I wake up before my alarm on Friday and I lay in bed for a good 5 minutes. I realize that is is a Friday and I am going to Pricilla's party tonight or else she will kill me. I sit and look out the window for a second before getting up.

I get dressed and brush through my hair as I scroll through the text messages in our group chat. Finally I've had enough and I shut my phone off. I think back to last night when I sent in the application for the audition. If I can get in I get to go to New York. I'll get to leave this town. I can't wait.

Once I'm dressed I get some breakfast and gather my books together. I get in my car and drive to school.

When I get to school everyone is buzzing about Pricilla's party tonight. What to wear, who to bring, and what time. I could care less.

I walk to my locker and open it. I don't even get one book out when Pricilla shows up beside me. She has a smile on her face.

"Heyyyy," she drags out. I look at her.

"Someone's excited for the party," I assume.

"Aren't you?" She dropped her smile. I put on a smile.

"Of course," I said shutting my locker.

"Great! So what time are you coming?" She asked.

"Not sure, it depends on how long it takes for me to get ready."

"Ok, well text me when you are leaving okay?" I nodded and she walked away happily. I sighed and headed to class.

After school I drove Jessica and Asmara back to my house so we could get ready. I ordered pizza once we got home and then we started to get ready.

"Your house is huge," Samara said walking into my bedroom.

"Too bad I'm the only one living here," I frown and sit in my bed.

"Ava, can I use a belt? I was going to wear my back jeans but I don't have a good belt," Jess said.

"Yeah, sure, have at it," I said gesturing to my closet. Samara and Jessica get lost in my closet and I sit down at my vanity and start my makeup.

I do a smoky eye look for my eyeshadow and then do my face makeup. By the time I am finished with that Samara and Jess have changed into their outfits. They walk out as I am putting on my last coat of mascara.

"What do you think?" Jessica asked spinning around in her jeans and tube top.

"Love it," I smiled.

"I hope you don't mind Ava, I'm using your jean jacket," Samara said.

"You're good, I have plenty more," I said smiling.

Jessica started to do Samara's makeup and I went into my closet to find something to wear. I ended up picking a black jean skirt and a belt to go with and then a black silk lingerie top with boots. Once I changed I looked at myself in the mirror in my bathroom. I was about to walk into my room when I hear giggling. I peer into the room and Jessica and Samara were laughing together. They were having a moment. I smile to myself.

Suddenly my phone rings. Ending their moment. They go back to doing their makeup when I walk in the room. I grab my phone off the nightstand and answer the phone call from Brandon.

"What's up?" I ask facing the window.

"Want me to pick you up? I'm driving Anthony to Pricilla's too."

"Yeah, sure, Jessica and Samara are with me. Is that okay?"

"Yeah, I'll pick you up in an hour," he said. Then he hung. I set my phone down and looked at Jessica and Samara who were staring at me.

"What?" I asked.

"Let me guess, Brandon?" Jess asked. I nodded.

"He's picking us up in Mustang," I said happily.

"You so like him," she said. My mouth dropped.

"No I don't, we are just friends," I said crossing my arms.

"Sure, Ava," She said. I rolled my eyes and headed back into the bathroom to fix my hair.

When I finished curling my hair we were all ready. I added some jewelry to my outfit and smoothed my shirt down.

"Ava, are you ready?" Jess called from my bedroom. I switched off my bathroom light and stepped into the room.

"Let's go," I smiled.

Once we got downstairs I heard a honk from outside. We filed out of my house and walked towards Brandon's car. Anthony was in the front. Brandon smiled as we got nearer. We all got in the backseat and Anthony turned on the music. We threw our hands up and let the wind rip through our hair.

When we got to Pricilla's house we jumped out of the car and started walking. The house was filled with people, the music was turned up, and everyone was drinking.

Jess pulls me away from Brandon and Anthony and we head through the crowd to the drink table. Jess hands me a drink in a red solo cup and take a few sips. I feel a tap on my shoulder.

"Hey, Melody," I smile.

"Melody!" Jess hugs her and hands her a drink.

"Anyone seen Pricilla?" I ask. Jess nods.

"12 o'clock," she says drinking from her cup. Pricilla is dressed in a super short skirt, a tight top, and high heels. She smiles when she sees us.

"Finally! Ava you didn't text me," she frowns.

"Sorry, I forgot," I said still perplexed from her outfit. I take a huge gulp of the alcohol in the cup.

