Heather:

My life changed the day I went to my first party. It was a cool night when I awoke. The wind howled loudly, the trees swayed, pounding, the windows in a loud clatter. Thick branches slammed repeatedly against the window then it stopped abruptly . There was loud screeching, scratching, and knocking. My eyes snapped open as I buried myself in the blanket, I gritted my teeth as I prayed the sound would go away.

It is a storm. It will pass.

The knocking became faster and more urgent as I uncovered myself slowly and searched with my fingers on the nightstand for my glasses. I pushed my glasses on my nose, and blinked. I staggered off and gaped. A silhouette of a tall, lean girl stood gaping at me as my heart hammered in my chest. My eyes snapped to the only source of light, the LED lights of my digital alarm.

1:00 am.

I sighed, placed my palm on my chest as I realised who it was when I swung my legs on the side of my bed. I slipped on my black slippers, padded towards the window and opened it as my roommate, Sadie, jumped in. I finally know how effed up her sleep schedule was.

I noticed an odd pattern, sometimes I couldn't find her. She woke up completely exhausted or irritated. She was never in our dorms or the others, common room, study hall or the cafeteria.

I had questions, lots of them but no answers. What about the security guards, the electrified chain-link fence and CCTV cameras didn't spot anything? I'm not trying to be a wet blanket, but damn. How did she climb the walls to the third floor? Yeah, security my ass.

I ain't no snitch but hell, it was getting repetitive. When the Housemistress came over for our curfew,they came into the room and asked questions and I made excuses then they retreated. I was lucky not to be crammed in a small dorm with four other girls but I was reconsidering. She was breathing hard, ran her hands on her smudged face then collapsed on the wooden floor as she removed her black blocked heels.

Sadie looked like shit. Mascara ran from her ice-blue eyes down her freckled cheeks and lipstick was smeared across her chin.Her light blonde hair was tousled like she ran her fingers through it too many times and there were bags under her eyes.She yawned as she plopped on her bed without removing her tight black dress or fishnet stockings. I knew one thing: she had been partying. Judging by her clothes it was either a Frat party.

I crossed my arms, breathed in heavily and tapped my foot on the carpet, "Where the hell had you been?" I demanded.

Her blue eyes widened then a smirk grew on her face. I stared at Sadie then the alarm clock.

"You didn't even see me leave,hah. You were so immersed in your books and studies that you didn't question anything," she said, a smile on her face. I clenched and unclenched my fist. She looked at my pyjamas and bit her lip to prevent herself from laughing. She rolled her eyes and muttered,' gross fashion sense'. I wiggled my fingers and counted to ten.

"So?"I said.

I saw nothing bad about my pjamas.It was just a top with smiling emojis scattered all over it. I fixed the red lens of my glasses as she started to undress; she washed her face from the bathroom,padded in then slipped into an oversized black T-shirt. "You're such a wet blanket, a neat freak and a bore. Like who studies on a weekend. I could go on if I wasn't tired." She finished, her smile getting wider.

I face-palmed."Yeah,I'm an introvert and you're a party animal."I retorted. Sleep slipped away from me and anger swelled up in my chest.

She looked offended and crossed her arms and gestured to my desk with her head. Everything was organised and neat.My stationeries were colour-coordinated and my books and textbooks were stacked and labelled. I had my to-do list pasted on the beige wall and my laptop charging but on Sadie's side was a mess. Books spread haphazardly, a famous boy band and posters on her wall and a collage of her friends and dresses. Makeup and pens spilled up from her drawers.

"Your point is."

She sighed and spoke slowly and looked at me like a stubborn child. "My point is that you need to live a little. Have fun, feel free and don't dictate yourself, "she sat on her bed and crossed her legs. "I'm going to a party this weekend and I was thinking you should join me."

I groaned loudly, blinked at her and plopped on my bed. "Um, no. Everyone knows that crazy and illegal shit happens at parties. Horny drunk teens crammed in a hot room. Oh, hell Nah." I screamed then she placed a finger on my lips.

Then she flipped open one of my fav romance novels, flashed the half-naked dude on the cover at me, and smiled.

