The three walked together through a long, almost unlit hallway towards one of the rooms where music could be heard. When they arrived at the door, a couple of women picked up their cell phones and handed them a glass of champagne. The second of the night for Karen, who was not used to drinking alcohol. Upon passing that first filter, Karen found herself at a party she would never have expected, a place full of beautiful exotic dancers, half-naked men with trays full of snacks, a lot of alcohol and drugs for everyone to see.

Large velvet armchairs that simulated those great chairs of ancient kings were occupied by guests who had almost naked women on their laps.

- This is why they take away our cell phones - Charlie said in Karen's ear, almost shouting to be heard over the loud music - we don't know if everyone here is trustworthy.

Again Charlie's passive aggressive tone made Karen uncomfortable, it seemed like everyone else didn't care whether she was there or not, but for some reason Charlie seemed determined to show Karen her place.

Without a doubt, this party broke with everything she and Corinne had imagined the gatherings of the world's wealthy people would be like. At the scene Karen recognized a couple of celebrities. No one in the place seemed to be amazed by the things that were happening, so Karen tried to relax and let herself go.

- I thought for a few moments that you wouldn't stay - said Pierre as he approached the three - welcome.

- We have to prepare our new acquisition if we want to make this work - Charlie said as he hugged her, making Karen uncomfortable, who discreetly got away.

- Excuse us - Pierre said when he saw Karen's uncomfortable face - it's strange to receive someone from outside, in this place it's always the same old faces.- Where is Cameron? - Charlie asked out loud - I have to tell him that I saw Jamie with Bobby.- Aren't they separating? - Thomas asked in a casual tone, as if it were well-known information - I'm surprised she didn't kick him out sooner, if she knew all the shit he does.

A waiter passed by where Karen was with the boys, offering some kind of drinks in small containers, accompanied by some small pills.

- Are this ...?- Shh - Charlie hurried to silence her by placing his index finger on Karen's mouth - don't say it out loud, just take one and enjoy the moment.

Karen looked at Charlie in surprise, without saying anything.

- Or not - he responded while swallowing one of the pills.- I'll pass - Karen said without taking anything from the tray.- Of course you pass - Charlie said with his sarcastic tone again - it's clear that you don't belong here.

Hearing that, Karen imagined the talks with Corinne, she was not going to allow her fear of experiencing new things to take away the strange opportunity to belong to the world she always imagined. So she took a pill and swallowed it using the container she soon discovered had tequila in it. She notice a small burning sensation was passing through his throat, but she try to hide it.

- Damn, not even I dare to do that - said Thomas as he looked at her with surprise.

Zara separated from the group and walked backstage towards the men's locker room. Along the way she found some familiar faces whom she stopped to greet with the elegance that characterized her.

Cameron was sitting in one of the chairs finishing changing. Zara stopped in the middle of the room, and once the others left the place and she was alone with Cameron she said out loud.

-She's making fun of you - Cameron sighed deeply and turned around. Zara held a flat yellow envelope in her left hand. Cameron had an idea of ​​the contents of that envelope, so he took it and opened it silently - It's one thing if you're with her out of pure convenience, but not even your father's business should be an excuse to put up with her humiliating you like this. I give you 24 hours to finish it or I will put these photographs into circulation myself.- What am I going to tell my father?- You are now an adult, tell him the truth, that you want to be free to date whoever you want.- That's not an option- Or you can give her the "Megan" treatment and have her walk away on her own, perhaps using the new girl to your advantage.- She is not my style- After Ifix her even you will want to have something to do with her, I'm not saying fall in love, just use her to get Jamie away and that's it.

Cameron sighed again as he took Zara's arm. She turned and kissed him on the cheek, the heels she was wearing made her almost as tall as him.

All the boys were gathered in one of the private rooms at the party, Karen decided to sit at one end of the table, the effect of the pill was beginning to make her feel dizzy. The place was filled with smoke created by the combination of cigarettes, cigars and marijuana. The laughter and conversations of others soon became noises that stunned her. The colors intensified and his senses became more acute, but at the same time she felt more clumsy.

The place began to fill with girls in skimpy outfits entering the room with drinks and food for everyone inside. Cameron suddenly joined the meeting holding the imposing Zara with one arm and a huge bottle of champagne with the other. Perhaps it was the effect of the drug but Karen found Cameron especially attractive at that moment, so much so that if it had been possible she would have lunged at him to kiss him.

Amidst the noise, Cameron began to remove the security seals from the bottle, stood on the table where everyone was sitting, knocking over some drinks and saucers and began to shake the bottle up and down until the pressure of the it began to push the cork outwards, soaking everyone.

- Here's to the best fucking year of our lives! - he said while making sure to get everyone wet. As he did so he could see Karen watching carefully - welcome - he said, causing her to laugh flirtatiously.

