Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE

ELOWEN VALE

I stared at the mirror with wonder. I almost did not recognize the person I was seeing in my reflection. Thirty minutes of sitting as still as I could while Arden dusted colors and powders over my face had resulted in me looking better than I ever had. 

I looked at the waves in my hair. They were more defined than they would be on a normal day and it was thanks to Melrose and Arden's curling wand.

I took a deep breath and raised my hands to my cheeks. I wanted to see if the blush would come off on my fingers, if my freckles would no longer be hidden. 

I caught sight of the paint under my nails. I drew my hand away from my face and turned on the faucet. I vigorously washed the paint away. 

“Lowen, you need to hurry,” Melrose called from outside the bathroom. 

“I'm coming,” I responded and dried my hands off on my dress before I realized what I was doing. 

I stopped myself halfway through. It was a mini brown bodycon dress and the moisture from my hands was printed on it. I bit my lip. Arden and Melrose were going to complain. That was okay. They hadn't listened when I complained about how short the dress was. 

I had done everything they wanted asides wear heels. I had only worn those once and I had ended up with a sprained ankle in front of Mom and Dad's guests. They had not been pleased. 

I stepped out into the hallway. Arden and Melrose were at the end of the hallway taking selfies. They were going to their Instagrams. I cleared my throat to quietly announce my presence. They both turned to look at me. Melrose nodded with quiet approval. Something shifted in my belly.

Arden crossed her arms and I had to physically stop myself from squirming under their scrutiny. “You sure you don't want the heels?” Arden asked. 

“Yeah,” I muttered. 

She shrugged and headed down the stairs. “We leave in two minutes. We can't be late,” she announced over her shoulder. 

I took the message and hurried into my room. I grabbed the smallest purse I could find. I forced my phone and some cash into it. 

I made my way out of my room, down the hallway and down the stairs. The hem of the dress rose further and further up my thighs till it was sitting right below my butt. I hated discomfort. I was subjected to it all the time, but that did not change how much I hated it. The dress was going to keep me uncomfortable the whole party, if I managed to stay through. 

I followed Melrose out of the house, then ran back inside to grab a bottle of water. I was thirsty. 

Arden was still outside the SUV. She shook her head with disapproval as I approached the car. 

“I'm thirsty.”

“You're supposed to save that thirst for the drinks,” she rolled her eyes.

“We are not old enough to drink,” I was stunned and confused. I knew that kids our age drank, but I didn't think she was one of them. 

“Get in. You're so annoying,” she said through clenched teeth. 

I climbed into the car. Arden went round to the other side. It was either I had pissed her off with the little I had said, or she just didn't want to sit away from Melrose. 

I had a feeling it was both. I leaned back in my seat and pulled my phone out of my purse. There was nothing else for me to do. 

I couldn't get my mind off the fact that Arden and Melrose planned to drink. 

It was a party to celebrate the last day of highschool. I was going to have to watch out for them. If anything went wrong, my parents and Melrose's parents would blame me. 

The SUV started moving and I plugged in my earphones to continue my tutorial video, only pausing it once when Arden and Melrose included me in their selfie.

I didn't notice that the SUV had stopped until Melrose nudged me. I looked up from my phone. We were parked in front of a grand hotel. 

“This is going to be so much fun,” Melrose said into Arden's camera and they both squealed. 

I could see why they were best friends. They matched each other in so many ways. 

We headed through the entrance and to the hotel lobby. I was not sure how a bunch of highschool-ers were having a party at a hotel this big and it was allowed. They were going to be drinking, for God's sake. 

My nerves were on fire. I could not pay attention to whatever Arden and Melrose were saying. I only followed them, keeping my fingers closed around my purse. We walked into the elevator and it was just three of us. 

“You okay?” Melrose asked. Arden looked at me with an expression I could not read. 

“She doesn't look like it.”

“I'm fine,” I squared my shoulders. 

