Chapter 9

The Party

Loud music boomed in the background as the students of Harrison High filled the massive living room, which had been transformed into a party hall.

Dressed provocatively, they roamed about with wine glasses and liquor bottles in hand. Some were smoking, others grinding against each other as they danced, moving wildly to the music.

At the center table—where all the girls' attention was drawn—sat Zach, Noah, and Kyle holding court. Bottles and drinks were scattered around, but no one dared to approach because the BB girls were with them.

Irene straddled Zach's lap, running her fingers through his black hair, which fell seductively over his chiseled face. He wore a black shirt with a few buttons undone, revealing the pendant resting on his sculpted chest. His jacket was draped over his shoulders, and silver rings adorned his fingers, lips, and ears.

"Baby," Irene cooed, but Zach wasn’t paying a bit of attention to her. His gaze remained fixed on his phone, occasionally flickering toward the door.

Why weren’t they here yet?

"Noah’s a nutcase," Kyle sighed, taking a drag from his cigarette. He sat alone, but Madeline was right beside him, desperately trying to get his attention.

"Should I help with that?" she asked sweetly.

"Don’t," Kyle snapped, his green eyes cold.

A frown appeared on her face, but she said nothing. She was determined he would be hers if she just played her cards right.

Meanwhile, Noah was having the time of his life. Red-haired Zoe was giving him a lap dance like a pro, grinding against his hips and shoving her more than bountiful breasts in his face. He laughed at his friends before capturing Zoe’s lips in an aggressive kiss.

Ava wasn’t enjoying the scene at all. She sat at the table, her gaze fixed in their direction, yet her eyes were vacant and unseeing. She didn’t want to go home but having her crush with another girl was almost too much to bear.

A few tables away, Scarlett and Ruby strutted toward Dereck and Leo. "Hey, boys," Scarlett drawled excitedly, plopping down beside Leo. Meanwhile, Ruby’s heart thumped at the sight of Dereck.

Leo grinned, revealing his dimples.His eyes raked over Scarlett’s dress, and he gulped slowly.  "Been waiting for you, Scar."

"Thought you wouldn’t make it," Scarlett chuckled, picking up a bottle of liquor.

"Anything for you," Leo winked.

She pouted, playfully hitting his arm.

"We’re at a goddamn party, Scar," Leo winced.

She rolled her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder,  though her eyes remained locked on Kyle.

Across the table, Dereck’s gaze was fixed on Irene, his expression unreadable.

Ruby let out an exasperated sigh. "Dereck."

He turned to her. God, those eyes. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" she asked hesitantly.

He didn’t respond, just stood up. She immediately followed.

"Have fun, girl," Scarlett winked knowingly at Ruby before grabbing Leo’s hand. "Let’s go dance."

"What, Scar—"

He didn’t get to finish before she dragged him onto the dance floor.

Outside, Riley’s driver pulled up among the countless cars crowding the mansion’s parking lot. "Are you sure we should go in?" Nervousness crept into Olivia’s voice.

"We’ll be fine, Livia. No one will notice us, remember?" Riley assured her, pulling her toward the front porch.

The mansion was gigantic and magnificent. A luxurious fountain stood at the center of the compound, glowing under the vibrant lights. Olivia thought the music was loud from outside, but as soon as they stepped into the packed hall, the deafening sound nearly knocked her off balance.

"Why is it so loud?!" Olivia shouted, her voice barely audible.

"Because it’s a party!" Riley yelled back.

Right. She was a nerd. She’d never been to a party before. Olivia hadn’t realized so many students from their school would be here. She scanned the crowd, searching for familiar faces, completely oblivious to the pair of blue eyes watching her from afar.

Riley kept pulling her forward, maneuvering through the dazzling crowd. Olivia squinted against the flashing lights, trying to adjust. With no other choice, she slid her glasses back on.

"Take those off," Riley whined loudly.

"I can’t!" Olivia yelled back.

"I’ll be back, Livia. Don’t move!"

"Don't leave me..."

Riley waltzed off before Olivia could say another word, and she nearly burst into tears right there.

Riley acted like she had been to countless parties, yet here she was, behaving like a complete novice. Olivia patiently scanned the room and spotted Ruby and Dereck in a corner. "Oh," she mumbled.

Her eyes then landed on Scarlett and Leo, dancing wildly on the dance floor. "I wish I hadn't come here," she sighed, longing for the comfort of her bedroom. Just as Riley had warned, no one seemed to notice her.

