Elona’s POV
Cris and I went to this manor. It was one of the student’s homes. Apparently, his parents were out of town and they were filthy rich. Although Cris and I come from wealth ourselves with hardworking dads, his life was the same as ours, although better as he had both his parents alive. I tugged on my mini black skirt that flared out with my white top that was tucked into it. My hair was loose. I felt self-conscious, but why would I feel this way when I’m not in front of the camera? I’m a model, so I should be confident.
“Stop tugging on that skirt, you look perfect,” Cris muttered as she grabbed my wrist and pulled my hand away from my skirt while we walked down the street toward the entrance of the manor.
I sighed, “I feel self-conscious,” I said.
“Stop feeling that way, you’re a model. You need fun and if any guy is an issue, I will be there to rescue you,” she said as we reached the entrance. She wore a light pink mini dress and heels, at least she was confident. She kept on holding my wrist and pulled me along with her down the cobblestone driveway.
The music was blaring at a distance, which came from the manor, the strobe light that was flickering purple. I was now amazed by it. A few students stood outside having conversations, drinks in hand, and some guys were chatting up girls who seemed interested in them. Some students were chilling on the balcony. It seemed that all the students of the class of 2024 were here to celebrate. My nerves were now gone when I spotted Spooky at the front door to this huge place. Cris and I walked up the few steps to the front door and Spooky came closer to us.
“Hey,” I smiled at him. He gave me a small shy smile.
“I will leave you with Spooky, I need to get a drink,” Cris said as she let go of my wrist and entered the manor. I stood with Spooky.
“So, are you happy to be here? I mean...with Cris, the troublemaker,” he asked, slipping his hands into his pants pockets.
“Yeah, at least I’m out of the house. So, let’s explore this place,” I smiled before entering the manor.
The air was a bit stuffy, the music was even louder. Guys and some girls were standing at a table with red cups, serving us drinks. I took one from the girl, while Spooky took one from a guy who seemed to be one of those bad boys in school. “Thank you,” I said to the girl and walked away as I brought the red cup closer to my lips, but I could smell the alcohol.
“You don’t have to drink that if you don’t want to,” Spooky came into view as we stood in the middle of the huge lounge, where everyone else was dancing and going about their business.
I drank the alcohol and scrunched my face at the taste. “Ugh, what crap is this?” I asked.
Spooky chuckled, “It's alcohol.”
I shrugged, “Well, I will enjoy myself. This is my time to enjoy this graduation party and I won’t see Tristan after this again. He isn’t here to stop me.” I said as I downed the rest of the fluid. I scrunched my face even more as I turned around and went over to the table again, “Can I get more, please?” I asked the girl as I placed the empty red cup on the table.
“Sure,” she said as she took another red cup and handed it over to me.
“Make it another one,” I said as I took the cup from her.
“You better slow down with those,” the one guy said beside her.
“I think he is right,” Spooky appeared beside me.
“That is for me to decide,” I replied to both of them. I took the other cup from the girl and I walked away from the table. I downed both fluids in the cups and I placed them on a cabinet. Spooky never left my side. I saw Cris standing at the sliding door in the far distance as she was chatting to a guy. “I’m sorry that you have to see her interacting with other guys,” I said to Spooky.
“It’s nothing that I can’t handle. We have to move on at some point. You are doing that, and I think that Tristan really lost someone great. I don’t think he will ever find someone like you again. Now Maggie is pregnant with my father’s baby,” he shook his head, sighing. “It’s all for money. I kind of knew she was after Tristan’s money, and she wanted him for the person he is, but he didn’t reciprocate that same feeling towards her. Maybe if he had thought things through before leaving you, then maybe things would’ve worked out with the two of you, but for what it's worth...maybe think about giving him a chance.” He gave me a reassuring smile, but I did not want Tristan back.
“That won’t happen...ever,” I said. I turned around and went back for more drinks. I didn’t give a shit how drunk I would become this evening.
Once I downed more drinks, I took my phone out of the little bag that was slung over my shoulder. It was on silent and when I checked my phone in my now drunken state, there were about seventy-six missed calls, all from Tristan. I checked the time and it was after midnight. I looked up to where Cris was, she was sitting on a bench with a guy outside by the pool that had a blue light shining. She had to be home by 11 PM which is now past her curfew time. I, on the other hand, didn’t give a flying shit about Tristan, I am no longer his responsibility. I shoved my phone back into my bag and then walked through the crowd of students and most were dancing.
This was my final party with the students who graduated today. Cris and I are to embark on our separate journeys as friends. I’m just glad that I got my best friend back and that she knows what really happened. She chose to believe me this time and be my friend again. As I moved past a group of students, someone grabbed my wrist, stopping me in my tracks and I looked at the hand that gripped my wrist and slowly moved my gaze to the person I turned around to face.
I looked into Tristan’s eyes that is now dark, his facial expression was neutral. My lips parted as we stared at each other, I swear a little gasp escaped me. He was here now. Am I going to be punished too?