CHASE AND CATCH

2 Ariel

Chapter Two

Ariel P. O. V

The next day passed without much fanfare, except for Ella's bubbling excitement about the party. Ella, short for Estella, had been my best friend since preschool.

We spent the morning studying, attended a few classes, and then I headed to work. I've been working at a café near the university since I started school here. Balancing work and studies is tough, but it's a necessity to pay the bills.

Friday rolled around, and I was comfortably ensconced on the couch, engrossed in a story on Wattpad. Ella burst in from one of her many impromptu dates.

"Hey, guess what?" she asked, eyes sparkling with excitement.

"What?" I responded, not looking up from my phone.

"The guy I was on a date with is going to Alexander's party tonight," she said, almost bouncing on her toes.

"You know very well, Ella, that I don't go to parties anymore," I reminded her.

"I know, but you have to let yourself go this once. We won't be students forever. We need to live a little, find love even amid all odds," she argued, sounding unusually wise.

"Wow, when did you become so wise?" I teased.

"You know me, I'm wise; I just don't like to show off," she laughed.

"So, are we going to the party?" she asked again, more insistent.

"Nope. You know how I feel about these popular, rich kids and their parties. I'm not going," I said firmly.

"You leave me no choice. I'm calling your mother and telling her that Ariel doesn't want to have fun," she threatened, knowing exactly how to push my buttons.

I knew she wouldn't call my mom, but someone else might.

"Okay, I'll go. No need to do that. I don't want you worrying my mother. You know how she is," I conceded.

"Yay! Now we have to go shopping for dresses," she announced.

"What? I have plenty of dresses in my closet that I've never worn. No need to waste money," I protested.

"It's on my bill. I'm buying, not you," she insisted.

"No, no, no. I don't want a new dress," I argued.

"We're going shopping and that's final. No buts or any excuses," she declared.

When Ella sets her mind on something, there's no point in arguing. I sighed in resignation. "Okay."

"We're leaving in thirty minutes," she said, practically skipping off to get ready.

A Few Hours Later

I found myself sitting at the vanity table, Ella meticulously applying makeup to my face. My mind drifted back to our shopping trip.

We had scoured the mall for hours until Ella finally found the perfect dress. It was a grueling process, especially wearing heels.

"Finally," I whispered when she chose a dress.

"I heard that, girl. Be thankful it was only an hour. That's a new shopping record for me," she said.

"What, a record? More like torture," I complained.

"Just be thankful I'm buying you a dress," she said, grinning.

We stopped by the food court for a quick meal before heading home. Now, as I looked at the black mini dress she'd bought me, I debated whether to go to the party or not. But I couldn't break my promise to Estella.

The dress was stunning. Black, with an inbuilt belt at the waist, a slit up the front, and straps with a shallow V-neck that hinted at my cleavage. Paired with matching black heels, I looked in the mirror and hardly recognized myself. I looked hot—definitely not the nerdy girl from university.

Just as I was about to leave my room, Ella burst in.

"Damn, bitch! Is that you? You look gorgeous!" she exclaimed.

"Thanks, babe. You look beautiful too," I said, blushing. Compliments always made me blush.

"Hey, we're going to be late," she said, tapping her watch.

"Okay, let's go," I said, grabbing my purse.

At the Party

We arrived at Alexander's mansion—more like a castle, really. His parents were always away on business trips, leaving him free to throw legendary parties.

The house was huge, with glass doors and windows, and a giant gate adorned with the letter W. The pathway from the gate to the front door was lined with flowers and trees, a picture of opulence.

We alighted from the Uber at the gate and walked up the pathway. Red cups littered the ground already, and it was only the beginning of the night.

Inside, the house was even more impressive. Modern and elegant, it was like something out of a magazine.

"Are you okay, Ariel?" asked Ella.

"Yes, just...this house is so beautiful," I marveled.

"Okay. I'll see you in an hour at the door so we can leave. I know you don't like parties," she said.

"Okay," I shouted back as she disappeared into the crowd.

I found a couch in the living room and sat down, feeling awkward and out of place. People were chatting, smoking, and making out all around me. I felt uncomfortable, not being a fan of public displays of affection.

A guy sat down beside me, handing me a red cup. "What's in it?" I asked without looking at him.

"A drink," he said.

"I don't drink unless it's water," I replied.

"Just try it. It's juice. I know you don't drink. I've noticed," he said.

I took a sip of the juice, feeling oddly reassured. "Why did you come to this party?" he asked.

"Because my best friend forced me," I admitted.

"How did you know I don't drink or party?" I asked, puzzled.

"I usually notice you," he said, then stood up and walked away, leaving me confused.

After a few minutes, I decided to find the bathroom. Asking a nearby guy for directions, I navigated the hallway, dodging couples and stepping over people who had clearly had too much to drink.

In the bathroom, I overheard two girls talking.

"I heard the exam is set earlier now," one said.

"What? No way!" the other responded.

"Yeah, on Monday, after this weekend," the first girl continued.

Panic washed over me. "I need to go home," I thought. This could be a disaster.

I quickly made my way back to the door, eager to find Ella and get out of there.

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Ella is short for Estella, so don't get confused—it's one person, not two.

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