C8 8

I blink several times when I look in the mirror. The first thing I think about is, is this me?

-Wow- I say, turning over myself. You did a great job.

-I know- Gigi says proudly, pretending to wipe away a tear.

I do not know where this dress came from and it is not for throwing me flowers, but it seems that it is made to measure for me. It is pastel pink and with them back in the air, two thin and long straps hold my shoulders and make me double my neckline. It's perfect, although I see it a bit risky for a party at a teenager's house, full of teenagers with bouncing hormones, Gigi has insisted. I check my hairstyle, I wear my hair down, wild style with ringlets that fall almost to my waist.

I can't help but think of Ali. The one who used to fix me was her. I remember when she tied me to a chair just because I didn't want to wear makeup and she didn't convince me. If only I could see her one more time ...

A tear is about to fall down my cheek but I wipe it quickly and smile.

-Are you okay? -Gigi says approaching me. She is also beautiful, but she is more casual than me, with black ankle boots and a tight dress, black too, accompanied by her typical leather jacket. For a moment I think it should be Alison who is here and not Gigi, but I push this selfish and unfair thought out of my mind as fast as I can.

-Yes. It is that I have moved. -I lie with a smile. Even though I think it is evident that this is not the truth. She seems to notice but she caresses my arm with affection- How are we going to go to the party? -ask to change the subject.

- Mark is taking us- she says planting a loving smile on her face.

-Is ... your boyfriend?

-Something like that.

At that, a cell phone tone that is not my rings in the room.

- Speaking of the King of Rome ...- she murmurs, showing me the name that appears on the screen of her little phone.

I step away from a little tidying the room to give them privacy, but they just talked pretty fast.

She says she's out waiting. I nod and grab the bag from my bed.

- Do I look okay?- she asks, worried, ordering her hair and placing her front well.

-You are precious.

She sighs and hugs me. At first, I stay still because I wasn't expecting it, but then I react and reciprocate. The truth is that she needed a sincere hug, I mean, Mom's don't count and it's not like she's been getting a lot lately.

We both left my room and went downstairs. Jim and my mother are not there as they have gone on a trip to Georgia to visit Jim's family. They insisted that I go since their relatives had been very worried about me and wanted to see me, but I rejected the offer as much as I could saying that I had exams and I could not miss them and I did well because there is nothing better than having the whole house for you alone.

I lock it and then we get into Mark's car. It is a slightly old red truck, but it is well cared for on the inside. Gigi walks up to the front and I just shyly wave by buckling up.

Deep breath.

Notably, I am so extremely nervous that I don't even hear what the two of them are talking about. Because when the car starts to go to the party, a flashback comes back to my mind.

We are three again in an old car, going to a party at night, dressed for a dance. Mark driving, as was Jason, Gigi as co-driver as was me. And I ... I'm going to Alison's place.

Oh, God.

-Stop the car!- I cry alarmed.

Mark freaks out and does so by braking hard. I am not even aware of the speed with which I unbelt and open the door, but within seconds I find myself vomiting on the sidewalk of the street.

- Uff ...- I hear Mark sigh- Good thing I listened to him.

Gigi appears behind me holding my hair. I haven't even seen her get off it. Once I finish, I feel tremendously dizzy.

-What's wrong? Are you okay? - Gigi says worried- Do you want some gum?

-I don't know what happened to me. I remembered ... -I pause. I don't want to torment anyone with my problems.- ... of something.

She seems to notice.

-Oh. So ... do you still feel like going to the party? - I nod, although the answer is no, I don't want to go. But maybe if I go I can evade a bit of everything and distract myself.- If you want we can take you home, or I can walk you if you prefer.

-Mmm yeah right- I'm too confused to process anything, and her throat burns- Don't worry, I'll stay here for a while and then I'll go, it's not that far either.

- We'll wait for you there- I hear her say. They can't stand in the middle of the road too long, so Gigi makes sure. I'm okay and she starts to turn to leave.

-Wait! Gigi! -She turns, pushing her hair to one side of her. I can see how her boyfriend does not stop staring at her for a single second.- Bubblegum?

She laughs and rummages in her purse, then hands me a little watermelon gum and winks at me before leaving.

