"Daisy, there you are!" Malcolm roared.
He immediately ditched the pretty brown girl he'd had his arm wrapped around, and pushed through the throng of dancing bodies to join my side.
After much convincing from my friends, I'd decided to head over to the jock's party that Friday night. I'd just finished a long shift at work, meaning my mind was weary from the endless flow of orders and the clatter of dishes. To put it simply, I was exhausted. Nonetheless, I figured it couldn't hurt to let loose for a little bit. After all, I wasn't going to stay very longâperhaps have a drink, chatter with some friends, dance for a little, and then head on out. What was the harm?
"Yup," I eventually grimaced at Malcolm, although I was afraid he couldn't hear me due to the loud rap music blasting throughout the house. "But I can't stay too long. I just came here straight from work, so I'm pretty worn ouâ"
"What'd you say?" Malcolm yelled before I could even finish my sentence.
Annoyed, I pinched the top of my nose. "I said, I can't stay too long because Iâ"
"I can't hear you," he obnoxiously interrupted, before grabbing my arm. "Come on, let's take shots!"
"What? Malcolm!" I attempted to protest, but it was to no avail.
The blond daredevil dragged me through the sea of teenagers and along over to the kitchen of the house, where thankfully, the music was a little bit quieter.
"Where is everyone?" I asked while Malcolm poured us drinks.
"Last I checked, Chelsea was arguingâor flirtingâwith some nerd on the debate team, and Andre's standing over there in the corner like the tight-ass he is."
I chuckled at the sight of Andre, who was indeed standing in the corner of the room with his arms crossed. With his eyes spectating the crowd of drunk teenagers, he appeared to be almost supervising the party. Suddenly, his brown eyes widened as they caught sight of me. He did a double take to make sure he was seeing things correctly, even going as far as to move his dreads out of his face. His features immediately lit up. Likewise, a grin fell onto my face at the sight of my dear friend, and I waved him over.
"Daisy," Andre cleared his throat, quickly approaching me, "when did you get here?"
"Just now. I'm straight off the clock," I said, tucking my frizzy hair behind my ears and wiping at my sweaty forehead. "Someone could've warned me that this party was going to be massive. I look a mess."
"No, you look perfect," Andre interjected.
"Thanks, Andre, but you're just being a good friend," I laughed. Oddly enough, this caused him to frown.
My eyes wandered over to the other side of the kitchen, where Chelsea was indeed having a heated argument with a fellow member of the debate teamâwhich of course, I was captain of. Malcolm was right... it kind of did seem like they were flirting. Chelsea briefly glanced at me and paused to cast me a happy wave. I returned it with a coy wink, causing her to grin in return. Go Chels.
My smile faded as I realized I'd happened to see all of my friends, except the very one I'd been eager to see the most.
"Anyone seen Elias?" I casually asked, poorly concealing my impatience.
Malcolm hummed thoughtfully. "Now that you mention it, no, I haven't seen him."
My shoulders slumped in disappointment. "Really?"
"Well, yeah, I was a bit busy with my friend, Diya," he boyishly grinned, referencing the girl I'd seen him with at the start of the party. "Y'know, the chick from our English class."
"I'm sure you were," I sighed before facing Andre. "Have you seen Elias?"
To my surprise, Andre scowled at the question. "Not that it's any of your business, but no, I haven't."
With that, he brushed past my shoulder and stalked away. I gaped at his departing figure, before facing Malcolm incredulously.
"What's his deal?" I demanded, feeling appalled by Andre's rudeness.
"No clue," Malcolm averted his eyes from me, before chugging an entire cup of vodka.
"What'd you do that for?"
"I have a feeling I'm gonna need that to get through tonight," he cringed, before pouring some alcohol into another red solo cup. "You want?" he offered.
"No, thanks," I declined after some thought.
"Good idea. I don't need you jumping into any pools this time," Malcolm teased, before downing the drink for himself.
I whacked his side. "Hey!"
He giggled. Meanwhile, I thoughtfully mused, "I think I should go talk to Andre."
Malcolm suddenly choked on his drink. "A-Are you sure you wanna do that?"
"Yeah, why not?" I gave Malcolm a strange look.
He appeared to be at a loss for words, so without further ado, I began to push through the crowd and follow after Andre's departing figure. I distinctly heard Malcolm call my name, telling me to wait up. Regardless, I continued my pursuit after Andre.
After discovering that Andre had lied to me about paying off my bills, I'd been yearning to confront him. Or, scratch that. Perhaps confront was too strong of a word. I guess I just wanted to know where his head was atâto know why exactly he felt the need to impress me, as Elias had so thoughtfully worded it.
"Andre," I sighed in relief as I finally caught up to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Gosh, you walk fast."
Andre turned around, squinting to look at me through the flashing party lights. Alas, his lips upturned into a familiar smile. "No, I don't. You just have short legs."
"Thanks," I sarcastically replied. "Anyways, can we talk for a sec?"
His eyebrows raised, and he shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "Sure."
I shuffled my feet, wondering how exactly I should go about this. Sensing my unease, Andre frowned at me. "Maybe we should go upstairs," he suggested. "It's quieter up there."
