04|midnight chaos

Brenda G

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Silence floated in the room. Sydney had finally managed to grab some sleep after getting her first aid on the painful cut she received.

Her birthday had turned into her worst nightmare after receiving a deep cut on her forehead. The cut resulted from a glass bottle which was smashed on her head by her sister, Harriet.

The reason for the attack was that Sydney was getting so close to Harriet's boyfriend, a drama that I didn't gather so many details on.

With the help of Sydney's friends, we took care of the situation and we let her take a rest.

Upon glancing at my phone watch, my eyes nearly bulged from shock. It was fifteen minutes to midnight.

"If Midnight finds you out, just find a place to stay!" My mother's words danced in my head.

"I think her nanny will take care of the rest, we should be heading home," Cara, one of Sydney's friends whispered.

She read my mind.

She was slightly shorter, probably 5'0 in height. She had dirty blonde hair which was professionally crocheted. Her almond-sized eyes were emerald green in colour, the same colour as that of the dress she was wearing that evening. Her chubby cheeks indented to form a hollow dimple whenever she smiled. She was gorgeous in all aspects.

"Yes. So Brenda, how far is your place?" June, the other girl asked. Unlike Cara, June had neck-length dark blue hair. Her cerulean eyes matched the colour of her hair. She had pink pouty lips and a small chin, a slim nose with a short pointed tip. She was slightly taller than Cara, with a slim figure like that of a supermodel.

"Just a few blocks from this place," I replied while getting up from the chaise lounge. "We should leave," I added while heading for the door and they followed close behind.

We crept out of Sydney's room so as not to disrupt the peace of the night and hopefully not to wake her parents.

As we trudged down the fleet of marble stairs, the rest of the guests who had not left were curiously staring at us. June went to them to assure them that everything was fine. For Cara and I, we just walked past them, unbothered by their presence. I led the way as Cara followed close behind. She was engrossed in her phone.

"I wasn't in my right senses, okay!" A girl suddenly yelled from outside. "I was drunk."

"You see, drunkenness. Have I not warned you time and again to abstain from alcohol? Look at what drinking got you! You harmed your sister!" A male voice scolded and definitely it was Harriet being scolded.

I had halted to eavesdrop on them. She was standing with a boy who was supposedly her boyfriend and after a good look, I realized it was the mystery boy who saved me from the pool.

He was clad in the cap that hid his eyes but chances were, he could see a lot with those hooded eyes.

"Don't yell at me," Harriet pouted then leaned closer to kiss him but he stepped away.

"With what you have done yelling is too mild!" He hurled back and then began walking off but halted when he saw us.

Suddenly, Cara stormed towards the unsuspecting Harriet and gave her an echoing slap on the cheek. Before she could add another slap, Harriet hid behind the mystery boy to protect herself from Cara's assaults.

"You," Cara screamed while yanking the frightened girl by her shoulder. "You have the guts to stand here and engage in PDA while your sister is hurt all because of you?"

"Can you just walk away slowly?" Harriet said, pushing at her, "This is a family matter no outsiders are allowed to interfere."

"Oh really? So slashing your sister's head with a shard of glass is a family matter?" June joined, I was speechless as I watched them attack Harriet.

"How dare you talk to me like that?" Harriet barked, "Do you know who I am?"

"Yes, I know. You're nothing but a fucking bitch!" Cara spat, making me chuckle. At least some people agreed that what Harriet did to her sister was inhumane.

"Oh and a whore!" June added earning a hard slap from Harriet.

The boy attempted to intervene but stepped away again because he knew that girls' fights were too violent and sentimental.

"Don't you ever call me names again," Harriet pointed her painted index finger at both of her rivals. Her face was red with fury.

"Oh yes I will," Cara charged forward. "You are and will always be a fucking psycho whose residence should be in a mental asylum."

"Hey, hey, hey," the boy finally decided to step forward.

"Please, stay out of this!?" June threw him a look of disdain.

"Don't talk to my boyfriend like that you fool!" Harriet warned, that's when something pushed me to talk. I had met the boy several times and from what I had seen, he was just like his girlfriend, Harriet.

