Falling Dawn

2. The Party

Chapter 2 - The Party

The loud music was already audible from the beginning of the long driveway at the foot of the hill. I vaguely recognized the rhythm of Animals by Martin Garrix when it sounded muted through the windows. I smiled towards Scott and felt my head automatically moving to the beat of the music. Maybe this night wouldn't be as bad as I had thought it would be.

Scott drove his car over to the other cars parked randomly over the grass. I saw groups of people running and jumping over the grass and several lights shone from the windows, creating a beautiful light show in the dark night.

It looked like the house glowed and fiercely blinked like a gigantic disco ball. Some people sang along with the music and threw their hands up, pumping the sky with their balled fists.

The car abruptly stopped a little abruptly and I was roughly thrown forward. I thanked myself for wearing a seatbelt and raised mockingly my eyebrows to Scott. He just smiled proudly.

"I told you we would arrive here safe and sound."

I pushed open the door and glared warningly towards Scott. "Well, that may be so, but we still have to get home, so, please, don't even think about drinking a droplet of beer tonight," I threatened.

He raised his hands innocently. "Wasn't planning to."

"Good," I responded, and I stepped out of the car.

I was immediately hit with the loud music when I stood straight, feeling the beat drumming in my ear. I smiled and straightened my dress.

Let's get it over with.

While we walked closer to the house, the music became even louder and drowned out everything else. The ground was littered with red plastic cups and the big crowd of people neared.

Scott and I were as usual fashionably late and some people looked up as we walked past. I friendly smiled back, but the smile wasn't for them. I smiled because I knew they admired me in my dress.

We walked through the crowd getting denser as we approached the house. I opened the door and was again overwhelmed with the music droning out even louder here. People were dancing wildly and jumping up and down to the music, which made it hard to overlook the hall. Both the hall and living room were cramped with people and I felt my heart sink into my shoes at the thought of how to find my friends in here.

I grabbed Scott's hand so that I wouldn't lose him and felt his warm hand against mine. For a moment I was overtaken by doubt, but then I gripped him firmer pulled him into the crowd.

We walked a while with Scott pushing all the people away from me and taking the heaviest smashes from drunken people swaying their way through the hall. After a few minutes, we finally found a bit more spacious place not far away from the table with the drinks and food.

"Want something to drink?" Scott shouted into my ear and made a drinking gesture with his hands when he saw me looking at him in confusion. I nodded and smiled. The music was way too loud.

I was standing alone for a while, until I vaguely heard someone yell my name. I turned around to find Celia standing behind me, her eyes clouded over from the alcohol. She jabbered something in my ear that I couldn't quite understand and hugged me. She definitely had had more than one drink.

When Scott finally returned, he gave me my beer – which I actually hated, but as it was the only thing to drink in here, I drank it anyway – and said hello to Celia. After taking a sip of my beer I watched Scott's hands holding a beer as well and frowned at him. Scott, however, only winked at me and strolled off to his friends. I rolled my eyes and turned back to Celia.