Polar Opposites

Part 2

Chapter 3

The day started with 300 11 year olds, nervously scurrying around the corridors of the new school like little mice, being tortured in the corners of the open spaces by the huge cats, pure fear in their beady little eyes-the average Monday morning. Everyone felt small, so me being so petite as it was, I was the ant compared to the other mice who joined the school that day. Lillian, however, strutted in like she was the largest cat in the school and people treated her that way; she gained instant respect from the others because of her confidence. So she pranced over to me, so comfortable in her own skin.
"Hey, do you WANT more attention?"
I say, like my favourite character from Friends, Chandler. Lillian hated him, for reasons she can never quite explain, so this caused an undeniable smirk on my face- and a menacing scowl on hers.
"How rude! Our first day, really? Friends references? Do you want to be bullied?"
We make a very similar eyebrow raising expression and laugh for a couple of seconds, before entering the assembly hall.
"You ready?" Lil asks, as unsure as me.
"No..."
"You'll be fine-"
The bell cuts us off, and we all flood into the hall, looking queasily around the room to see more frightened faces.
And that was our first day that led to 5 more in the years coming up. By year eleven, we were even cockier little shits, thinking we would instantly ace our exams. We had both dated guys throughout the years- our other friends had never seen us single. I was going out with Maverick Dale, who looked too similar to me to even comprehend; same goofy smile, unruly strawberry blonde hair, but the difference? He pulled it off. Lilian thought he was dodgy, with his tendency to be everything I wanted him to be. I felt similarly towards her boyfriend Daniel Grimsby, too polite to be considered even slightly similar to Lillian. She broke up with him because of my opinion on him, and knew I was always right. I was there when it all went down:
Plates shatter from Daniel's furious rage; Lillian, a girl no one would ever back into a corner stood timidly in the hallway, after breaking the news that she had heard rumours of him cheating on her. Both in white hot anger, chaos was etched into the situation, all hell breaking loose. Why he was angry, I will never understand, but what angered Lillian-he never denied it or accepted it. He then collapsed on the sofa in exhaustion from the fight, lasting hours longer than it should have. I just dragged Lillian to the stairway, her screaming in denial of what had happened, and made her relax. I don't know how I did it, and it took all the strength I had to watch her get hurt like that. It caused so many questions in my mind, all of them unraveling, causing more and more questions that didn't have an answer. By this point, Daniel was unconscious, arms drenched in blood from the cruel wrath of the broken plates. And we lingered in the hallway. Unsure of what to do or say.
"What now?" I ask timidly, afraid of the answer.
"He's moving."
"What?" This comes out way less surprised than it should have.
"He's moving house, he cheated on me and he is moving schools" she said "When did this get so crazy? I thought that this guy would treat me right and the only person that does treat me right is you, Cecelia." She never said my full name, it only occurred when something serious had.
"You know, how is this fair? How does he never give an answer?" We slump against the wall. "Who am I going to go to prom with?"
"Ok Rachel!" She laughs this time, knowing comparing her to Jennifer Aniston and her portrayal of Rachel would make her feel like the queen she is.
We smiled for the first time in 8 hours, reversing all the tears we shed. And we talked. Just like we did when we met at the wedding. Utter shit came out of our mouths, but we never addressed the situation. We never changed. We planned our future weddings, we designed our prom dresses for the next week, we thought of our ideal places to travel and designed our perfect trip together. Nothing ever changed for us.

Chapter 4

The day we all looked forward to had arrived. And not to brag, but we both looked stunning. Lillian in a deep blue ball gown, me in a bright yellow cocktail dress. My hair draped over my shoulders, curling slightly, and hit the yellow of my dress. We both looked into the mirror, and I never felt so at peace. Just like I did in that oval mirror when we were cocky little shits in Year 7. And she asked the same question she did back then:
"You ready?"
"No..."
"Don't worry you'll be fine-"
We were cut off, once again, but this time it was a car beep that interrupted her.
"Hey you girls gonna prom?" A gruff voice yells out from the limousine waiting down in the street. We share a puzzled glance, and rundown the stairs, practically tripping over each other like excited puppies. Calling out to our parents, saying we were going, we stepped out of the door. My father had ordered a limousine for the both of us, the driver explained, as he couldn't see us on our prom night. And we ended up at the school.
***
We had just arrived outside of our high school,music blaring in the Hall, smashed bottles outside: it was set out to be the perfect evening. We laughed as we stepped out of the limo, we stumble up the stairs  towards the door.
As we stepped into the Hall, it all became real. The people we never considered to ever wear a tuxedo or a dress were now dressed in formal fashion and it confused the eye. As we adjusted to our surroundings, we took a drink from the stand and headed towards the nearest table.
The rest of the actual prom was thoroughly uneventful: Georgia O'Kelley was crowned prom queen, even though she wasn't in a couple, and she did a solo hip hop routine as her first dance. We sat smirking at the couples who looked the most awkward, and glanced at the boys we thought were cute. Ignoring every other slip up that happened to us in our lives and living. Not to mention, we got SUPER wasted. It was bound to happen, we thought, and figured if we were going to get grounded, getting grounded together wouldn't be as bad. We sat and I downed 6 shots of alcohol, whilst she drank 4 gradually, for whatever reason; I was too drunk to pay attention. My memory of the night got so hazy after this and I didn't remember most of it... but I remember the sirens.

