“Are you sure you want to do this?” Edward asked in a low voice as he was driving his father’s black Mercedes.

They were on the road and officially on the way to Jessica’s posh party. Alison felt a little nervous and she frequently looked down at her clothes: light-blue blouse and jeans and wondered if it was too casual. Edward looked well-dressed as always even though he donned a similar attire as her-a new blue shirt with their names printed on it (which Alison had given him in light of their one month anniversary ) and faded jeans.

“Sure, I am,” Alison answered a little too cheerily. She didn’t know what made her do this but she had this instinct (she didn’t know if it was a female thing) that she was going to find all the answers to her questions tonight at this social event dubbed as the “most in-thing” which has ever happened in Seattle. They zoomed past the trees and Alison realized they were on the outskirts of the city. She took out the invitation card to check again and there it read:

Dear Students of Cornwall Institution,

You are cordially invited to the Party of the Year organized by Jessica Hampton which will take place on 28th October 2010. Dress code is semi-formal. Please be aware that dinner, music and snacks will be provided. And please be at least tastefully dressed unless you want the bouncers to kick you out.

Signed,

The Leader of the Mean Girls’ Gang

The Queen Bee of Cornwall Institution

Top teenage socialite of Seattle

Future model and wife of Brad Pitt

The most beloved daughter of the oil magnate, Andrew Hampton and heiress, Rebecca Hampton

Jessica Hampton

Seeing the long list of Jessica’s titles had initially made Alison snort but now, it caused her to feel even more inferior. She would never measure up to someone like Jessica and she understood why some people like Carrie and Jane wanted to be her underdogs. The prestige and honor of serving someone deemed as important was hard to resist. Furthermore, with the acquired power of being in the MGG, one could attain a certain social rank above others at Cornwall. It was just sad to think about her own sister succumbing to this forbidden temptation and desire.

As the car made its way down the driveway spruced up with fairy lights on the lamp posts to guide the visitors, Alison almost gasped when she caught sight of the lavishly decorated mansion standing inconspicuously in the backdrop of the forest. When Angela said that Jessica Hampton was hideously rich, she wasn’t kidding. It seemed a little unfair that mean people like Jessica had everything others wanted but then again, this was life.

Edward swerved the car around and managed to find an empty parking lot. Even from outside the house, Alison could hear the constant buzz of conversation in the mansion and she gulped, half-afraid to face going inside and seeing all the people.

“Shall we?” Edward held out his crook of his arm.

“Yes, let’s,” Alison  placed her arm around him.

****

What struck Alison the most when she stepped into the mansion was not how classy it looked but rather, how gothic the house was. There were no chandeliers, expensive vases and ornaments or collectors’ paintings as she had expected. The walls were painted black and the floor was carpeted. A large black oak wood dining table stood in the living room alongside with black sofas placed strategically at prominent positions. All in all, it seemed like a painting extracted from the famous novel, Dracula.

“This is so…” Alison hesitated.

“Incredible?” Edward offered.

“Yes, definitely,” she agreed.

There were streams of people around and Alison struck up a conversation with some of the geeks who were brave (or rather, curious enough) to come. She was in the midst of talking to a boy about Star Wars and Darth Vader when suddenly, Jessica strode into the room with her cronies.

Every one parted to give way to them. Jessica looked ridiculously satisfied as she saw the huge turnout. Jane looked bored; there was no better word to describe her. She seemed restless and her eyes kept flicking around- as if she was waiting for a fight to break out so that she can intervene. Carrie wasn’t in sight. Her usual position was occupied by another girl with big buck teeth.

As Alison strained her neck to find her sister, she also noticed Alex wasn’t there either. Was it just a mere coincidence? Or was she simply getting more paranoid than usual?

“Where’s Miss Weber, urh, I mean, Angela?” Edward asked uncomfortably. He wasn’t used to addressing his students by their first names even though he was only technically three years older than them.

