Aubrey, the Star

10: space weather

Aubrey

★

space weather - "the conditions in space that can affect earth, satellites, and space travel."

The party was raging in full-force by the time Charlotte and I pulled up.

It was no surprise that Mariah's house was big. It wasn't as big as Charles', but it was just as ludicrous. I didn't even bother to drop my jaw. It was about time I got used to the young, rich, and fabulous lifestyle this part of Virginia had to offer. That still didn't mean I had to get with the program and like it though.

Mariah's house had a long driveway with no fountain. Surprise, surprise. There were many luxury cars parked on the lawn - whether they belonged to students or her family was beyond me. It could've been both. The house was brown stone with white, stone sculpted angels sitting atop the wide staircase that led to the double front doors. The doors even had those obnoxiously large knockers like a haunted house. There was a girl with no heart that lived inside.

There were people loitering outside when we began to walk up from the packed street. I had my arms wrapped around my chest, taking slow steps in these outrageous heels. Charlotte added a layer of lipgloss to her lips before offering me the applicator. I declined.

"Suit yourself," she said. "I swear lipgloss makes me feel powerful." She placed it back inside her clutch.

I could sense people looking in our direction. All the reasons not to be at this party suddenly began flooding in. The soft panic could grow or fade depending on what happened next. My stomach shifted uneasily, and I noticed that the hands I'm hugging myself with are clawing into my skin.

I released my hands, unsure of what to do with them. Charlotte, primping at her hair beside me put her arm out for me to take. I clasped onto her elbow with the need of touch and reassurance.

She placed a gentle hand atop of my own. "Stop freaking out." My eyes were roaming over the massive house. "Aubrey, this is nothing. Our house is literally three times this size."

My eyes rolled in a bad habit. "This is nothing to you," I snapped. "You're not the one that's the guest of fucking honor. You know what? I'm not doing this." I turned on my heels, my feet catching a cracked stone causing me to stumble into a couple making out on the porch.

The couple pushed me away, a bit too harshly, and I fell into Charlotte's arms.

"You're being embarrassing," she said, dryly.

I pulled away from her while she looked me up and down, as per usual, before nodding her head. I got the signal. We were minnows about to be fed to the sharks.

We walked inside the house and I was overwhelmed instantly.

There were an endless amount of people here. I don't even think everyone went to Chellgren. The light scent of weed floated through the air, and I felt my knees weaken.

"Do people do drugs here," I asked Charlotte, pushing up beside her to speak closer to her ear.

She shrugged her shoulders, blowing it off. "People tend to dabble at Chellgren parties. Not you though." Her eyes were serious. "Stay away from all of that shit."

Charlotte didn't have to tell me twice. I felt like I was falling into a black hole that I wouldn't be able to escape from. As big as this house was, I couldn't keep up with the chaos and I had only been inside for two minutes. There were people everywhere. On the stairs, dancing in the living room, kissing all over the place. The music was louder than thunder; the bass made the entire house shake. There were even neon lights flashing everywhere like the police, but much more colorful and less troublesome.