both had a lot of similarities and I trusted him more than anyone else.
On top of all of these predicaments, there was something sinister going on with Ivy, Josh, and the Billings folder. After I had told Noelle my theory, she laughed and said it was impossible.
"Reed! Hey!" I heard someone say. My thoughts went to the back of my head, and as I turned around, I saw a very drunk girl coming at me. I had no idea who she was.
"Hi," I said, my confusion apparent. Who was this girl?
"Come here!" she said, dragging my arm along with her. Immediately, I was propelled into the dance floor. The nameless girl had amazing strength, and even though I tried to release my arm from her hand, it wouldn't budge. Instantly, I started panicking. Was she the girl who threw me in the middle of the street?
We passed hundreds of people, and everyone seemed oblivious to us. Well, they seemed oblivious to their surroundings regardless. Finally, after much wait, the girl stopped dragging me and threw me inside a room. Naturally, it was dark. There was a haze of smoke covering the entire room, and I coughed several times.
"Where the hell am I?" I asked, beyond scared for my life.
As I looked around, I saw people lying and sitting about, talking in hushed tones. I saw a huge table with . . . bongs? White powder and rolled up pieces of paper? Pills?
Ohmigod, what should I do? Should I call the cops? Should I–
"Reed, sit over here." I whipped my head to the side and saw none other than Hunter. I rolled my eyes in frustration. Did he want me to take drugs again? This man needed to stop ASAP.
His red shot eyes tried to invite me in, but I was repulsed by the sight in front of me. "Um . . . that's OK. I-I'll just, you know, go." In a failed attempt, I tried to turn around and leave, but my way was blocked by a heavy-set man. Gulp.
All of a sudden, a pair of warm hands circled around my waist. I yelped a little, but the person held on tight. "Come on, don't be scared," Hunter said, his voice throaty and husky. "Just sit down and relax a little. I simply wanted to see you, that's all." It's OK, Reed. Just pretend you're having fun and then you can leave.
With that notion, I let Hunter lead the way and push me down on the sofa. It reeked of some horrid substance, and I fought the urge to choke. The smoke wafted up to my nose, and it burned. To my dismay, Hunter decided to wrap his arms around me and bring himself closer. I tried not to show him any discomfort.
"So," a girl from across the room drawled out. "I heard you almost got run over by a bus recently," she said. Memories of that night, which was not too long ago, started creep up. I didn't want to tell this random girl who was fucking her boyfriend on his lap anything.
"It wasn't a bus, it was a truck," I said in a small voice. I shuddered at the thought of almost dying.
"Mercedes, stop being a bitch and leave her alone," Hunter said. His grip tightened around me, but I was grateful that he made her shut up.
The girl, Mercedes, scoffed. "I'm not being a bitch; I'm just asking a question. Besides, she looks like a train wreck after all the near death experiences," she said with an s. She looked at me directly in the eye and smirked, all the while lifting a rolled up piece of paper. She moved it side to side, taunting and trying to tempt me.
"That's a good idea," Hunter eventually said. "Xavier, pass it over." The man named Xavier, who strongly resembled a blonde Harry Potter character, gave Hunter a metal case. Hunter reached over to retrieve it. He smiled as he brought it over, and when he opened it up, I couldn't help but gasp.
There was tons of weed in there, all lined up in a perfect fashion. I was shocked and repulsed. Without even thinking, I got up, only to be pulled back down. Hunter's burning eyes were looked up at me, and I had the urge to scream out loud.
Keeping a fixated eye, he took one out from the metal case. In a fluid and practiced motion, he got the weed lighted and was already savoring the sweetness. "Reed, just once, and you'll feel like you've never felt before."
Defiantly, I shook my head. "N-no, it's alright." I stopped and sneezed, only to find out how much my lungs were burning up. "C-can I leave now?"
"No can do," a guy said. He was sitting on the couch across from us, his girlfriend snorting some coke right next to him. He had a smug look on his face.
"Please?" Hunter begged, his warm breath tickling my neck.
I thought about it. I didn't necessarily need to smoke the weed; I could just fake it. Once I did, I could act really high and leave. It wasn't that hard, right? All I had to do was put it really close to my mouth and follow whatever Hunter did.
"Sure," I squeaked out. Patiently, I waited for Hunter to give me a joint. Instead, he took the one from his mouth and handed it over to me.
"Here you go, sweetheart."
Feeling a sick amount of dread, I slowly brought it up to my mouth. The smoke came out from the end of the joint, and it was already making me woozy. One, two, five seconds passed and I had yet to pretend I was doing it. Hunter was intently watching.
"I think she needs some help," a girl beside me said. Where the hell did she come from? Without warning, the girl took the joint from me and shoved it inside my mouth. I whimpered in protest, but the girl kept a strong hold on my mouth and the joint. The smoke was covering the inside of my mouth, and if I didn't inhale it soon enough, I would die coughing.
So I did it.
The girl whispered to me, telling me I was doing a great job, but I hated myself every passing second. I wanted to cry. She was torturing me, and after she thought I had enough, she pulled the substance back.
I didn't know what happened after that.
All I remembered was that I left the room, high and disorientated, walking in random areas. I was obviously not in the main dancing area, which I was thankful for. I was feeling extremely calm, yet paranoid, if it was even possible. My head was throbbing all over, and at times, I would get really dizzy.
"Reed?"
The soft voice of an angel instantly made me feel at peace. I turned around, finding a confused Josh. Suddenly, all my deep feelings for Josh tumbled over, and I wanted to kiss him forever. I wanted to touch him without feeling guilty. Just for tonight, I wanted all of him.
I came over and swopped him up, kissing him full in the mouth. He seemed surprised at my onslaught, but nonetheless, I continued. I had a feeling Josh was a little buzzed from the alcohol, but for the most part, he seemed OK.
"Reed, what are you doing?" he asked, slightly pushing me away. Gently, he took me inside a room, which looked like a storage room. There were boxes lined up, and for a split second, I thought I could lie down on them; they appeared so soft.
I looked up at Josh's green eyes, unsure of anything. In an agonizing pace, I came over to Josh and rested my hands on his chest and whispered, "I . . . I just . . . want to feel something. Anything. You. Please," I begged.
Josh gave me a pained look, and he bit his plump lips. And then, he brought his face down and crushed his lips against mine, pulling me closer and closer until we reached the point of no return.
We pulled and tugged each other, trying to tame our feelings. Josh and I whispered words we had yet to say. Each caress brought me nearer to Josh in ways I had never been able to do before. Each breath, each pant, each word of adoration made us ache for more. And yet . . .
And yet, we were ruining ourselves by the very thought of it.
A/N: Thank you all for reviewing. Please forgive me for any mistakes. I was in a hurry, and after feeling guilty for not updating in forever, I've decided to put this up. I'm kind of not proud of this chapter, but... whatever.
Don't forget to check out the playlist for this party, if you're into dub. :)
