BREATHE

Chapter 4

It's Friday evening when I lay in my hammock and check my mobile phone for any news. I didn't take Tamara's invitation serious, the more I'm surprised when I receive a text message from Fred telling me what time they'll pick me up. Before I over-think anything, I wash and entangle my long hair that now reaches until below my lowest rips, quickly change my outfit and put sandals on. I just want to do something, anything that distracts me from being alone with the oppressive stillness in my house.

Two hours later, I find myself on the backseat of Fred's car next to Jessica, the other friend of Tamara. Contrary to my expectations, Luis isn't in the car. Images of the blueish-purple coloured bruise under his left eye flare up on my inner eye and I wonder how he got it.

In less than twenty minutes we stop in front of a massive steel gate. I already knew from the street names that the house must be located in the upscale neighborhood of the city. The property really knocks my socks off. It's all glass, concrete and fine wood and so is the interior as I enter the house or mansion or whatever this huge place of a home is. Apparently, it doesn't matter how big the house is, house party's are always the same; a lot of drunk people, electronic music and fun. That's what I'm looking for, fun and people and noises and not the deathlike quietness at my place.

It doesn't take long until Tamara lives up to her given name which Ana revealed to me. "Come on," she smiles broadly and pulls me into the next bathroom to do a line. She definitely isn't shy about it. I watch her bending over and snorting the powder through her nostrils. Tamara stretches her arm and holds the rolled banknote towards me. "Wanna...?" She wiggles her eyebrows at me as she wipes some white remainders from her nose. I stare vacuous at the banknote before the door-handle begins to jiggle and a female voice shouts impatiently, "I need to pee! Hurry up in there!"

"Ya, ya!" Tamara yells back and sighs in annoyance. I'm glad when we leave the bathroom and I can forget what just happened.

I recognize Marc serving Jessica and himself a drink as we enter the enormous kitchen. "This is a giant house!" I exclaim in astonishment.

"Well, thanks," Marc winks at me.

"What? You mean...this is your house?" I ask him with wide eyes.

"Yeah, well, my parents' house," he boasts, "My mother's job is interior architect and my dad is an estate agent that's also why Luis and I got that awesome loft at the harbour." A wide grin appears on Marc's face and his eyes dart behind my back."Speaking of the devil."

I follow his look and my view settles immediately on Luis as he comes into sight. He is wearing a black leather jacket over a black shirt, his eyes are the same dark color. I have to admit, to say he looks attractive would be an understatement. He shakes hands with Marc before Jessica storms towards him. He doesn't alter his cool and controlled features as she slings her arms in a tight hug around his neck. Eventually, Jessica withdraws from him and adjusts her blonde curls. I'm sure she gets attention from a lot of guys and suddenly I'm about to compare myself with Jessica. My eyes sight my outfit that consists of a white camisole and washed out jeans shorts. I look like stranded in comparison to Jessica's glitter dress. Her skin is paler than mine, but she definitely has more curves than I do. My boobs are rather small than that I could enumerate them as curves to my slim figure.

"I've got something," Jessica beams at Luis.

"You got some?" Tamara carries a glint in her eyes as she gazes at Jessica, whose look holds a lot of promises. I'm not sure if they talk about drugs, but I'm confirmed a second later.

"Yeah, let's go to the bathroom," Jessica nods and pulls Luis' arm, but he remains at his spot when someone else joins us in the kitchen. A guy with black hair that is shaved to the minimum at both sides of his head and piercing blue eyes steps next to Luis. His finger travel over the marble top of the counter in the kitchen. He has a slight stubble and protruding cheekbones. His whole appearance is sharp and rough somehow.