"Oh,Hot." She smirked and licked her chapped lips.

"No,"I shouted,arms outstretched.

The week blurred lazily, before I knew it, it was Saturday. The day I dreaded after Sadie blackmailed me and I stupidly said yes.No one ,I mean no one, has to know how I entertain myself.I did my calculus homework as Sadie glared at me the entire time and we decided to nap so we could be active. I'm not a night owl.

I decided to dress casual but Sadie looked at my outfit with disapproval. A purple tank top ,denim jacket, skinny jeans and a pair of Jordans.

"What the hell is this?" Sadie demanded, as she gestured to my dress with disgust.

I shrugged,"Um, my outfit."

"Nope."

She went through my small wardrobe, went through my clothes on the racks, and unfolded them. My hard work went down the drain. She smiled as she picked up a long-sleeved dirty-green top that showed my chest, tight black jeans and dark–brown ankle boots but I honestly wanted vans or converse. I sat on my vanity table and applied light makeup because Sadie forced me when I slipped on my glasses and she lectured me about how ugly I'll look. I groaned and wore my contacts, I frowned. This wasn't me .She said my afro made me look weird but I yelled at her and told her I'll embrace it.

Sadie dressed as if she was going to a club not a party. She curled her hair, wore a high-neck baby-blue tank with tight leather pants and gladiator sandals. "O.M.G," She gasped and fanned herself, "I knew I could make you look better."

"Well, I'm gonna change." I said, whirled, then she grabbed my wrist and dragged me.

"Nope, we're already wasting time,let's go."she screeched as I winced in pain.

I huffed, crossed my arms and I towered over Sadie.

It was nine in the night when we slipped off and mind you people were still awake and were very busy so we sneaked to the parking lot. In a red sports car, were college students smoking and drinking as I gasped. They wore skimpier clothes than Sadie.

It is kind of funny than when we moved. My dad announced as we were watching the season finale of our favourite telenovela and my mom was pissed that my father didn't speak to her beforehand. In less than a week, we moved to Maine, Bar Harbor then to a fancy private school and now and in less than a week. I went to a party.

"With college kids? "I gasped, taken back. She shushed me ,glared at me then tried to reassure her older friends who seemed annoyed and pissed .I jerked my head to the arched entrance and the double doors of the school.

"Are you coming or going? "She sneered, rolling her eyes. I huffed as the door creaked.

"Fine."I spat.

***

We got out of the car as Sadie slammed the door shut. A cliff towers above as the sea curves and a veil of thick green forest. Below us were boulders and rocks then to the left was a beach.the wind cut through my back like knives but due to Sadie's leather jacket I doubt she felt it. I sighed as we hiked up.

My heartbeat beats faster in my ribs. My eyes darted around and to the moon as we got deeper into the woods and her friends were laughing. I isolated myself from the group and shoved my hands into my pockets. The air was salty and cool. We slowly approached a giant loft nestled between thick pine trees.People were dancing, laughing and chatting with one another. I shuddered .People and friends. A bald security man stood in front, his chubby face devoid of emotion and crossed his massive arms as he looked at people's invitations and Sadie smiled and looked at me with wide eyes. She flashed her invite and showed her group as the man's blackened lens of his glasses trail me .I gulp.

The door slams shut, as I'm overwhelmed with the claustrophobic room filled with people. Girls dancing solo or with their friends, taking photos or sitting on the couch as people stare at their phones. Some teenage boys ran up the wooden stairs spraying slime on each other. I smiled,pursed lips and dimples as I weaved through the crowd. The lights flashed and electronic music pounded from the speakers. My ear twitches and rings, my eyes blinking rapidly as tears squeeze from my eyes as I'm blinded, everything blurs. I duck and sit on the table. The light flickered off as I looked for water to nourish me.