"Yeah," I agreed, before beginning to lead the way.
The two of us navigated through the maze of dancing bodies, climbing the stairs until we reached a vacant bedroom. It had the hints of a teenage boy, and I assumed it was the bedroom of the host. I wasn't given much time to dwell on it as Andre closed the door behind us, enveloping us into a cocoon of privacy.
"What is it, Daisy?" Andre asked, his eyes raking over my face in worry.
Unsure of how to start, I hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Remember a few months ago when someone anonymously paid off all my bills? You acted like it was you, but... it wasn't, was it?"
Andre's eyes widened, and he swallowed hard. The weight of his deception must've bore heavily upon him, but now, standing face to face with me, he had no choice but to come clean.
To my surprise, he smiled. It was a bittersweet, sad smile. "It was Elias."
It sounded like less of a question, and more of a statement. Nonetheless, I offered a reluctant nod.
"Of course. Who else is humble enough to do something like that without taking any credit?" he muttered, before shaking his head. "You're right, Daisy. It wasn't me. I lied to you."
My face registered a mixture of surprise and hurt. Of course, I already knew this, but hearing Andre's confession really solidified it.
"You let me believe it was you," I whispered. "Why would you even lie about something like that? I thought we were friends."
"I'm sorry, Daisy, I just wanted to impress you," he said, voice reeking of desperation. "For once, I wanted you to see me differently. To see me the way you see him."
My plump lips parted in confusion. "Who's him?"
"It's obvious, isn't it?" Andre sadly shook his head. "Elias."
I was utterly speechless. "Iâ"
"Don't bother," he feebly raised a hand. "I never stood a chance, did I?"
A somber silence descended upon us, broken only by the distant echoes of the party below. I took a step back.
"A-A chance?" I quietly stammered.
"You're a smart girl, Daisy, don't make me say it," Andre groaned in frustration. "I like you!"
My heart sank. It couldn't be. Andre, one of my bestest friends, liked... me?
"I... I had no idea," my voice cracked.
"Do you know how bad it hurt to watch you two together?" he finally managed to say, his voice strained. "To see you fall for him while I was left behind, invisible."
"You were never invisible to me. You're my friend," I cried out. "Why didn't you ever say anything?"
"How could I?" he yelled exasperatedly. "You two are perfect together, no matter how much it hurts to admit. Elias is my best friend, and after all the shit he's been through, he deserves to have you. I could never ruin that."
Shaken by the unexpected confession, I stumbled backwards. How hadn't I noticed Andre had feelings for me? I felt so guiltyâguilty because I hadn't realized how much he was hurting, and guilty because I knew I would never requite the same feelings. My heart simply belonged to another.
"I'm sorry," I managed to choke out, "I justâI need to go."
"Wait, don't leave!" Andre shouted after me, however I already ran out the door and was now hurrying down the stairs.
"Watch it!" A couple making out on the stairs jeered as I stumbled into them. I didn't even spare them a glance.
The once lively party suddenly felt like a stifling cage. As the noise seemed to intensify around me, my breaths became shallow and rapid. Feeling claustrophobic, I made a beeline for the front door.
Malcolm suddenly dived in front of me, causing me to move backwards in surprise. "There you are! I was looking all over for yâ"
He cut himself off once he noticed the distressed look on my face.
"What happened?" Malcolm questioned, eyebrows knitted together in worry. I could already sense him going into protective mode, which was no surprise to meâMalcolm had always sort of viewed me as a sister.
"Did you know?" I quietly asked.
"Know what?"
"That Andre likes me."
Malcolm sharply inhaled and looked away, which was enough of an answer for me.
"So he finally told you," a deep, silky voice spoke behind me.
My heart immediately began to palpitate and my features softened. I didn't even have to turn around to know that it was Elias. It was almost embarrassing to know the effect his presence had on my body.
"You knew too," I voiced in shock, swiveling around. "did everyone know except me?"
Elias emitted a low chuckle at my naivety, and the sound was music to my ears. He was clad in a black tee which perfectly sculpted his muscular body, and his hair was darker than usual, appearing slightly wet as if he'd only just showered. I wanted to know when he'd gotten here. Why he was so late. If he planned on staying long. Every single detail.
Elias opened his mouth to say something. However, I never quite got to find out what he was going to reply with, because suddenly, the front door to the house was banged open. Many partygoers gasped at the person standing in the doorway, which was revealed to be Heather.
By now, news had spread that Heather had gotten expelled, so it was surprising to see she'd even bothered showing her face at a party filled with Oakland High students. The former cheerleader had never appeared to be in a worse state. She was dressed in a baggy tracksuit, a stark contrast to the usual form-fitting clothing she wore. Her black mascara had left streaks down her cheeks, her hair was placed into an unusually tangled ponytail, and her face bore a murderous scowl.
She appeared to be scouring the party for someone, and when her eyes landed on me, her face lit up in determination. Disbelief filled my body. Was she ever going to stop?
