DEAD INSIDE

(7)

"You got six invites, three of which I've crossed off: Jazz night at Tamm's, TWD marathon with Justin, Elsa and their gang and a sleepover at Fiona Gordon's, whoever that is..."

"She's my cousin. The one I invited last year to celebrate New Year's Eve with us..." Mel answered while putting a second layer of mascara. "But we're definitely not going to her sleepover..." She added, wriggling her eyebrows.

"That's what I thought..." I said while curling another strand of hair. "Which leaves us with three possibilities..." I paused to make sure she was with me. "You've been invited to a Crusaders' party..." She frowned and looked at my reflection in the mirror we were both facing.

The Crusaders was the name we called the students that went to our neighboring town's high school. They had long ago claimed they wanted to remain neutral in the war opposing the White Tigers to the Black Devils and their parties or other events held there had been ruled as war-free zones.

Numerous attempts to settle the never ending war between the two rival schools had been made at a Crusader's party but none had been successful.

Going to a Crusaders' party, especially that one which was hosted by Damian Kiolyan, a popular senior from their school, would most certainly mean meeting high-ranked Black Devils. Maybe not Gregory and his minions but it was a possibility.

"Hmm... What's on your mind?" I smiled at the suspicious look she was sending me.

"Well, what better way to say F.U. to whoever did all this to me than to party crazy right under their nose?" I interjected, before reaching for another strand of hair.

"Hmm... Gutsy... I like..." She commented. "Ok, what are the other two possibilities?"

"Well, we can always play it safe and go to Dorothea's sweet sixteen birthday party..." I went on and her grimace made me chuckle. "What's wrong with that idea, Miss Vaqueiro?"

"You can't offer me vanilla ice cream after that spice cocktail you shook under my nose, girl!?" She interjected and I snorted at her metaphor.

"Then you're going to have to make a Cornelian choice since possibility number three is a bonfire in the woods organized by the football team..."

"That's right, I heard Pete mention it last night..." She sighed. "That's actually a hard one..." She finally admitted a minute later. "I'm pretty sure Alex will be there as well..." She paused. "Heck, Milo, Scott, Niall and Victor will probably be there, too..."

One more strand and my thick hair would be totally done into loose curls that fell well under my shoulders.

"Although attending Damian's party would be a good statement too..." She added, barely above a whisper a minute later. "Are you sure you're up for it, though?" She looked worried all of a sudden. "I know how fiery you get when you're pissed off..." Her voice trailed but I knew exactly what she was trying to say. No matter what would happen, I'd have to keep my cool.

"I am." I answered confidently because I was.

Right then, I was more concerned about letting them know that they might have burnt my most possessed prizes but I was still standing with my head held high.

"Let's go to Damian's, then..." She offered me her hand and I high-fived her.

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"Fancy seeing you there, ladies..." A tall and burly boy I'd never seen before greeted us at the front door. "Are you lost?" My eyebrows shot up high at his less than warm welcome.