"I can't believe you're wearing that ridiculous suit at a high school party." Sam said as she scrolled on her tablet. She sipped on a cocktail as she surveyed the party. It was the usual party scene. Drunk teens, dancing to the pop music blasting from the speakers and lounging about everywhere but the massive pool in the centre of the yard. She eyed the pink and gold balloons and streamers strung up everywhere. From the looks of it it was someone's birthday party but why did this house look so familiar?
"This is how cool kids dress." Lombardi argued. "And I'll have you know this is one of Jaylen Sizra's exclusive pieces."
"Ever seen it in any stores?" Sam asked.
"...Well, no but so what? It means I'm the only one to own this piece right?"
"It means you're wearing one of her rejected outfits made by one her careless interns who did not have an eye for fashion." she sized him up. "It's orange and yellow. Don't you feel uncomfortable?"
"Actually, this is tangerine and primrose and it looks perfectly fine." he huffed.
"You look like a pre school crossing guard Lombardi, throw on some neon bangles and skates and maybe the eighties will find you appropriate." Lance said.
"Why are you so bitter?" Lombardi leaned over the round table. "Is it because a certain raven-haired girl hates your guts?"
Lance shot him a deathly glare and his face fell.
"Lancey boy, you've got no reason to worry. Samie's plan is foolproof and she's going to set us on the road to GGP awards before you know it. We've already got an unusual cast this season." Then he turned to Sam. "Though I can't help but wonder why this particular girl is of interest to you."
His hands flew to his mouth.
"Could it be that you have the hots for this hottie? Scandolous!" he remarked.
Sam looked up from her tablet.
"I swear if you say another word, I'll rip the sleeve off your thousand dollar Sizra blazer and use it to gag you."
He swallowed hard.
"Noted."
"But the walking traffic cone has a point. Why this girl? Why not the other thousand girls around the world who would be willing to sign up? You know recommendations from production are like really rare. They've only been done twice and they ended disastrously. So why would you risk losing your job for this one girl?"
She sighed and at last put down her tablet.
"Third time's a charm. Good enough answer?"
"Not real-"
"Raven-haired princess two o'clock." Lombardi announced and they all turned to their right where they saw her struggling to get free of a burly and drunk teenager.
Lance stood up straight and adjusted his cap and glasses. Sam and Lombardi looked at him.
"What do you think you're doing Lance?" Sam asked.
"Saving the day." he lowered his glasses and shot her a wink before he stormed off in their direction.
"I can't believe I let you two drag me into this." I muttered under my breath.
Kye and Trish had somehow convinced me to come to another party. On one hand, it was Trish's birthday party and anyone who's anyone would be here, on the other hand Marcus was here. I could see him drinking with the rest of his friends across the pool and stealing glances from time to time.
"As long as you stick with us, you'll be fine." Kye said.
"Yeah and didn't your aunt get that reprimanting order thing?" Trish asked.
"...You mean the restraining order?" I asked. "Her boyfriend got it actually, all my aunt did was chew Ally out and ask that I forgive her."
"How are you two actually related? That girl does not treat you like family." Kye said shooting her a dirty glare.
"Maybe she's one of those Ngayurnangalku body snatchers from Aboriginal Australia's legends. Except with hair and no fangs and long claws, and not fully grown, waiting for someone to annoy her with a single sound so she can pounce and devour her prey."
"Is that like an RPG thing?" I asked her.
She blinked.
"What's an RPG?" Then she burst out laughing and hobbled dangerously close to the edge of the pool. Kye caught her by the arm.
"Well, she's wasted already." she sighed as she slung her arm over her shoulder. "I'mma get her sober. Just sit here and avoid Golfboy for at least ten minutes. I promise we'll be back."
I slipped out of my baseball boots and sat at the edge of the pool my feet in the blue water.
"Wanna take a swim?" I heard someone say. I froze immediately recognizing the voice.
I gasped when I felt his hand on my shoulder.
"Get the fuck away from me Marcus." I shrugged his hand away.
"Oh come on, are you still mad about what happened at Summerton's party? It was just a joke babe." he said replacing his hand.
I shrugged it off again and got to my feet. I turned to leave, hoping he wouldn't follow me but instead, he clamped his hand on my wrist an pulled me back to him.
"Hey, it was just a little prank." he said softly pushing a stray strand of my hair away from my face. I turned away, my nose wrinkling as I caught the beer and smoke in his breath.
"A little prank that would've landed me in the hospital you jerk." I tried to push him away but he wouldn't budge. "Let go of me."
"Not until I make it up to you." he said leaning close to whisper into my ear. "Why don't you let me show you what a night with Pepper Pot royalty means huh? I can let you paint me this time, wouldn't you like that?"
I could feel him smirk as he nibbled on my ear.
"Let go of me Marcus, I don't want anything to do with you!" I yelled. I doubted anyone could hear me over the music. Everyone was dancing, mostly around the empty pool so I guess they assumed I was drunk and helpless and that Marcus was playing the role of a gentleman by offering to take me inside. His hand went to one of the straps of my dress and he ran his hand up and down my armmaking my skin crawl.
"Let go of me you sleaze, why don't you go hit on my sister instead!"
"You should be thanking her that I would even notice you." he suddenly said.
"Dude, we look exactly the same!" I pointed out.
"Exactly, why have one sister when I can have both hotties on my arm? Two's better than one." he chuckled. "And she was right when she said that red was your colour."
