Everest, untitled.

Chapter 5

The car in which Lailah picks me up is as original and dreamy as her. Star stickers on both sides of the night blue van, and when I climb inside I'm greeted by tons of blankets, messily thrown everywhere.

"What's that smell Lailah, it's really nice."

"Hello Nate!" she sings as she drives out of our empty driveway.

Dad has taken the twins to dinner around an hour ago, so when we would get to the party we would have about two hours before we have leave for Kinaaz's curfew.

"You're right, it is really...sweet?" Kinaaz sniffs in her front seat.

"Yeah, I put some dried flowers underneath the backseats to get out the weed my mom smoked in here yesterday I think." Lailah happily whips to a music that I can only describe as psychedelic.

I see Kinaaz's alarmed face through the mirror on her side and stick my tongue out. She grimaces.

But then I see Kinaaz looking down on her phone and she makes a loud tsk.

"Jason, that traitor, is already drunk. Bet he won't even recognise us if we stand right in front of him."

"He did go there right after school," I shrug.

"But guys! Won't your friends from Student Council be there? You are so nervous, but I bet you know tons of people," Lailah chirps. How could one person be so optimistic.

"How about you," I try to change the topic, "excited to go?"

"Oh yeah!" she turns back to me and I try not to shout immediately to keep her eyes on the road.

"It is my first party to go to with friends! And with the two of you, it's like being with the cool kids!"

The tension in my shoulders slumps to a guilty knot in my stomach. Not that I am a big party animal or remotely what one could consider a cool kid. The only other party I've been to this year except the school dances was the end of Spring Semester. Right before the summer break, when everything was still normal and everything changed in the course of one night. The last time Javi spoke to me.

"Well, I'm glad to go with you two as well for what it's worth," I say.

"You're a liar since I basically had to drag you here but I do agree. We're like a mini-troop."

"Let's have fun tonight!" Lailah said and dangerously moved the wheel with her.

Having friends is a nice feeling, I suppose.

The house is so huge it should be a crime for one household to have so much space.

I knew Harry's family was rich, but to see your own poverty in comparison to the mansion and gigantic front yard is a little sobering.

We find a parking space on the road, a rural field stretching in front of the mansion.

Of course rich people don't have neighbors. They have money and don't have to socialise.

Life is unfair.

It is still bright, courtesy of the warm fall months of Michigan. The sun is setting though and painting the sky in a beautiful palette of orange and red as we commence our walk to the door.

The music can be heard all the way from outside, and people are already spawned outside. The smokers,are filling the air with their exhalations both nicotine and weed, and as we found out, Lailah's mum does as well. The more you know. I sigh internally. This will be a long night.

The two doors are open when we ascend, a huge entrance hall awaiting us. I have to force myself to not stare at the pure extravagance. One look at my friends tell me they're impressed as well. I thought arriving at eight would be late for a party, but seeing the crowd...they started early.