The Party

For the rest of the week school became relatively easier. Yuffie had purchased some high-grade foundation to disguise the black eye she sported. We avoided each other in the halls. On the rare chance that I glanced her way, spectators circled her curiously hoping to catch a glimpse of her eye. She hustled down the hall without speaking to anyone. She had become a social pariah.

On the other hand, students and faculty alike questioned me relentless. The whole school population seemed to know of our encounter. The rumors acquitted and my status in the hierarchy grew. Yuffie's former friends became my new acquaintances.

"Are you going to Seneca's party on Friday?" one of them asked eagerly.

"Well, I have been grounded for my actions," I explained, "However; I will make my presence known."

Alfie's social status rose in relation to mine. He was referred to as the brother of the girl who was not a whore, a wondrous epithet indeed. On Thursday, he passed me in the hall and acknowledged my presence. Talk about sibling bonding.

Come Friday, I had no clue as to what I should wear for the party. I promptly returned the expensive dress to the Circle Circuit and apologized to mother for using her card. They offered me a full refund. Mother took note of my increasing integrity and lent me a surplus of allowance. Those gold shoes were mine.

Looking through my vast choice of apparel, I settled for a short pink skirt that ended at mid-thigh, a strapless silver top, and my cherished golden heels. After dinner, I told my parents that I needed sleep and departed for my bedroom. Alfie gave me a confident wink upon my leaving. Fifteen minutes later, I was dressed and ready.

"Took you long enough!" I hissed when Alfie opened my door, "What are you wearing?"

"What? You do not like it?" he answered in response.

He wore a red fez, a purple jacket, and long white pants. He looked like someone from District Four, freshly harbored from catching fish. Alfie shot me an incredulous glance, to which I responded by stopping my comments. He walked over to my bedroom window and opened it.

"This is not going to be easy," he said.

I walked over to the window. My room was located on the second floor. The neighbor's yard connected ours via a wooden fence. In order to disembark from my room, we would need to walk across the fence. I gulped.

"You climb out first," I suggested.

He nodded and lifted himself up onto the sill. Placing one foot unsteadily onto the fence, he balanced and stood up.

"It's not that hard once you get your balance," he whispered.

Carefully, he placed his second foot onto the fence and began to inch across. After he reached the halfway point, I decided to move. Gripping the sill tightly, I dragged my feet through. Once outside, I knew that my attempt was hopeless. There was no way across the fence with five-inch heels.

"I cannot do it!" I urged hysterically toward my brother.

"Hold on," he responded, jumping off the fence onto the ground.

Alfie ran the length of the fence to where I was clutching the sill cautiously. He reached up to me.

"Did you have to wear such a short skirt?" he asked shielding his eyes, "Jump down, I will catch you."

"Jump down!" I screeched.

He nodded impatiently. I knew we were running out of time. Soon, someone would see us. I calculated the distance of the fall. It had to be five feet at the most. I tried to pull my other leg through the sill, but my heel became tangled in my curtains. I lost my balance and face-dived straight for the ground.

Alfie tried to position himself under me, but my slip had caused me to fall before he was ready. Instead of him catching me, I fell straight onto him. We hit the ground simultaneously.

"My nose!" I cried, fearing breakage.

"Ugh, get off," he lay under me trying to get free.

"Alfie, I think my nose is broken!" I cried again.

"Effie, if you do not get off me, I will not help you," he responded.

I stood up shaking. Once on my feet, I lost my balance. The left heel was broken. Again, I fell face first. This time I met the fence.

"This is horrible," I stated with tears in my eyes.

"Do you want to just go back?" Alfie asked standing up.

"No," I answered, "I need to fix my heels."

"I thought your nose was broken?" he questioned.

"Yes, but my heels are too," I snapped angrily.

I took off my heel and tried to bend the material into a stable shape. The heel would not move. Silently, Alfie held out his hand and I gave up the shoe. In a moment, he had twisted it into a reusable item. I put the shoe back on and smiled.

"Come on, let's go," he urged.

We went across the street and walked for about fifteen minutes. Seneca Crane lived in the heart of the City Circle, close enough to the Training Center to see who entered or exited it. The front of his mansion was bombarded with vehicles. There could not have been a parking space within the whole of the City Circle. Loud music blared out of invisible speakers. Party guests loitered on his front lawn, talking merrily.

"Act cool," Alfie reminded me, "Remember, we need to leave by one. No exceptions."

I nodded and straightened out my dress. Alfie approached some party people and shook their hands. For a moment, I stood behind him. Then I realized that there were his friends. I blushed and went up the front steps. Before I opened the door, I took note of all the partygoers. They took no notice of me.

I pushed open the front door to Seneca Crane's and stepped in. Instantly, the smell of alcohol reached my nostrils. I did not drink except for times when my family allowed it. The foyer was full of people drinking and laughing. Suddenly, I felt foolish. What am I doing here? I do not even know any of these people.