“Are you?” Arden leaned forward and teased. I took two steps backwards to get her out of my space. “Yes.” I curtly responded. 

“So… what are your plans for tonight?” Melrose leaned against the elevator wall and popped a sucker in her mouth. “The party…?” What was she talking about?

Arden smirked. “Well, who are you gonna kiss? Make out with?” Melrose prodded. Her lips kicked up at the corners and discomfort sat heavy at the base of my stomach. 

“No one. I'm here for the party,” I looked away from her. 

I had not associated myself with anyone from my grade. They were all different from me, and it was even worse that I was a year older than Arden and I was in the same grade as her. 

“It's part of the party though,” Melrose said as the elevator stopped and the doors slid open. Arden scoffed as we stepped out into the hallway. “She's not doing any of that, Mel. Leave her alone,” she said. Not in a nice way; the kind of way that made me feel like a complete weirdo. 

Melrose chuckled and shrugged. “Okay,” she looked round the hallway. It was wide, but there were only three doors.

They headed towards the door at the center of the hallway like they had been there a hundred times, probably because they had. 

They both dramatically put their hands on the door handle and smiled at each other as they opened it. Bass music, heat and flashes of different colors of light exploded from the room as soon as they opened it. I could not help the sinking feeling that consumed my guts as I walked in after them and shut the door behind me. 

*** *** ***

An hour later, Melrose had convinced me to take a glass of alcohol, and Arden had made me have an awkward dance with a friend of hers, Dane. His father owned the hotel. I was a little tipsy, overstimulated and horribly out of place. I needed to leave the suite. 

I headed over to Arden. She was chatting with Melrose and two other guys who were smoking pot. 

“I need to leave,” I yelled over the loud music. 

Arden frowned with irritation. “No, you don't.”

“Yes, I do,” I frowned. 

Melrose groaned for a second and then smiled suddenly, like something clicked in her brain. 

“Remember how there were three doors in the hallway?” She asked and I nodded. Arden looked at her warily. 

“Go to the one on the right. It's another of Dane's private suites. You can wait for us there,” she said.

I sighed. I could leave the party without them, but my parents would not like that. I turned around to leave, and Melrose grasped my shoulder with her dainty hands. 

“Dane's gonna be there too. This could be your chance to get some action,” she giggled. I shuddered, feeling heat burn through my face. 

“I'll pass,” I shook my head and pushed my way through the crowd till I made it to the door. 

The hallway was a breath of fresh air. Literally and figuratively. 

I made my way to the door on the right side of the one I had just come from. I opened it, hoping that I would find water to drink and a place to lie down. I was exhausted. I tried the handle and it opened. 

I walked in slowly, hoping that Dane would not be there. I shut the door and paused, waiting to hear any sound. After not hearing anything for twenty seconds, I headed to the kitchenette. I grabbed a bottle of water and an apple from the refrigerator. 

I sipped the water slowly and capped the bottle when I was satisfied. I bit into the apple and headed towards where I guessed to be the bedroom. 

I went straight to the bed and climbed in after taking off my strappy sandals. I pulled the covers over myself and checked the time on my phone. 

It was almost midnight. I wondered when Arden and Melrose would be ready to go home, and if Dane would come here like Melrose had said. 

If he did, maybe I would make out with him and get Melrose off my neck. 

I closed my eyes, thinking of the things I would be doing if I had not agreed to come here. Definitely painting. I needed to finish the sunset painting I had been doing from a first person point of view. 

Just as I was about to fall asleep, I heard someone come in. I opened my eyes, trying to clear the sleep and alcohol induced haziness from my mind. 

My eyes landed on the figure of the picture perfect man. His hair was very dark, slightly curly and glossy. He was trying to take his shoes off and his hand was on the light switch. My eyes landed on his perfect face just before he dimmed the lights. 

“Who are you?” He asked as soon as his eyes found me. My heart sank at the sound of his velvety deep voice. I immediately knew I was in trouble.