Abnormal {Book 1: Completed, Book 2: Ongoing}

Chapter 20

As soon we enter the large circular room where the dance party is held, I gasp in surprise. The whole area is transformed into a club, with girls in short party dresses dancing with glasses of glittering liquid in their hands, and guys in casual shirts and leather jackets.

I can barely hear Valerie's voice in my ear over the booming music, and she tries to shout over the noise as I shake my head, confused. "Try not to drink anything in here!" She yells over the crowd as we get separated by the masses of people. I sigh, and lean against the buffet table, staring in wonder at the colorful, pulsing lights that paint the walls in different shades of blue, green and purple.

I can see Aveline dancing shyly with Everett, who is in a simple white shirt and black slacks; and Valerie, who throws her head back in laughter as a boy with a shock of electric blue hair speaks to her, a wine glass full of neon pink liquid in his hand. Then I see Heather, dancing in the center of the room with a tall boy wearing a light gray shirt. Heather is dressed fashionably as usual, in a skin tight red body-con dress with a fancy lace keyhole in the back.

Feeling like a wallflower, I start retreating to the corner of the room, deciding to observe for the rest of the night rather than participate.

Suddenly, a pair of strong arms wrap me around the waist. I turn around slowly, and Adrius's familiar face stares down at me, the corner of his lips raised in his signature smirk. "Having a good time?" He asks.

I shake my head ruefully. "Not exactly." He's holding a bright green drink in his hand, with a thin layer of red bubbles at the top, and he offers it to me once he catches me staring. I wrinkle my nose and decline his offer, moving to the opposite end of the table to get some water. At least, what I think is sparkling water. It's a clear liquid with bubbles within it, and it doesn't seem to have a toxic taste or smell. I take a few sips of the liquid, then quickly set it down on the table as I start to feel lightheaded and slightly nauseous.

Adrius is back by my side in an instant, and he chuckles a little as I lean against the table for support, trying to clear my head. "That wasn't water," Adrius says, still laughing. "Just close your eyes for a few moments and open them. Then you'll be fine."

I swallow down my nervousness of just consuming an unknown liquid, and close my eyes. I breathe in slowly, then breathe out, counting to three. Then I open my eyes, and suddenly I feel steadier, more alert, and more...energetic.

I feel like laughing as my mind is filled with a bubbly, happy feeling. I feel like I can dance all night as Adrius pulls me towards the dance floor.

After the drink, I feel more awake than I've ever been. I feel bold and daring as I giggle loudly, reaching up to trail my finger along Adrius's face. He smiles widely at me as we sway along to the music, my hands resting on the sides of his black leather jacket. His hands are tangled in my hair, and our faces are inches apart. He is so close to me that I can see my face reflected in his blue green eyes. His hands are on my waist, pulling me closer when...

He is suddenly pulled away from me, and he doesn't even have time to apologize as he is dragged away by his group of friends, all intoxicated by multicolored drinks and the colorful pastries that are offered at the buffet table.

I decide to sit by myself for a while, relaxing on a light blue leather sofa with my legs propped up on the empty table. Valerie spots me from across the room, and she drags Aveline over to sit next to me. They seem to be talking about the outfits of the other soldiers, and since I don't really know much of their names, I tune out of their conversation and continue to observe the dance party. Oddly, I don't see Heather or Adrius anywhere. However, I see his group of friends sitting in a corner, laughing loudly and chugging down drink after drink. There are already dozens of glasses piled in front of them.

As I grow drowsier by the second, I decide that I've spent enough time at the party and stand up from the sofa, making an excuse to retire to my room. Feeling a little nauseous from the aftereffects of the drink once the exhilaration has passed, I stumble into the hallway leading towards the dorm rooms. Suddenly, I hear a high pitched giggle coming from just around the corner. Out of curiosity, I turn the corner, since it's the same direction that I plan to be going. I expect to be seeing an average drunk couple having some fun outside of the party, but instead...

There's Heather, pressed against the wall by someone in a dark leather jacket. From this angle, I can see the side profile of his devilishly handsome face.

It's Adrius.

They're locked in an intimate embrace, with their lips pressed against each other and Adrius's arms on either side of her head. His hands are slipping down towards her waist just when I gasp out loud, covering my mouth with my right hand.

They both turn towards me, breaking away from each other with shocked expressions on their faces. Adrius has a bright red lipstick print on his right cheek, and the left strap of Heather's dress is slipping down her shoulder. She doesn't bother to adjust it.

Waves of pain, betrayal and most of all...revulsion all pass through me at once despite my intoxicated state. I stumble backwards, hot tears blurring my eyes as turn around to run.

"Wait!" Adrius calls out, his voice desperate. "Lyanna, I can explain...you don't have to..." I cover my ears and dash down the hallway, my head swimming with dizziness as all I can think about is to get far, far away from what I just saw.

I am barely able to shut my dorm room door behind me before I collapse onto my bunk and start sobbing into my pillow as my heart feels like it's been torn in two.

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More outfits

Heather

Adrius

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How are you enjoying the visuals? I'll definitely try to add more media in future!