I was standing in a small living room. The couches, tables and chairs pushed back for space but doors locked. The room was hot, sticky and dark. I narrowed my eyes and tried to cover my ears from the thumping, loud music, which blared from the speakers. The hallway was packed with sweating and burning bodies effortlessly grinding on each other, as I tried not to puke. In my hand, was a cold cup of water and hopefully not spiked? My curls grew thicker as I tried to look for my roommate. People chat with each other at the sidelines and people make-out like hookworms. I walked further as the red LED light flickers, blinding me for a hot minute. Some frat boys were sitting on a couch while playing FIFA while they screamed and chugged alcohol. I squeeze my eyes shut and try to shove out the piercing music and sharp lights. I stumbled, swayed as I blinked multiple times and my head throbs. People blur and shove me away.

Where's your glasses, bitch.

Heather, you are way better than this.

My cup fell and spilled its contents as I walked briskly. Black chicks bust down and twerk hard as their friends hype them up to the music from Cardi B and dressed in thin and barely dressed clothes that will make my mom scream in horror. A group of boys dressed shabbily smoke from cigarettes and hid in the dark corners. I slapped my chest, burst into a coughing fit as it burned my nostrils. I needed air, I needed space, and I needed to be alone .The air felt oppressive and suffocating and I felt restricted.

Trash, beer bottles and wrappers are laying on the wooden floor and groups of college students play beer pong, a drinking competition, and bet or play cards and on the kitchen island there were a few weird people with sunken faces snorting on drugs and they looked high. A girl with short dress for this cold night was sweating and dancing and smoking weed.

People were in clusters sitting with their friends laughing or jumping in the pool, just plain bored or out of place like me. There was a long table with snacks: Nachos, spiked punch, popcorn and chocolate chip muffins. A wild blond boy stumbles around; slurs his words and hunches over, and pukes on the grass as students take photos, scrunch in disgust or look discreetly away as I bolted past the wooden patio.

Sweat beaded on my forehead, everything tilted and I stumbled to catch my breath. Cold air hit me, sliced daggers on my skin; the moon seemed bigger and brighter over the horizon of black lake and the vast expanse of emerald-green pine trees that seemed to curve. I stared into the sky as everything blured as I bolted into the woods and the cabin vanished. I ran, I ran not caring where I ended up. I need to escape and slowly I approach the coast. I ran but how far.

I plopped on the end of a jetty lined with tiki torches. I wiped my eyes and sweat as I breathed slowly in the air and admired the scenery as my heart calmed and I regained my sight as my lips curled. I shiver slightly and curse my thin clothing. My phone dings; I scoop it out and gape.the moon glistens on the water.

Ten o'clock.

Oh, shit.

My curfew had passed.

My reflection stares back at me. I honestly look like shit. My coffee-brown eyes are puffy from crying and from the sharp light. My brown skin is covered with a layer of cold sweat and my flimsy clothes don't keep me warm and I start to itch. I toss my shoes, groan in pain then dip my toes into the icy water and wrap myself tight. My black curls shook from the air. Further, in the horizon boats and ships zip by. I looked around and noticed the estuary, gravels from the thin shoreline. I look away discreetly.

Loud footsteps echo as a looming figure approaches and long shadows on me. Someone plops down next to me and stares into the water. I look over my shoulder and see a boy at least eighteen years old.

"Hi," He whispers and waves.

"Hi,"I responded louder, and avoided him. "What are you doing here?"

He looks surprised, lifts his brown brows and smiles, a cute shy one with dimples. He stared at the water when I caught his reflection. He loomed over me. He had brown eyes, tousled brown hair, and beautiful ivory skin.

I diverted my gaze to him.

"I'm admiring the beautiful scenery. The lake and the environment. "He gasped, breathed in while fixing his denim jacket over his white hoodie as he gestured animatedly. I giggled, and then clamped my mouth shut as he grinned and laughed.

What did I do?

He brought out his hands to me as I looked at him up and down. He looked confident and positive looking. I pursed my lips and kicked my feet in the water. He sighed.

"I'm Zack by the way."He mumbled.

"Heather."

"Let's cut to the chase,"I stated, unbothered by the strange boy, he hunched and rubbed his chin. He looked at me through his shades when his eyes flash icy-blue for a brief second .I stagger backwards and blink multiple times, as he crawled closer with concern on his face. He looked handsome and tall but odd.

