To be King...

Chpt 6: The Party

AN: I have a filler chapter that I wrote before this, it's why it took so long to post. I wrote that one first and then tried to write this one, but it didn't really flow right. If you guys want to read it just let me know. It's just Adira and Becka getting ready for the party. It's a bit more about their different personalities and some insecurities Adira has.

   She sleeps past her alarm. Waking up to a furious half dressed Becka is quiet an unnerving experience. Adira has to sit through an entire rant about 'Timing is everything' and 'You have to look your best'. Not to mention the 'your my best friend, but if you embarrass me I have full rights to smother you in your sleep' postscript she is subjected to as Becks tears through her dresser to find her something Party appropriate. There is a single minded determination there that is almost scary, and Adira puts up no fight as a bundle of clothes are shoved at her.

Then the older teen then sits her down and tears at her hair with a brush, sighing and rolling her eyes so hard Adira swears they nearly pop out of her head. Twisting Adira's hair up with unnecessary force Becka shoos her away so she can finish getting ready herself. Adira is barely awake when Becks shoves the makeup and earrings at her, giving her a black choker and then shoving her out the door as soon as she has it all put on.

When they walk up the elaborate roundabout driveway of the Castle, Adira is suddenly wide awake and her anxiety hits full force. It chokes her from the inside out, making her break out in a cold sweat and seizing her brain. It's only Becka's hand on her arm keeping her moving. Becka chats alongside her, buzzing with nerves as Adira seems to internally freeze like a deer in headlights. Nick answers the door and the music and heat greet her full force. Utter terror soon replaces the nerves.

There isn't as much alcohol as you see in those corny high school music, not as much sex or drugs either, but they are there. Those, however, don't bother Adira as much as the music. The base vibrates in her bones and shakes her teeth. It is nearly the most unnerving thing about the party. The most unnerving thing, however, has to be the people coming up to her on the side and asking her about Nate or trying to remember her name. There is a set of girls who have made it their job to take her by the arm every 10 minutes or so, drag her off to the side and ask her where Seff is or if Nate likes them or talks about them. Becka is usually there to save her, and if not then Nate eventually fights through the circle of people around her to drag her off somewhere else.

They don't get to talk all that much, only when they manage to have a moment hidden in the kitchen. He tells her about Europe and she regales to him all the High School trash he's missed, courtesy of what she remembers Becka telling her these last four years.

"So..." Nate says during one of these rare moments of the night, "what's up with the scar?" He asks, gesturing to the scooped top of her black long sleeve. She arches her neck, staring at the scar in question.

"I got it when Will died. Also broke my arm, concussion too. This was just... easier to hide. Til now." It was where that thing had latched onto her, leaving a sort of thick half crescent mark near the top and two jagged parallel lines farther down her back. The top Becka had chosen for her had been an old one... one with the tags still on it. Only three people, other than her doctor, had seen this particular scar before now.

Her mother, of course, had been the first. When the doctors showed her the injuries that Adira had suffered, she cried a little harder. On her shoulder, forever a mark of what they had lost.

Maggie had seen it when she would change the bandages as the resident nurse of their house. She would doctor it up just like she would a skinned knee, soft touches and smiles. Reassurance and jokes. It helped, but it still hurt knowing she will always bear proof of what happened to her family.

Becka had seen it too, when they'd went running through the sprinkler in the backyard once. She didn't say much about it then or since, but there was sometimes curious eyes that would drift to her shoulder and a sort of pity in her eyes.

Now though, the entire school had seen it, and it felt like a small lie lifting off her shoulders. One less thing to hide from the world. It's not like they didn't know what happened, but it seemed to be a sort of consensus that no one would bring it up. It brought up too many bad memories, and even high schoolers, for all their faults, weren't that mean.

"Oh, Addy, I'm sorry." Nate says, covering one of her hands with his own.

"It's alright. Mom says it makes me look bad ass." she jokes, and it brings a laugh out of Nate that she hadn't heard in years.

"What about you? How are your parents?" Adira asks as they start moving around in the kitchen, Nate filling up more snack bowls and bringing out drinks.

"They're good, Dad's happy to be back at the Council though, working long distance really put a strain on his influence. Mom's still mom. Doesn't really care where we are, as long as we're safe and stay out of trouble." Nate shrugs and smiles at his parents antics. He ducks around a couple of guys dancing and takes her hand to pull her around.

"She's taken up gardening, kind of a new thing. Really bad at it though. Darci tries leaving books around but she laughs it off." Nate tells her as they continue their way around the party, Becka sliding up next to them.

"Where are your brothers Nate? Thought they'd be here." Becka asks, with a slight look over her shoulder.

"Well, Darci is here... somewhere. And Seff went out earlier, I have no idea what for and I don't really care." Nate says, backing up into the kitchen with a smile on his face.

"Crap. I totally forgot to bring that handkerchief with me." Adira says. She'd left that soft piece of fabric on her dresser... maybe. It might be on her bed... or in Becka's room... maybe the kitchen.

"Thomas Milo! You son of a bitch!" rips through the din of the music and Adira's head shoots up, looking for Becka. She is utterly relieved to find her friend standing right next to her, phone out, videotaping a confrontation between Tommy and another girl, half smirk on her face. Next to her Nate sighs and heads over to the stairs to calm down the screaming couple.

"Guys! Hey, come on. No fighting. It's supposed to be a good night." He says, stepping between the fuming red head and Tom. There is a moment of upset silence where Tom towers over Nate, opening his mouth to rebut, but is quickly shut down with a hard hand slapping down on his shoulder.

"My brother said no fighting. Take it somewhere else."