BADLANDS

;party time

After an entire day of being dragged around by Lydia Martin and making no friends besides the perky red-head, I'm exhausted.

The best part of starting my first day on a Friday is being able to go home and stay home to process it for the weekend.

I take off all of my makeup and change into some comfort clothing and curl up in my bed with my laptop. I open the pictures app, and select the album labeled Family. I do this a lot actually. Look through old pictures of Mom, Dad, Cameron, and I. Somehow, it makes it hurt less. Like they are still sort of here with me. I am laughing at an old picture of Dad on Christmas when my phone starts going off. The caller ID displays none other then Lydia's name. I sort of regret giving her my number at this point.

"Yes Lydia." I speak into the phone.

"I'm on my way to your house. You better have some hot clothes, if not I brought some. But we are going to a party tonight."

"What? No I can't.' I look at my dad on my laptop. "I'm... busy. Sorry, Lydia."

"You're not busy you're in pajamas, laying in bed. I'm almost there, see you in a minute." She says and hangs up. She really just does not take no for an answer.

The door bell rings throughout the house and Cameron beats me to the door. For once he is out of his room, he must've had a good day. He opens he door and almost the look of disappointment flashes across his face.

"Who the hell..."

"Mils, hi. Let's go." She says, letting herself in and pulling my arm up the stairs. Cameron gives me a confused look and I just roll my eyes and shrug.

Lydia takes it upon herself to raid my closet, sorting quickly through my clothes.

"Wow, I actually like some of this. You just scored some Lydia points." Oh goodie... Lydia points. Merry Christmas to me. Lydia picks out a black two piece dress that used to belong to my mother.   "This one." She says holding it up to me.

"I... I can't." I say, grabbing the dress from her. "It was my mothers...she's... She passed." I look at the floor. A look of sympathy takes over Lydia's face.

"I'm sure she looked beautiful in it, and I'm sure she is looking down right now saying 'Camila, this dress is perfect and I would love if you wore it.'" Lydia says with a sympathetic smile. I look at her, tears brimming my eyes. She holds the dress out to me and I take it.

"Thank you. I'll put it on."

"Does this mean you're actually coming with me?"

"Did I have a choice?" I chuckle.

"No, actually. I thought I was going to have to drag you out the door." Lydia winks.

I put on the dress and it fits perfect. I have just enough amp in the front and back to make it look a little sexy at least. After getting herself ready, Lydia did my makeup and managed to put some volume to my hair. Stuff me into some heels and I'll look like I'm going to the red carpet. But Lydia is way ahead of me. She brings in some tan colored heels and pushes them onto my feet.

She takes a step back to admire her good work. She smirks. "Man am I good. You were definitely easy to work with though."

"Was that a compliment?"

"It was. Now let's go. We are going to be fashionably late."

When we arrive to the party there are people littered everywhere across the front lawn.

"Now this isn't one of my normal parties, considering some of my friends are coming but that means it'll be perfect for you."

"Isn't that a good things your friends are coming?" I ask, confused.

"My friends aren't big partiers." She says and looks up at the sky, I do the same. The full moon is in a couple of days. When I was a kid, my dad and I used to keep track of the moon. It was always an us thing, and when the full moon was out we sat on the roof and admired it. I still do it monthly, as if he is right there beside me.

"Mila, let's go." Lydia says, knocking me out of thought. We walk through the front door and the music is already blasting and there are red solo cups in everybody's hands while they dance. "Want a drink?" Lydia yells over the music. I shake my head. I'm not really I'm the mood for drinking. Truth is, I never have. "Fine, then let's go introduce you to people." She links arms with me and pulls me into the quieter kitchen to a group of people, all holding drinks.

"Guys, this is Camila Alvarrez. She's new here and we are her new friends. I see Scott, Cameron's guide. He smiles a crooked smile at me and reaches out his hand to shake mine. I take it.

"I'm Scott, nice to meet you Camila."

"Call me Mila." I smile.

Next a shorter boy, who resembles some-what of a puppy reaches out his hand.

"I'm Liam. Welcome to Beacon Hills, Mila."

"Nice to meet you, Liam." I smile at the young boy.

"Mila, this is Malia. She is grieving, but I swear she is great." Malia sends a glare towards Lydia. Lydia shrugs.

"Breakup. Nice to meet you, Mila."
Malia shakes my hand, a white smile on her face.

"Where's Hayden?" Scott asks Liam.

"Couldn't make it. She's studying." He shrugs.

"Well Mila, how was your first day at BHH?" Scott asks, still smiling.

"Exhausting. But it wasn't by any means bad." I say, looking around.

All of their eyes shift towards the door at a boy. Tall with messy hair and a leather jacket. He looks like trouble in a human form. The entire group goes quiet, but quickly picks back up into conversation.

At some point, I get a cup of water and after I finish it I have to go I the bathroom. Scott and Lydia left to go dance and Malia had wandered off somewhere so Liam and I were just left to talk.

"Liam, do you happen to know where the bathroom is?"

"Down the hall and to the left." He smiles.

"Okay, I'll be right back." I say and start towards the bathroom. As I'm walking, I secretly hope that maybe I'll see a cute boy. But there really isn't any that catch my eye for long.

I haven't had a boyfriend since 7th grade, and that was just Tyler Lockwood. We were best friends and we thought we "felt more". I've had plenty of opportunities for boyfriends, I just never really liked any of the boys that took interest in me. My friends always dated bad boys. I mean I'm sure they make for a fun time but I prefer boys who take the same interests as me. I like to focus on school and family and I play soccer. That's how my parents raised me. Cameron makes fun of me and calls me Miss Perfect. Truth is, it's hard to find a boy like that.

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine especially ever since my parents deaths. It's so fragile and easy to break. I don't want to let the wrong person get ahold of it.

I finish in the bathroom and I'm making my way out as I bump into somebody, hard. That somebody being Mr. Trouble that walked in about an hour ago that rendered my entire group into silence. I can smell the smoke and alcohol on his leather jacket as he looks down at me with a smirk.