I looked at my reflection in the mirror and tried to fix my curly hair. They fell till my shoulders as an untamable mess, and after countless minutes of trying to style them in a bun that I searched on internet, I gave up and let them fall back. They were sometimes too wild for my taste.
I was getting ready for the party at Gordon's house. I had texted Jason my address and he was going to be here in exactly 10 minutes.
I was little apprehensive of letting Jason Matthews see my house and neighborhood. He was a rich guy, or more like his parents were, and mine wasn't. I was afraid my lower-middle class living conditions weren't going to leave very good impression and he might regret inviting me with him to the party.
To be real, I didn't care what Jason thought about my family's economic status before, but now the idea of being rejected because of it gave me one big inferiority complex.
As I grew I learned not to compare myself with others when it came to money and other materialistic things. It was an agonizing practice that left you not appreciating what you already had. However, now attending school which was swarmed by elite class, I couldn't help but feel little small, or at least not as valuable asset to society as them.
More so, I wasn't either some beautiful goddess who could compensate for my lack of wealth fortune with my looks. I was a chubby brown girl, who boys glossed over for prettier and skinnier girls. And there was no shortage of prettier and skinnier girls in Maple Ridge High.
I was still trying to wrap my head around why Jason Matthews asked me out in first place.
And even more shocking than that, why Noah fricking Sylvan had asked me on a date too?!
As if his one thought was enough, I couldn't stop myself from falling into the trap of obsessively thinking about him. His green eyes which pierced me to my soul with one glance flashed before me. His assholish attitude, cocky smirk... and the smoldering gaze running through me when he announced I was his, were all imprinted in my mind.
I was half tempted to believe that the conversation between us today was my imagination. But the fact that I was standing in front of my mirror, all prepped up to my best of abilities to attend his friend's party for the sole purpose of getting back at him for... uhm, being a jerk, reminded me our interaction indeed happened.
"Giselle! That boy is here!" My mom's loud voice broke into my thoughts.
I gave myself a quick once-over and immediately sped to downstairs. I didn't want my mother to latch onto Jason and scare the poor guy away. It had already taken a lot of convincing for her to allow me to go with him.
She didn't want any rich spoiled boy to take advantage of me. In her words.
I found Jason standing at the door and smiling nervously as my mother assaulted him with questions. He was in dark jeans and denim jacket with plain white t-shirt underneath. The outfit looked simple enough, but also branded and expensive. It was quite a funny sight seeing a woman in night gown grilling a well-dressed young boy. Though a little embarrassing for me too.
"What time are you going to bring her back? It shouldn't be later than-"
"Hey," I said, cutting off Mom and standing next to Jason. "Don't worry, I'll be home on time," I told my Mom and turned to Jason. "Let's go."
Jason blinked and it took a second late for him to respond. He nodded. "I'll take care of her Mrs. Martin," he reassured my mother and we walked out of front door.
"You better." Her voice was followed by shutting of the door.
"I'm sorry. My mom can be very protective of me sometimes," I said as we walked to his grey Mercedes-Benz CLS parked in front of our house.
"Don't sweat over it," Jason replied immediately, "I actually found her quite endearing. My mum fusses over me too."
I smiled. He was sweet.
Ever since I agreed to join Jason, I was kind of feeling guilty. I didn't like him that way, and now by going with him to Gordon's party made me feel I was leading him on. I said yes to him because I wanted to spite Noah, the boy who I actually was obsessed with.
After tonight I had to clear the air with Jason and not string him along, granted if this jock was really into me.
Or more sensibly, I could just stop pining after Noah and give Jason a chance. He was way more decent than that Prince Jerk.
Ugh... I am a mess.
We sat inside Jason's car and hit the road. We made small talks about school and football as we covered the distance. I was a social recluse and didn't know how to break the ice, but Jason did and soon we found ourselves bitching about teachers in school. Jason was easy to be around with, unlike someone else.
"You look really beautiful tonight," he said suddenly, "I mean it's not like you don't look beautiful other days. You look beautiful every time. It's just tonight you're shining-"
"Thanks." I stopped his rambling and grinned. He was such an adorable klutz. "You don't have to explain. Tonight I put extra effort, so I expect to look better than other days."
I had spent quite a time picking out outfit for the occasion and settled on long-sleeved woolen plaid dress that Mom got for me last year. I really liked it. The dress was figure hugging till my bust and turned into flowy skirt reaching just above my knees. I had paired it with black stockings and low-heels. I also did a little make-up.
"You look very handsome too," I told Jason. He did.
"Thanks," he spluttered and a faint blush coated his cheek. Cute.
My heart once again clenched with guilt for using him. He was sweet, caring and very open with me. It'd be so easy to like him if I wasn't fixated on Noah. He deserved better company than me tonight.
