I stand in front of the mirror and smooth down the imaginary wrinkles on my Blush-pink, pearl studded farewell gown. My mother stands behind me, curling my hair and catching my eyes in the mirror, hers overflowing with pride.

You'd think I was bursting with happiness, but this is the last time I am at home before I leave for a year, and after that who knows?! Right about now, every speck of dust in this house is making me nostalgic and I hate that vulnerability. I catch my mother's eyes in the mirror again, and I know she is feeling the same way, but we don't really say anything. Because hello? don't you remember where I live?!

I turn towards the window to let my mother fasten her necklace around my neck, and as I do so my eyes fall on Kalani's window down the street. As I see her silhouette floating by with a pair of stilettos in one hand, my mind starts racing back to the conversation we had behind the bus stop, and the plan we had made.

My nervousness makes my fingers go up and try to curl my hair - it's an old habit - but I snap out of my thoughts when my mother's delicate hand grasps mine. Jasmine - that's my mother's name and as far as personality is concerned, it is widely accurate.

Though we are extremely close, the only time we have had a really extensive conversation that consisted of unbottling our feelings was when one of my classmates almost got kidnapped. Like I said earlier- intellectual Minds cook up some of the most riveting crimes.

Even though I've had a lot more conversations with my mum than my dad, I know nothing about her life before I was born.
And my dad- he stands nervously in the doorway because hey- dads are awkward as it is and on top of that mine's an introvert. I put on my heels and loop my arm through his, and mom loops hers through mine, and we descend the staircase together.

As we stand outside our house waiting for dad to start up the car, my ears pick up the tune of the most obnoxious party song of the year, and my eyes fall on another house - Jay's house.

His house.

7 years ago one night we confessed a secret each - something we promised to carry unspoken to the vast unknown - and then as childhood slowly faded away, so did our friendship. But secrets remain rooted even after relationships and people die, and ours still live in the pit of my stomach.

I start to turn away from house window but before I do, Jay spots me and waves, and as I wave back, I catch a worried glint in his eye - so he has been thinking about our secrets too...

________________
At the farewell

"Ohh my god! Did she rent a limo for this night?? Oh my God I want one too!" Kalani patters away as I fill my glass with the strawberry fruit punch. Just as I lift my glass to my lips Kalani catches hold of my hand.

My eyes follow hers down to the floor of the hall and suddenly I realise that almost every drink that has been spilt accidentally today has been the fruit punch. As our eyes lock, I realise we're both thinking the same thing.

Remembering the plan we had made earlier, I take out the strip of red Litmus Paper from my purse and as Kalani shields me from the view of people I discreetly dip it into the punch.
.

And even though berries are meant to be acidic, the red Litmus turns blue, its alkaline nature betraying the fact that the fruit punch has been adulterated with the truth serum - Sodium Pentothal. As I add my glass to the "accidentally" spilled drinks on the floor, every eye I meet seems to be thinking the same thing - the Initiation has begun.

Well what a crazy ride! I hope you all are enjoying the story. New chapters will be released every day so please make sure you follow this story if you are liking it and don't forget to vote for it!!