The Devil In Disguise

CHAPTER 8: Party Like There's No Tomorrow

I adjusted my short plum-coloured dress and took a deep breath. I could hear the booming music from down the street and it was shaking the ground, the vibrations travelling to my bones.

I told myself I looked gorgeous. No need for social anxiety, no need for judgment anxiety, just need for confidence. I could do this. I could enjoy.

I reached Corina's house and walked down the big driveway, towards the sleek mahogany door belonging to a house that looked like a modern mansion, the big glass windows on the top floor reflecting the night sky. Ringing the doorbell, I waited, looking at myself in the glass. My eyeshadow had come out wonderfully, with the dark purple shades at the back and the lilac glitter shade at the front. My black winged eyeliner was sharp and bold, and my hair fell in long, loose sunset curls to my hips.

You look stunning. But you're here for fun, not trouble. Don't be in any pictures or videos because they may be put up online and he can find you.

The door finally swung open and standing there, looking like angels that fell from heaven, were Corina and Grace, their faces in wide smiles and dresses as short as they could manage.

"You're late!" Corina said, laughing.

"Fashionably late," I corrected.

"Oh yes, of course," Corina snorted as she led me through a ton of raving people and into the kitchen.

Grace shouted something but I couldn't hear it over the loud music and the sound of everyone screaming the lyrics.

"What?" I yelled back.

"Guess how many people are at the party!" Grace shouted. I laughed and elbowed Corina.

"A hundred and twenty?" I guessed.

"A hundred and forty," Corina answered sheepishly and I snorted. I was half astonished that she had so many friends and half unsurprised.

I looked at the table which was filled with drinks. Yes, we were sixteen, and this was illegal, but no one cared. I stared at the varieties of drinks apprehensively, grabbing a bottle of cider because I knew it wasn't very alcoholic. My plan was to get tipsy, at most — not flat out drunk just yet.

Turning around, I took a deep breath and saw that Corina and Grace had disappeared into the vast living room, dancing with some boys I'd never seen before. Corina was twerking in some intimidating ways and I stared for a moment, wondering how the hell someone could move their butt muscles like that.

I snapped out of it and walked into the garden, where even more people were screaming the lyrics loudly. I laughed because the atmosphere was actually really fun; all the jumping people, the humidity, the slight smell of body odour mixed with the smell of warm night air —

"Who would've thought you cleaned up well?" I could hear the smirk in that silky voice. My mouth twitched as I turned around, taking another gulp of my cider which I had already finished half of.

"I could say the same," I said in a steady voice, when in truth Xander looked even more gorgeous than was humanly possible. His brown hair was mussed and his green eyes twinkled in the dimly bright garden light as he looked me up and down and then back up, directly into my eyes. If he was someone I'd let myself fall for, I'd be plummeting right now — but I tried not to think about the unimaginable beauty that was standing not two feet away.

"I have to say, I wouldn't mind being alone in a room with you right now," another voice slurred. Turning around, I saw Simon standing there, grinning from ear to ear, a bottle of vodka in his hand. He strolled over to Xander and punched him on the arm in a friendly way and then abruptly bent over and puked all over his own expensive, brand new shoes.

Realising what he'd done, he yelled in wild alarm, strewed out a list of swear words and then belched loudly, but then doubled over and threw up once more. It was safe to say he needed new shoes.

I hid a laugh. "That's disgusting," I said in a barely contained voice; glancing up, I saw Xander was also trying to hold his laughter in.

"It's not funny,"  Simon whined after wiping his mouth on the back of his hand. I giggled then turned away so Drunk Simon wouldn't get more offended.

"Let's get you cleaned up," Xander laughed, taking Simon by the arm like a good friend and hauling him to the bathroom.

Suddenly, Corina appeared at my side. "What is up with you? Why aren't you partying? You're sucking the life out of here, liven up!" she ordered, shoving a full bottle of wine into my hand. "I can't have wine —" I began, appalled, but she wouldn't hear any of it. "I invited you because you're fun and you're my friend. Now drink the wine and party like there's no tomorrow."

I decided there was no point in resisting and I drank a sip, cringing from the noticeably more bitter taste. When I resurfaced, I saw a boy called Kasper Grey (but I'd heard most people just called him Grey) staring at me with an evil glint in his eye. He was one of the Populars that I hadn't talked to yet, and I'd noticed him giving me strange looks before, as if making sure I knew I wasn't welcome.

So basically, I didn't like him.

He said some things to the group of about fifteen people surrounding him and they all started approaching Corina and I.

"Let's see if new girl can party!" Grey shouted, holding his drink up in the air, his smooth dark skin shining in the light, his grey eyes holding a malicious twinkle. He was frighteningly beautiful; everyone here was.

Everyone cheered, in a hyped up, careless mood, and altogether they started chanting,

"Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug!"

I kept a cool exterior, laughing and shaking my head as if I disproved but didn't really mind the attention, and Corina joined in with them, giggling. No one knew I hadn't got drunk before and I intended to keep it that way — though this was the last thing I wanted to do. However, now that a crowd of people were cheering me on and yelling at me to chug the bottle, the peer pressure was getting hard to ignore, and so was my anxiety.

So I lifted the bottle to my lips and swallowed repeatedly, listening to the crowd's cheers of appreciation as my throat burned, ignoring the little voice in my mind telling me I was going to regret this.

A/N:

What do you think about the party so far? Does it sound fun? Or like a pressurised situation that you don't want to be in?

Admit it; Simon's a hot mess. Hilarious too. But who's hotter: Simon or Xander? [Top Ten Questions Scientists Can't Answer]

Remember to VOTE!!!

— deainlustris