Chapter Eleven

Two years ago

Storm

Zaraella, Saradonyx's cousin, was in my room, preparing me for my first date ever.

"Honey, it doesn't matter if you've never been on a date," she tried to assure me but had failed.

"It does! I feel like an outsider. Like a preschooler," I whined. She fixed my hair and applied a little bit of makeup on my face.

"To Sar it doesn't. He likes you and trust me, when he likes a girl, it means she's the one," she smiled and introduced the outfit she put together for me.

It was a strapless yellow, loose dress with flower pattern and black Converse. I'm not sure what Sar will think about it, considering he comes from a wealthy family, but I like it.

"Thank you so much," I hugged Zara and grabbed the outfit, running to the bathroom to change.

"Girl, you look so fucking perfect!" she squealed when I walked back into the room and took my hands, jumping around.

I couldn't deny the excitement and I screamed too, both of us jumping on my bed.

Good thing that Quentin wasn't home, otherwise he wouldn't let me leave this house, especially with a boy.

It didn't matter to him if it was Summer or if I have the perfect grades, he still controlled my life, and considering he was my guardian, I had to listen to him.

Zara looked at her phone and gave me a quick peck on the cheek. "Okay girly, Law's here to pick me up."

Suddenly, I felt panic and worry. I won't be able to fit in. I've never been on a date, but at a party either.

Saradonyx and his band are playing at this huge gig for some girl's birthday and he said there will be over 200 people.

"Hey, don't worry. It's just a high school party and we'll all be with you," she smiled.

"But I don't know anyone from your school, only you and Saradonyx."

I don't know who I was more afraid of - Saradonyx or the party itself.

"Look, I've gotta go, but if you need anything, just text me," she winked at me and turned on her heel, sprinting out of the door.

My phone beeped, displaying Saradonyx's name.

I'm here.
-Sar

I tugged on my dress and looked at the body-sized mirror in front of me.

I look good, I've got this. It's just a party and it's just a boy.

Saradonyx is just a boy.

Whom I met a couple of days ago.

I took a deep breath and jogged out of my house without further thinking.

He waited for me leaned against his black, open-roofed Mercedes. Black, chunky sunglasses were pinched to his eyes and a leather jacket was thrown over his shoulder. It had two silver guns painted on its' back.

He was so effortless but so hot.

Once he looked up from his phone and noticed me, a smile spread across his face.

"Storm!" I walked to him and was instantly pulled into a cozy hug.

"Hi," I tried to sound enthusiastic, which was difficult considering I was still pressed against his chest.

"It's so good to see you," he opened the car door and closed it after I got inside.

In only seconds, he slid into the driver's seat.

"By the way, you look incredible," he complimented me, briefly glancing in my direction before sticking his eyes to the road. "I love the yellow look."

Ugh, I'm gonna kill Zara! She chose this outfit on purpose.

"You look beautiful too!" I mentally face-palmed myself. "Uh, I mean handsome. Not that you don't look beautiful, but you're a guy and-"

He chuckled, taking off his sunglasses. "Thank you, Storm. Here, can you hold this for me?" he handed them over.

"Uh, yeah. Sure."

His hand flew to the radio, but he stopped before he could turn it on.

"I'm sorry, I have an obsession over music," he chuckled, peeking at me. "Do you have any wishes?" he asked, passing me a bundle of CDs.

Nirvana, Guns n Roses, Red Hot Chili Peppers, AC/DC, Queen, Kiss, Led Zeppelin, Velvet Underground, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles...

I stopped counting and chose Guns n Roses, slightly appalled by his amazing music taste.

"Good choice," he smirked, the left side of his lip turning upward. "Pick a number from one to twenty."

"Seven."

"Hm, interesting. Why seven?" he skipped songs until it came to the number I'd picked.

I shrugged. "It's a Godly number, kinda my lucky number too."

"Can I ask you a question?" he asked after a moment of silence.

I nodded.

"How come your name's Storm?" he cautiously chose his words.

"Uh, well..." I thought of the shortest way to tell the story. "My mum was a composer and while she was pregnant with me, she went through a dark time, so I guess that's why she decided on it."

"Oh, shit, I'm sorry! I had no idea, I'm so sorry," he scrunched his nose and furrowed brows.

"It's okay, I never got to meet her anyway."

I looked out of the window. Weirdly, I've never seen this part of the town and I've lived here my whole life.

"You see that?" he casually rested one of his hands on my thigh, pointing to a gorgeous restaurant with the other. It was accessorized with hundreds of fairy lights and was sitting on a large, magnificent lake.

"It's stunning," I gasped, not able to take my eyes off it.

The sun was setting on the horizon and the sky was painted in pink and purple, giving the restaurant the magic it desired.

"Yeah, and expensive," he gifted me a smirk. "I'm gonna take you there soon."

I felt all the blood in my body rushing to my cheeks and I looked away, not able to keep eye contact anymore.

"Aw, your ears are red!" he chuckled, pinching the left one. "That's so cute."

I cleared my throat, realizing we're almost out of the town.

"Uh, Saradonyx?"

"Please, call me Sar," he insisted, grinning.

"Okay, Sar. Where are we?"

"Ohhh, I forgot to tell you! I like to cool down before gigs so I just drive around and listen to music."

I laughed at his goofiness.

"I think I might die. I finally made you laugh," he pretended to suffocate, grabbing his heart.

"You're such a drama queen," I giggled, my smile slowly fading away as we pulled into a long, sophisticated driveway.

There were already a dozen parked cars, so we were considered incredibly late.

