Nessa tugs her skirt down as she and Mads walk up Bryce Halls driveway. When she mentioned that they were going to a party- Nessa never in any amount of years would have guessed for it to be one that the school douche bag was hosting. Only the most popular of kids get invited to his soirées and the last time she checked, Nessa wasn't anywhere near that level of teenage authority. She wasn't at the very bottom of the high school food chain either but at the top or anywhere near there? Absolutely not.
"So how exactly did you manage to get an invite to Bryce Hall's party again?" She asks, trying not to trip over herself as she joins her friend on the porch stairs.
Like the majority of people at school, Bryce Hall has a large expensive home. The full town actually has large expensive homes - some more expensive than others. For starters, you have the "comfortable but not comfortable" people which is where Mad's fits into. Then there's the "rich" category where Nessa belongs. And then at the top you have "filthy rich with wealth". That's where Bryce and the rest of the popular people reign. And then at the absolute top? You have the holy grail of rich. I'm talking, Bill Gate's rich and there's only three families in town that have that sort of level of richness.
"Okay so well... remember I had detention before the summer break? And I told you that Jaden was there? Well-"
"Wait! Emo Jaden? Pop Jaden?" Nessa questions. The popular kids at their school are referred to as the 'pops' which in all seriousness is rather basic average name for them but it works so they go with it anyway.
Mads sighs. "Yes, pop Jaden. Anyways we got to talking- I know I couldn't believe it either- and we've been hanging out this summer when you and I haven't been and he asked me to come tonight and I obviously couldn't come without you so here we are!" Mads grins, her hands making a "ta dah" gesture.
The front door opens before Nessa can make any sort of comment. She shifts her weight awkwardly when her eyes meet the gaze of Bryce Hall. He smiles lopsidedly clearly he's drunk already or just really dopey.
"Yo wassup gurlies how we feeeeling tunight? You wan-wanna cOme in? Join the partayyy? hMm" he slurs, his eyes barley staying open.
Just as Bryce is about to pass out, a boy with shaggy brown hair and a pale complexion comes out from beside him, a concerned look on his face. He looks from between the drunk boy and the two girls in the doorway.
"Hey Griff!" He calls, looking over his shoulder. "Put his ass to bed" he laughs.
Another boy makes his way up the two steps and into the living room, he effortlessly takes a very drunk Bryce and disappears with him.
"Come on in girls" the boy speaks, opening the door wider for Mads and Nessa to enter.
Thanking him, Nessa soon recognizes him as Anthony Reeves. He may be popular but he's a real sweetheart. He and his girlfriend Avani are couple goals for all the right reasons. Out of all the pops, he's probably the nicest.
Mads and Nessa wonder around the living room, taking in the nice set up. Bryce has very nice furniture and cool tech stuff too. He has a huge aquarium fish tank at the bottom of his staircase. It's filled with all sorts of fish- some rare ones and others not so much.
"Hey I'm going to get a drink, you coming?" Mads asks, taking Nessa's hand. It didn't really matter what her answer was because Mads isn't leaving her best friend alone so she ultimately has no choice.
Nessa knows this and lets herself be dragged away, swerving through groups of people as they make their way into the open planned kitchen area with concrete countertops and chandeliers. It's a really nice home Bryce has. The walls of the kitchen are actually glass windows and they allow people to see outside into the backyard. The pool is crowded and the hot tub too. It's like a scene from a movie only this time- Nessa's playing a part in it.
"Kombucha for me thanks" she smiles, sitting on one of the bar stools.
Mads nods her head at her friends request, she passes her a can of the beverage then concentrates on making her own concoction that she surely will regret in the morning.
A boy dressed in black ripped jeans, and a loose green button up shirt comes into the kitchen. His light brown hair with blonde frosted tips makes him recognizable within seconds upon seeing his pretty face. It's none other than Jaden Hossler.
"There she is" he smiles warmly, opening his arms.
Mads' cheeks flush a rosy red as she puts down her cup of whatever and falls into the boys hold. Nessa watches from her seat as the two greet each other with so little words. She can't help but feel happy for her best friend. Even if he is who he is. Jaden isn't a bad guy, he's just a pop.
They exchange a few actual vocal words and Nessa can tell by the look on Mads' face that she's conflicted about something.
"Hey ness?" The blonde calls, grabbing the brunettes attention.
Nessa would have to be stupid to not know where this conversation was going. She's not upset though, she understands.
"It's okay! Go! I'll be fine" she smiles, taking another drink from the can.
Mads beams happily, running over to pull her best friend into a hug. She whispers words of thanks before scurrying back to Jaden who waves a hand goodbye in Nessa's direction. The two walk out of the kitchen, his arm draped over her shoulders.
Alone and bored, Nessa decides to have a change of scenery. She grabs her drink and makes her way out into the backyard, watching as people dive into the heated pool where couples are getting rather frisky.
The sight is rather amusing to her if she's being honest. It's like watching wild animals socialize. Although you'd never actually see a lion make out with a zebra in the wild nor would a monkey be getting touchy feely with a giraffe. But here? You see it all.
"Bambi?".
Nessa's eyes close shut with force when she hears the nickname she got branded with in the fourth grade after slipping on the ice twice at recess.
She looks behind her and there he stands, the boy who gave her the name. Joshua Richards wears a confused look, obviously not expecting to see thee Nessa Bookworm Barrett at a party for popular kids only.
"Hey it is you!" He chuckles, making his way over to the bench she's currently sitting on. "Didn't expect to see you here" he says truthfully, taking another swig of his drink.
Nessa and Josh don't have the best relationship but they aren't sworn enemies either. She thinks he's a stupid buffoon who's only good at sports and getting lucky and he thinks she's a freaky weird nerd who has OCD.
"Yeah? Me neither" she mutters in response, drinking from her cup. She screws her face up. This is the weirdest tasting kombucha she's ever had.
Josh nods his head, his knee bopping along to the song that's blaring through the loud surround sound speakers. He laughs when Blake Grey tries to do a backflip into the pool but bellyflops instead. It makes Nessa smile too- she won't deny that it was kinda funny.
"So why you sitting here all alone?" The boy quizzes, his eyes meeting with hers.
Her lips press into a thin line.
"I'm not alone, you're here" she responds smugly. Josh only rolls his eyes in response, taking another drink.
"Before I came along and saved you from social suicide I mean" he laughs, not amusing the smaller girl.
Nessa swings her feet back and forth- looking around the backyard. She sees Mads and Jaden sitting around the fire pit with a few other people. Her eyes land on her ex boyfriend Chase who has his tongue down Cynthia Parker's throat. Instantly Nessa can feel the burning rage in the pit of her stomach.
"Josh? Let's go get some drinks".
The already tipsy brown haired boy follows obediently as Nessa drags him by the hand into the kitchen. He says hi to a few passing peers, his clammy hand almost slipping out of Nessa's tight grip.
"What will get me drunk?" She asks, turning to face him with two bottles of alcohol in her hands. White wine and Whiskey.
He scoffs, smirking as he leans forward and reaches for another bottle she didn't pick up. He presents to her the tall bottle of clear liquid that could easily be mistaken for water. Dangerous.
"Vodka" he says, unscrewing the lid.
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AUTHORS
~ n o t e ~
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I hate vodka
don't drink kids 🤮
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