Can't Help Falling

07| Gorgonize

Gorgonize: (v.) to have a paralyzing or mesmerizing effect on someone

-:-

From the moment we stepped into the house, Zariah had already slipped out with Raya probably hanging out with her near the pool they had out the back. Lukah went off into the crowd dancing with a few people, already chugging down on something. I stayed behind, sitting in the kitchen whilst a couple made out on the counter beside me. I kind of wished at that moment I had something in my drink to at least ease everything around me.

Clarke and Zariah have spent half their time dragging me to parties or-what-not 'to finally experience being a teenager' is what they would say every time. I usually complied to their wishes and constant pulling of my limbs and came along to the parties, only to sneak away from the crowd in someplace more serene or less crowded.

They wanted me to be at a party, never told me how I should act during it.

In earlier years I was fine with the frequent outings and social conversing, mainly because there was always someone I could hook my hand around and be shielded from anything else.

I then had to learn what it was like to be rid of the shield, the trojan horse with it's powerful army no longer hidden behind the tall beauty. I wondered if that they would have lost the battle without the ruse.

A can of sparkling water slid to me from across the counter, making me look up to see a beautiful girl—barely older than me—give me a smile. Her copper hair had been curled down, resting long enough to reach her lower back. A tattoo of a snake ran along her left arm.

"DD?" her voice was roughed through the New York accent, giving me an apologetic smile. I nodded as she walked towards me, "It's as close as you can get to alcohol." I smiled at her gesture, opening the can and accepting it. Her nose scrunched, giggling at my actions.

"You remind me of my younger brother, He hates these things and I swear you both have the same scowl," the girl extended her hand,

Her brother must have a good head on his shoulders then.

"I'm Delaney. Delaney Westbrook, fellow DD."

Delaney winked at me as I held her hand, shaking it back, "Keira Dalisay-Winters."

"Winters? Like Winters Ltd? I interned at your dad's office in my junior year."

I nodded, taking another sip, "I hope you didn't work under Nguyen for that, he's rude and a complete sexist jerk."

When my Dad showed me around the office, Nguyen asked me to get him a coffee. When I told him I didn't work here as an intern, he noticed my dad and told me 'sleeping my way to the top' wasn't always reliable.

I punched him and got him suspended for a few weeks. Dad, Clarke and Jo practically gave me a gold star for that one. Mom gave me a good lecture.

Delaney threw her head back to laugh, we both talked about the internship she had and how it was—thankfully she worked under someone else. As well as her time in New York before she went to Hamilton for university. Delaney was only in Norwalk to visit a few friends before her break ends.

She emphasized the not-so-sly lesson to get as far away from an old home at any chance you got.

I smiled knowing how similar our interests laid, I wondered for a moment if she was the universe's image of a much older me.

Though as time-passing as our conversation were, they were soon interrupted by a tipsy Lukah.

"Hey, Keir!" He yelled out, his arm around another person whilst the other held a red cup, "This is Aeryn, they're going to take me out for burgers, is it okay if I go?"