I take another deep breath, trying to calm myself. When I get it, I get up and start walking down the sidewalk. My white heels hit the concrete. What has happened? I can't have trauma to cars. How am I going to get my driving license? If I don't take it off, how will I drive to college? Oh god, I won't be able to, so I won't go to college and be a maid who will live with my mother until she dies. Where I would only be in the company of my twelve cats and my television full of soap operas and telemarkets.

Ok, Lailah, calm down, you're exaggerating.

In this, I see that a motorcycle parks on the sidewalk a little behind me and a very tall boy gets off it, without a helmet.

God, it can't be. I can't have such bad luck.

I start to walk faster but I hear her hoarse, bitter laugh behind me.

-Don't run, you won't escape. -I stop short and curse all my ancestors and the universe for treating me so badly. But what have I done?

-What are you doing? I say reluctantly. I don't want to go to the party with him. I don't even want to have anything to do with him.

I don't want to see him or talk to him. Nevermore.

I remember our last conversation in court and swallow hard, uncomfortable.

-I'll accompany you to the party. -He answers putting his hands in his black jeans. Great.- I knew you wouldn't get on the bike, so I got off.

- I don't want your company- I say raising my head, in a firm tone. At that, one of my heels fails me and I trip.

I am about to fall to the ground and make a fool of myself when I feel huge arms around my waist, which lift me very slightly as if they were porcelain and could break me. I, on the other hand, breathing hard, still in his arms.

-It does not seem. -He finally answers without stopping looking into my eyes. He had never seen someone with eyes so black and dark. He lets go of me and a chill runs down my spine.- Are you going to go dressed like this? - he asks after a while.

-Am I wrong?- I ask trying to go over my clothes. With all that Gigi has taken to fix me ... I shake my head. What difference does it make what he thinks? I like it, so the opinion of a mindless should not matter to me.

-No, is not that- he answers to my surprise, crossing her arms. He has a serious and neutral expression. I'd like to know what's going through his mind right now.

-Then?

-It's that you're doing too well... My things- he murmurs, lowering her head.

I do not understand this boy, he is supposed to go to a criminal trial thanks to me and he does not stop pretending that nothing has happened. I decide not to answer.

From here you begin to hear the very high volume of the party's music. I hope the neighbors don't say anything and don't call the police, because I don't want to get in trouble. Besides, Jim and my mother are not there and if they find out they will come running from Georgia just to scold me.

-Why are you walking around here by yourself? It is dangerous. -Speaking again. Unfortunately, he's right, Middleton isn't exactly famous for its safety.

-Because of you. - I answer honestly without even looking at him. We are about to arrive.

-Because of me?- he asks incredulously. His voice is husky and calm, perhaps with some amusement. It takes me a while to answer him, so when I get to the party, I won't have to continue this conversation.

-My things.-he answered in his own words, moving my eyelashes and shrugging my shoulders. I see Gigi and Mark in the distance, waiting for me in the garden of the house, so I waddle there, picking up my pace out of the way.

As soon as I get to them, I see that someone is watching me on the porch.

-Oh oh- I say with a worried tone. They turn to face the same spot as me and find Jason shaking his head as he looks at me. I swallow hard. This time there is no way around it.

Oh God give me a break

-You come in- I say to Gigi before starting to walk over to Jason. My heels are sinking into the cool mud from the dew that falls at night.

-Hello- I shyly greet my best friend.

- May I know why you've been avoiding me all week?- he asks bluntly. Then she crosses her arms.

- Avoiding you? No... I just ... have been too busy with ... - Jason knows I don't do anything to keep me busy. Clear throat.- Busy ... avoiding you all week.- I giggle uncomfortably playing with my hands behind my back. He rolls his eyes in annoyance and begins to walk into the house.

-Jason wait! -I grab his arm but I only get him to drag me with him. As soon as I enter, almost all the glances of the slugs are directed towards me.

-I didn't know you were so hot Gozt! - shouts someone I don't know who he is in the crowd.

-That ass doesn't go hungry! - another shouts again.

-Shut up! -I reply in a bad mood. Jason's arm manages to free itself from mine, but I can see his head towards the kitchen- Jason!

Once I reach him, he turns and I hold him by the shoulders, I don't want him to escape again.

Wow, I'm just as tall as him. Blessed heels.

