The Phantoms

Chapter 3

A/N
Sorry about the late updates.Will try to update faster this time.

I run a hand through my curls,lingering at the purple ends.Maybe I should get a haircut.
I wrinkle my nose at my closet's shiny new full-length mirror.
A small,pale girl with tangled black curls ending with purple wrinkles it back at me.
"You have terrible luck." I tell her.
"How can someone's luck suck so fucking bad they fail at doing the same thing eight times?" Sighing at my misfortune I turn around to view my hair at another angle.
My nose wrinkles again.Ok,so no haircut.
"Still it could be worse,"I keep on,trying to console myself. "You could have HIV or a disease you have to drink four cups of green tea a day to cure or gum could be banned from the world or you could secretly be Hitler's great grand daughter-actually that would have some benefits-" I'm interrupted by a loud,impatient series of knocks on my door.I flash my dimples at the mirror as a goodbye and go to open the door.
I was wrong.My luck is worse than anything Hitler's heritage can give me.
Standing at my door is the blonde queen.The bitch queen.
My mother.
"Oh,"I say,clearly annoyed."What-"
"I need the room,"she replies just as snarkily.I lean on the door frame casually blocking her way. "Sorry.Room's occupied right now." I try to close the door in her face but she wedges a foot in the way. "You either leave the room or all the five people who need it remove you." She smiles sweetly.I scowl inwardly.As talented as I am,I'm not sure I can handle five at once.
Outwardly- "Fine!"I snap trudging out the door.I stop halfway to the stairs to throw her a sly look over my shoulder. "I'll just be outside.Drinking.Sharing some amusing stories with your new friends." Mom's eyes narrow. "Lydia,don't you dare-"
But I'm already gone.
The ground floor is crowded.People in tuxs and evening dresses laugh,plucking off champagne and tiny cakes from the carterers wheeling trays all around.Mom has spared no expense.Everything looks and smells and tastes perfect.
I grab a glass of champagne from a tray and push my way outside.A few eyes follow me,probably questioning themselves on who would wear a hoodie to a fancy engagement party.
There are plenty of people outside too but much fewer than in,with smaller groups.I sip my champagne observing them over the rim of my glass.I remain in the shadows around the doorway,barely visible to the casual eye and it pays off.Twice Patricia's goonies pass me without even glancing my way.
The same waiter keeps rounding outside every half an hour.I only venture out of my hiding place to grab a glass of champagne every time he comes out.By my third round it's well past midnight and I can probably return to my room but I'm too tipsy to care.The waiter is reluctant to let me have another drink but I flirt him into it.I stare musingly into my glass when he disappears again.Maybe I should go back inside and keep that promise to mom-
"Great party,"says a voice behind me.I recognize it.Earrings boy.
"You're a stalker,"I inform him as he stands next to me.I look him over out of the corner of my eye.He's leaning lazily against the wall,foot propped up behind him.He has his own glass.
"I'm not stalking you."
"Of course.Yesterday,today,today again.Coincidences."
"So you do admit we met yesterday night."
"Did I say anything about night?I meant afternoon in the library."
Champagne sloshes onto my hand a little.I suck it off.Earrings boy is studying me.
"You sound half-drunk."
"You sound half-drunker."
"You're too young to be drunk."
"How would you know how old I am?"
"Just do."
"Of course you do.Stalker."
He smiles at that . "Come back home with me,Lydia."
"To have sex?" Woah.I really am drunk.
He snorts into his glass."No.To talk over stuff."
I meet his gaze for the first time tonight.Light green.Like the deepest parts of the sea.Flecked with silver.
I love his eyes.
I break our gaze and look straight ahead. "Maybe sometime." He nods,not pushing.
"A toast,"he says raising his near empty glass.I tilt my head to look at him. "To us."
"To half drunkness."
"To creepy stalkers."
He laughs and drains his drink. "Give me a call." He turns and leaves.My eyes follow him until he's inside.
When I finally enter the house again,all the guests are gone.Mom is yelling at one of the cleaners for breaking a glass near her feet.I climb upstairs unseen by anyone.I sigh happily when I reach my bed and collapse on it.
Something crinkles under me.
I shift,suprised.A folded piece of paper rests where my neck just was.I smooth it out.
A telephone number.
Give me a call.
I smile and walk to the window still holding the paper.Look out to the streets I skipped triumphantly on a day ago.
I look back down at the paper.
Tomorrow,I promise.