His gaze went over my body and it took me a moment to realize what he was talking about, then it hit me when he picked a dried red flake from my hair.
"Dude, the girl made it clear that she wants nothing to do with you." came a voice from behind me.
Marcus slowly unwound his arms from me and stepped aside, turning to the guy.
"And who the hell are you pretty boy?"
"Someone you don't want to be messing with." he threatened.
"Don't start something you can't finish man." he cracked his knuckles earning a few stares from the nearby partiers. The DJ turned down the music and the attention was on the unfolding scene. I turned around and the stranger took my arm and stood protectively in front of me. I stared at my feet the whole time not sure what to do next.
"You want to fight me?" he chuckled. "Man, if you want to make a fool out of yourself make another stupid dance video." he shot.
Marcus looked taken aback.
"Yeah I've seen your act. Two left feet and the coordination of a crippled octopus and unless you actually want to lose a limb, I suggest you walk away."
I'd heard Marcus was popular at school and Kye and Trish said it was because he was a dancer but I never really thought to ask whether he was any good or whether he was popular, because people liked to see him fail.
He gestured around.
"Don't ruin the party mood, now get the fuck away from my girl before you regret it."
A few seconds later, I turned around and Marcus was gone. I turned to the stranger and I threw my arms around him gratefully. I don't know why but he seemed familiar somehow.
"Thank you so much, you are a lifesaver."
He chuckled.
"Glad to see you've finally recognized one of my finer qualities."
Oh no. That cocky accent...
I sprung back and took a good look at him. Behind the baseball cap and the aviators, the distinct pretentious aura he carried around with him was enough of a reminder.
"Lance?"
"In the flesh." he smirked.
"And in a t-shirt and jeans, what's with the get up?"
"Isn't this how people dress for parties?" he asked genuinely confused. "Besides, this is a one hundred percent cotton, Maria Fabergeaia design."
"Of course it is."
My eyes involuntarily rolled and went to Allison giggling with the rest of her friends. She twirled her hair and whispered something to them and they burst out laughing sipping on their martinis. I couldn't believe that she had set me up at Candy Summerton's party for a prank that nearly cost me my life. I ran a hand over the bruises on my neck. Did she even know how scared I was? Did she even care? Watching her laugh with her friends as I dealt with the fear of being stalked by one of her crazy jock exploits was eating me from the inside out and the rage was consuming me, I felt myself burn up and I knew she had to get a dose of her own medicine. Even if nothing could turn back time to that embarrassing moment, I could still have this.
"So, can we talk? I feel like we seriously got off on the wrong foot and I'd like to clear the air a bit." he said.
I turned to him. He nervously scratched the back of his neck not willing to meet my gaze. He really seemed like he wanted to apologize. I mean, I was still angry at him but he'd literally saved my life and I think that made us sort of even. I placed a hand on his arm.
"Hold that thought," I told Lance and I rounded the pool to the roundtable Allison and her friends were standing behind.
They stopped chattering when they saw me approach and shot me dirty disapproving looks. Allison swept a quick gaze over me.
"Is there something you want, dear sister?" she asked innocently batting her lashes.
My finger quaked as I pointed to her trying to restrain myself. It was taking all I had not to claw her eyes out or break her nose. So I dug my nails into my palm and took a deep breath.
"It was you the whole time," I shook with rage. "You were the one who arranged the whole thing."
"What the hell are you talking about?" she cocked her head to one side leaning on her laced fingers, elbows propping her up on the glass tabletop.
"The paint, the cheerleaders, the whole thing, it was your idea wasn't it?"
Her mouth went wide in mock shock and she covered her mouth and muffled a laugh.
"Oh yeah, it was part of my initiation to the cheerleading squad, that was fun." her friends giggled alongside her.
"F...fun? Fun! Do you think a guy strangling me was fun!" I flared up.
I pushed my hair aside and for the first time, her face softened as she saw the nasty, pink bruises. Even her friends recoiled in disgust and I recognized the few who had begged Marcus to stop hurting me before they fled like cowards rather than help me. Their mouths closed and they looked away guiltily.
"You think it was fun, don't you?" My hands clenched at my sides. "Oh I'll show you fun."
I grabbed her by the ponytail and she screamed trying to pull my hands away. The music stopped completely and everyone fished out their phones. Good. The voice in my head was echoing what my aching heart wanted to do. To make her feel the utter mortification that she had made me endure. To make her regret putting me through an emotional rollercoaster when this was supposed to be a new start for both of us and if it meant starting her summer off with a banging viral video then so be it. So everyone would know not to mess with me. I yanked her ponytail and she shrieked as I released her into the pool. She resurfaced a few minutes later, gasping for air and sputtering pool water.
"You little bitch!" she cried.
I stormed towards the exit, feeling a bit more at ease and was met by Lance, Lombardi and the other blonde corporate-looking chick.
"Girl, you really know how to make a splash." Lombardi joked.
I looked back at everyone who was making fun of Allison as she pushed herself up onto the edge of the pool but the guilt washed away as soon as I saw some of the jocks sidling up to her and comforting her. Even after all that, people still sympathized with her. She giggled as she pawed one of them and I tore my eyes away disgusted.
"Would it be too much to ask one of you guys to take me home?" I asked turning to them.
The young blonde haired woman stepped forward.
"I'll do it, you boys get some shut eye, filming starts in four days." she said and she put an arm around me guiding me away from the party as I wiped a stray tear from my stinging eyes.