THE NEIGHBOUR [editing 13.7.26]

Chapter 2: Drunk Depression

I closed my satchel and joined Julie, my best friend. She is the only girl that stands up for me and just makes me crack up. We just click.

"What do we have first?" Julie asked me.

"A lecture. Joy." I replied with a sarcastic grin.

"Ooh we have Mrs Franker" Julie exclaimed.

"Jules, just because you love her doesn't mean you can worship the universities' saggiest teachers in front of me. I'm horrified." I spat.

Julie chuckled and pulled a face. We have the same 2 classes but all the rest of our classes were different. 

We entered the lecture studio and I immediately spotted Jason. I called him over. His face brightened and he jogged up to me.

"Hey Marls! How are you doing?" Jason asked.

"Jase! I miss you!" I embraced him into a hug.

"I-uh miss you too!" Jason stuttered.

I wanted to question why he hesitated when he said that but I decided to let it go. He loves me anyway.

"Marley, Liam's party is on tonight I was wondering if you're coming. It'll be so much fun..." Jason informed.

"Mm Julie, will you come with me?" I pleaded with my awesomely hypnotic puppy eyes.

"Geez Marley, your puppy eyes got me" Jules joked. "Yeah I'll come with. Got nothing to do on a Thursday night anyway."

"Awesome, then yeah I'm coming Jase."

"Cool! I'll pick you up at 8." Jason whispered.

I winked at him and pulled out my lecture notebook. I lazily slumped into an empty auditorium seat as the lecture began.

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My eyes scanned across the multiple dresses, desperate to pick out the right one for tonight's rave party.

I found an appropriate dress for the occasion and reached out to grab it. One glance and I was ready to wear it.

I pulled the dress on and admired the dress in the mirror. It was a floral dress that was tight at the top and gently followed out at the bottom, reaching my mid-thigh.

I skipped into my ensuite and grabbed my straightener, quickly smoothening down my hair. I picked out white pumps and put them on. I was ready to go.

Grabbing my phone, I carefully made my way down stairs. My mum wasn't home so I had a muesli bar, waiting until Jason came. Nut and raspberry. Mm.

Honk.

"Coming!" I yelled, disposing of my bar wrapper. Opening the door, Jason's Lexus came into view. I liked his car. It was sleek and frankly it smelled nice. Don't judge.

Jason had already hopped out and opened the door for me. Gentlemen. I entered the car and inhaled.

"Smelling my car again are we?"

I couldn't help but display a sneaky smile.

"Maybeee" I replied, giving him a wink.

He grinned and gave me a peck on the lips. Even though we've been dating for 9 months, the slightest kiss gave me heart flutters.

We made it to Liam's house. Julie had texted me that she would meet me there. The party was already in full-swing. Cups were strewn over the lawn. Some drunk people were already climbing fences. This was going to be an interesting night.

Jason and I entered the crowd of dancing and talking people. It was like a zoo. I was scared I would loose Jason and end up on my own with some creep. I was right. I looked back and Jason had disappeared out of sight.

Immediately a drunk dude approached me, trying to pull me to the dance floor.
I recognised him at once.

"Colin, get your hands off me!" I yelled at his face. He looked at me like some kind of lost puppy then continued pulling me.

"Colin just get-"

I felt someone pry away Colins hand off mine as my sentence was cut short. I looked around and Jules was there, scolding the drunk Colin, who still bore a face like a lost puppy.

As soon as Jules finished her kind of dramatic scolding a walked up to her and gave her a tight hug.

"Jules what would I do without you!"

"Mm probably rot away in a dumpster while mice pick you hair off and Colin continues to grab your arm." Julie joked,
flashing me a cheeky smile.

I returned her grin, beckoning her towards the dance floor. She agreed and we jammed to our favourite R&B hits.

After our jamming session we picked up some drinks. Before taking a sip from the red cup, we negotiated, figuring out who would become the designated driver. Julie volunteered considering her parents were quite strict and did not want to see their daughter completely drunk and wobbly.

Julie being the DD meant that she had to take Jason home too. What a task.

I agreed, taking a sip of my juice. Jason would never be a designated driver. Regardless, he will get drunk, whether you like it or not.

The party had gone into the late night. It was 11:30 pm. I followed Julie into the back yard for some fresh air. She wove through people and sidestepped certain individuals. We reached the patio and then she stopped. I tapped her, wanting to know why she had stopped.

I couldn't see what she was seeing. Then she turned around and looked me square in the eye. She looked like she'd seen a ghost.

"M-marley I-uh...Marley we need to go!"

"Wha-why Julie! What's going on?" I stuttered.

Julie tried grabbing my arm, attempting to pull me to the exit of Liam's house but I had to see what was going on. I ripped out of Julie's grip and made my way through the thick. My head was spinning. What was in that drink?

I could hear Julie behind me.

"Please Marley, you don't want to go there! Marley!" Julie screamed behind me.

I ignored her. But I soon regretted it. I reached the patio. And then I saw it. No.

I felt the anger boiling up inside of me. I felt the tears well up in my eyes. My heart sank to the floor and dissolved. I felt my breath being restricted and my throat closed up. Why you ask?

Jason was making out with another girl.

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