-Sorry ... don't be angry please- I say, pouting and hugging him. I feel quite a few glances above me.

- I'm your best friend- He pauses and I see his eyes water a little. Jason is really sensitive, he always seems to be joking and playful, but deep down he must be having a hard time.- The last thing I need after Alison is for you to ignore me.

He and Alison were very close. I always thought there was something between them, a kind of connection... They used to make jokes that I did not understand and I could see how certain glances were thrown, but I never said anything.

-I know, I'm sorry. I will tell you what you want.

He sighs.

-I saw them when I left the court. And it could have been worse, your parents could have seen you. You're lucky it was just me.- We both know who he's talking about. I shift my gaze down, feeling guilty- Something to say?- He asks accusingly.

Sigh. And here is the question that he had been avoiding all week.

-The truth is that I don't know what happened ... I came out of there trying to gloat over my victory but he approached me and ... he cornered me in the wall you know, -I say gesturing a lot with my hands and speaking quickly.- he said. something like: 'On the day of judgment you will be in love with me. - I imitate his voice putting a more serious tone. I know he's having fun with this- Or go find out what he said.

-And are you? - he says crossing his arms.

-Me? Fall in love with him? Never! - I exclaim- Jason, you know me- I would never fall in love with someone like that. Besides, don't you remember what he did? I just want to see him behind bars. I want to avenge Ali's death.

-It's fine. I think- he says raising both hands in the air- But why did you come with him?

-Can I tell you later? It's quite long ... if you want we can meet tomorrow. -He nods his head in agreement. I'm about to leave when he grabs my arm.

-I love you, do not forget it

-Me too- I say hugging him- I'm glad that everything is fine between us again.

Once I get out of the kitchen, I start looking around the house for Gigi and her boyfriend. Several drunk guys make different kinds of propositions to me, but I flatly reject them all. You have to see what a pair of heels, makeup, and a dress do. They sure don't remember my face the next day of high school. Or they just remember me as the dead girl's best friend, which is pretty sad. Since for the whole institute, I am just that.

I see Derek Hudson leaning against the ladder frame with a glass of drink in his hands. Finally someone known!

-Derek!- I say louder than he intended. He opens his green eyes in surprise and blinks several times. His friends all turn to look at me.

-Lailah? -he seems to be sticking her tongue before speaking.- Oh, you are ... very sexy. -I notice how my cheeks turn red, just as I notice how alcohol has already affected him. I don't know how to react, so I ignore the kind of compliment.

-Have you seen Gigi anywhere?

-Ehm, yeah. She just went upstairs with her boyfriend. she says, pointing to the stairs.

-Thanks a lot. -I say going up these being careful not to trip again.

-Ah and Lailah! - I look down, peering down the stairs- Cover yourself. -he says almost in a whisper so that his friends cannot hear him, while he points to my dress since as I am higher than him, surely everything is being seen.

I thank him and press the fabric of my dress against my body until I reach the top floor, where there are hardly any people. The only people there are mutually absorbing each other, on both sides of the hall. If it weren't all full of trash and people, maybe I would stop to notice how big and beautiful Jay Adams' house is. Which by the way I have not even seen.

A door right next to me opens and Cara Styles appears with her nose patch and disheveled hair, as she adjusts her tiny dress. She also looks me up and down in surprise, but with a disgusted face.

-Do you have to fix that much to get a boy?- she says, pulling a red lipstick out of her phosphor pink mini bag.

I roll my eyes.

- Not all of us live to receive the attention of boys- I replied, turning away from her. I don't want to break anything back.

Since I can't find my friends, I decide to go back downstairs and ignore Cara, but I start to hear a lot of commotion as I approach the stairs. The music is stopped and several people are screaming violently. I peek out carefully, thinking that someone must be fighting. But when I do, what I see is different. At the door, there are several guys with ski masks and guns in hand.

-Where's Azael Grimm?! - shouts one of them pointing at a girl in the head. Her heart begins to beat rapidly and my hands are shaking.

What the hell...?

At that, someone grabs my waist, dragging me back, and covering my mouth. I try to scream, but when I can see who it is, I discover that it is Azael.

-What are you doing? What's going on? - I ask in a whisper. I feel his penetrating look in my eyes, if I didn't know him, I would say that he is afraid.

-I need your help.