Unlucky: Luxury And a Lies

Chapter 36: A Bad IDea 2POV's: Lessons of Resilience

I raised my head from Mia's shoulder and couldn't help but inquire, "Hey guys, where's James and Perez?" My question hung in the air, raising suspicion among the group. Just as I had asked, a sudden crashing sound filled the room, and we all turned our attention to the source.

The door collapsed, and Perez barged outside, sending particles and debris into the air. He heaved and then collapsed to the floor. James, seemingly more concerned with shouting and lecturing us than his friend's well-being, followed suit. "What the hell?" I uttered in disbelief, my eyes wide with astonishment.

"That's what you get for forgetting about us," James scolded, pointing behind him to the collapsed door and struggling Perez. "A broken door!" he continued to lecture us, his tone indignant.

Tobias couldn't help but snort. "Dude, it's literally your house," he shot back, prompting a few people to chuckle. The absurdity of the situation was not lost on us.

I furrowed my brows and got up, heading toward Perez, who was still grasping at his chest, struggling for air. "Holy shit," I heard James mutter as he crouched down to assist.

Amid the commotion, James frantically shouted, "Name three things you can see," trying to help Perez manage what seemed to be a panic attack. A few people gathered around us, but I held my hand up to gesture for them to back off, knowing it might not be helpful.

Perez managed to rasp, "You idiots," though James didn't find it amusing. "Try and breathe, okay?" he urged.

Jack lingered behind, and I knew he likely knew how to handle this situation – a panic attack. But we all backed off and let James handle it.

As we watched James care for Perez, Mia couldn't help but comment, "Is it just me, or has James been a lot softer lately?" Her gaze was fixed on James, who had his hand on Perez's back, guiding him through practiced breathing.

I nodded in agreement, saying, "Almost silky smooth," as I furrowed my brows. The events in that closet came back to my mind, and I couldn't help but wonder what had happened in there to cause such a transformation in James's behavior. The humor and confusion of the moment had created a whirlwind of questions in my mind.

Stephan whispered from behind me, concern lacing his voice. "Will he be okay?" he inquired, nodding toward Perez, who was slowly regaining his composure with James's assistance.

I shrugged, trying to sound confident as I replied, "Yeah, he's strong." In reality, I had no idea if he was okay. Perez hadn't mentioned anything about suffering from what I assumed was claustrophobia, and I couldn't help but wonder what had triggered his panic attack in that closet.

Just as I was trying to calm the group's worries, my phone buzzed, and I picked it up to see a message from an unknown number. I read it aloud, "Hey, can you please hear me out? Meet me at school, I have to tell you." Mia looked at me, her curiosity piqued. "Who is that?" she asked.

I shrugged, puzzled by the message. "No ID," I replied. "Should I go?"

The response from the group was a resounding "no," with everyone chiming in. I furrowed my brows, considering their advice. "You're probably right," I conceded.

So I ended up going...

-(Jacks POV:)

After the incident with Perez, it seemed that everyone had decided it was best to call it a night. I was grateful that I didn't have to deal with the usual aftermath of James hosting a party - cleaning up empty bottles, discarded condoms, and the like. No, this time it was just the usual, a broken door.

James, surprisingly calm, sat there staring at his phone, his expression unusually serious. I couldn't help but wonder what had him so engrossed in his device. He suddenly put his phone to his ear and hastily went upstairs, leaving me to sigh in exasperation.

It was moments like these that made me feel like everyone else had these interesting, dramatic lives, while I seemed to be stuck in the middle of mundane chaos. The intensity of the moment was driven by my curiosity about what had James so engrossed in his phone and what had made him rush upstairs. However, there was also a layer of humor in the fact that, for once, I didn't have to clean up a wild party. It was just another day in the life of James's twin brother, seemingly unfazed by the chaos that regularly unfolded around me.

As I sat there, musing about the unusual calm following the party, my phone suddenly buzzed. It caught my attention, making me wonder about all the phone commotion around me. I quickly checked the message, and it was from Mia.

"I need you to come by the school asap, Minji's hurt," the message read.

My heart began to pound in my chest, and I felt a surge of adrenaline. Without wasting a second, I jumped up from my seat and rushed out the door.

- (Minji's POV)

Showing up had been a bad idea. I shivered in the cold, regret gnawing at me like a persistent itch. Mia, trying to provide some comfort, rubbed my back as I stood there feeling foolish and vulnerable.

Jack arrived in a hurry, panting slightly from the rush. "I got here as fast as I could," he said, concern evident in his eyes. Mia glanced at him, and I nodded in acknowledgment. "I know you did," I replied, my voice laced with a mixture of gratitude and self-blame.

As I stood there, I couldn't help but think about the old saying, "Curiosity killed the cat." It was ironic how it often condemned reckless curiosity, warning that it would lead to trouble in the end. And what had happened to me? I had gotten hurt, just as the saying suggested. It was a bitter realization, and I felt utterly stupid.

I buried my head in my hands, trying to hide my embarrassment. Jack, curious about what had occurred, asked, "What happened?" I sighed and looked up at him, the weight of my foolishness evident in my eyes. "It was Danielle," I explained, my tone filled with a mix of frustration and regret. "Apparently, she got a hold of Hanni's phone and coaxed me to come here. Then her posse proceeded to tower over me."

Jack winced at the description of the events. He was quick to notice my physical state and noted, "You need some ointment." I managed a smile and nodded in agreement, grateful for his advice.

Mia, on the other hand, looked at me with pure concern, her gaze unwavering. I hated it, not because she cared, but because I didn't want people to be so worried about me. I didn't want to feel like a child, easily tricked and vulnerable. Curiosity had led me into this situation, and I couldn't help but question why it had to kill my cat, leaving me in this uncomfortable, embarrassing, and intense predicament.

.

Mia took me to her house, and I found myself face-to-face with her parents, an unfortunate turn of events given the circumstances. After the initial introductions, she took me to her room. Mia sat on my lap and began applying ointment to my injured lip. I winced slightly as the pain flared.

I attempted to move away, but Mia grabbed my face firmly, her eyes flickering to my lips. "Stay still," she instructed, her voice holding a firm and almost intense tone. "It's supposed to hurt," she whispered, and I reluctantly complied. The ointment stung, causing my lip to throb painfully. I was pretty sure I had Band-Aids all over my face by now.

As she continued tending to my injuries, Mia offered me advice, her words carrying a sense of intensity. "You need to channel that pain into getting what you want," she told me. "Those girls only know how to scratch, not pack a punch."

I looked at her, contemplating her words. "Why should I choose that route? Why not just forgive and forget?" I mumbled, still unsure of the best course of action.

Mia smiled solemnly at me, her gaze locked on mine. "I know what it's like to get screwed over by someone you thought you could trust," she said, her tone soft yet determined. "You have to gain back the power, and never let go of it."

I chuckled at her response, finding her wisdom both enlightening and unconventional. "That doesn't seem like a very good lesson," I pointed out, still harboring some reservations.

Mia chuckled in response, seemingly unfazed. "Yeah, well, 'Fool me three times, fuck the peace sign,'" she quoted Jay-Z Cole, with a sly smile. I nodded in agreement, understanding the message. "Right," I said, realizing that if someone fooled me a third time, they would indeed be in serious trouble.