This is a rich person mansion and I'm an outsider, just as I suspected I'd be. I'll never be anything more when I'm hanging out with Sar or Zara.

"This is what I call being fashionably late," he took the sunglasses out of my lap and got out, walking to my side of the car.

He opened my door and offered me a hand. "Thank you."

"Are you ready to rock?" he smirked and lead the way to the massive entrance.

"Wait!" I panicked, grabbing his hand to stop him.

"What's wrong, babe?"

The name he'd just called me took me by surprise, but it rolled off his tongue so casually I had no objection.

"Uh, I've never been to a party before. Or on a date, for that matter," I confessed.

Damn, I'm a bad liar. Why do I have to tell him every embarrassing detail of my life?!

"Wait, you think this is a date?" he smirked and slid a hand through his messy hair.

"I... This was... You-"

"Calm down, I'm kidding!" he laughed, bopping my nose.

"That wasn't funny," I was still trying to shake the anxiety off my shoulders.

He chuckled, taking my hands in his. "Don't worry, I won't let you out of my sight."

I exhaled, looking into his soft eyes. "Okay, we can go now."

"Damn, and here I thought you were a dating expert," he sighed.

I frowned and poked him with my elbow. Although it was obvious he was teasing me, my insecurities were raised to the surface.

What if I'm just a game for him?

He chuckled and threw an arm around my shoulders.

"Anne," he nodded to the girl who let us inside.

She had blonde hair, baby blue eyes, and pink lips, her expensive outfit complimenting the Barbie proportions.

"Sar, you're late," she informed him and eyed me from head to toe.

I tried to keep on a smile.

"We're here now, aren't we?" he passed by her, leading us to the back door and revealing two hundred drunk teenagers dancing in the backyard. "Oh, and happy birthday," he didn't even look at her.

Although I don't understand why would he choose someone like me when he can have someone like Anne, he didn't show any interest in her whatsoever.

That was the only comforting factor about this situation.

"Cat got your tongue, party girl?" Sar whispered in my ear. "Have you ever drunk alcohol?"

"Uh..." I stalled, searching for Zara, or anything to get me out of this, again, embarrassing situation.

"Storm!" he squeaked insulted. "I'm sorry, but we have to change that," he grabbed my hand and fought his way through the crowd.

"Gee, Sar, thanks for helping us set up the stage," a tall, dark-haired boy greeted Sar, leaning against a bar. He was dressed in a dark button-up shirt and black jeans, accessorized with a cigarette hanging from his mouth and a ring piercing in his left nostril.

"Let him go, Drew, you know he had to pick up the girl he won't stop talking about," a platinum-blond guy meddled in, flashing me a welcoming smile.

Unlike Sar and the Drew guy, the blond one had white and light blue clothes, being the polar opposite.

All of them looked like rock stars, though.

Drew finally noticed me, a smirk spreading across his face. There was something dangerous in his eyes that I haven't been able to put a ring on.

"Hello there, I didn't catch your name," he offered to shake my hand. "I'm Drew, singer of the band."

Sar pulled me closer, embracing my shoulders. "Her name is Storm. And she's my date."

Not only that I felt uncomfortable, but I think I also just started a silent war between two best friends.

God, if you exist, please send help.

"Oh, my God! Here you are," Zara appeared from behind Law, carrying two drinks in her hands.

"Where did you disappear?" Law wanted to know.

"I've been looking for you all over the place," she ignored Law and hugged me, handing me a cup. "Sar," she winked at him.

"What's this?" I tried to sniff the liquid, but she stopped me.

"No, this is the night you get to relax. You can drink and sleep at my place," she assured me and downed her cup.

"Zara, if she doesn't want to drink, you-"

I downed the drink she gave me before Sar could finish his sentence. He raised his eyebrows in surprise and I frowned in disgust.

"What did you put in this?" It was so bitter, it felt like my throat was on fire.

On the other hand, I kinda liked it...

"Double tequila. You need to loosen up," she smirked proudly.

"Zara, I don't know..." Sar was worried.

I don't know why he needed to protect me when he offered me the drink first.

"Oh, calm down, Mom!" Drew handed him a cup. "She's old enough to speak for herself."

Zara made me another drink and raised her eyebrows in question. I nodded and downed it again.

Although it was the first time I've ever had a drink, I felt like I could do anything.

"Guys, it's time," Anne informed them, disappearing in the crowd only moments later.

"I'll keep an eye on you, babe," Sar bopped my nose and took off his jacket, handing it to me. "Something to keep you warm."

Just as they were about to leave, I grabbed his hand. He turned around with raised brows.

"C'mon, bro, we've gotta go!"

I kissed his cheek and smiled. "Good luck."

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"She's not allowed to drink with you anymore."

A laugh. "Why not? She's completely fine."

"Zara, she's passed out."

"So? A little hangover won't kill her."

"She's not allowed to drink with you. End of fucking story."

"Oh, Sar. I've never seen this side of you."

"Zara, I mean it. You don't know your limits."

"So, it's serious? You two?"

A chuckle. "Dude, we've only been on one date."

"And nonetheless, you already feel love towards her."

"I like her."

"No, you love her. C'mon, say it with me - love."

"That's none of your business. You don't know shit about love."

"Honey, I'm a love expert! If you two will ever need couples therapy, you'll come to me. I guarantee."

"You're ridiculous."

"Okay, on a more serious note. I've seen the way you look at her. Your eyes look alive, Sar. They finally look alive."

"I can't ruin her."

"She's much stronger than you think she is."

"Do you think she feels the same?"

"Absolutely. You'll just have to take it slow and give her more time."

"I'll wait for as long as she wants. I don't want to lose her."

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