Dolores hunched over Nadia's massive bed, her brow furrowed in concentration as she sketched in her worn leather-bound sketchbook. The room, unlike her cramped quarters back at the foster home, was expansive and decorated in a mishmash of vibrant colors and pop culture posters. It was Dolores' first time venturing into Nadia's house, but the invitation to a sleepover had been readily accepted. Mrs. Johnson seemed genuinely happy that Dolores was making friends beyond Alistair.
Across the room, Nadia sprawled on her bed, nose deep in a thick novel. The tranquility of the afternoon shattered as the door flew open, revealing Chloe, a mischievous glint in her eyes, and a half-eaten cookie clutched in her hand.
"Got any more of those?" Nadia blurted, her eyes instantly drawn to the cookie.
Chloe, her mouth full, shrugged nonchalantly. "Spotted 'em in a drawer in the kitchen. Looked like fair game."
Nadia's jaw dropped. "Those were supposed to be for Mom's tasting after her… you know, the modeling gig!"
Chloe's carefree grin faltered. "Oops," she mumbled, stuffing the last cookie into her mouth with a sheepish shrug. "Relax, Nadia. What's the worst that could happen?"
Nadia groaned, throwing her head back against the pillows. "The worst? Mom will have my head on a platter! Those cookies cost a fortune for the special ingredients."
Dolores watched the exchange with a hesitant smile. Chloe was the complete opposite of Nadia's more reserved personality. Yet, their friendship seemed to thrive on their differences.
Chloe bounced on the bed, the movement sending a ripple across the plush surface that threatened to topple Nadia's precarious stack of books. "Ooh, whatcha drawing, Dolores?" she chirped, her curiosity momentarily overriding the cookie crisis.
Dolores flinched, startled from her thoughts. Clutching her sketchbook closer, she mumbled, "Just… stuff. I don't even know, really."
Chloe, unfazed, reached out and snatched the book, flipping through the pages with the casual confidence of a seasoned art critic. Dolores winced again, a blush creeping up her cheeks as Chloe's eyes scanned her charcoal sketches.
"Whoa, Dolores, you're seriously good!" Chloe exclaimed, her surprise genuine. "These are amazing! You should totally enter a art competition."
Dolores managed a weak smile, relieved to have the conversation shift away from the ever-present topic of her sketchbook .Just as a comfortable silence threatened to settle, Chloe piped up again.
"Speaking of things outside this room," she announced, a mischievous glint in her eyes, "heard there's gonna be a party this weekend."
Nadia scoffed, not looking up from her book. "Party? Not interested."
Chloe rolled her eyes dramatically. "Ugh, why do I always have to be the fun one around here? You guys are such nerds." Undeterred, she turned towards Dolores, a hopeful smile plastered on her face. "So, Dolores, you in?"
Dolores hesitated, her mind weighing the pros and cons. Parties weren't really her thing, but the thought of spending an evening away from the confines of her foster home was oddly appealing. Besides, the possibility of seeing Ivan, even in a crowded setting, sent a flutter to her heart.
"Ivan will probably be there, right?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Somehow, the image of Ivan amidst flashing lights and loud music seemed incongruous.
Chloe snorted. "For sure! He wouldn't miss a chance to blow off some steam. Besides," she added, leaning in conspiratorially, "it'd be the perfect opportunity to get under Axel's skin."
Dolores' brow furrowed. Axel? What did he have to do with this? "What do you mean?" she asked, a flicker of annoyance sparking within her.
Nadia, finally tearing her gaze away from her book, chimed in with a sigh. "Dolores, Axel seems… interested. And if you're suddenly hanging out with his rival, well, let's just say he won't be happy."
Dolores scoffed. "Interested? Axel just wants to bully me. " She stopped mid-sentence, the image of Axel's intense glare flashing in her mind.
"Besides," Chloe pressed, her voice laced with mischief, "wouldn't it be fun to see the look on Axel's face if you hung out with his biggest competition?" The challenge in her eyes was undeniable.
Dolores bit her lip, torn between her desire for a normal social experience and the looming threat of Axel's disapproval.
Wait, rivals?
Dolores' eyebrows shot up. Rivals? Axel and Ivan? That was certainly interesting. She hadn't picked up on any animosity between the two, but then again, she was still new to the whole Grimstone social scene.
Chloe, ever perceptive, noticed the shift in Dolores' expression. "Oh, you didn't know?" she asked, a hint of surprise in her voice. "Yeah, apparently it's a whole thing. Seems the rivalry goes back a generation, something to do with their dads."
Dolores leaned back against the headboard, her mind swirling with this new information. Fathers? What kind of rivalry could span generations? She simply nodded, a thoughtful crease forming between her brows. "That so?" she murmured, more to herself than to Chloe.
It was indeed interesting. The more she learned about Grimstone, the more it felt like a hidden world with its own complex history and unspoken conflicts.
Chloe crossed her arms, a playful pout adorning her lips. "Come on, Dee," she whined, stretching the nickname out in a way that made Dolores smile. "Don't leave me hanging here. Are you in or out?"
