chapyer three

MARIAH

I let Ophelia apply some make-up on my face before we headed out of the room for the “exclusive After game party” as she phrased it. I kept feeling nervous about where I was going. I didn't know if it was that it was my first time being at a party or I just had that nasty feeling that something bad was gonna happen.

“Are you okay?” She asked and I forced a nod.

She sighed and rubbed my arm then picked up her pace as the faint music hung in the air.

We walked over to the frat house and Opelia led me down a basement I didn't know existed in school.

I wondered if the school management knew about this and I didn't dare ask Ophelia that with how excited she was.

We walked down the stairs and stepped into a dark hallway covered with thick cigarette smoke and the stench of alcohol.

I squeezed my nose in disapproval but the door to the basement was already slammed shut the moment we stepped onto those stairs. The music was louder now and so was the nervousness that ate me up.

“Come on!” Ophelia squealed happily and dragged me along to the black door. I could feel a heavy pool of eyes on my bare back as I walked to the door.

I wanted to turn around and stare back at all of the students lined up in the corridor but I couldn't bring myself to do it.

The music blasted against my face the moment Ophelia pulled the door open.

I froze for a second, trying to take in where the hell I was but Ophelia was already dragging my numb body into the crimson bathed chaotic room of eighty percent high students.

“You'll have fun!” She turned and screamed at me.

Despite how loud she screamed, it took a while before her faint voice against the blasting music registered.

She hugged some students and nodded that I did the same but I couldn't. I didn't know anyone.

I could feel the disappointment in her eyes as I held unto her like she was my life support in that room.

People fucked, drank, smoked, argued, danced, and shit… I think I saw some doing some weird stuff like dr*gs.

“Hey Cathy!” Ophelia broke away from me when she saw another friend of hers. My heart sank and it suddenly felt like I was naked and vulnerable as I stood there, in the midst of a sea of carefree happy, purple students.

Every face felt like they were laughing at me. Like they were pointing at me when they waved their hands and swept their hair in the air. Everyone that whispered in their circle made me feel like they were whispering about me. About how I didn't belong. How I shouldn't be here. That I looked different and funny and stupid and… and…

“Mariah!”

I gasped, my breath and sense snapping back to me when I felt Ophelia's cold hands jerk me.

“Why are you standing there like some lost chick, huh? Come on!” She snapped and pulled me with her.

I looked around and suddenly everything was normal and that relieving feeling that I didn't exist in their minds returned.

“Meet my friends, Cathy and Laura,” she said as she waved at the pretty girls leaning on a bar. They had skimpy black dress on and spiky, sparkling heels strapped around their feet. They looked so different with the makeup and dressing. We've been classmates since junior year.

“Hi Mary,” Cathy waved and my throat knotted.

“It's… it's Mariah,” I blurted out, surprised that they didn't know my name yet.

“Oh sorry, everyone calls you Mary,” she laughed over her insincere apology.

Everyone? It was Reynold Davidson. Not everyone. But I was afraid that everyone would definitely call me that now.

“Want a shot?” She asked as she raised a glass of vodka.

I smiled, my heart racing.

“No–”

“Yes, she'll have it,” Ophelia said and I shot my head in her direction.

“I'm not drinking that alcohol.” I tried to sound polite but my words offended them.

“Come on! It's just a shot, grow up!” She snapped and grabbed the small glass of vodka from Cathy.

“Here!” Ophelia pushed the glass into my hand, visibly upset.

I swallowed hard and raised the glass to my trembling lips then parted them and gulped the alcohol down. The liquid burned my throat and made my belly clench so hard that I felt my breath leave me.

My heart suddenly stopped, my eyes rolled up and everything began to move in fast, sharp spins. I could feel my legs shaking beneath me and my head felt so light.

I didn't know what was in what I just took, but I knew it was nothing good.

“Are you okay?”

Their voices were swirling around me like crashing waves and I could barely feel my feet in my shoes.

I stood frozen for a minute, letting my blank mind switch back on.

“Why is it so intoxicating?” I whispered.

“Because it's mixed!” Cathy laughed sinisterly and my heart stopped.

“Wait! What? You fucking mixed it?” I heard Ophelia snap with so much despair in her voice. I sighed and brushed my hair back, feeling drops of sweat roll down my back while they argued with none giving a fuvk about me.

“I'm going to the restroom,” I whispered and turned around, staggering towards the door that I assumed was the way to the restroom.

Anger was slowly rising up in me but there was nothing I could do. I had to get rid of the suffocating and nauseous feeling hitting me hard.

As I reached out to grab the knob, my head swerved to the side and I saw him. Ralph.

He was sitting alone as always, staring at nothing.

I should have turned and entered the corridor like I wanted but I didn't. Instead I turned and headed in his direction. I didn't think it was my doing. The alcohol or whatever I drank was definitely controlling my mind.

“Hey!” I snapped when I got to where he sat.

He stiffened and slowly craned his neck back.

His brows furrowed as he stared at me with confusion. His eyes softened and his lips twitched up when he recognized me.

“You?” He scoffed loudly and looked away.

I shuffled closer and dropped down beside me.

“What are you doing here alone?” I asked.

I didn't know how I had the courage to talk to him. To my bully and my nightmare!

I didn't know why, but I felt good and I felt like I belonged. Like I was above everyone.

“What are you doing beside me?” He asked. I could hear the surprise in his voice as he spoke.

My head tilted and I smiled.

“What? Are you surprised another pitiable fellow is close to you?” I chuckled. His jaw dropped and the color drained from his face.

“Pitiable!” He scoffed in disbelief. He paused and narrowed his eyes over me.

“Are you drunk?” He questioned.

“No,” I shook my head, “I'm sober.”

He scoffed again, his lips stretching into a smile.

I craned my head to the side and felt my belly clench as I watched everyone have fun and laugh with their friends.

My belly clenched even harder when my eyes fell on Reynold Davidson. He was playing a drinking game with his friends and Charlotte like the fucking leech she was glued to his body.

“You can join them, you know,” Ralph muttered and I narrowed my eyes.

“I don't want to!” I snapped.

He laughed and gulped down a glass of vodka then leaned back.

I turned and felt my breath stop when my eyes locked with Reynold's. He had seen me.

I quickly looked away, cursing under my breath.

Ralph was staring at me silently as he drank from the bottle of whiskey in his hand.

I gulped hard and looked back at Reynold. He seemed to be leaving the game and heading in my direction.

I turned back, my heart racing. I didn't want him speaking to me again. I needed to get him away from him so I can feel peace once again.

“Hey Ralph!” I called and he straightened up, looking at me.

I swore at myself, leaned in and slammed my lips on his.