Cursed Love

9

    On the 12th of April, the bell rang for lunch. James and I sat at our usual place when someone approached us. Bracing for flirting or insults, I looked up with an indifferent expression. But my façade gave way to recognition. "Oh! It's you. Germaine, wasn't it?" The overexcited girl when I was with the gangsters. She broke into a wide smile. "You remember me?" I nodded with a slight smile. This mundane amuses me for some strange reason.

  She passed me a light blue card. "Here, I'm hosting a birthday party on the 24th of April. My parents will be overseas. Everyone is going. I'd be so happy if you could come!" She looked at James. "Oh! Your boyfriend can come too, if he'd like to." 

  I groaned inwardly with frustration. "He's not my---You know what? Whatever. I'll come. James will love to come too." 

  "That's great! See you on the 24th, then!" Germaine skipped away. I turned to look at James, who was staring at me open-mouthed, with a sweet smile and an innocent batting of eyelashes. "What was that for?!" He asked.

  I shrugged and gave him an evil smirk. "Figured if I was to die, I'm dragging you down to hell with me too. After all, you're the reason that everyone suddenly knows who I am."

  "No! Besides, if you don't want to go, why did you accept, eh?"

  "I didn't want to disappoint the poor girl."

  It was soon the 24th of April. A Sunday. The dress I bought online came in the morning. And here I thought it might come late. I looked the dress up and down critically. I wonder if I am going over the top. I looked at the birthday card. It said that the party starts at 9pm. I am seriously starting to regret ever agreeing to this party. This party sounds like the type of party with no parents, loud music and alcohol. I am strictly against alcohol due to more than one safety reason.

  At 8pm, I started getting ready. First, I put on the dress. It was a long wine red dress that hugged my figure tightly. It was strapless and it covered all the way to my feet. It had a plunging neckline and exposed much of my back. Ugh, I should have known not to trust online services. Too much skin. I wore James's necklace and pulled my hair up into an elegant twisty bun before embroidering it with beautiful pearls.

  I took out my glittery red pouch and put in James's dagger and a pistol. Then, I strapped a few ninja stars to my inner thigh. Just in case. I put dark red lipstick on and eyeliner as well as grey eye shadow. There was a knock on my door as I put on my glittery red high heels. I opened the door. It was James.

  "Oh. Sorry, wrong door." 

  "Ugh, James, it's me, you arslosch!" I rolled my eyes. His eyes skimmed my body, his mouth wide open and an intense emotion glinting in his eyes. Meanwhile, I took the time to admire him. His muscles could be seen clearly under the long sleeved, collared, white shirt. He wore a black blazer and a smooth velvet tie. His hair was gelled back and he wore shiny black shoes. He looked...good.

  "You look...beautiful." He breathed and heat rushed up to my cheeks. 

  "Thanks. Let's go to that party and get it over with." James shook out of his reverie upon hearing my voice and gave me that charming smile again. He offered me his arm and I took it. We walked together, side by side, into the dark.

  We reached Germaine's house about 20 minutes later. Her house was decorated in fairy lights and inside the house, we could already see the writhing of bodies in a dance, the flashing of lights, could already hear the beating of the music, the dull thrumming of indistinct conversations and the irregular ringing of muffled laughter.

  Looking at the house, I groaned. "I regret this already." James sniggered and we went into the house. 

  "Hey guys, so glad you could make it." Germaine bounded up to us, smiling cheerfully before she started staring at my dress. "Damn girl, you look good." She snapped a shot and smiled, pointing to the tables at both sides of the room. "Okay, food is on the table to the right, drinks, including homemade apple cider, alcohol and water, is on the table to the left. Toilet is down the hall and upstairs in bedroom 2. Enjoy!" She disappeared in the crowd.