Affliction.

Chapter 1.

"Calm down woman, I'm coming!"

I called out from my walk in closet. Hurriedly picking up the lime green smocked blouse and blue denims, I ran out to pick the wailing phone from my queen-sized bed.

"Who died?"

"You, if you're not going to be here within the next ten minutes."

I chuckled at the smouldering tone of my best friend. Although downright contradicting, we were patently inseparable. Like the last pair of Jimmy Choos and a matching Louis Vuitton hand bag. You'd never hear an Ivory Alexander without Ariel Parker following right behind.

"You're such a sunshine in the morning."

"You'd be too, if the valet mistakes you with Lindsay Lohan, again. What am I, a 50?!!" Oh no, the unforgiving territory. 

Sporting strawberry red shoulder length curls and deep blue eyes, Ariel's resemblance with Lindsay Lohan was highly uncanny. And the foremost reason of getting into her bad books. She could handle a pint of criticism on her Michael Kors nonchalantly, but comparing her to the hollywood's leading actress is your own suicidal wish.

It was also the reason how our friendship started on the very first day of grade four. The teacher was ticking off our names from her spiral bounded register and I gave out a girly giggle at 'Parker, Ariel.'
Being the rebellious, smart mouthed girl she was, she gave me a frosty glare, challenging me to laugh again.

"You remind me of Ariel, the mermaid." I replied in an obvious tone. Lips twitching upwards, she linked our arms together and directed me to the chair beside her.

"And you remind me of Hermoine Granger." I still don't know how she made the unusual connection, but I'm guessing it had something to do with my obvious tone and the recent brown hair colour my mother experimented on me.

So it all goes back to one single childish giggle. 

Ariel's fuming on the other end zoned me into reality again.
"Be here in five or I'm going to the florists to choose your flowers."

'Seven. Two minutes to battle with these wild weeds on my head." I hung up with her low laughter ringing in my ears.

Untangling my hair after shower was the task even Bear Grylls wouldnt vouch for . With one final tug at the blonde locks, I picked the blow dryer as their ultimate assailant and started taming my hair. Few seconds with the magic wand, and viola!

My glossy blonde-haired reflection winked at me. I could see the burgundy streaks from last month glimmering under the incandescent light above, all the way to the middle of my back. Ariel said they brought out the real gold of my eyes, and paying detailed attention, it did enhance my amber irises.

Promptly changing into my selected outfit, I pocketed my phone and flew down the crimson, French carpeted staircase.

Since I'd one steaming latte with a even more scalding Ariel, I didn't bother going in the kitchen and made my way to mahagony heavy-set front doors.

Stepping outside, I inhaled the scent of tube roses lingering in the air, only to choke back on the exhaling carbondioxide. My Bugatti Veyron usually sitting forlorn on the porch was replaced by a disfiguired, mutilated mass of metal and rubber. Like the jelly you get when it is not frozen correctly.

Oh no, he didn't.

Without a sound, I returned back to the house, my each step eerily poised and yet lethal. I let my eyes adjust to the dim hall and noticed the stout stature of Van Hoef, our butler descending downstairs.

Spotting me, he gave a nervous smile and started turning in the other direction.

"Van Hoef." I called out, still composed.

He stopped, stiffening visibly.
"Yes, miss Alexander?"

"Where is my car?"

"On the porch, miss."

"Oh, you mean that ugly black mass on the porch? Because last time I checked, my car had four wheels, and was a car!" My voice was a hundred octaves higher by the time I finished.

"Well, master Zach took your car last night, and uh, he was under the effect of alcohol, so-"

"That doesn't explain how the back got ruined."

Van hoef adjusted the collar of his suit, as if the room temperature rose a few degrees.

"Master Zach was untangling himself, I mean your car from the tree, when his friend, who also had too much alcohol, collided from-" He trailed off sheepishly at the glower I gave him.

I switched my attention to the watch strapped on my wrist and my heart dropped. Fifteen minutes since my call with Ariel. Eight minutes since her ultimatum.

Knowing she could annihilate the entire resturant within the tanure of miliseconds, I turned on my heel towards the front door, once again.
"I'm taking Zach's car" I called out behind my shoulder. "And tell him, Karma's a bitch."

I could hear the audible gasp from Van hoef's mouth at my unauspicious choice of words as I made my way towards the sleek vehicle inside the garage. It smelled like cigarette and beer.

Why am I not surprised?

The familiar thrills vibrated through my body as the Mustang roared to life. If I didn't manage to land in the college of my choice, becoming a racer was my plan B. The adrenaline rush I got by swerving on the highway, the tires gripping the asphalt as I skid and compete with the rival wind are just too incredible to give up.

Backing out professionally, I was about to steer the car when something on the passenger seat glinted in the sun.

A ring.

Suspicion crept over me and I held it between my thumb and fore finger.
It did not look like a wedding ring and I silently sent a thank you prayer up. Zach's not getting married, then.

Squinting my eyes in absolute concentration, I made out the word 'CHARM' embosed against the silver band. Considering that he ruined my car, Zach needs all the luck he can manage.

And with the college applications, plus my parents' volatile relationship, I'd too.

The ring wasn't anything like the extravagant jewellery my mother owned, and I'd bet my Armanis that she was going to be revolted to see a worthless piece of metal on my freshly manicured hands. Another reason to try it on, my rebel brain chimed in.

Astonishingly, the ring hugged my finger perfectly. That's odd. Last time I checked,  Zach's fingers were bigger than mine.

The digital clock on the dashboard blinked innocently at me, unaware of the wrath it brought by striking 12 and I pressed the accelerator to maximum. As I made my way to my very aggravated best friend, the lapping wind shrugged off all the doubts I'd for the ring.

This is how all hell broke loose in my life. And this is how I was the victim of karma's wrath, and not Zach.

A/N:
A very long chapter. Sums up for all the updates I've been lacking. Ignore the typos. Thank you for reading!