"Do I have to?" I whined and Alice laughed.
"Of course," she said clearly enjoying herself.
2 hours, of shopping might I add. I didn't hate shopping, I probably just about hated it. Shopping with her that is. She was way worse than Eve. But maybe it's the frustration of having to try on dresses myself. Eve would just pick them out and look for my approval. Then again this didn't happen as much. She was lucky to get new collections, rather a discount, with every modelling job she got. I had to admit the pros to her situation weren't that bad. Back to Alice, why oh why did I let her make me miss last period?
"Crybaby," she muttered under her breath and I glare.
"I'm tired and hungry. We still have nothing yet. Can't I just wear something from my closet?"
"I'd be crazy to let you do that? Have you seen what you wear," she said and I glared at her.
"I'm sorry I don't like wearing fancy clothes to school," I said and she patted my head refusing to let my glower bother. First Ryder, now her. Did they think I was a kid or something?
"There there, I'll consider your closet, but only after we get the perfect dress for you. Lunch is on me," she added quickly before I spoke and I smiled. Not sure why but she liked spoiling me, then again she did proclaim me her best friend and so to say sister from another mister, her words exactly. I wasn't complaining but the bigger part of my brain thought it weird even though I never questioned it.
"Hello ladies," a new voice interrupted and we turned to her.
"Addie," Alice called out surprised as she tackled her into a hug. "How was Dubai?"
Adelaide was Alice's cousin, distant though. You could even see in their looks. Alice was a brunette, green eyes American to the bone. Adelaide on the other hand, British, blonde and probably a much less talker at least that's what I thought when I'd find myself in their video chats. And so after a very very long happy chat between the two cousins and me in some bits followed by another one hour of trudging through the mall, we were headed towards Alice's.
"You guys really go all out, huh?" I asked watching them getting ready with their dresses.
"Well, it's the biggest party of the year, given it is the first party of the year," Alice said and I rolled my eyes. I was beginning to regret agreeing to go to this party.
"I still much rather chill out with Netflix," I said as she pulled me out of bed. "Hey, I really wanna find out if there is really much chilling."
"I know but not tonight. Now come on, let's get you in this dress," she said pushing me towards the bathroom and I rolled my eyes as I grabbed it.
"You owe me big-time," I said stripping but she waved her hand at me dismissively.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. You need to put yourself out there and this party is all about that."
"But did you seriously have to get me a dress in pink?" I asked glaring daggers at the fabric and she rolled her eyes.
"You do know this isn't the only pink item in your closet right?"
"Doesn't mean I wear them," I said with a flush. Let's just say Eve never cared about favorite colors or whatnot. As long as it was fashionable, trendy, great material and fit well, it was a cloth worth buying, or something of the sort.
"Just tell me does it fit?"
"Yeah I guess just hold on. A little bit more. It should fit. Shit, I feel like I'm wrapped in rubber," I let out through gritted teeth as I pulled the dress down my thighs and she moved forward to help.
"Would that be bad?"
"Alice!? Any tighter and it wouldn't fit," I said pulling the hem down letting out a huge sigh once i5 found I could breath easier.
"Oh good, it fits. You had me worried for a moment there," she said grinning at me cheekily.
"Umm, guys not to sound weird or anything but do you have any idea how weird it all sounds from out here?" Adelaide called out teasingly and I rolled my eyes as we walked out and immediately they were bickering like an old couple as I walked towards the full length mirror.
"Not bad Diana," Adelaide said finally noticing me once more in the room. "If I swung for our side I'd probably be drooling over you."
She said and I flushed thanking her and skimming my sides. So maybe I didn't like dresses as much but this was as bad as I thought, I thought loving how the pink glitter bodycon dress hugged my curves and how it looked against my toned skin and bare back. I had to hand it to her. The girl knew her stuff.
"How come she's getting the praise? I chose the dress," Alice argued making me roll my eyes as I turned to her and pulled her into a hug.
"I may have my doubts but thank you!!" I dragged out and making her laugh as she patted my back.
"If you lovebirds are done, my hair needs some pampering," Addie let out with a pout and we disentangled as we made for the dresser.
"Make up?" Alice questioned as I grabbed the kit.
