Obsession

Chapter Six: Oak Dale High

Present Day: 

I slipped on my sneakers, and tied my long hair into a ponytail, before buttoning my cardigan over my school uniform. I heard a honk outside the door, and quickly dashed down the stairs, and bolted out the front door and down the driveway. Jack sat in his red truck, watching me from the window. He smiled, as I slid into the passengers seat, the blaring music filling my ears. I sighed, pushing my feet out the window and lying my head on Jack's shoulder. 

"I'm assuming you're going to Shawn's tonight?" Jack asked, looking down at me.

An excited grin crossed my face, and I stared back up at him happily. 

"Of course!" I exclaimed, grabbing his arm. 

Things between Jack and I had been tense since last weekend's bonfire party. In typical fashion, we made up pretty quickly and were back to being close again. Every Friday, Jack and I skipped first and second period, only to have a half day. When we pulled into the parking lot, we were flooded with students walking to their next class from lunch. I swung my bag over my shoulder, and gave Jack a kiss before walking through the glass doors to my first class. The hallways sounded with slamming locker doors and whispers from one student to another. I turned the corner and walked into my first class, tugging at my pleated skirt before the teacher saw me from outside the room. I pulled out a chair from the lab tables, and sat down next to Annie. 

"Glad to see you two made up." She sighed, setting her chin down on the table. 

I whispered lowly so the bio teacher wouldn't hear us. 

"I am too. Just come to my place before Shawn's tonight." 

Annie looked at me with a smile and nodded.  I heard someone whisper my name and I quickly spun around to a wide grinning Shawn. 

"So you two are coming?" He smiled, sitting back in his chair.

We rolled our eyes not responding. 

The bell rang, and we walked out the door together, heading out towards the parking lot. The lot flooded with students scrambling to their cars to race out of the exit. Hopping into Annie's white BMW, I tossed my bag into the backseat and sat to face her. Her blue eyes peered at me through the shade of her sunglasses.

"That Peter guy has been talking to my dad a lot lately."

Annie's dad, along with Shawn's, owned a major part of the lands in town. Their families were considered royalty. Everywhere they went they got special treatment. Most of our friends were like that. Those who could afford the school we went to came from grossly wealthy families. That was all we knew. We didn't know any of the kids who didn't go to school. They worked with their families for our parents, that's all we knew them as. 

"That's interesting." I said, clearly not interested.

"I'm telling you, Ava. Something's going on here. Like, people are disappearing." 

I rolled my eyes at her, keeping my eyes glued to my phone.

"Yeah, okay, Annie." I said flatly. 

She silenced herself as we pulled into my driveway. My house sat in its own corner of the neighborhood, and we pushed the buttons to my gate before we could get in. We had to get higher security after we had a series of break-ins over the last couple of months. 

We pulled into the garage, and I took Annie up to my room, where she headed straight to my closet. Holding up a black lace dress, she put it up to my chest, then nodded, tossing it onto the comforter. She then emerged out again with white pair of tennis shoes. 

"This is what you're wearing." 

I rolled my eyes. "That's ridiculous. That dress is way too short. I've never even worn it." I scoffed back. 

"Enough excuses, put it on while I get dressed. I'll do your hair."

I sat up from the bed and walked into my closet, changing into the dress and shoes. When I came out, Annie looked at me as though she was an artist finishing her painting.

"You. Look. So. Hot." she could barely get the words out.

I stayed silent, sitting in the white fluffy chair to my vanity. Annie scooted up next to me, pressing the soft bristles of my brush to my head, and combing my chestnut brown hair. She curled it, then made me almost cough out my liver from the amount of hairspray she put in. Annie had been doing pageants since she could walk, so she knew everything there was to know about beauty and makeup. My mother was never around to teach me, and Annie was more than happy to "show me the ropes". 

I stared at myself in the mirror while Annie went to change. I pressed my hands against my blush powdered cheeks, and for once, I felt pretty. Annie came out in a pink silk slip dress and heels. her hair was tied up in a ponytail, little blonde strands falling over her eyes. 

"You ready? I'll order the uber." She said

I nodded.