Soon we were pulling into the driveway of a lit-up mansion. Gordon's home was big and extravagant as expected. We got out of car and the loud music from the inside blared. It was little later than eight and party was already in full swing.
My nerves were little jittery for it was my first time attending such a high-end party.
As we ascended the steps leading to large open door, I found my hand taken by Jason's big one. I would've pulled away but when he flashed me his wide grin, I didn't have the heart to. The guy just wanted to comfort me.
"Don't want you getting lost," he commented, making me chuckle.
The smell of alcohol saturated the air as we stepped inside. Drunk teenagers were all over the large living room dancing, talking and laughing. It seemed rich kids didn't have to worry about getting caught with liquor.
My eyes took in the lavish surrounding with modern furniture, contemporary paintings, grand staircase leading to upstairs, and glass wall giving the view of outdoor swimming pool. Jason guided me through the makeshift dance floor to another room.
"My friends are usually at the game room," he told me.
The moment I walked into the game room I felt my whole body heat up and prick with the awareness of a gaze. The smoldering gaze that now I had started getting familiar with. As I moved, my eyes skimmed through the dimly-lit place until they clashed with the striking emerald greens.
Noah was standing beside a pool table, a glass in his hand filled with golden liquid. With grey cardigan sweater clinging to his broad shoulders and lean torso, and dark jeans, he looked heavenly - like always. Elijah and Gordon were in the middle of heavy make-out session next to him, but he was totally unfazed. His eyes were on me, leaving me breathless with the way they were taking me in.
When his gaze narrowed on my hand held by Jason, a menacing darkness took over his features. It almost made me pull my hand away. His fiery look might as well have burned me. He absolutely didn't like I was here with Jason.
"She's the girl you were talking about?" a feminine voice made me tear my eyes away from Noah. I realized we had stopped and surrounded by new company. We were standing next to a ping-pong table.
There were two guys and two girls, of whom I only recognized Abigail, the head cheerleader and also one of Noah's ex. She was in red spaghetti dress, flaunting her toned and tall figure perfectly.
"She's Giselle," Jason said and then introduced me to his friends. The guys, Jamal and Matt, were in football team with him, and the other girl's name was Evie. I learned she was in our school's volleyball team.
"So Giselle, I'm guessing this must be your first time coming to Gordon's party," Abigail said and I nodded. Jason had gone with Matt and Evie to get us all drinks, leaving me with her and Jamal. It was hard to pay attention to their chit-chat when I felt my every little move being watched. "Of course, if not for Jason you'd probably never even come here."
Jamal snickered with Abigail.
I found my tongue froze. This was what I feared, being ridiculed for not coming from money and power, or my appearance.
"You can take some snacks for your family too," Jamal added, "though it's difficult to say if you can keep yourself from eating all of them."
"I'm sure Gordon has enough to satiate her."
I didn't know how to defend myself. They looked too perfect and very sure of themselves to be made fun of. I was the poor and fat one. All I could do was get away.
Before I could step away from them Jason, Evie and Matt arrived with drinks in their hands.
"Here, this is for you." Jason handed me a plastic cup. It had a fruit punch. "I didn't know if you'd like alcohol," he explained. "Still I can get some beer for you if you want."
How can such a considerate guy be friends with these people?
I shook my head.
"Try a diet coke next time," Jamal chimed in, "she might not want it, but she needs it." He guffawed like hyena. Matt and Abigail joined him. I felt humiliated.
I knew I should be the one fighting for myself, still it wasn't wrong to expect from Jason to stand up for me. They were his friends. But he didn't. I saw him frowning, yet not retaliating.
I found Abigail, who was as tall as Jason, glaring him down, daring him to say something. I now realized that the other four around me were also following her lead all this time. She called the shots here, and Jason too was under her thumb. I knew for sure she wasn't the richest among them, but somehow she still held the power.
"Diet coke can help only so much." Abigail's eyes moved to me and she smirked. "Looking at her, she needs to cut down on water too." That hurt.
Long fingers draped around my arm, pulling me away from them. Sparks flew through my whole body at simple touch. I knew without looking who it was.
"Or maybe you should cut down on that unneeded bitchiness," Noah said to Abigail, his furious glare making her take an unconscious step back. "Daddy's money can only help so much covering up that shitty attitude." Without sparing them another glance, he started dragging me away.
"Where are you taking-"
"Stay away from her!" He growled, cutting off scared and confused Jason. "You don't deserve her."
My legs moved automatically as Noah led us out of the game room. His back was stiff and grip on my arm tight, though not tight enough to hurt me. He was very angry. Either angry for me or angry at me, or both.
"What just happened?" I muttered.
"What happened is I'm done playing petty human games."
******
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You can read two chapters ahead on inkitt. Link is in bio.