"Come on! Let's party!" Pricilla yelled. She grabbed my hand and we made our way to where everyone was dancing. I downed the rest of my drink and started to let lose. We danced for a while until the buzz was starting to wear off and we needed a break. Jess, Samara, and I head outside by pool where it is cooler. I see Brandon sitting on one of the pool chairs talking to Anthony. I walk over to him. Anthony sees me and gets up.

"Hey," he smiles.

"Having fun?" I asked sitting down next to him.

"You definitely are," he said taking a drink from his cup. I laughed and looked down.

"Barely," I said looking back up. "They are though," I said nodding to Jess and Samara who were playing beer pong and laughing with each other. Brandon smiles at the sight of them. I look over at Melody who has come out of the back door. Then two more people emerge from the door.

Shawn and Pricilla. Shawn has his arm wrapped around her. I stare blankly at them. Pricilla stops walking and pulls Shawn towards her. They kiss and my mouth drops.

"You got to be fucking kidding me," I say under my breath. Brandon heard me and looks where I am looking at. They stop kissing and walked near us.

"Cat got your tongue Ava?" She asked. I sprang up from my seat and almost pushed her into the pool but Brandon grabs my arm and pulls me back. Pricilla steps back and I see Melody standing on the side.

"You are such a bitch," I mumble.

"What did you just say?" She demands. Shawn watches me.

"I said. You. Are. A. Bitch," I spit at her. She looks like she is about to slap me.

"You're just jealous," she says. Now mostly everyone in the backyard is staring at us. Including Jess and Samara.

"Jealous of what? Shawn? You can have him," I said.

"I will, because you never did. You had so many chances with him," she said. I rolled my eyes.

"What happened to you?" I said shaking my head. "You were never like this before."

"I've always been like this Ava. The question you should be asking yourself is what happened to you?"

"What happened to me?! Pricilla my mom died! And I know that you don't get along with emotions but you never there for me!"

"I have stuck by you ever since we were kids!" She said.

"Yeah, and I let you turn me into this spoiled brat that doesn't care about anyone but herself! I'm not that girl anymore." I said.

"I hate you," she said bitterly.

"I hate you more... No ones perfect Pricilla. So everyone should just stop acting like it. Including you!" I yelled.

"Get out!" She screamed. I looked at her. "Get. Out." She had tears in her eyes. I turned and ran out of the backyard and into the driveway. Tears flooded my eyes and I could hear the rumble of thunder in the sky.

"Ava!" Brandon called after me but I was already running down the sidewalk. Tears streamed down my face and it started to rain. I stopped and looked up at the sky and let the rain soak me. I cried harder and eventually ran all the way home.

I was upset and angry at Pricilla. I wiped my makeup off my face with the back of my hand as I slammed the door to my house. I slid down against the door of the empty, dark house and continued to cry. Every few seconds lightning would flash and illuminate the room. Thunder shook the house. I buried my face into my hands.

Then the door rattled and I realized someone was knocking on the door. I wiped my tears and stood up and opened the door. It was Brandon. He was soaking and in the poor light I could see the purple bruise forming on his cheek bone. His dad hit him again.

I stood there staring at Brandon for a while. I wanted to wrap my arms around and cry in his arms. I wanted to cry for him even though he wouldn't.

Finally he stepped forward and then again  and this time it was quick. Suddenly his hands were on my waist and he was kissing me.

I hadn't realized how much I wanted to kiss him until he kissed me. I yearned for that kiss. I pulled his shirt closer to me and that we were inside the dark house. He kicked the door behind him and continued kissing me. The door shut with a thud and my hands searched through his hair. I needed this. I needed him.

I pull him up the stairs and into my bedroom. Lighting flashed through the room and I stopped kissing him.

"Ava, we don't have to do this," he whispered. Our noses were almost touching.

"I know, but I want to," I said back. His lips formed a grin and he kissed me again. I tugged at his wet t shirt and he slipped it off. My fingers found his bird tattoo on his stomach and he smiled into the kiss. I slipped mine off and he kissed my neck. He picked me up like I was a feather and laid me down on my bed. I slipped off my jean skirt and pulled him down on top of me. He kissed me hard and we both fell to the side. I reached for his belt buckle and I broke the kiss. He kissed my cheek and took off his belt. I laughed when he got up and tried to pull his jeans off.

He started to laugh because they were sticking to his legs. I laughed and smiled at him. When he finally got his jeans off he climbed back on top of me and kissed me.

Eventually no clothes separated us and our bodies were pressed together in the darkness. Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed when our bodies finally collapsed and it was like everything else that happened that day was a blur...