celtica. | benny weir [discontinued]

t h r e e

III. PARTIES ARE OVERRATED

Megan sat on the curb of Hazelwood Drive, straining her eyes to see any sign of an approaching car. Her mousy brown curls refused to be styled, and despite her best efforts she could only manage to put it in a ponytail. But she was able to dig out a simple long-sleeved black dress from the back of her closet, untouched for months. It was the most mature thing she owned.

It had been five minutes since she texted Eliza, four since she replied back. Eliza wasn't the most punctual, which made Megan feel a little concerned — but at least she had sleeves to tug on.

She was alarmed by a sudden honk, honk from down the street, and soon after she recognized the fiery red hair of the driver and promptly hopped into the shotgun seat when the vehicle when it came close enough. "Hey, it's been forever!" she greeted, wearing a smile that went from ear to ear.

"I know! I've been dying to hang out again, it was just kinda weird when I started going to high school, know what I mean?" Something about Eliza's enthusiasm felt artificial, but Megan decided she was just overthinking things.

"Yeah, totally!" The two old friends engaged in an engrossing conversation for the whole drive. After all the green foliage flew past, they finally arrived at their destination, a huge gated property, Megan nearly fainted.

"Oh my god, this place is huge!"

"Tell me about it," agreed Eliza. "Jesse's family's been in this town for, er— awhile. They're pretty rich, I guess."

"That's an understatement. Who's Jesse? Isn't he one of those, uh, drama kids or something?"

"Well, some of his friends are," she answered, causing Megan to knit her brows as Eliza parked the car in front of the mansion. Upbeat rock music drifted out any open doors or windows, as well as loud chattering and laughing. Typical party noises. Not that she would know anything about parties. "Let's go, shall we?"

✦

   "You didn't tell me everyone was a senior!" grumbled Megan irritably."I don't know anyone here."

   "Oh... So, I might have forgotten to tell you a few things."

   "Like what?" she hissed.

   Eliza merely shrugged. "I'm gonna go hang some of my other friends, come with?"

"No way." Megan was so aggravated she forgot the redhead the only thing in the residence familiar to her. That girl was going to get a piece of her mind.

Later, that is.

"Your loss." Eliza didn't even try to sound nice as she disappeared into the crowd.

Megan was really regretting coming to this party, but she wanted to give it a chance. A few times, she made eye contact with people and smiled, but they only glared and looked away. She began wandering around the huge house, looking desperately for face she knew. Eventually, she escaped the maze of a mansion when she meandered out into the backyard. There was a bright blue pool, and tall hedges that surrounded the place. The uneasiness that gripped her throat loosened its hold when she was free of the suffocating place that was Jesse's house. Oh, Eliza was so gonna pay —