“She couldn’t come. She was down with flu,” Alison lied convincingly. She didn’t bother to say that Angela wasn’t exactly happy about her turning up for this event either and she had even tried to dissuade her from going.

“I see.” Edward looked around and he froze. “Miss Hampton is coming over,” he hissed in a low voice, sounding a little like James Bond.

Alison whipped around and found Jessica heading towards her, or rather, Edward, with Jane.

“So happy to have you hear, Ed,” she greeted alluringly and batted her long eyelashes.

“Good to see you, Miss Hampton,” Edward replied, tightening her grip on Alison.

“Call me, Jessica or Jess, whichever way you want,” Jessica purred.  Instead, Jane rolled her eyes and acknowledged her brother with much lesser enthusiasm.  “Hey brother,” she said. Her attention flipped to Alison and she said rather grudgingly, “Hello.”

Alison responded with only a nod and asked accommodatingly, “Has anyone of you seen Alex?”

She heard Edward growl under his breath but she ignored it. Jessica’s grin widened conceitedly when she heard her words.

“Alex just hooked up with another girl. He was having quite a few cocktail martinis there…” Jessica trailed off purposely.

“Which girl? ” Alison couldn’t help but ask again in an awkward rush.

“Someone prettier than you, of course,” Jessica fixed a smug smile on her.

Alison looked a little aggrieved as her eyes travel nervously to the closed bedrooms on the second floor and back. She didn’t know if she had misinterpreted Jessica’s words but she was quite sure that the only respectable place for heavy snogging was apparently in the private chambers. Yet… she couldn’t very well barge into the room and demand for Alex to come out, couldn’t she?

As if sensing her discomfort, Jessica raised her perfectly trimmed eyebrows and said triumphantly, “Of course, it wouldn’t be good to interrupt them while they’re in midst of some…. intense  activity, as I’ll tactfully put it. Won’t you agree, Jane?”

“Yea, Jess, you’re so totally right as usual,” Jane giggled.

It is no use getting mad at them. Alison reminded herself feverishly.

“So, Edward, shall I get you a drink? Someone is practically dying to meet you.” Jessica turns to Edward brightly.

“Who?” His interest was piqued.

“Someone whom you know very well.” Jessica exchanged a meaningful look with Jane. Alison wasn’t even bothered by all the talk. Her mind was just whirling around, trying to digest Jessica’s taunts.

“You don’t mind, Alison, if I go away and chat for a moment?” Edward asked, apparently concerned.

“Of course she doesn’t mind, won’t you, Alison?” Jessica butted in.

“It’s fine.” Alison said impatiently. With one last look, Edward reluctantly allowed Jessica to lead him away. Alison then pushed her way through the throngs of people and climbed up the stairs, occasionally tripping over the steps. She suddenly found herself on the second level of the mansion. Downstairs, she could hear shrieks of laughter and chatter but here, it was eerily quiet. Not that she didn’t welcome it of course. The strange tranquility allowed her to assemble her frenzy thoughts for a second. She tried to not be intimidated by the expensive furnishing and held her breath as she listened for any noise or sound.

“Hehe, you’re so good at this.” She heard a girl murmur.

Hesitantly, Alison approached the first door and without any conscious thought, knocked on the door. There was a sudden shuffling of the feet and a man with a grouchy voice shouted, “Who’s there?”

“Sorry, is… Alex there?” Alison called out uncertainly.

Suddenly, the door whipped open and a boy, whom Alison could only vaguely recognize, stared at her. With a sudden realization, she realized it was the head of the BBG, Robert. He was wearing a bathrobe and there was a very naked girl standing behind him.

“What is it?” Irritation flashed across his face.

“Erm…” Alison grimaced, half-wishing she hadn’t been so reckless and interrupted in the middle of someone else’s love-making session.

“Do you happen to know where Alex is?” she repeated, taking her chances. Who cares what Robert thought about her? For all she knew, he probably thought of her as a deranged and sick-minded girl who went around peeking at people having sex.

