The Smile Always Fades

7. The Mystery: No Longer Unknown

An hour after getting all dolled up by Sandra, Anna was walking up the walk way to Bentley's typical, two story, suburban, rich kid house. It was only a few blocks from her dad's place so she opted on traveling by foot. She was totally thankful that she wore her beat up black Converse high-tops instead of the murderous high heels Sandra had tried talking her into wearing; her raggedy Converse were much more merciful on the feet.

She could hear the techno, dub-step music that was thumping in the house before she even reached the door mat. Wipe your paws here, it beckoned.

This being Anna's first party, she was a little unsure of what to do when it came to entering the party--or when it came to anything regarding this party. She decided to take a chance and just push through the front door. She had a feeling no one would answer if she rang the doorbell; no one would likely hear it anyway.

As soon as Anna stepped into the house, she regretted the decision of being talked into this. There were couples pressed up against walls, unattractively showing certain personal displays of affection that Anna was embarrassed to have witnessed, the music was so loud that Anna couldn't hear herself think, the house was so dim-lit that Anna had to strain her eyes to see clearly, and there were obvious under-aged teenagers who were completely smashed from all of the alcohol they had already consumed.

"This was a big mistake," Anna thought out loud. "Definitely not my scene." She turned a full 360 degrees to walk straight out the front door, but Bentley was standing in her way.

"I'm sorry to hear that." Bentley practically had to scream in Anna's ear so she could hear. "I was glad to see you came."

"Yeah well, I don't know why I came in the first place," Anna retorted. "These types of parties aren't really my style."

"What?" Bentley shouted, obviously not hearing her over the blasting music.

Anna scoffed and rolled her eyes while pushing past him and flying out the front door. She was hit instantly with the fresh, crisp winter's night air as soon as she made it out of the stuffy house, reeking of booze and sweat. She inhaled the frosty air and closed her eyes.

"Anna, wait." Bentley was by her side now, grabbing hold of her shoulder. He took a long moment looking at her in the moonlight. "You look amazing tonight," he said finally, after staring into her face for, what seemed to Anna, like a century. "Don't go just yet. I would hate for you to leave after getting so dressed up for me and my party." His face contorted into a million dollar smile and Anna hoped that Bentley had interpreted her cheeks' redness as being caused from the chill of the night. Bentley then wrapped his muscular arm around Anna's shoulder and led her back inside.

"This is going to be fun Anna, just wait and see." Anna couldn't determine whether that was Bentley or the voice in her head speaking, but she decided she was going to try to believe it, no matter what happened.

"You want a beer?" Anna looked up from the couch she was occupying in the living room to see one of the players from Baker High's football team, holding out a glossy red plastic cup to her.

"No thanks," Anna answered. She wasn't into drinking, it never really made her feel good about herself when she did.

The football player grumbled to himself, taking a gulp out of the cup and sulked away.

"Smart choice," Anna heard someone say. She looked to her left and saw a petite girl with flaming red, curly, shoulder-length hair sitting on the other end of the corduroy couch. She had on skinny jeans and furry boots with a Paramore band concert t-shirt on top. "He offers all of the girls beer, in an attempt to get them buzzed."

"Yeah," Anna said. "I kinda figured."

"Well, I made a pact with myself a long time ago to never drink alcohol at parties...or ever," the mysterious girl laughed. "I usually end up being the designated driver anyway."