Hushed whispers erupted from surrounding onlookers, and someone lowered the music. I felt unsettled by her appearance. The animosity between us had always been palpable, our rivalry deep-rooted. This night, however, held a new kind of weightâan opportunity for the ultimate act of vengeance.
"C-Congratulations, Daisy," Heather hiccupped as she walked towards me, her body swaying. "You get to live your happily ever after."
"Somebody pregamed a little too hard," Malcolm murmured.
I poorly stifled a giggle at that, and so did a few eavesdropping individuals.
"You think this is funny?" Heather snarled.
Unamused by the whole thing, Elias stepped in front of me before she could get too close.
"If I were you, I'd stop right there, Heather," he coldly spoke, voice lowering to a dangerous octave. "You weren't invited to this party. I made sure of it. So how about you stop making a fool of yourself and leave?"
He bore a scarily blank look, causing it to feel like less of a suggestion, and more of a demand. Heather shivered and timidly backed up, though did not stop.
"N-No, this isn't fair!" she screeched, appearing deranged. By now, she'd garnered the attention of everyone around us. "You stupid boys, can't you see? This bitch has ruined my life, and still, she's got you all wrapped around her innocent fucking finger! Hate to break it to you, but your little angel isn't as perfect as you think. You forget you guys are new to this school. There's a reason everyone used to call her Crazy Daisy. Do you wanna tell them sweetheart, or should I?"
"Stop it!" I distinctly heard Chelsea yell from the crowd, although her effort to defend me was useless, as Heather had an agenda which she was determined to execute.
A cold dread washed over me, sending shivers down my spine. I had always known that my past would come back to haunt me, but I had never imagined it would be laid bare in such a public and cruel manner.
"Daisy Johnson," Heather spat with venom, "is a murderer."
"Oh, please," Malcolm laughed, standing behind me with his arms crossed.
"It's true. She killed her own father," Heather said, a malicious smirk on her face.
"Like anyone's gonna believe that," Malcolm confidently sneered, however he faltered at my lack of response. "She's lying... right, Daisy?"
Malcolm now appeared uncertain. Elias' face was unreadable. Even Andre had come to stand at the top of the staircase, shocked as he watched the scene unveil. The room was silent as everyone awaited my response with baited breath. At last, I managed to choke out the two words which sealed my fate.
"It's true."
The silence was shattered by a chorus of gasps and murmurs rippling through the room. I stood motionless, my secret exposed, my world shattered.
"Thanks a lot, Heather," I whispered, sarcasm evident in my tone. "I hope you're happy."
Her face of triumph slowly transformed into an icy grip of guilt, as she realized the true extent of the damage she had wrought. It was the first time I'd ever detected even a hint of remorse from the girl. However, I didn't care. Frankly, I would be unphased if Heather and I had never crossed paths again. In this moment, I only cared about Elias, Malcolm, and Andre. They were the first true friends I'd ever made, but now, the truth had come to light. I was a horrible person who had betrayed them, and they probably hated me.
Eyes glistening with unshed tears, I turned and fled from the suffocating judgment of the crowd. Chelsea attempted to grab my hand in pity, although I pulled away and bolted.
I didn't have a destination in mind as I ran. My lungs welcomed the cool night air as the gushing wind blew back my curly hair. As I continued my escape, I found myself drawn to a nearby park.
Entering the park, my feet sank into the soft grass, caressing my soles with each step. The air was alive with the sound of crickets and the rustling of leaves, blending harmoniously with the rhythm of my racing heart. Eventually, I sank down onto the grass, my body melding with nature's embrace. Time seemed suspended as I lay there, gazing up at the starry night sky.
Suddenly, I jumped up at the sound of a body lying down next to me.
"Elias," I gasped in shock, for I hadn't even noticed he'd been following after me.
He said nothing in return, merely resting his arm behind his head. I should've known he wasn't going to just leave me alone after what had just gone down. Even though I didn't voice it, I was secretly comforted by his warm presence.
"Why are you here, Ellie?" I weakly questioned anyway. "Can't you see? I'm a monster."
"No, you're not," he said harshly, although his gaze was soft as he reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair away from my face.
I couldn't help but laugh in incredulity. I was convinced Elias was madâeven crazier than I was. How could he possibly learn the truth of what I'd done, and still stand to be near me?
"You're not a monster, Daisy," Elias repeated again, dark eyes boring into mine as he sat up. "I promise you."
"You don't evenâ" hyperventilating, I paused to take a deep breath. "You don't even know why I did it."
"I don't have to," he simply murmured, "I know you had a reason."
I was rendered speechless. He was the first and only person who had ever stopped to even consider that perhaps, there was a justification behind what I'd done, and I wasn't merely acting on a crazy, inhumane impulse.
Elias' thumb traced soothing circles on the backside of my palm as he patiently sat with me in silence. A long time passed before I was able to voice my thoughts.
And then, for the first time in my life, I voluntarily told the story of my father.
*****
QOTD: are your nails painted right now?
AOTD: nope
Hope you guys enjoyed! Lots of drama in this chapter, and only more to come, so stay tuned!
Love, Emmanuela
05/23/2023