The Only Exception

CHAPTER 3

"So, what's the plan for tonight?" she says as we make our way towards our lockers.

"We can get ready in mine and get a taxi from there?" I suggest while opening my locker grabbing my jacket and my books needed for tonight's homework that will most likely not be touched till early tomorrow morning.

"Sounds perfect" she says as we begin to walk out of the school gate. We are finally in our last year of school and I could not be more excited. Since I started, I have been counting down the days till I can leave for Australia, I have dreamed of moving over there for college for as long as I could remember. Coming from a small town in the countryside has made my life full of constant gossiping and missed opportunities, the quicker I get out of this town the better.

After we arrive home and mess around for a few hours, rifling through the depts of my wardrobe trying to find the perfect outfit. I put on the Mamma Mia soundtrack and blast it through the speakers and we both dance and sing along. Something about the upbeat music inspires me to go all-out on my outfit tonight.

Our taxi arrives ten minutes later. We both carefully slide into the back seat, careful not to trip over my own heels. After walking down my brick driveway, I am already starting to regret my choice of footwear. My feet are killing me and the tight hem of the dress making it impossible to get comfortable.

"God, we look amazing," Stella says as she stares at her reflection through her phone camera.

"Damn right we do".

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"Whose house even is this again?" Stella asks trailing behind me. I try to pull her smaller figure through the crowd of intoxicated people who seem overly wasted and making out with strangers.

"Someone Jordan is friends with I don't really know" I call over the loud music which thumps continuously in the most annoying rhythm.

"Lovely" She mutters sarcastically thinking I cannot hear. I pull down the material of the dress she talked me into wearing even lower on my legs feeling overly exposed as we walk past many drunken groups of men.

"Let's grab a drink and mingle," I say as I try to spot Jordan, he had told us to meet him here beforehand, but he is currently nowhere to be seen. We grab bottles from the fridge as we begin to make our way through the crowds of people.

Before I know it, the both of us are caught in the swell of warm, moving bodies in the living room, closing my eyes and letting loose in the music. I smile, taking a sip after a long sip of my never-ending bottle.

The drink feels so good and there is no stopping me. I'm floating away, my anchor getting lighter and lighter in my hand.

Then something pull's me down to earth, talking to me. "Avelyn! Ave, did you take something? Man, the weed here is not weed, we've been over this. It'll fuck you up".

That something is Stella, tugging me out of the crowd and toward here. Her face looks funny and fuzzy all concerned, usually, it is the other way around. Oh, how the tables have turned. "El, I'm fineeeee. Finer than I've ever been before. This shit tastes so good." I hold the bottle, almost spilling it.

Stella snatches my drink, thinking that will make a difference. I try to make a clean escape to the kitchen, but she pulls me from it. "Avelyn you need to slow down holy shit" she says holding me, so I do not try and make a run for it again.

"I'm just going to the bathroom, are you okay to stay there or are you coming?" she says looking into my eyes.

"Are you coming with?" she asks again, more like shouts over the music as she shakes my shoulders getting me to pay attention.