Lillian

Chapter 5

Prom was eventful, to say the least. It ended in a surprising turn of events, including violence and alcohol consumption. Frankly, CeCe got so undeniably stupid, I thought, for the first time ever, she was worse than me. After her third glass, I knew one of us had to be sober- her one rule was one of us had to stay at least 3 drinks less drunk than the other, so one of us was in a less alcohol-induced state. This was the one time she wasn't the one who drunk 3 drinks less. I reminded her the next morning that she broke her own rule, and she gave me the familiar menacing glare she gave parents. Then she called me a cocky little shit and downed her favourite hangover cure, banana milkshake from McDonald's with honey drizzle. She said it was 'scientifically proven' to which my mother especially doubted, considering she was hardly ever hungover and never had a reason to use it. We were still in the Hall at 1:30pm when that girl Georgia said something she would regret:
"My parents are out of town, you guys wanna come over and get even more drunk?" The next morning her parents made her move schools for being so irresponsible with her colleagues. As well as taking responsibility for the chaos of the night.
Though we were unsure, CeCe made the decision- so off we went. That's where things got way out of control.

Chapter 6

We arrived, all of us drunk and stupid. I acted more wasted than I should have, being three drinks more sober-I hadn't had anything else. The house was pristine- everything pure white, glass table tops destined to be destroyed, clean sinks inevitably full of broken glass from smashed bottles. Cecelia stood around the kitchens island, nearest to the speaker, and was talking, shockingly, to me.
"I need-another drink" She squinted momentarily, "good sir in the blue bomber coat with face tattoos, fetch me a bottle of alcohol- with beer!" He nodded judgementally, raising his eyebrows as he proceeded to the pantry. CeCe moved to go dance begging me to go with her, practically dragging me there. As I have three left feet, (yes I know it's two, but that's how clumsy I am) I refused, knowing that, even though I love her to pieces, I am not going to have her embarrass me with her dancing, which could still use some work. I slipped down the hallway, trying to find a bathroom, when I saw a crowd in the pantry. And a suspicious figure lurking in the corner, with a clenched fist and hood down. He moved suddenly, dropping the contents of his hands into the drink, carried out to-
"CeCe" I whispered , so quietly, not even I could have heard my voice. I slipped around the corner, before I was spotted.
I moved rapidly, swiftly dodging everyone in my path, side to side, up and down, trying to find her. I made it to the living room, where the speaker had been moved to. The terrifying of the music caused a rave, meaning I couldn't find her. Weaving in and out of couples making out, between violent groups, until I saw her, with an empty glass in her hand, talking to the one guy no one every deserved to come across. I was blocked from getting through to them, my step sister being led up the stairs to a bedroom, her eyes drooping. I shoved my way to the stairs, shoving people out of the way as I did. I ran up the stairs, almost breaking every step. Slamming every door open to find her. Large dirty footprints haphazard on the floor. I arrived at the final door. I had to protect her, no matter what. She was all I had left in this crazy world.
I stormed through the door, not knowing what I would find. An unconscious girl, lips stained blue from the drinks, combined with drugs no doubt. And I saw a door. Leading to a bathroom. Around the corner, I waited for someone to emerge. I didn't have to wait very long. The doorknob turned and I clutched the candlestick I had found on the dresser. He was nude, and I destroyed him. My fists flew in the air, my lipstick smudged, blood spattered against the floor. Daniel. The crazy son of a bitch. I scream down the corridor.
"Call 911, ambulance and police ASAP!" I yelled until my voice grew coarse "NOW!"
A couple turned around their door, and grabbed the nearest phone and dialled quicker than I had ever seen. They handed their phone to me, and nodded.
I had just saved the one girl who mattered. The sister I loved.

Final chapter

Daniel would have been charged with attempted sexual assault, possession of drugs other than the ones he used on CeCe and violence issues. He would face 10+ years in jail because of his actions. CeCe was unharmed mostly, and the ambulance gave her a full check up before we were allowed to leave. The ambulance men were that upset to hear what had happened, they took her for her hangover remedy from McDonald's after she woke up. And us: we have never been closer. We raised awareness of a serious issue, and strengthened our bond. If there is one thing someone would take away from our story, it's this; always have one friend who stays at least a little sober, so they can keep you safe. And always have a hangover remedy at hand.