A burning gaze prickled her skin, and she was about to turn when Riley returned, holding two glasses with a wide smile plastered on her pale face. Tonight, Riley had let her hair down instead of tying it into pigtails. She wore a stunning red cocktail dress that Olivia only now noticed.

"Here, I'm glad you stayed," Riley said, handing her a glass.

"I don't drink," Olivia protested, pushing the glass back.

"Come on, Livia. I don't drink either. This isn't alcohol—I had to beg the guy at the cellar for it."

Hesitantly, Olivia accepted the glass and took a slow sip, while Riley downed hers in one gulp. Riley stared at Olivia nervously, watching her closely.

"Why are you looking at me like that? This tastes sour, Riley. Are you sure it's non-alcoholic?"

"Let's go dance," Riley abruptly changed the subject, pulling Olivia toward the dance floor.

"I... I don’t dance, Riley. We can't draw attention. The bullies are here."

Olivia tried to resist, but then she suddenly stopped. Riley turned to her with a questioning look.

"What's wrong?"

"I... I feel weird, Riley," Olivia whispered, her palms and forehead growing clammy. Her body began to sway, moving to an unknown rhythm.

"Weird?" Riley asked, her face filled with concern.

Oh no! In an instant, Olivia shoved Riley to the floor with unexpected force, her body heating up.

"What's happening, Riley?!" Olivia screamed, her voice slicing through the music as people started to take notice.

"I'm sorry, Livia," Riley murmured, eyes welling with tears. But Olivia wasn’t looking at her.

A slow, sheepish smile spread across Olivia’s lips. She threw her glasses aside, removed her shoes one by one, and flung them at a random guy dancing with a girl. The shoe struck his head.

"What the fuck?!" he yelled.

Now, all eyes were on Olivia.

 "Who's that weirdo?"

"OMG!"

"Isn't that the nerd?"

"Fuck, what’s she doing here?"

"She actually looks kinda pretty, though."

 "She looks like a deranged cow."

Olivia didn’t care. She started jumping, her hair flapping wildly. "I feel free!!! I feel like flyiiiiiing!"

Laughter and giggles filled the air as people raised their phones, eager to capture the spectacle. Olivia dashed to the stage and grabbed a mic. From the floor, Riley watched, her lips trembling.

"Isn't that Olivia?" Scarlett and Leo had stopped dancing, both watching in amusement.

"Wonder what she took," Leo muttered.

At Zach’s table, everyone had turned their attention toward Olivia. Noah barely looked up, uninterested.

Zach’s lips curled into a cruel smirk. "You shouldn’t have crossed me, Barbie."

Irene and Madeline were laughing, the latter recording.

"What the fuck is that stupid nerd doing here?" Irene cackled. Now seated beside Zach, she shook her head in disbelief.

"For Pete’s sake, this is hilarious. Serves her right," Madeline chuckled.

Ava remained silent. 

Kyle watched with amusement glinting in his eyes.

"Helloooo, let's parrrtieeeee!" Olivia squealed into the mic. The crowd erupted into mock cheers.

"What a pity," Ruby sighed, realizing Dereck was no longer beside her.

At that moment, Olivia spun around and began twerking wildly.

 "Woahhhh!"

"Go, baby!"

 "Go, nerdy!"

"Oh, God," Riley groaned, burying her face in her hands.

Olivia was behaving like a wild animal. Abruptly, she stopped twerking, her gaze locking onto one person.

Zach.

His blue eyes were fixed on her, unwavering. Olivia climbed off the stage, moving toward him with every eye in the room following her. "Zachary," she called out, to everyone’s shock.

Then, without warning, she jumped on him, shoving Irene aside.

"What the fuck?!" Irene shrieked, ready to push Olivia away.

"Leave her alone," Zach’s icy voice cut through the noise.

A tense silence fell over the room. Even Noah was now paying attention.

"Take me home... Zachary," Olivia slurred, burying her face in his chest.

"Zach is going to kill her."

"I wish I were the one in his arms."

Phones were still raised, recording every second.

"This is insane," Scarlett whispered, her eyes filled with sympathy. "Zach hates when people touch him without permission."

But Zach didn’t push Olivia away. Instead, he lifted her effortlessly in a bridal carry. A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. The music stopped.

"Zach?" Irene scoffed in disbelief, standing abruptly.

Zach didn’t say a word. He simply carried Olivia upstairs, her arms wrapped around his neck.