The Strength Of the Heart

Cassandra's Party Part Two - 13

Now before I go on, I feel like you need to understand how massive Cassandra's house was. It looked like you could run laps around this building. Now that's an exaggeration, but not by much. The deep blue walls made you feel as though you were entering an undersea Palace, and the sleek silver door was at least four feet taller than I was, artfully engraved with images of men reaching out to the stars. Andrew closed it quietly behind us, and we walked down the corridor. It was filled with paintings. Not landscapes, or even people, but the expensive abstract kind. As we moved forward, I could hear Sophie on the phone, frantically trying to make sure some of her friends to come to this party that we made up.
The others were opening and slaming doors as they sped through the house, looking for something to wear. I pulled my phone from my pocket and tried to get some of my other friends to come. Just in case.

Matt..... Johnny..... Casey....... Jen.....
As long as everyone who comes brings someone else, I should be able to hold up this party ruse for long enough for me to talk to Chloé.

That being sorted, I went exploring.

Now listen, I did not ditch my friends to go look for a girl. They just..... Didn't follow me when I left. We came to a crossroads at the end of the corridor. I use that word because that's exactly what it felt like. One side led outside, to the pool and where most of the party would probably happen. The other, led deeper into the house. The walls had family portraits, pictures of old people, and most of girls fussing was coming from the red velvet stairs at the end of it.

You can guess which way I went.

Unfortunately, I didn't realise my friends didn't come with me until I was midway up the stairs, looking back for moral support. I couldn't turn back though.
It was too late.
And so, I continued my perilous journey into uncharted territory, armed with nothing but my cellphone and feelings I wasn't really sure about, ready for any challenge I might face on my way.

Or so I thought, because as soon as I cleared the flight of stairs I ran into Genny, who was rushing from room to room with her hair up in a blue towel. She mumbled to herself as she walked. Too low for me to make out. Her yellow sundress stopped abruptly as she noticed a foreign presence in the area. Slowly, like a lone wolf surveying a new threat, she looked up from her ringing phone and stared at me with dark chocolate eyes.

Alright Kyle. Don't freak out. You'll come up with something like you did outside. You'll have a plan by the time she gets here.

After reassuring myself, I calmly gazed at her as she crossed the distance between us in four swift steps. When she stopped, she first adjusted her towel. As if I wasn't a big concern.

"Kyle....... What are you doing up here?"

It was at that point that I realised, I did not have a plan.

"Well..... Uhh...... I kinda..... Got lost? Yeah yeah. I was looking for -"

"Chloe? Yeah, I figured" she said, cutting me off. "Follow me, I don't want any of the others finding you out here. They're picking their outfits right now" she said walking off.

"That's not what I was gonna say but sure" I mumbled to no one in particular.

"What was that?"

"Nothing! Let's go!" I said, following her.

"Chloe should be in the third guest room" Genny started. "I'm sure she's done preparing. She's doesn't care much about her appearances" She finished, quickly pointing me towards the brown oak door that was between me and Chloe.
"Let me go in first though. Just in case." she told me, turning the silver doorknob.

As the door hinges eerily squeaked, Genny silently poked her head through the gap and whispered something I couldn't hear. As my heart tried to shatter my ribcage, I wondered what I was gonna do once in the room. A wave of anxiety came crashing down as I started to imagine multiple worst case scenarios. Each one worse than the last, I found myself wishing I had gone outside with my friends.

Why would she want to see me of all people? Come on Kyle, why not wait until you get to school for this? How could you let-

" She said come in" Genny smiled, walking away. "Don't screw up"

She had left the door slightly open. Through the gap, I could see Chloe's sunlight yellow hair lying over the edge of the forest green bed covers. Mustering up all the courage that could be contained in my body, I pushed the door open and walked through. All the while looking down at my orange Air Force Ones moving across the patterned carpet. Looking up, I slowly closed the closed the door. I cautiously turned and looked across the room, getting lost in her sky blue eyes.

"Hey Kyle"