"Just because I don't use it doesn't mean I'm clueless," I deadpanned and she looked a little apprehensive but she let me go ahead.
Don't get me wrong. I don't hate dressing up or using make up at all, but with someone like Eve in my life, I was already setting myself up for it when she started taking care of me. If she saw me now, she'd be thanking Alice with all she had. Pray they never meet, if they did I was sure if be going through hell.
Less than an hour later we were ready and heading towards the party. Alice wrapped up in a maroon satin spaghetti strap minidress that complimented her skin and body size and Addie wearing a coral miniskirt and a black strapless top. I'd come to learn her expressiveness went on more than just talking. The girl was more comfortable in her own body than anyone I'd ever seen and she didn't mind showing it off.
As expected music blasting from inside, couples making out outside without a care in the world and somewhere in the background some crouching and puking their guts out as we headed towards the entrance which was at the back of the house past the huge yet magnificent lit pool. Something about rich people and their reputations, I wasn't listening to Alice as I began to dread coming here.
It was hot, was the first thought that came to mind once I stepped into the house. People grinding as they danced, the smell of alcohol reeked in the air not forgetting the flashing lights which were already making my head spin as I turned to Alice.
"So?"
"I hate it," I deadpanned and she laughed as Addie left saying she was after some fresh meat. Crazy girl, she is.
"I promised I won't leave your side, unless you meet some hot guy of course," she said cheekily pulling me through. "Who knows Ryder might even be here."
And now my evening was officially ruined but I didn't tell her that. After she learnt of how we met that first day I had the feeling that she practically planted the idea in her own brains that we would be a couple in the future no matter what happened. As for tonight, I was planning to bail out the second she left my side. I wouldn't leave her of course but if her boyfriend was here, she'd be alright.
"I hate you."
"Love you too, babe," she said with a wink and I rolled my eyes as I crossed my arms. "Loosen up. I'll go get us drinks."
"Knock yourself out," I muttered under my breath. Might as well enjoy myself, I thought before the last person I wanted to suddenly appeared in my line of view and she did not look happy as we held each other at a stare off, one I wasn't willing to back out of and I could tell at the moment we were the center of attraction.
She blinked and all at once I could feel my lips curl into a smug smirk and the glare she gave me told me if she could, she would probably bury me six feet into the ground.
"Showing up at your nemesis party? That's pretty low don't you think," she asked with a sneer making me laugh.
"It's almost cute how you think you're worthy of calling yourself my rival."
"You can't talk to me like that. Don't you know.."
"Yet I just did," I taunted and I swore if this was a cartoon segment I'd see flames in her eyes. "It's almost cute how you think you can threaten me and get away with it. Unlike your posse some of us actually have a backbone instead of trying to earn a PhD in butt kissing."
I said and I could hear some gasps spread about in the room but it didn't bother me.
"Heather, she shouldn't talk to you like that. You should kick the tramp out. She disrespected you in your own house," Henley said glaring at me and I rolled my eyes.
"Aww, that's sweet. She's a butt kisser but think about it. If you kick me out, it would mean you consider the 'tramp' as she so colourfully put it as competition. And how would that look? It would mean giving me power in the school. You wouldn't want that now would you? And if hypothetically you kick me out, it would seem you have power on just about any body. But there some people who wouldn't be too happy?"
I said and I could see the gears turning in her head as she considered my words and I grinned inwardly. I was blackmailing her. Low blow, but hey it was about time she figured there was a new female alpha in town. I wasn't going to back down easily. Strike. 1-0.
"Just saying that would bring some bad rap about you but hey, it's your decision at the end of the day," I said and she glared even harder at me.
"Enjoy yourself while you still can."
"Oh I will. You know why? Because I don't fear you or whatever your rich daddy can do for you," I said with a wink and she turned away from me with her nose held high.
"Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Is that what you're trying to do," Henley asked clearly not happy with the turn of events and I put on a wide smile.
"Darling, if I did that, I'd probably be dead by now," I said and she seemed deeply displeased as she followed Heather away.
Unknown to me, someone was recording the entire conversation and honestly I knew I probably wouldn't care. If this was a case of murphy's law, I'd just go with the flow.