Living with the Bad Boy

Chapter 2: The Party

I stare at myself in the bathroom mirror, turning side to side to get the full picture. My new stepbrother, Daniel, is having a party tonight and he asked me to come. I guess I wasn't the grandest gesture since the party is in the house I now live in, but I guess it was still nice of him to invite me.

I've never been to a high school party before. My crowd never got invited. And partying wasn't really my thing anyway. I would be just as happy sitting at home with a bowl of popcorn and a good movie. Although, this party will be crawling with kids from Daniel's school. So maybe this will be the perfect opportunity to make some new friends.

If I'm attending this party, does that make me cool? Will people know I'm living with Daniel? Maybe I was right when I said this place could be good for my mom and I.

When Daniel had come back upstairs with my boxes, he said to make sure my bedroom door is locked unless I want it to become a makeout room. That thought terrified me. What kind of party would this be? Would I be a snobby rich kid party, or would it turn into a rave of some sort?

And what on earth was I supposed to wear? I didn't want to look slutty, but at the same time I didn't want to be underdressed. If Daniel's friends are as rich as he is, there's no way I'll be able to meet their standards in my clothes.

Finally I pull a short red dress out of one of my newly organized closet and turn it over in my hands. This will have to do for now. I throw it on and debate what to do with my boring, flat hair. I leave it down but tease a little bit at the roots to add some volume. I don't usually wear a lot of makeup, so I just put on some mascara and some powder, finishing off with my favorite lip gloss.

I look in the mirror again and sigh. This is my first time going to a high school party. I should be excited, shouldn't I? This could be my one chance to finally be popular. But is that really what I want? All the drama and the gossip of the popular crowd? It never interested me before, but now it might just be within my reach.

Out of nowhere, the floor starts to shake a little and I can hear the distant pounding of loud music reverberating throughout the house. I guess it's party time. I take a couple of last minute deep breaths and step out of my bedroom, locking the door behind me as Daniel had suggested. The hallway is empty still, is that a good sign?

I start down the staircase and see a crowd forming just inside the front door. I didn't think to ask how many people were coming because I didn't want to annoy Daniel with stupid questions and make him not like me.

I get to the bottom of the stairs and my heart starts to beat a little faster, overwhelmed by the commotion. Already, people are coming and going into different rooms and it reminds me that I still haven't explored the rest of the house.

Feeling thirsty, I head for the kitchen hoping to get some soda or something.  There's a couple making out against the oven and I try not to look. There are at least 20 different kinds of alcohol lined up across the counter and nothing else. I sigh, grabbing a plastic cup from the stack and filling it with water from the sink. I've never had any booze before, and I don't plan on starting now.

"Serenity!" I jump when someone calls out my name. How do people know who I am? I moved in like three hours ago! I turn around and see Daniel with his arm around some blonde girl's shoulders. He has a cup in his hand and the girl looks wasted. Maybe I was right about him. "Come on!" He gestures his head, both of his arms being currently occupied with other things. "I'll introduce you to everyone!"  His words are slightly slurred together and I assume he must be drinking as well.

"Fine." Having nothing better to do, I leave my water on the counter and follow him back out of the kitchen. He heads into what I'm guessing is the living room -- a huge room with at least five sofas and couches. Daniel and his friend sit down and he motions for me to sit next to him. I do so tentatively and he smiles with a laugh.

"Guys, this is my new sister." He chuckles motioning to me with his plastic cup, sloshing the brownish liquid inside and spilling some on the couch. Everyone standing around him mutters some sort of a hello and returns to their own drinks. "Isn't she hot?" Daniel is laughing hysterically and the girl under his arm smacks him in the chest. I shift uncomfortably in my seat.

"Totally." A tall boy with ashy blond hair says, stepping toward me. "I'm Josh." He says and winks awkwardly.

"Hi." I say softly, not exactly longing to strike up a conversation with some inebriated teenager.

"Hey, go get us some more drinks." Daniel says, handing his cup to the blonde girl. She stands up and stumbles out of the room. Daniel then scoots closer to me. "How do you like the party?" His words are still clear and I don't think he's actually drunk yet so that's good.

"It's interesting." I say and he smirks.

"You've never been to a party before have you." He surmises, giving me a meaningful look and a cocked eyebrow. I shake my head, accepting defeat. Great, now he knows I'm not cool. "You'll get used to it after a while. You just gotta learn to let loose." He says.

"Letting loose really isn't my thing." I say gently.

"Then what is your thing?" He asks, and I get the feeling there's a hidden meaning in his words.

"I don't know, really." I sigh.

Suddenly Daniel stands up and holds out a hand. "Dance with me." He has a mischievous look in his eyes and it scares me.

"What about your friend?" I ask cautiously.

"Anna? She won't care." He says and pulls me up with him. He drags me behind him over to the other side of the room where everyone is dancing. I shake my head no, desperately wanting to head back to my room but Daniel pulls me into the crowd with a smile on his face. Everyone around us is writhing with the music and Daniel grabs hold of my waist. He starts to sway back and forth to the beat and turns me around quickly so my back is to his front. At first I try to protest but then I start to feel the music and it's actually sort of.....fun.

"See!" Daniel shouts over the bass. "I told you you just need to let go and enjoy yourself." I guess Daniel's nice enough for the player I assume him to be. I feel bad that he ditched the blonde girl to dance with me, but I'm having fun. And I haven't had this much fun in a while, so I'm going to make the most of it.

I let myself get lost in the music for a couple of songs but then I feel Daniel nuzzle his head in the crook of my neck and whisper in my ear. "You want to go upstairs?" He says in a deep, sultry voice and I'm drawn out of my thoughts immediately. I stop moving and turn to face him.

"No." I say with my brows tightened together. Without allowing him to respond, I run off of the dance floor and exit the living room. I cross through the foyer and head back up the stairs. I just want to go to bed. I knew a party wasn't going to be any good for me. I was absolutely right.

I weave my way through multiple couples kissing in the hall and finally make it back to my bedroom. I rush inside, shut the door behind me and take a deep, relieved, breath in. I kick off my shoes and lay down on my bed, not even bothering to pull back the covers. I turn the tv on and start flipping through the channels, though it's impossible to hear over the dull roar of the party. I have already given up on trying to get any sleep tonight. A party like this is sure to rage on through the late hours of the night, and it's only 10:30.

Everything I had assumed about Daniel Strays was right. He was a player and a jerk. I always loved being an only child and this is why. I promise myself that I will never speak to Daniel again, even if he's sleeping on the other side of that wall. I don't need trouble in my life. I don't need him in my life. I'll beeper deftly fine with just me, myself, and I.

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I know, I know. Another short chapter but once the story really gets going they will be longer, I promise! Anyway, what do you think so far? Any predictions? Lemme know :)
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