The lights in the room went out, leaving a couple of colored lights on. The music suddenly became louder and everyone stood up. Some were throwing things everywhere, others were dancing with no apparent rhythm, others were kissing, Karen could swear that some of them were having sex in that place.

- I found Jamie kissing Bobby -  Charlie said, his voice shaking because of what he had been ingesting.- I know - said Cameron, placing his right arm on Charlie's shoulder.- It's fucking Bobby - he repeated as he staggered- Fucking Bobby Druce - said Cameron without taking it so seriously.- I can ask my father's bodyguards to give him the beating of his life.- Let's save that favor for later champion

Karen stood up in the middle of all that mess and walked slowly, trying not to trip, so that no one at the party would notice how bad she was, as if anyone cared. Her body was sweaty, her vision had become blurry, and the colors of things were distorted. She leaned against one of the bathroom walls and sat on the floor, disoriented.

- Have you had enough? - asked Thomas who had also gone out to the bathroom.- It's a lot to take in in one day - Karen said, sighing as she tried to wring out her champagne-soaked clothes.- It's a lot to take in even when you live surrounded by them - he said as he removed a piece of French fries from her wet hair.- I imagined something else, it's not something you would expect to find.- Tea and digestives? - Thomas said in an ironic tone - He wouldn't be in line for the throne if people knew everything he does - he said without thinking - he's a good guy, but he's kinda crazy. How are you going to get back home? - he asked worried.- With Cameron I guess, but I don't want to ruin his night, so I'll order a taxi when I get my phone back.- I can't let you leave in that state alone, I can take you if you want, anyways I was already on my way out.- What if you are a kidnapper? - Karen asked mockingly - based on the type of parties you frequent, you might as well be.- What if you are? After all, it's suspicious that you're here and no one knows anything about you.- It seems like a fair risk for both of us.

Thomas extended his hand to Karen to help her up. She swayed a little, which made her feel a little embarrassed.

- I don't usually drink or do drugs - Karen was quick to justify.- I'm not your father, you don't have to justify yourself to me - he said smiling.- You're a good guy, Cameron was right.- Cameron? What did he tell you about me?- I can't remember, but when I do I'll tell you.

They both walked out the front door, holding arms, and picked up their cell phones on the way out.

- These parties always make me hungry - said Thomas as he opened the passenger door of his Hummer in the parking lot - as if we all eat like those models.

- Now are they "those models"? - Karen said laughing - Less than an hour ago you wanted to marry one of them.- Well Moon is Moon- So you know her?- Of course, she also goes to Millis, she's Andrew's friend. Someday she will realize how magnificent I am and we will get married.- Can I be at your wedding?- You will give the loving speech about how you and I met tonight and I couldn't stop talking about her. How I was madly in love with her.

They drove for a while through the empty streets with music blaring. Suddenly the sound of a horn made Thomas brake hard, generating a smell of burning tires. While singing with Karen, they almost ran the red light and crashed into a car that was passing by.

-I told you you were dangerous -  Karen said while laughing nervously.- It's your fault.- My fault? - Karen asked offended.- Now we will have to stop at Greggs to eat something for the scare- What is Greggs?- Have you never had a delicious half-cold sandwich from Greggs? Now we have to go.- OK

Thomas parked his truck in a forbidden area and the two walked to a Greggs with 24-hour service. Without letting Karen choose what to order, Thomas ordered a bunch of takeout.

- How many families do you plan to feed? - Karen asked sarcastically.- You have to catch up with the best of the menu- I won't eat all that, it's too much- You don't have to finish everything, but you do have to try.

In the truck they began to take out the contents of all the bags and taste the products one by one, rating the flavor and texture, as if they were famous food critics. After a couple of minutes Karen's cheeks hurt from laughing so much.

- I wouldn't want to but I have to take you home, I still have things to put in my suitcases - said Thomas starting the engine.- Sure, I live in View Hills.- Bryan and Cameron live in that area - Thomas noted- Really? -  Karen ask,  pretending not to know. She had forgotten that no one, except Cameron, knew that she lived with Bryan, so she asked Thomas to drop her off a block before arriving at her house.

- My mother is very strict about who I date - Karen lied - maybe she would be upset to know that someone different from the one I dated brought me back.

- And arriving walking, drugged and alone at night, is better than arriving with different person?- Strange things about moms - she responded while giving Thomas a kiss on the cheek to get out of the vehicle - see you tomorrow "handsome", I hope.- See you tomorrow - Thomas said goodbye and drove his vehicle forward a little until he parked around the corner from where he had left her to wait for her to go home. Even though that area was very safe, he did not feel comfortable leaving without knowing that he would reach his destination safely. While he was waiting he noticed Karen enter a house he knew well.

- Son of a bitch - he said out loud when she realized that she was Bryan's new "sister."