"Boyfriend you say," I stepped forward after being mute all along. I scrutinized then laughed mockingly "Funny, 'cause I don't see any boyfriend. All I see is a coward who hides behind a woman."

Immediately those words flew from my mouth, the boy pushed Harriet aside and then walked up to me. It looked like I had touched a sore spot. He had been mocking me around and he kinda deserved to be put in his place.

"Who the hell are you calling a coward?" Harriet attacked, but the boy held her back.

"Leave her, I will handle her myself," he said, then looked down at me.

"What? You're gonna go alpha mode on me now?" I raised an amused brow, mocking him with my gaze.

"I'm not a coward. Simply because I decided to keep my cool doesn't mean you can insult me, girl." He stated calmly, something that surprised me.

"You don't look like you're keeping your cool. If anything, you look like you want to combust." I spat then locked the gaze. This time, from the little lights, I saw how his eyes held much rage. He looked like he could murder me in the next second.

"I'm leaving," he said, not even glancing at Harriet as he turned around and walked away.

Silence floated as we watched him disappear into the darkness and just then, I also walked away, knowing that just like Cinderella, midnight was the fixed time.

I got home a minute past midnight, lucky me that mum didn't hear me as I entered the house.

I was exhausted and flushed because of everything that had happened during the party, it never felt like a party anymore because shit after the other had happened, and I hated it.

I was on my way to the kitchen to get some water when I heard muffled voices resonating from dad's office, particularly my mom's voice.

My brows furrowed as to whom she would be talking to since dad was working at night.

Curiosity got the best of me and I crept towards the home office. I assumed there was no point to knock since I was a member of the family so I twisted the door knob and walked in.

Mom was seated on dad's chair, while a strange man who was clad in a bespoke black suit, sat on the adjacent chair. His back was facing me hence, I couldn't see his face.

"I'm sorry, did I interrupt?" I asked while strolling further into the room.

"Yes," mum gritted. "Did you leave your manners at the party? Don't you know how to knock?"

"I-I'm sorry," I lisped, moving backwards to shut the door.

Before I could turn around to bolt out, the strange man whipped his neck in my direction. The cold look on his runty face sent me scurrying away in fear.

As I headed back to the living room, questions plagued my mind as to whom that strange man was and why I had never met him before.

What his mission in my house was and why my mom seemed to be planning something aloof with him.

Driven by curiosity again, I decided to go back to the study and eavesdrop on their conversation. Removing my shoes, I tiptoed to the door and placed my right ear on it.

"I should get going now." The man sighed and I heard the shuffling of feet.

"Yes and thanks for showing up, by the way, that's her." I heard my mom say.

"Of course, I know," the man chuckled, "Have you forgotten that I have her pictures?"

My brows flashed upwards in shock.

I heard noises produced by the shifting of chairs and I ran off, to avoid getting caught.

I quickly went and sat on the couch, looking like an obedient good girl that was not eavesdropping. The man came out of the study with mom tailing behind him.

I stood from my seat the moment they approached me. Mom shot me a disdainful glare and I quickly dropped my gaze to the man who looked like he was in his late thirties.

"Brenda," Mom called, her voice lacking the warmth of a mother, "Show Lance to the door, will you?" she stated leaving no room for choice.

"Yes," I nodded timidly.

"You're mom's business partner?" I decided to strike up a conversation that would give me an insight as to who he was and what he was doing at our place at midnight. We had just stepped out.

"Yes, sort of," he said.

A car pulled up in front of our lawn and I figured it was for him."My driver is here," he informed me.

"Oh okay," I smiled, at least there was nothing weird, "Bye then."

I turned around to go but his hand grabbed my wrist, applying pressure to it. I gave him a confused look, glancing down at my wrist that he was clutching onto, but he didn't let go, instead, he erased the space between us and whispered down to my ear.

"Happy eighteen kitten." He sniffed my neckline causing me to shift. "I will drop by your new school on Monday, there are papers you will need to sign."

I attempted to escape from his hold but he pulled me back to his toned chest.

"Calm down, we are just starting!"