CHAPTER 6

The rest of the day goes by just like the first one. Ella is still upset over Kevin rejecting her for Amelia but I do my best to distract her with questions about the pending party. It works of course because Ella goes on and on about how excited she is and how she plans on getting over Kevin by getting wasted.

Being homeschooled for over eight years did a number on me and living with Ronnie does not help much as she barely goes out. She's even more antisocial than me.

I have been trying on countless dresses and I still don't know what to wear. I know I'm putting on extra effort because I want to impress Sky.

I call my sister Jessica for fashion advice and she tells me I can't go wrong with a simple denim dress and high platform boots.

I'm brushing my hair when I hear a light knock on the door. I see Ronnie standing by my door. "Hi." I say.

"Hey, you look nice."

"Thanks." I resume to brushing my hair.

"Mom was wondering if you were coming downstairs anytime soon."

"I'm going to a party." I tell her simply.

She frowns a little. "Party? What party?"

"A friend from school invited me and I already asked Dad and he said it was ok." I explain.

"Oh, have fun." She adds with a smile and I momentarily entertain the idea of going with her. I immediately shake my head at the thought. No, Ronnie and I aren't best friends and we sure don't invite each other anywhere.

"You look lovely dear." Alice says when she's sees me. She's sitting on the couch with my dad's arms around her.

"I don't know, isn't that dress a little short?"

I roll my eyes at my father's comment. The dress isn't short at all. "That's how people my age dress."

Alice chuckles. "Don't listen to him sweetie, you look great. Are you sure you can't wait for dinner though, it's almost done." She looks so hopeful but I have to decline. "Ok then, have fun at the party."

"Ok bye." I wave at them before leaving the penthouse.

I'm grateful my dad lent me his car, of course he wasn't so thrilled about the idea but my stepmom managed to convince him.

I get behind the wheel and start the engine. When the garage doors open I begin to pull out of the building but immediately stop when I see a silhouette of a man right in front of the car. Fortunately I don't crush into the other cars whilest trying to avoid the man.

I'm breathing hard and fast as I try to figure out what exactly happened. Maybe it was one of the other tenants in the building. But if I'm being honest the man looked so still and no way shaken, he looked more like a statue.

Even though, I feel I should apologize for nearly running him over even though he came out of nowhere.

I hastily unclip my seatbelt and get out of the car. I'm startled when I don't see anyone in the garage. I walk a few steps away from the car in search of my almost victim but I still don't see him.

"Hello?" I shout with a shaky voice. "Is anyone there?"

Suddenly the lights in the garage start going acting up as they switch on and off repeatedly. Someone is messing with me for sure.

"I'm sorry ok, I didn't see you!" I shout hoping whoever he is, he will take pity on me and show himself and accept my apology rather than keep on taunting me.

The lights seem to calm down because they are nolonger going on and off. I sigh in relief but as I start to make my way back to the car the light right beneath me explodes and the shards of glass fall around me.

Now I'm scared, I thought this was some mindless prank but now I actually fear for my life.

Without thinking much I send a text to Ronnie asking her to meet me in the parking lot. I don't feel safe by myself so I don't really care if Ronnie and I are friends, all I know someone is out there and I don't want him catching me alone.

Fortunately Ronnie doesn't mind going to a party with me. She's more concerned about me but I don't tell her about the incident in the parking lot because then I would have to admit I nearly ran over someone and I don't want my dad to be mad at me.

Ella's house is only a few minutes away our apartment which is a relief because the ride with Ronnie is a bit awkward. I am still reeling from the encounter in the garage but I'm determined to enjoy my first ever party.

Ella is the life of the party, from taking shots to dancing with every guy in the room, one can tell that she's pretty drunk. I do catch her watching Kevin and Amelia once in a while though. This only makes her drink more.

"Here, drink this." She hands both Ronnie and I drinks. Ronnie is hesitant but she drinks after I do.

"It's vodka!" Ella shouts proudly.

"Vodka?" Ronnie asks as if it's the first time she's heard of it.

"Yesss." Ella slurs. "Don't you just love vodka?" She starts to giggle. "Dance with me Evie." She's almost sulking.

"You guys go ahead, I think I will sit for a while." Ronnie tells us, I can tell she's still feeling the effects of the alcohol, gosh she's such a lightweight.

Ella drags me to the open space where a few people are dancing. I recognize some of them from class but most of them I have never seen before.

I'm not much of a dancer and it's hard to keep up with Ella especially when I keep looking for her brother in the room.

After a few minutes the dance floor starts to get crowded and I begin to get dizzy. I decide I have had enough and I go upstairs I search of a bathroom.

Before I make my way upstairs I see Ronnie looking comfortable on the sofa with non other than Cassandra Rosemont. Cassandra is saying something to her and Ronnie is smiling. I want to separate them but Cassandra sees me watching them and the smile she gives me the chills so I decide to leave it alone. They won't see each other again anyway so there's no harm in letting them talk.

I almost bump into Phoebe when I make it upstairs.

"Hi." She says and I'm surprised when she continues. "Are you looking for Sky?"

Her direct question about Sky surprises because I know she has a thing for him.

"Yes." I say.

"Oh well he's room is the second one down the hall." She even points in the direction.

"Ok thank you." I say and ignore how and why she knows Sky's room.

I push it at the back of my mind and go to the bathroom first. I want to touch up my face before I go and look for Sky.

I enter the first bathroom I see and wash my face. When I look in the mirror after wiping my face with a towel I'm shocked when I see Cassandra's reflection in the mirror. I turn to face her and there she is smiling at me.

"Hello." She says.

"Hi. Why are you in here?" I ask as she walks towards me.

"I was looking for you." She's standing way too close for my liking but I do my best to ignore my discomfort.

"Why?" I can't help but ask.

Without warning she places her palm on my cheek and looks straight into my eyes. I momentarily freeze, wondering what the hell she's doing.

"You should stop thinking about him."

"Excuse me?"

"You are letting him dominate your thoughts and he won't stop coming for you if you don't stop thinking about him."

I remove her hand from my face and step back from her. "I don't know what you are talking about." But deep down I fear I do.

"You are very transparent. It's very easy to read you."

I push her away. "I'm not listening to you." I say and start to leave.

"It's the beginning of the end. Hold my hand, I won't let you fall, I shall keep you safe always." Her words stops me in my tracks.

"How did you...." I'm very confused, isn't that what was said to me in my dream?

"He promised you, didn't he? You know better than to trust him."

Him? Who the hell is him?

Before I can stop myself I grip Cassandra's throat in an attempt to scare her. "I know better than to trust you. Who are you? Are you stalking me?" It would make some sense but not entirely. It doesn't explain how she knows about my dream.

She has the audacity to laugh. "Not at all. I just want to help. I do not want history repeating itself, sister." She adds and I instantly let go of her.

"Well I don't need your help. Just stay away from me, you and your sisters scare me." My voice is harsh but I don't care, it's the honest truth, they freak me out.