The Huntress [2018 Archived]

Chapter 2

I had no idea what to wear to Jamie's party. My mother was in her room napping so she wasn't any help, not that I'd ask anyway. If Sierra was here, she would know exactly what to do.

I settled for dark-washed boyfriend jeans with rolled up cuffs, camel colored ankle boots, and long floral shirt with bell sleeves. Very casual. I added a long gold necklace and curled my thick brown hair. I do care about how I look.

As I was leaving, I noticed something. There was a black, velvet case open on my desk. The case that held an irreplaceable sapphire necklace, a necklace that had been in my family for generations. In retrospect, I shouldn't have kept it in an unlocked case on my desk. But I was a teenager, careless even with priceless heirlooms.

Probably Mom took it, I thought nervously. One of the only things that could bring her out of her bad moods was dressing up in her nicest things. I should have told her not to fiddle with the necklace-it was worth a lot of money.

Pushing the image of the open black case from my mind, I ran outside, trying to muster some courage.

Sierra pulled to a stop by the curb in her hot blue car. Music was pumping so loud that I could distinguish the words, even though the windows were tightly shut.

Immediately, as I opened the car door, I felt underdressed.

Sierra was dressed to the nines. A slinky black top with faded shorts, adorned with a chunky green necklace and platform heels. Her golden hair was crimped and fluffed, smelling of coconuts. Sierra was one of those big red roses, and I was like a virginal wallflower.

"Are you ready to party?" Sierra screamed, pounding on the wheel. It was clear that she had hit the happy juice with some of her other friends in a pre-party celebration.

I stepped cautiously in the car, "I guess so."

"Oh, you can do better than that!" she slapped my leg and stomped on the gas.

I forgot to tell you. Sierra is a horrible driver. She drove lazily, one hand on the wheel, and the other rifling through her purse. "I thought I had some mascara in here. You need it."

A black truck honked their horn and slammed on the breaks.

"Watch out!" I crowed, my heart momentarily stopping.

"We're fine," Sierra hissed, racing down the highway and into a thick forest. It was dark, and we were the only car on the road. Jamie lived in a large Victorian home situated on a tall slope. I remembered that once at a huge blowout party (one that Sierra dragged me to, of course) I stood on that slope watching the sun rise at, like, six o' clock in the morning. I was sort of excited, thinking of that sunrise. Which is so lame since Jamie had an open bar and a hot tub. If I told my real feelings to Sierra, that I hated drinking and parties, she'd look at me like I was crazy.

As we rounded a huge bend, I saw Jamie's house rising above the thick tree line. It was all lit up and everything. Silhouettes of kids were boogying and dancing up on the rooftop. Mini silhouettes of beer bottles accompanied them.

I sank lower in my seat.

A funny thing happened to Sierra. As we drove closer, she seemed to transform. Worry and stress (if she had any) melted away. Her eyes sparkled with vivacity. She looked like a little kid on Christmas Day. That was one thing about Sierra, she needed energy and thrill like she needed air.

Pulling into the driveway jerkily, Sierra hopped out of the car and started kissing hello with Nate. I just stared at them, my arms crossed.

"Hey Alexis," Nate said, staring at me once they came up for air. He handed me a shot in a red solo cup. Real classy.