Skin

Part III - Serena

The day of my sixteenth birthday in May, I had applied for a position at a children's hospital where I would help file patient's records and socialize with the kids committed. I wouldn't hear back from the hospital until the first day of June. The nerves were killing me. I knew that securing this job would look great on my college applications, which I was already thinking of as I was heading into my junior year of high school.

As the day arrived I was leaping out of my skin with eagerness to tear open the letter. My parents sat down with me in our kitchen as I read it aloud

"Serena Emerson,

It is with great pleasure that the board here at Riverside Children's Hospital, would like to congratulate you on your acceptance to working as a part our team. We look forward to observing your hardworking and determined attitude over this summer through the work that you will perform. We will remain in contact over the next week with information on hours, and pay. Thank you for appl-"

"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

I screamed like a mad-woman committed to a mental institution and ran in circles. As I broke out into my go-to happy dance my parents congratulated me and got up from their seats to engulf me in a group hug. I was so elated that I couldn't even finish reading the letter.

"We are so proud of you sweetie," my mother said as she smiled at me and held me tight.

"Who are we kidding? We knew you'd get the job. You've worked so hard to have an outstanding academic and extracurricular resumé, they'd be fools not to accept you."

My father always expected great things of me, and I actually felt no pressure from it. I wanted to deliver and follow in my brother's footsteps.

Just like me, Lucas worked hard to get into Princeton and continues to work hard. Even with all the distractions he faced *cough* girls *cough* he was a terrific student in high school and graduated in the top ten of his class.

I think it's safe to say that my brother was a bit of a ladies man. I mean, hey. If you've got the dashing good looks that he's been blessed with, you might as well use them. Ever since he was a sophomore in high school, I can remember him always having dates lined up. He isn't a bad guy though, he was just having fun back then (now, ever since he's been at Princeton, he's slowed his roll and put his dating life aside). Lucas, unlike me, has dark brown hair, perfectly tanned skin, and crisp, green eyes. Girls have always been chasing after him and I've even had a few friends use me, just to get close to him.

But I do have my main group of friends: Alex and Kristen. The three of us have been friends ever since middle school. We even room together at our boarding school. We're alike in so many ways which is refreshing seeing as to we go to a school with many privileged, entitled kids.

That day was perfect. Lucas came home from college, I was accepted to work at the hospital, it was time to celebrate.

Don't be deceived by the good-girl, hardworking daughter persona. Everybody has different sides to them and that night, my party-girl side would get the best of me.

Lucas was going to a party hosted by his old high school friend and invited my friends and me to come along. It couldn't have fallen on a more perfect day. I was ready to celebrate, let loose, and get drunk. Don't let the suburbs of the city fool you either, this is where the children of the wealthy retreat to go wild. I'd been going to parties like this ever since I was a freshman and I admit, at first it was to be cool and build up my reputation, but after time I found it was a really good way to forget about the stress of school and parents and just have fun.

Since this was the first major party of the summer, it was important to dress to impress. You could never know who to expect to show up. Naturally, I broke out the little black dress, the necessity to any girl's wardrobe. And to compliment it, I painted my nails a defining red, slipped on some red stilettos and curled my light-brown hair. Make-up was a different story, to which I had no idea on writing or reading. So, I met up with Kristen and Alex at Alex's house so she could do it.

Alex is literally an expert on all things make-up. She could absolutely turn anyone into a model. Honestly it's a gift and I hope she goes into cosmetology or something. As I walked up to her house and went to ring the doorbell Kristen swung open the door and pulled me inside.

"You're never going to believe who is going to be at this party tonight!!!! Get your ass in here now we have to get started pronto."

I tried to recompose myself and save myself from tripping by taking off my heals. We raced up the grand staircase of Alex's house and into her room.

"Damn Lex! Who the hell are you trying to impress tonight? Let me guess, all the hot guys coming home from college?" I smirked at her as I checked out what she was wearing. She had a skin tight, light-pink, silk dress on and beige heals. Her platinum-blonde hair was in some type of up-do and her make-up, of course, was perfect.

"For your information Serena, Andrew Thompson is coming to the party tonight, and I don't know if you've heard, but he's literally the most attractive male to walk this earth. Well...second to your brother of course," she smirked back at me.

"Hey, bad joke. You know how I feel about girls after my brother. I don't empathize for them. Now who the hell is Andrew Thompson?? Kristen nearly pulled my arm out of it's socket rushing me up here."

Kristen intervened right on cue, "Like she said, one of the hottest guys to walk the earth now someone zip me up!" She was wearing a loose red dress that complimented her body perfectly and threw her red hair up in a half-up, half-down style. It was amazing how effortlessly she looked beautiful.

"Okay well I've never heard of him, and if I had seen him, I'm positive I would've remembered."

Lex pulled me over to her vanity and sat me down, "Oh shut up, you'll see for yourself at the party. I mean, he usually doesn't hang out around here he's from the city, but believe me, you'll never forget a face like his."

I smiled at myself in the mirror as she began to do my make-up. Little did I know, that I really would never forget Andrew. In fact, I never wanted to.