Nadia, finally free from her literary entanglement, glanced up with a knowing look. "Don't pressure her, Chloe," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "It's Dolores' decision."
Dolores shifted uncomfortably, the weight of their expectant stares suddenly heavy. There was the allure of the party, a chance to experience something new and exciting. But Mrs. Johnson's kind face and the soft curfew rules of her foster home flashed in her mind. Could she justify staying out late, potentially past curfew, for a party she wasn't even sure she'd enjoy?
"I… I don't know," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I might not be allowed to stay out late "
A flicker of disappointment crossed Chloe's face, but it was quickly replaced by understanding. "Yeah, I get it," she said, her voice losing its playful edge. "Curfew stinks."
Nadia, ever the pragmatist, offered a solution. "Maybe we can have a sleepover here next weekend? No parties, just movies and snacks. How does that sound, Dolores?"
Dolores' heart warmed at the suggestion. A sleepover with her new friends, filled with laughter and whispered secrets, sounded far more appealing than a crowded party filled with unknown faces.
"That sounds perfect," she said with a genuine smile. "Thanks, Nadia."
A wave of relief washed over Chloe, her earlier disappointment forgotten. "Sleepover it is!" she declared, throwing herself back onto the bed with a dramatic flourish.
The night stretched out before them, filled not with loud music and flashing lights, but with the simple joy of newfound friendship. And as Dolores drifted off to sleep, she couldn't help but wonder what other secrets Grimstone held, waiting to be discovered.
~
Dolores creaked down the rickety stairs, the familiar groan sending a shiver down her spine. Stepping into the living room, she was met with a scene of utter chaos. Cushions lay scattered across the floor, end tables were pushed askew, and a half-eaten bag of chips sat precariously on the armrest of the sofa. Mr. Johnson must have gone out for the afternoon, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake.
"Alistair?" Dolores called out, her voice echoing in the cluttered room.
A familiar figure shifted from behind the overturned lamp. "Dolores" Alistair's voice answered.
Suddenly, a voice piped up from behind Dolores. "Alistair is here?" It was Melissa, her tone laced with suspicion. Melissa could be a right handful sometimes, and Alistair, with his quiet demeanor, wasn't exactly her favorite person.
Dolores turned to face her, a frown forming on her brow. "Yeah, he is. What are you doing here anyway?"
Alistair stepped forward slightly, revealing two more figures behind him. Nadia and Chloe shot Dolores a wide, almost mischievous grin.
Dolores' stomach lurched. What were they doing here? Not now, not when the house looked like a disaster zone.
"Hey, Dolores," Chloe chimed in, her voice bubbling with excitement. "We just wanted to let you know… plans have changed. We're going to the party"
Melissa, ever the inquisitive one, narrowed her eyes at Chloe and Nadia. "Party?" she blurted out, her voice laced with suspicion.
Dolores shot Chloe a pointed look. "But we agreed on a sleepover," she reminded her friend, her voice tight.
Chloe shrugged, a playful glint in her eyes. "We changed our minds," she confessed. "We decided a party might be more fun after all."
Mrs. Johnson, a whirlwind of warmth and flour, emerged from the kitchen just then, cradling a sleepy on her hip. "Dolores, is everything alright? I didn't know we had guests."
Dolores, caught off guard, fumbled for an answer. "Oh, Mrs. Johnson, they were just leaving," she stammered, gesturing towards her friends.
Chloe, however, wasn't ready to leave just yet. With the confidence of a seasoned negotiator, she stepped forward and addressed Mrs. Johnson directly. "Actually, Mrs. Johnson, there's a party happening tonight, and we were wondering if Dolores could come along with us!"
Mrs. Johnson's kind eyes flickered towards Dolores, silently seeking confirmation. Before Dolores could protest, Chloe continued, her voice brimming with enthusiasm, "It's just a harmless get-together, nothing too crazy. We'd promise to take good care of her."
Dolores felt a wave of panic rising. A party? Now? With Mrs. Johnson's gaze expectantly on her, she opened her mouth to decline, but the words wouldn't come.
To her utter surprise, Mrs. Johnson spoke first. "Alright then," she said, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "Dolores, I've shifted your curfew to ten tonight. Have fun, but be responsible. And no getting drunk, alright? You know you have school tomorrow."
Chloe's grin widened, practically splitting her face in two. Dolores, on the other hand, could only roll her eyes in exasperation.
Melissa, who had been silently fuming in the corner, couldn't contain her frustration any longer. "That's not fair!" she grumbled, her voice laced with envy. "You never let me go out to parties!"
Mrs. Johnson glanced at Melissa, her gaze softening as she ruffled Melissa's hair. "There will be other parties, honey," she reassured her.
Dolores stared at her foster mother, a wave of warmth washing over her. With a grateful nod, she turned towards her room, a whirlwind of emotions swirling within her. Tonight, she was going to a party. Just a party.
What's the worst that could happen?