C3 The house party

MILLER’S HOME, LOS ANGELES.

Abigail raced down the stairs and almost fell flat on her face in anger. "Hell no, dad! I want to go to the party. I am old enough to attend, why are you doing this to me?" She grumbled like someone about to wail loudly.

Noah crossed his legs as he balanced on the couch. "Even if you would go, there is a need for you to be under guidance. If anything goes wrong I won't be able to forgive myself."

"But dad—“

"That's enough, Abby.” Emma chipped in giving her daughter a curt look. "You should listen to your dad."

Stomping her feet stubbornly on the hard floor, tears laced Abigail's eyes. "Please, daddy."

Emma looked towards her husband pleading silently. "Please, just trust her to handle herself. She has always been careful."

Glancing at her with a hint of irritation, Noah sucked in a loud breath. "I will let you if Darby goes with you."

"What?!” Both mother and daughter chorused.

"Why would you want to do that?" Emma inquired looking displeased.

"Of what use will Darby be if she can't provide security for my daughter." Noah drawled on the last word. "All she has to do is ensure my daughter returns home safe. I don't care about whatever happens to her in the process." Noah emphasized.

There was a brief silence before Abigail jumped in excitement. "It's not like her presence will be significant anyways. She should come with me then."

"You can get prepared. I will order a cab for you both." He said.

Running towards Darby's room, Abigail banged violently on the door and when no response came she barged in causing Darby to fall off her bed in shock.

Abigail did a tsk tsk sound in disgust. “You are so clumsy, I can't believe you are about a year plus older. How exactly does dad think someone like you will be able to look after me?"

Darby looked perplexed. "What are you talking about?"

"Dad says you will monitor me at the party I am going to. I need you to be downstairs in the next twenty minutes and don't you dare try to dress better than I will." She scoffed. "What am I even saying? You don't even have the right clothes to wear and no one will get attracted to you." She hissed, walking out of the room.

Everything still felt confusing to Darby, she had been observing her afternoon siesta before her sister dropped in and could only understand little of what she just said. Her first stop was the bathroom to wash her face. Darby inhaled deeply as she stared at her ruffled hair in the mirror. She finally picked the pieces of Abigail's words. Why would they want her to be Abigail's chaperone at a party where she can clearly take care of herself? It's no doubt that her sister in her usual tricky manner was pulling a fast one on her to get her into trouble. Abigail has been like that since they were little, it was almost like she derives joy in seeing Darby get punished. Their parents hate had been naturally transferred to her no doubt.

Resting her back on the bed, Darby hoped the sleep would return. She had plans to study hard for the coming finals and her plan includes reading all through the night. If she does well in her exams, it would enable her a chance at college through scholarships. Her parents obviously have no intention of seeing her through college so she has made a decision to work her way through by doing part time jobs cause with college she can be free from them and never have to return.

Her door yanked open again, this time it was her mother. "Why are you still on the bed?"

Darby turned her head slowly to look at her. "What do you mean?"

Emma scoffed. “Did Abigail not inform you just now to get ready to follow her to the party?"

"I thought that was just one of her ways to get me into trouble. I don't want to go with her to any party, I have several books to study tonight."

Gritting her teeth, the older woman walked towards her with a mean look on her face. "No one cares about what you intend to do and you have no choice of opting out. As the older one, you are to ensure she comes back home safe, unscratched. That is what you will do at the party, protect her even if your life depends on it. Get dressed now and wait for her to finish. Don't make me repeat myself." She bickered before leaving Darby to herself.

Darby couldn't believe her ears. It wouldn’t be a surprise at this point if she gets hired to be Abigail's bodyguard instead. Sighing in resolve, she walked to her closet and grabbed one of the dress t-shirts her father's sister, Maureen, the only nice person in the family got her for Christmas and she paired it with a white sneakers. Darby pulled her hair up into a neat bun, sprayed herself with the perfume the same aunt got her and she stepped outside the room.

No doubt, Abigail has plans to make heads turn at the party with the skimpy dress and heels she had on. No one paid her any mind as they all fussed over their obvious princess. Darby almost didn't believe she was escorting her younger sister to a party until they got into the cab hired to take them to and fro the party. She only hoped that the party would end on time. She has never attended any of her high school parties, because no one has ever invited her.

The car drove into the suburbs and they were dropped off in one of the houses that Darby only gets to see on TV. Her mouth was agape as they walked in. Excited at the sight of her friends, Abigail turned to Darby abruptly.

"Hey you, keep your eyes closed. You will be doing yourself a favor by not getting in my way. Your only job is to get me home safely and not tell me what to drink or who to fuck with. Is that clear?" She glared.

Darby snorted. “What makes you think I am interested in whatever it is you do? You and I know you accepted for me to follow just to ensure you attend the party. So to avoid any of us getting messed up, be sure to keep to time and get ready to leave at nine sharp, please."

Her nose flared as she fumed wanting to say something hurtful to her. But her friends called for her attention again. Kissing her teeth, Abigail scoffed. "I will get you back for this." She threatened running off.

Yawning at her empty threats, Darby pocketed her hands and walked further to the entrance. She has gotten used to her sister's threats over the years to know that there is only little she can do to her. Entering into the house, it looks so different from outside. To Darby's shock every person on the basketball team, the popular seniors and even the ones that weren't so popular that she shared class with were present. It was always a shame that her high school experience has nothing exciting to it.

Kissing her teeth, she moved toward the place where the foods were placed and she grabbed a cup of juice. Luckily the host was considerate enough to put non-alcoholics in mind. She fed her belly till she couldn’t take anymore. After some time passed, she turned around to see people gathering towards a spot few feet away from where the music was playing. Curious as to what might be going on, she walked closer and stood on her toes to get a view over the sea of heads.

Her all time crush and man of her dreams was seated on a chair while two girls were grinding their waists seductively on him. He looked like he was having the best time of his life.