I walked on the driveway slowly, watching every decoration on the mansion's walls. Twinkling lights hanging in patterns on the walls, more like waves. The fountain's water changed colors from blue to pink and from pink to green. Fancy cars I've never heard of parked in the driveway in neated lines. A couple of people were standing outside with champagne glasses in their moving-while-talking hands. I couldn't help but look at the dresses they were wearing and then back at mine. I was wearing a mid-thigh dress its sleeves ended between my wrists and elbows, the background black with red flowers surrounded by tiny green leaves.
"There you are." Tyler walked towards me smiling.
"Hi." I smiled.
"Care to join the party?" He gestured to the door, hooking his arm with mine.
We walked inside and I was welcomed by masses of people chatting, smell of beer and some stares.
"Mis dressed." I mumbled mostly to myself.
Tyler leaned his head down, mouth close to my ear softly saying, "You look beautiful."
On the outside, I nodded. On the inside, I was dancing a victory dance cheering myself on because he said I looked beautiful.
He guided me to the kitchen, unhooking his arm from me, pouring himself and me glasses of chamagne. I took the glass from him muttering a small 'thank you'.
"I prefer when you let you hair down." He points out, talking about my hairstyle.
"It's a change." I shrugged. He nodded.
We stayed in silence for a while, sipping our drinks.
"So, where is this brother of yours." I broke the silence.
He looked around searching for his brother.
"There he is." He pointed behind me. I pushed myself off the counter looking behind me. A tall guy in about in twenty wearing a black suit walked toward us. He had the same shade of hazel eyes as Tyler, dirty blonde hair a little black at the roots, and a little stubble starting to grow.
"And who's this pretty lady." He smirked looking at me.
"I'm Valerie, nice to meet you." I shook his hand, and he raised my hand to his mouth kissing it softly.
"Hello Valerie. I'm Noel." He introduced himself. I nodded.
"I want to show you something." Tyler tugged at my arm like a small child.
I looked at him then at Noel saying, "Nice to meet you again." He nodded.
I followed Tyler squeezing between people, trying to match his pace. We went outside on the back patio, it was decorated beautifully. There was a little white wooden roof above us decorated by the same twinkling lights, but here it seemed more beautiful.
"Who did the decorations?" I wondered.
"My mom. Well, technically me. She sat giving me instuctions what to put where."
I chuckled.
"C'mon." He pulled my arm, looking up.
We walked to the middle of the garden, Tyler getting on his knees then laying flat on his back.
"C'mon." He repeated, signalling for me to lay next to him. And I did.
Now I get why he was so rushed. The sky was utterly beautiful; twinkling stars scattered in the dark sky. There were no clouds, which made it more beautiful. I tilted my head to the back more, looking at the artificial twinkling lights on the roof. They were beautiful, but still artificial, the difference was there. I looked back at the sky, closing my eyes, enjoying the peacefulness of the moment, feeling the light breeze tickling my face.
"This is beautiful." I breathed. He nodded.
We stayed in peacefull silence gazing at the stars, trying to make shapes with them like kids.
"What's up with this necklace?" He asked looking at me, pointing at the heart-shaped vintage necklace I'm wearing.
"My parents said that my granny left it for me. I've worn it ever since I could remember, I literally never take it off. Somehow, I feel she's closer to me this way." I played with the necklace.
"I like it," He smiled softly. "It suits you."
~
Tyler drove me home as usual. He dropped me home at 11:30, flashing me one last beautiful smile and drove away. I kept tossing and turning in bed, begging for sleep to come; because in 4 hours I have to wake up. But it was no use, once I felt stressed from all of this sleep trying I got up, took my book from the desk, lit the window seat's bulb and kept reading till I fell asleep in 3 AM.
I opened my eyes then closed them tightly from the light coming from the window straight to my eyes. I reached above me, shutting the light off. I reopened my eyes, this time more adjusted to the light ,but not fully. I felt an outrageous pain in my neck when I tilted my head more from the light. Clearly, sleeping on a window seat isn't the best choice to make. I stood up and stretched my body in order to wake up. I looked at my bedside table's clock, 7:30.
"Crap." I said, running to the bathroom.
I raced downstairs, I was beyond late.
"Bye, mom." I said, passing the kitchen and opened the door to a very angry April.
"You look like hell." She said.
I looked down at my outfit then back at her, "Thank you. What an encouraging way to start the day."
"Your hair is a mess." She exclaimed.
"Just get in and shut up." I told her, tying my hair up in a bun.
"I slept 3 in the morning." I explained my hideous look.
"Ohhh." She wiggled her eyebrows. I groaned.
"So how was last night." She asked.
"Nice." I sighed.
"Just nice?" She asked again.
No. Amazing.
"Yes."
"You sure?" She kept asking.
"Yes." I repeated, only more intensely.
"Well, someone's grumpy." She mumbled to herself. I ignored it.
I watched as the school's buildings magnified with every passing second we neared it. I rubbed my eyes in order to wake myself a bit. We got out, the sound of the doors closing a little loud for my liking, causing a sting in my head. I felt like a zombie, and sure as hell looked like one. Looking at my reflection in April's mirror in the locker, my thoughts were confirmed.
"Backtrack," I heard Sophia's annoying voice say.
"When I said the other day that you looked like my grandmother in the shop, I take it back. Now you're her twin."
"Well, you look like my cat," I said flatly. "I chopped her." I whispered.
She looked at me weirdly, straightened and walked away.
"You chopped your cat?" April asked lost.
I looked at her and shook my head. Slamming the locker shut, tightly holding my bag's strap in order not to punch anyone, I walked down the hall.
This is gonna be a long hell of a day.
_______________________
Did you guys hear just a little bit of your heart by ariana grande? I'm ADDICTED.