“How the fuck would I know?” Robert growled and slammed the door shut.

“That was polite,” Alison murmured as she stared at the closed door, feeling slightly stupefied.

top being so stupid, Alison. Jessica was just bluffing. Besides, there was no way Alex would do something so idiotic as to have sex with an unknown girl.  She comforted herself as she held on to the banister for support. She was about to go back downstairs when suddenly, a female voice emerged from another room.

“Hehe, Alex, you’re so fun,” the girl chimed.

Alison stopped short. No way, just, no way. It was impossible. This was just her imagination getting out of hand as always. This shouldn’t be happening….

“I knew you would be mine. How does it feel to see my naked body?” the girl continued, oblivious of the fact that outside, she had an unintended audience.

Alison’s eyes widened in surprise. She moved towards the room in question and slowly knocked on the door three times. No, no, this is just a dream. Her mind instinctively told her. She always used to avoid awkward situations and escape was the one channel she routinely used. But this time, Alison didn’t feel like escaping. To put it bluntly, there was no way to delve out of this situation. If only she was wrong about her intuition…

“Who is it?” the girl answered in an annoyed voice.

“I’m one of the servants,” Alison hastily made up an excuse. She didn’t know if Jessica had maids or anything but she was taking a real bet on it.

“Coming,” the girl called out and the door suddenly whipped open.

Alison glared at the girl in question when they came face-to-face. The girl’s face was contorted and twisted in shock. “You!” she exclaimed in a frightened voice.

Alison pushed her aside and barged into the room without permission but she could care no less anymore. It didn’t matter to her if she would see Alex naked but she was so overwhelmed by emotion that a sudden dizziness was enveloping her mind.

A boy was lying on the bed. Thankfully his naked body was covered by the huge fluffy blanket sheets. His eyes were glazed over and he was in a trance thanks to the subduing effect of alcohol. Upon seeing Alison, he groggily sat up and peered at her.

“Who are you?” he asked warily.

“Alex! It’s me, Alison, your best friend!” Alison sobbed.

“Alison?” Hearing her name made Alex suddenly bolt up. Comprehension lighted up his face. Alex glanced down at his body and he looked horrified. “Why am I naked?” he gasped.

He’s bluffing. He’s acting as if he doesn’t know a thing but in truth, he betrayed you. Her inner conscience was telling her that. She breathed in deeply and said in a steely voice, “Alex, we’re done. I’m never ever going to talk to you again.”

“What have I done?” Alex sounded confused. “Shit. I’m not even sure what I did to make you angry. And why the hell am I naked? Can you explain it to me?”

“Alex Kingston, I can’t believe you.” Alison shook her head. The girl was still standing behind her, silently observing their conversation. She had thankfully donned a nightdress to cover her body and at this point, she emerged from the curtains and Alex recoiled upon seeing her.

“What th-” Alex exclaimed.

The girl released a shrill laughter. “I told you Alex, you’ll always end up with me,” she said and darted a baleful glance at Alison.

“Goodbye, Alex,” Alison whispered and spun around to dart out of the door.

Running down the stairs, she was oblivious to the commotion she was causing. Everyone was staring up at her from beneath and their eyes were fixated on her. But just at that moment, the self-conscious part of her dissipated into nothing. She felt awful for witnessing such an embarrassing scene just now. Even in her pre-teen stage, she was once warned by the counselor that teens tend to do drastic things but she had never fathomed that such a humiliating event will occur.

As she reached the first floor, a hand suddenly grabbed her. She whipped around and saw Edward’s distressed face. “Where the hell have you been, Alison? I was trying to find you. Would you believe who I saw just no-” Suddenly, he caught sight of her face.

“What happened? What’s wrong with you?” he asked alertly.

“Oh Edward,” Alison drew in sharp rasps of breath as if she was drowning and struggling to breathe. Her limp body slipped into his arms. “My sister had sex with my best friend.” After uttering that exact phrase, darkness swallowed her entire being.

She fainted instantly.