The Popularity Alliance

-03- On Parties and Introverts

On Parties and Introverts

After the disastrous first meeting of the year in which we found out that Hunter was completely, absolutely different to us, Jordan and I decided to go to a party hosted at Bree Love's house.

Bree Love had been the most popular junior last year. Well... that had been before I arrived to the school. So basically, if I wasn't there, Bree would be the most popular girl and Jordan's best 'friend'.

I think it's safe to say that Bree Love hated me. Really hated me.

When we exited Bridget's, I thought it would be perfect if Jordan and I entered the party together, because it would create some rumours about our relationship and would keep the people talking about it for a week at minimum, thus preventing other kind of rumours of less important people to spread.

Don't get me wrong, my goals weren't like Jessica and Sam's, I didn't focus the attention on me because I simply liked attention-which I did, but that's not the point-, but because if people were talking about me, they weren't talking about other things like rumours that could annoy someone and create drama.

Anyway, getting back to Jordan and me, I had thought he would enter the party with me, maybe even with his hand in mine or his arm around me, and would show that we were really close to dating.

But no. When Bree's street came into view, there was no mistaking her party. Loud music was blaring out of the house, and to me it seemed like the street was bouncing. Bree didn't care about complaints, her parents were filthy rich and booked hotel nights for the neighbours whenever she was having a party. She was lucky, unlike me, but I didn't let that get to me. So what? She was rich, yeah. But it's not like that made her better.

I was still more popular than her.

Bree's front yard was pretty empty, to our surprise. There were just a few people, and between them, Bree herself. We were just a few steps away from the fence when Jordan ran away from my side and jumped over it.

I was left shocked and alone. Why had he done that? Did he not want to be seen with me? We had been laughing and I'd been flirting with him the whole way! And he was just going to ignore that. Ignore me.

Jordan greeted Bree while I went around the fence, and she looked at me then smirked. I wasn't affected by that, I had gotten used to her mocking me, and a smirk from her wouldn't annoy me.

But when he put his arm around her shoulder, I was done looking. Without even thinking, I jumped over the fence imitating Jordan and walked towards them, glancing at Bree. She laughed at me over Jordan's shoulder, and they entered the party.

Now I wouldn't be getting any rumours about me and Jordan. They would be about him and Bree.

I kicked an empty glass that was sitting in the lawn and held myself from running and pulling at Bree's hair.

I would have, really, but a catfight with the second most popular girl in Lake Linden wasn't exactly what I needed. It would have been pretty stupid to attack her. I was supposed to be a role model. Bree was a whore with no people looking up to her. I admit it, sometimes I was jealous of how she did what she wanted without worrying about what people would say.

Even if people didn't admire her, they sure were scared of her. She was rich, as I said before, and very powerful. She knew everyone in the area, and she could spread rumours not only in our school, but also in other schools that were around. She had power over seven schools, while I only had it over four. Bree Love wasn't that popular, but she had more power than the whole Alliance combined.

Maybe that was why Jordan was hanging out with her! She would end him socially-and maybe not only socially-if he didn't do what she said, so he had agreed to date her even if the only thing he wanted to do was date me...

"Is this Bree Love's house?" a girl with bright blue eyes asked me, snapping me out of my daydream.

I wanted to answer 'duh, don't you hear the music?' but I had to maintain my adorable, nice girl image, so I said, putting on my best smile, "Yeah! Is this your first time at one of her parties?"

"Yes. It's my first time at a party, actually," she said, and looked down.

Wow. I didn't know about other places, but in our area, everyone got invited to big parties. If she hadn't come, it meant she was so lame she was staying home rather than going to a party.

"Oh!" I said, continuing my act. "You new in the area?"

She shook her head. "No. But I've been homeschooled all my life, and this was my first week in an actual school. I go to Lake Linden."

I knew for a fact that the homeschoolers in the area also got invited to high school parties because of connections and neighbours, but I ignored her excuse. "Then welcome to the school! "

She smiled. She had an adorable smile and she looked really young and innocent. She was gorgeous, I admit it, but she was too shy to be popular. This girl was no threat to me. I was about to turn around when she spoke.

"I'm Florence Fields, by the way."

I smiled at her, glad she had introduced herself first. There was no way I was going to keep this dull conversation going.

"Mia Gonzalez. It was nice to meet you," I said, and walked away. And that was how you got rid of a person you had no interest in.

The music was way louder in the inside of the house. I could feel the beat of the song inside me, my heart pumping at it. Now I understood why that girl Florence was outside. According to my Psychology report, some introverted people were affected by loud sounds.

But me? The feeling of the music surrounding and embracing me fed me, giving me energy.

As always, Bree's party was packed with people. I squeezed through the crowd, people greeting me everywhere.

"Hey, Gonzalez!" some guy said.

"Mia, girl! So glad you could make it!" a girl whose name I didn't know exclaimed.

"Hello Mia! There's going to be a hip-hop contest in Bree's living room! Man, the girl sure knows how to throw a party!" said Sophie from the drama club.

I faked a smile at that and promised I would be there, though I wouldn't in a million years.

As I approached the speakers and the DJ table, the music was roaring in my ears, and the people singing around me were jumping up and down, shaking me violently.

I took a glass of punch from a bowl, and I knew there must have been something in it, but I didn't really care. I just wanted to get away from the jumping people and maybe even go home. I was tired of everything.

I reached the breaking point when I saw Jordan and Bree sitting in a couch, kissing.

I dropped the glass. I was definitely not going to be there to watch the next thing I knew they were going to do together.

I left the house and ran back to the Café, then drove home in tears.

<>-<>

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! This isn't the last you'll see of Florence. She might even have her own book after this one is done. I have an idea in my head.

Serenity