SLUMP

scene v

By the time they arrive, Penny admits that the Adams Estate is as lavish as Penny envisioned it to be. Exiting the taxi cab, she pays the driver the last bits of her savings from her part-time job at the city library. There, she is left admiring the home in all its astonishing splendor.

It has a modern feel to it, the lanterns weaved into the infrastructure casting a soft golden glow against the cobalt night sky. In front of the actual house, is a courtyard that displays a fountain of flowers in the center, flower petals rippling the water.

Lining the white granite steps were giant vases of vibrant tiger lilies and yellow roses. Spreading across acres of land, the mansion is as grand as a palace, but from what Penny has heard from Mimi and Nessie, it is common knowledge that Jason and his family were wealthy.

In the background, she hears a joyful shriek combined with the sound of splashing, followed by laughter. Penny almost chokes in disbelief, the idea of Jason and his family owning a luxurious pool in addition to a mansion large enough to host a party for the entire population of Ocean City should not have surprised her as much as it did.

When she approaches the front door, another sliver of doubt gnaws at her thoughts. In her plain outfit, Penny feels out of place, but at this point, wasn't it too late to turn back?

"Nice outfit," is the first thing Jason says after he answers her tentative knock, "didn't think you'd show up." From his condescending tone, Penny knows he has to be joking. No one in their right mind would find her the least bit pretty in sweats and a hoodie.

Nevertheless, his eyes rack over the dips of her body like a feast on Thanksgiving, hunger spawning in his eyes, and Penny fights the urge to grimace at his flirting.

He's drunk, Penny notes from his glassy pupils and wobbly stance, causing him to sag against the doorframe. His mouth reeks of alcohol, and Penny thinks it is a miracle that he answered her knock while intoxicated.

Her eyes flit over his shoulder to see if either of his parents were home, but by how wasted he is, she concludes it's probably only him. Penny makes eye contact with him again when a couple of people behind him make a show of turning the dignified mansion into a pigsty, shoes and red plastic cups discarded over the lacquered floors.

"Had to sneak out," Penny offers as a form of explanation, tucking her pink hair behind her ear and shoving a hand in one of her front pockets. "You have a bathroom?"

Stepping aside to let her in, he points in the opposite direction of the main partying hall. Much like the rest of the estate, the bathroom is just as embellished in marble, polished till it shone.

She changes quickly, and the dress flows to her knees like snowfall. Penny brushes her hair with her fingers, touching up the gloss on her lips by the sink mirror.

She didn't look terrible, a feat she is proud of. The idea of Jason finding her attractive is flattering to say the least, and Penny would be lying if she said she wasn't the slightest bit interested in drawing his attention. Recapping the tube of lip gloss, Penny tears her gaze from her reflection.

Still shy from her unrecognizable appearance, she shoves the rest of her clothes in the largest slot of her backpack, hooking over her shoulder. As she leaves the bathroom, she nearly bumps into a multitude of sluggish silhouettes. Like a lost puppy, Penny follows the crowd, alighting herself to the kitchen and living areas, where most of the attendees were flocking towards.

In spite of the fact that the living vicinity was cleared of furniture and any other objects endangered of collateral damage, the people partying were barely able to squeeze themselves on the makeshift dance floor, bodies overlapping one another. With the DJ and numerous portable speakers scattered around the house, Penny thinks it is similar to a nightclub. It might have been a trick of the eyes, but Penny swears that she caught Mimi and Nessie letting loose.