Life Within The Halls

Chapter 20: "To Die for Love"

LIFE WITHIN THE HALLS

Sandra

Saturday, 14th February, 7:30 p.m.

The thought of attending the school's Valentine's Day night party had given me a major headache. I wasn't exactly the partying type, so it had taken me hours to settle on an outfit: a grey Fendi sweater with a flowy skirt and black ballet flats. I had actually googled for suggestions online, as I didn't want to be the odd one at the party.

Everywhere I looked in Bel-Air, the festive vibe was inescapable. From the hotel I lived in to the streets and school grounds, everything was decked out in bright red decorations and twinkling lights, which people like myself, who hadn't experienced such festivities before, would stare at in wonder.

It was really my first Valentine's Day in Bel-Air, but I couldn't make the most of it. 'Having fun' was dead last on my to-do list, and I didn't see that changing anytime soon.

I stood by the records room door, which had a red flower garland on it, waiting for Victoria. She was rummaging inside, searching for the drugs she had hidden. It was quite amusing and surprising at the same time to know that she was a drug addict. Everyone spoke highly of her, as if she never did anything wrong.

I remembered how Mrs. Hill had criticized a government policy meant to help young drug abusers, yet there her beloved daughter was, a victim of it. Life's unpredictable indeed.

As I kept waiting, tucking a stray hair behind my face, two students who had been engaged in what seemed like a romantic talk inches away started kissing. The girl wore a black Dolce & Gabbana dress with matching heels, while the guy was in a blue button-down shirt with dark wash jeans and Chelsea boots.

Couldn't they have engaged in such behavior in the privacy of their homes instead of at a school party? It seemed rather silly of them.

They kissed for about a minute before noticing me and stopping. I smiled at them, meeting their gaze. The girl whispered something to the guy. It was clear from her face that she felt uncomfortable being watched, so they took off.

That was likely the same way Jayden had ended up getting intimate with his own cousin but when the consequences came, he blamed it on being high.

"Ah-ha!" Victoria shook me excitedly, swinging a small paper bag in my face.

I snatched and opened it, and my eyes bugged out like a cartoon character.

"What's with all this—"

Victoria swiftly covered my mouth. "Shh, someone might be listening," she whispered.

I pushed her hand away and whispered back, "If you've been using this drug, you need medical help."

"I had a checkup yesterday. The results were good," she replied, putting the paper bag in her Chanel double flap shoulder bag. "I'll dispose of it. I'm not gonna use it anymore."

It was a relief to hear her positive news, but the irony was almost laughable. Coming from a family with dignities didn't make one any better, as it turned out.

We began to walk down the hall where a group of girls in similar designer dresses, wearing red bow ties on their heads, were recording themselves with phones held up in ring lights. They were lip-syncing to Miley Cyrus's "Flowers," which was blasting from the assembly hall, where the party was in full swing.

"By the way, have you heard from Gideon?" I asked, coming to a stop.

"I phoned him this afternoon, and he told me he's figured out who AnonymousX is," she replied. "But he didn't tell me whether it's Chloe Wilson. He wants to share the news with all of us together."