That was a lie. Walking into the parlor, I had to hide behind a grown man. Yuffie sat on the couch, laughing and drinking with a bigger boy. He had his arms around her in a provocative stance. I assumed this was her boyfriend. I should just leave before she notices me. I turned to go.

"Effie!" she called.

Everyone stopped talking for a split second. I stopped. Oh no. I turned around and saw that she was coming over to me. She is going to kill me for sure. Within inches of her, I saw her bloodshot eyes, the makeup beginning to run off and the hint of a bruise threatening to show. I subconsciously backed away.

"Thank goodness you are here," she said and gripped my shoulder sturdily.

The smell of alcohol became insufferable. She was obviously drunk out of her mind. She could hardly stand up and used me for support. Luckily, drunken Yuffie had no obvious vendetta against me. People moved out of her way in case she tumbled over. Her boyfriend looked annoyed at my arrival.

"Come sit, come sit," she slurred.

She dragged me over to the couch and threw herself onto her boyfriend. She patted the seat next to them eagerly. I smoothed out my skirt and sat down, wishing I were somewhere else.

"Hello," I introduced myself, "I'm Effie."

Her boyfriend rolled his eyes. Obviously, he had the problem. Yuffie pulled him closer to her, and he seemed pleased with winning over her attention. I guessed that they would want to be alone within moments.

"Can I get you something to drink?" she asked after resurfacing from her boyfriend's face.

"Um, just some water," I responded uncomfortably.

She got up and kissed her boyfriend again. I looked away. She pushed partygoers out of her way and left for what I assumed was the kitchen.

"You know she hates you," her boyfriend mumbled, "She will probably try to hurt you once she has sobered up."

"Wonderful," I commented, disappointed at their combined immaturity.

"I think you should leave. You have no business here," he added.

I looked at him with disgust. He smirked back with an air of arrogance.

"Whatever," I stood up to go, "You should learn some manners."

"You should learn to keep your legs closed," he responded.

I walked away disgusted. Who the hell does he think he is? I felt like crying. This night was such a disaster. I opted for the opposite direction that Yuffie had taken and found myself on a patio. Seneca Crane had a pool. Drunk people floated merrily, uncaring that the whole of the Capitol laughed at them.

I looked into the water. My reflection showed a girl who was unsure of what to do. At least my hair looked nice. I am such a fool. Why did I come out here? The water was beautiful. Ripples echoed across my reflected face. The moment was serene.

"There you are!" the slurred voice returned.

I felt a wave of anger pass over me. My reflection in the pool seemed to wave away. Why can't you just leave me alone? Yuffie had her hands all over me again. Her boyfriend ran out of the house. It seemed as if Yuffie had escaped from the zoo and her boyfriend was trying to place her back into a cage.

"I've been looking everywhere for you," she told me pointing at my chest, "You look so good tonight."

"Please go away," I whispered uncomfortable again, "Please just go away."

Yuffie began to breathe heavier. I suddenly knew what she was going to do. Why do women keep molesting me? She placed her hands around my waist. People began to look over at us and point. Yuffie, as if egged on by the attention, placed her hands on my face. I closed my eyes, too shocked to move.

"No," I breathed, her lips an inch away from mine.

"So much for rumors, huh?" she whispered.

Then I knew. She was sober. She knew what she was doing. This was her revenge.

"Leave me alone!" I yelled.

Her lips touched mine. My breathing stopped. I opened my eyes in shock. Her eyes were closed, her kiss sincere. She held my face close to her, her strength holding back my shuddering. I struggled in her grasp. People hooted and hollered.

Suddenly, I felt an enormous shove. I knew I was going to fall again. As I tumbled backward, strong arms caught me around the waist.

"She said leave her alone," hollered my big brother.

I opened my eyes. Alfie had caught me over the pool. He had shoved Yuffie into the water. She resurfaced, anger radiating across her face.

"You ruined my dress!" she screamed at him.

I was too shocked to move. I quivered in Alfie's arms. Yuffie struggled to keep afloat.

"See, told you I would catch you," he smiled.

I stood up and hugged him. He patted my back and I laughed. People applauded. Suddenly, someone hit Alfie over the head. Yuffie's boyfriend was picking a fight. He punched Alfie straight in the jaw. It was a palatable hit. Alfie flew back on the ground and fell into the pool. I turned to face his attacker.

"You little bitch," he yelled as her threw a punch at me.

I dodged quickly. Seriously! Grow up! I aimed a kick straight at his leg. Surprisingly, he caught my kick and yanked my leg. I stumbled toward him. He sneered and backhanded me in the face. I went limp and everything went black.

After what seemed like an eternity, I opened my eyes. Everything was unfocused, blurred, and fuzzy. A dark figure stood over me.

"Who?" was all I could manage.

"Why hello there," they said, "I am Seneca Crane."