Best Friend Protocol

Best Friend Protocol (2)

THIS CHAPTER IS DEDICATED TO LUCIENNECROSS. Thank you for letting me join the book club! Xx    

 II

     The word spread about Seth Adams’ party like wildfire. The freshmen considered it as a right of passage towards popularity. Others, however, just attend because of the free booze. The thing that makes a ‘Seth Adams Party’ different is that it’s always covered by the paparazzi.

     Other than being one of the future owners of Adams chain of hotels, Seth is also the brother of one of the most famous Hollywood actresses to date, Mandy Adams. The paps are probably hoping to catch her in one of Seth’s parties. The Adams Family is one of the most sought after families in the hotel business. The Hiltons are old school compared to them which is why they are receiving the full celebrity treatment wherever they go.

     Anyway…many students were excited for the first party of the year—I’m not one of them. I wasn’t feeling very social and I already promised Mrs. A that I was joining them for dinner. I brought the topic to Seth when lunch came and Claire and I sat with his buddies.

     “Come on Stacey! You have to be there. It’s the first party of the year” Was Maxon’s reaction when I told them I didn’t want to attend. Everybody else was shooting nervous glances at Seth, waiting for his reaction.

     “I know but I’m just not feeling the party mode now” I answered, grabbing a couple of fries from Seth’s tray and shoving them inside my mouth. “Besides, I already promised Mrs. A that I am going to have dinner with them this night. Seth, however, had different ideas” I shot a glare at my best friend.

     He shrugged beside me and took a large bite of the pizza that was in my plate. “Mom knows, babe. You can either attend or else—“ He let his threat hang.

     I raised an eyebrow at the challenge. “Or what, Adams?”

     Seth’s smirk sudden wavered as he took in my challenging stance. He and I both knew that I was going to win an argument against his meaningless threats. “Uhm—You—you have you go, Stace. You just have to” I shook my head at his begging, turning my attention at my empty plate that was once carrying a slice of pizza. Damn Seth. “Come on Stace! I’m having a sh*t day right now. I find out that I only have two classes with you because of your AP classes. I just want to spend time with my best friend because she’s been gone the whole summer. Claire!—“ He shouted, earning the attention of my other best friend who seemed to have been in a conversation with Paul. “Tell Stacey that she has to go”

     Claire threw a bored look at me, obviously knowing my answer. “You have to go, Stacey. Seth needs you. Without you, Seth would have no air…blah blah blah” She trailed off, earning snickers from Seth’s friends with her tone.

     Seth didn’t seem to care and looked at me with his stupid puppy dog eyes. “See? Everyone wants you there. Now would you please come?”

     Guilt was eating me from the inside since I really wasn’t able to spend time with Seth the whole summer. You only live once, Stacey Steele, My subconscious told me. “Alright fine! I’ll go”

     Seth did a victory fist pump in the air and wrapped an arm around my shoulders, making me spit out a little juice that I was starting to drink. “I love you” He grinned, placing a kiss on my forehead.

     I slapped his arm away, amused by his reaction. “Whatever. I love you too”

     “Jeez. With his reaction, you’d think he won the f*cking lottery” Maxon muttered to the rest of the people on the table. They all snickered in response.