Chapter 5: The Party

We arrived at the party, people filled to the rim, drinks in their hands. Extravagant decorations we're all over the place. A big ice statue that sat in the middle of the room, with glitter and paint all over it, big unicorn carousel, type things hung from the wall, and people were wearing fancy clothing that was surely not going to stay on for the whole evening, as a pile of heels were already forming on the side of the room.

"Damn these people know how to throw a party," Gabe muttered from my right side. He wore jeans, and a tight black shirt that still showed off his figure.

"Yeah can't believe we thought our parties were better," Naomi said from my left. She wore ripped jeans and pink crop top, with her hair tied up messily.

"Cause they were better," Gabe laughed. "They didn't have these ridiculous decorations, but had what did matter,"

"And what was that?" Naomi asked sarcastically.

"The drugs." He laughed. "These rich, prep kids wouldn't dare to," He said while sneaking a look over at me.

"Don't say that yet. The party's only begun, and the nights still young," I smirked and pulled them both inside seeing the rest of the student body dripping in sweat and alcohol.

"Woah, you people party hard," Gabe mumbled next to me as he saw the performers on stage, fire coming out of their mouths, the crowd cheered and soon dispersed as the music kept playing.

"Hell yeah." I laughed while grabbing drinks for the three of us.

"Yo," Jonah said as I saw Jack and Zach looking like idiots behind him,

"Sup," I smirked, handing him a cup.

"Thanks. Ella's drunk watch out." He cheered me and walked away leaving me ready to face the bitch that she becomes when she's drunk. A total opposite image of what we always "seen" her as. She was her true self when drunk, loud, honest, and crazy.

As I was walking back Addison strutted back taking my drink out of my hand and walking off to god knows where.

"Damn she's a bitch," Naomi said. "All she would ever do, when she showed me around was either stop in the middle of the hallway to gossip and forget about me, or leave me in an empty classroom causing me to be late." She chuckled

"She can be very judgmental at first, well in general actually. You should've seen her when she was going through puberty. She bitched more than she does now," I laughed.

"Really?" She looked over at me chuckling.

"Yeah she had the strength to throw Jonah and his driver into the pool when they pissed her off at age 9," I laughed.

"Damn. You guys have known each other for that long huh?" She asked while looking over at me slightly before turning her head to watch the crowd go crazy in front of us.

"We were kids when we met, our families are friends so we thought, why not? But after a while we all found out that we can't get along all the time."

"What does that mean?" Gabe asked.

"We can't always get along. That's why sometimes she's a bitch and we bitch back. But at the end of the day, we can never just forget about all the years we've been together." I smile sadly.

"How about you? How long have you known Manny for?" I asked both of them.

"Since we were 3," Naomi stated, "That's when we officially moved to New York, and before our family expanded down here."

"Do you guys know the people in your neighborhood, then?" I asked.

"Yeah they were sent out to help us settle by our gang out in Queens," Gabe said, "Don't worry though, they aren't bad people." He smiled at me.

"That's interesting, you guys got a whole ass gang protecting your backs.," I sighed out.

"Yeah, it's been nice to know that we won't just get jumped out of nowhere since Manny does have the reputation."

"What about Manny though, how did he get in with you guys?" I asked back as I watched the couple in front of me slip and fall while making out.

"He moved in next door and his dad left them, his mom became a stripper and he lived with us ever since," Gabe continued.

"That must be a fun story to tell at Thanksgiving," I chuckled.

"Very fun! At first we thought it would be an issue, but after our grandma nearly heart attack it became easier," Naomi chuckled.

"The food must be horrible now," I chuckled.

"You know for a girl I haven't talked to much in months, you're pretty chill," Naomi said from my left as we stared at the people.

"I'm always chill, you just haven't gotten to know me yet, I'm quite different." I chuckled while sipping out of Gabes cup. "Not in the cliche way either,"

"Hey," he chuckled while shaking his head and taking his drink back.

"It's fruity this time. Last time I got straight vodka, and almost died." I laughed.

Suddenly a drunk Ella comes by and waves at us, "Gabe, Naomi it's nice to see you guys again! Anges hey, hey- Daniels looking for you darling," she was about to stumble away before I grabbed her arm, and examined her face.

"Are you okay?" I asked her, while she looked at me drearily and tried to form her sentence, before she burped and regained her consciousness and spoke up.

"Of course. Go find your boyfriend," she said in a different voice, despite her smile.

"Ella this isn't funny" I said defensively as I looked at her trying to not make eye contact, or look guilty.

"Just kidding," she laughed loudly, "You should've seen your face. Pure gold." she lightly tapped my arm before walking off to greet the other guests.

She always gives me heart attacks like these, she always thinks that at one point before she got close to Daniel, we were a thing, and will forever tell us about it. It was a total misunderstanding anyways, as it was weeks before we even thought about having relations.

"Gabe, Naomi!" A voice called out, the familiar voice of Manny called out as he swung around flinging the twins into a tight side hug.

"Sup man," Gabe acknowledged his presence while the older twin, just kissed Manny softly on the cheek.

"Oi Baby Herran!" He smiled out walking over to me.

"Baby Herran? That's a new one," I chuckled.

"It fits you since you look like a bundle of joy, that giggles a lot." He laughed clearly intoxicated.

"I'm gonna go find Daniel, I'll see you guys later, have fun." I smiled at the two who were already mingling with other students. Especially Naomi with a certain quiff-haired boy.

"Daniel," I called out as he stood next to one of the ornaments with a solo cup in his hand watching the crowd slowly undress and get too close for comfort.

"You wanted to talk?" I asked as he looked at me carefully, before speaking

"Nes, did you ever feel like something was wrong between you and me. Between us?" He asked.

"Everything's been fine, I guess. What made you think like that?" I retorted.

"You're my best friend Nes. We haven't ever spent a weekend apart since we've met! And for the past 3 months you've been distant." He did some weird arm signals to try and help me visualize what he's trying to say, "We haven't spent any weekend together where you've bailed, because you were hanging out with Gabe!" He exclaimed. "Hell even last weekend you were already at my house, but the second that he calls you up, you sprint up and run away like he's carrying your favorite cake."

"Well Gabe is also my friend now, and I want to spend time with him. It's only fair that we try to expand our friendship circle, correct? And plus you have your girlfriend to keep you company, right?" I said while rolling my eyes, and crossing my arms over my chest.

"You said nothing would change if Ella and I got together." He rebutted.

"I've said a lot of shit that I didn't live up too, you of all people know that." I snorted.

"Look I don't like this Gabe guy alright. It's clear that he hasn't been the best influence-"

"Daniel just leave me be. Yes your my best friend, but things have changed now." I sighed as I rubbed my forehead, as I felt a huge headache coming through. "I'm trying things out, and it's up to me to see the consequences. You need to trust that I know what the hell I'm doing." I mumbled already feeling the effects of that one little sip of Gabes cup got me.

"Let's just talk when we're both not drunk, okay?" I asked as I looked up into his gorgeous, blue eyes, and tried to pry my gaze away but for some reason I couldn't.

"No," he mumbled before pulling us behind the large ornament and placing his lips on mine.