"You okay? "He asks .I shook my head, hunched over and stared into the water as it ebbed and flowed. The skinny-dipping couple start making out heavily on the shore. Heat creeps on his pale cheeks as he clears his throat as we look at each other and laugh. Then we sat in a long and comfortable slice after a fit of laughter.

"Isn't the ocean beautiful?"He commented as he stared at the water.I stared at me and grinned.

"Yeah,it is."I beamed.

"I honestly love the ocean.Its teeming with life and It's beautiful.I really wish we could save it but it is the way we help to save but we are polluting the environment."He ranted.

"Wait,you love the ocean?"I asked.

"Yeah,I love fishes and I used to sneak out to look at tide pools.Man,I wished I lived by the ocean.I saw the pictures of the Great Barrier Reef and those stingrays.I somehow wished I was a merman or a nymph."He mused.

I giggled,"I know it's quite funny but I want to be a marine biologist."

"Really,"He gasped,eyes glinted with pride,"That's so cool."

"Yeah,"I whispered.

"I'm going to college but I can't.My dad has a plan for me so I can't go."He muttered,frowning.

I listened attentively as time flew by .I had a roommate. I am fifteen and a sophomore in high school. I told him I wanted to be a marine biologist and the realisation of happiness morphed to shock and regret. He was cute and interesting.

"I-I'm s-so sorry. I didn't know." He stammered, I gripped his wrist as he recoiled. Damn, he had big hands. Stop,thinking dirty thoughts.Sheesh,you just met him. My eyes widened then I sprang up to my feet as he awkwardly staggered to me and looked around like a lost puppy.

I looked at him and tried to calm him down. He shook and heaved."Shesh, it's okay. Don't panic .No, don't apologise you didn't know. "I said as he calmed down, shifted his feet and looked at his sneakers and the wooden floors.

I face palmed and walked around. "I'm dead.My parents are going to whoop my ass." I mumbled. He snapped his head, eyebrows raised.

"That's abusive. "He whispered, lips parted.

I laughed bitterly and tapped his shoulder, as he looked at me unamused. I held my stomach and whipped a tear of joy. "Hah, is not. You have never seen Hell when a Nigerian mother rants and insults at you. He paused, raising his eyebrows and looked at his fingers.

My mom will kill me for partying, talking with a stranger and wasting money or she will yell at me or whoop me. I sighed as a wave of homesickness washes over me.

He was in front of me, as his blue eyes seemed paler and piercing. I froze and stared at him as my heart skipped a beat. His fingers trail my eyes as he recoils then steps backwards." Oh, this. My eyes are puffy from the light. I'm sensitive to bright light and loud music. "I stared. "So why exactly are you here? Pretty boy. Do you want to hook up, make out or exchange numbers or some shit." I ranted. He looked taken back, grinned then laughed, short and pleasant to my ears.

"Pretty Boy? "He laughed harder.

"Yeah, you're pretty good-looking for a guy." I tilted my head, shrugged and stretched my tense muscles like a cat, hearing those sweet pops and snaps, then jerked my head to Pretty Boy.

"Maybe I followed you to flirt with you." He said. I sniffed.

"Really, "I paused, crossed my arms and looked at the cliff then him, "You walked miles just to me why? "My curiosity was quipped.

He groaned," fine. I followed you just because I saw you stumbling and running so I followed you to check if you're alright." When he finished , he frowned.

My eyes widened. "Dude,we're at a party,I could've been drunk or high for all you know."I shouted.

It turns out his best friend pressured him into coming here just like my roommate blackmailed me with my erotic books. He hates parties just like me, Jason is a player and Sadie is just Sadie. We traded our digits with each other when things went downhill fast. His eyes flashed, those eerie blue eyes that seemed to grow and voice rose, deeper shriller, then he gripped my wrist tightly and screamed in my ear loud. "Be careful who you trust in life. They might ruin you. Your life's on the line. Be careful." He wrestled me and hissed. I ran and bolted away as I tried to erase the horror as I tried to figure my way out. I heaved heavily.