Taboo

12

Song of the chapter: Tonight by Nonso Amadi

I had opted for a tight black off-shoulder top and black high waisted skinny jeans, which was the tamest outfit that Valentina had picked out. I refused to wear the heels that she insisted I wear so she compromised and allowed me to wear my black platform shoes.

I spent almost five hours straightening my hair and had agreed to let Talia do my make up as Valentina was busy preparing for the party.

"Stop moving, you're going make me ruin your eyebrows."

"Are you nearly done?"

"I won't be done if you keep on moving like this. Just keep still." She snapped.

"Fine."

I sat silently, enduring the annoying tickle of the pencil or whatever it was she was using, until the doorbell rang. I shot up from my seat, relieved that I was able to momentarily escape from the torture.

I opened the door, revealing a very relaxed looking Enrique who, though he was not invited, had insisted on accompanying me to the party.

Upon seeing me, Enrique burst out laughing, leaving me feeling rather confused.

I frowned. "What?" I asked.

"Your face." He gasped amid his laughter.

"Oh." It was just then that I realised how ridiculous I must have looked with my make up half done. "Just get in." I said leaving him at the door and going back to the living room, were Talia was impatiently waiting for me.

~

"You ready for this?" Enrique asked as we sat in his car outside Valentina's house.

"Ready as I'll ever be." I muttered, opening the car door and heading towards the door. We were a little late and a few people were scattered around the lawn, mingling and chatting.

As soon as I opened the door I scoped my surroundings, looking for Valentina. We spotted each other at the same time.

"Davina!" She gave me a hug and looked me over.

"You look bomb." She gushed. Then she frowned, spotting the object that was held tightly in my right hand.

"Davina, please don't tell me that you brought a book to my party."

"So you admit that it's a party now?" I said, attempting to change the subject.

It apparently worked. "No, I didn't. . . Whatever, just try to be a little sociable." She pleaded. With that she walked off, presumably to get a drink.

I lingered downstairs for a while, holding a drink that some guy, who had been yapping incessantly for five minutes, had given me.

"Anyway, enough about me, tell me something about you." He slurred. With a smirk on his face brought his finger up to my face and started to stroke it.

"Uh uh, no. I can't do this. I tried." I announced to no one in particular while backing away.

I headed upstairs in search of an empty room and upon finding one, locked myself in.

~

An hour later and one hundred pages into my book, I began to feel parched. I planned on stealthily sneaking down the stairs, getting a drink and running back up. But when I reached the stairs, the last person I expected to see stood at the foot of the stair case.

Ethan's eyes were glazed over as he took in my appearance deliberately, inducing in me a very uncommon self-conciousness.

He wore a black leather jacket over a black t-shirt and black skinny jeans.