I Hate You, but I Love You!

Chapter Three: Butterflies in my Stomach!

"You're amazing and fantastic and the best friend in the whole wide world! We're going to have so much fun, you'll see!" Hazel said as she grabbed me by the arm and led me down the stairs.

I tried to ignore the sinking feeling in my stomach. I really didn't want to go, but there was no backing out now. We walked out the building, where a yellow taxi stood waiting for us.

Hazel looked amazing, as always. She was wearing a purple dressy tank top, jeans and cream-coloured high heels. When we were teenagers I always wished I had her beauty. Her shiny auburn hair always hung perfectly from her shoulders, her big hazel eyes always alert (people always found it fascinating that she had hazel eyes and her name was Hazel). She had high cheekbones, a small nose and somehow always managed to have clear skin. She was chunkier than most girls but boys seemed to like that about her.

Hazel kept smiling as we approached the taxi. I played with my hair.

"Hazel, I don't mean to be a downer or anything, but do we have to stay long?" I asked nervously.

Hazel opened the taxi passenger door and looked up at me. Compared to my 5'8 frame and her short 5'3 one, she pretty much always had to look up when she spoke to me. "Chloe Villa Mayor!" She exclaimed, "You and I are both going to have fun tonight, got that? We're going to laugh and drink and flirt, we're not going to think about school or work, and most importantly, we're not going to leave early!"

I frowned. "Hazel -"

"Nope! Nuh-uh! You are not backing out now! Now get in the car!"

"But I-"

"Zip! I said get in!" And with that I sighed, rolled my eyes and got in the car.

The taxi pulled up on Lexington Avenue. I stared out the window with wide eyes. The houses encircling us were massive and expensive. The lawns were mowed and green, the gardens taken care of and at least one sports car residing in every driveway.

"Woah Zel, what kinda friends do you have?"

A small smile appeared on her lips. "Hot and rich ones."

I chuckled, to my surprise. Suddenly the street became very congested with cars.

The taxi driver turned his head around apologetically. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to drop you ladies off here. I have another call and if I drop you off in front of the house I'll be late."

Hazel raised her index finger but I grabbed her wrist and muttered, "Drop it, Zel."

I looked at the taxi driver, who genuinely looked sorry. "It's fine," I said, nodding my head at Hazel, "We'll walk." The driver looked thankful as Hazel got out of the car angrily. I followed suit with a, "Thank you anyway."

"Chloe, that guy was totally lying. He just didn't -"

"Hazel, we'll live. Now move your bum."

"Well, shit." She said, looking down at her shoes. I did the same, wondering how I was going to walk the distance in these heels.

I looked at Hazel expectantly. She seemed to think for a moment, before saying, "Well, screw it. This is so not putting a damper on our night." She looped her arm through mine.

"I mean, we could always just go home?" I tried.

She laughed. "Yeah, right. C'mon, this is going to be fun. Now move your bum." She imitated the last sentence in my tone.

I gave her the smile she was expecting and tried to lift my mood. The long line of cars followed all the way down the road. How far away was this stupid house? Worse, what kind of party was this?