FORTIFIED

Chapter Seven

Walking through the common room, people wished her a happy birthday. She thanked them all with a smile but her mind wasn't there. Jayden filled her thoughts even as she opened the door to her room. Was it some freakish trick of the light or had his eyes just switched between two colors?

"Surprise!" Gasping she looked up in time to see the confetti rain down on her. She grinned at her roommates as she saw the beautiful works they've done to their room. If the party looked anything like her room, she was definitely looking forward to it.

"Guys this is so nice." They all came to hug her. Her bed had been decorated with different signatures all signed in paint. She couldn't help the smile that spread across her face when she saw Jayden's signature. He'd also left a wink for her and a heart.

"You guys didn't have to do this." She sniffed, the tears threatening to spill.

"Sweetheart we're here for you no matter what," Lucky said.

"Girlfriends for life!" Becky piped.

"We're happy to help Adriel," Victoria said smiling looking more laid back than she'd ever seen her.

"Thank you, guys." Adriel sniffed.

They all shared a moment before Becky clapped to catch their attention.

"Okay, guys. We only have one hour to the party. Let's get started!"

Adriel gulped. First, she took a shower for about fifteen minutes per Becky's request.

She'd blushed furiously when Lucky teased her from the bedroom about how floored Jayden would be when he saw her in her birthday suit. She'd told her off from the bathroom immediately.

Then they worked on her makeup for about another thirty minutes before handing her dress for the night. The gown wasn't her usual style. She was usually conservative and the gown was too tight and too revealing. She didn't think she was confident enough to wear it.

"I don't know guys, I don't think I can wear that...obviously." She gestured unimpressed at herself.

"You can Adriel. You have a hot body. I know Jayden's totally smitten by you and he won't be able to take his eyes off of you tonight."

She blushed as Lucky wiggled her brow suggestively at her.

"He won't be able to resist," Victoria smirked, crossing her arms.

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Thirty minutes into the party, the birthday girl arrived looking seductive in a black thigh long gown that had its back completely non-existent.

Adriel fidgetted slightly. She knew she looked okay by most people's standards, but this wasn't her.

The neckline was horrifyingly low. She looked around the dance floor. If she thought the dress she was wearing was provocative, then she was completely at a loss of words to describe the dresses she saw around her.

"Hey birthday girl, you look amazing." She turned to the voice. It was Ian. He stared down at her appreciatively. Even in the dark lit living room, he looked dark and handsome. His gold-blond hair was combed to the side in a quiff such that it almost covered one eye. She saw how the other girls were ogling him like he was candy, and he was in fact one. He was eye candy.

"Hey, Ian." She smiled back at him.

"Everyone's waiting for you." He ushered her to the front of the crowd, where Jayden and the rest of his friends stood to wait. She nearly fainted when the guys started whistling.