Chapter 10: Apple Juice

I was still contemplating whether coming to the party was a good idea when we drove closer and closer towards the Miller gates. It was only 6:00 pm which was why I wasn’t surprised to not see a crowd piling up on the other side. The building (or buildings) resembled that of a historic English manor unlike Rosalie’s which looked like it came out of a dark academia aesthetic board. I heard only Evan and Rosalie’s mansions looked like these because they’re the only ones that came from old money. The rest of the Royales had modern mansions of some sort.

“Oh. My. Gosh.” That was what Ansel said soon after we were escorted out of my car by some chauffeur or something. He told us to walk straight and someone will let us in and then went into my car and drove away. He could've stolen my car. Had the perfect opportunity to do so.

“I bet this is one of those mansions where they have like seven hundred toilets and only five bedrooms,” I said. Like that barbie show.

“It’s a bit quiet isn’t it?” Ansel glanced around.

“I told you we came too early.” Now we look like eager idiots.

“The party starts at seven we’re not that early,” he checked his watch. “Besides, as Beyonce once said, on time is late.”

“What? She never said that. When did she say that?”

We reached the huge double doors and noticed a tall lady in a pantsuit just standing there with her hands behind her back. She spotted us and opened the door waiting for us to go in to which we did.

“We should’ve waited in the car, this is embarrassing,” I sighed.

“You guys are here early,” a voice behind me said. I turned around and gaped at her. She was wearing a black baggy long-sleeved crop top with some sort of embroidery and a hood and chains, a black and white plaid stitched chain skirt, and knee-high black platform boots. Her hair was tied at the back with a skull hair piece only a few straight strands laying loose at the sides.

She looked...nice.

“Hey Rosalie,” Ansel tried to look cool as he glanced over her outfit. “You look so...fiery. As always, gorgeous.” Goodness.

“You look like you jumped out of an 80s movie,” she replied before going past us and deeper into the manor.

“Hey, um, should we just wait in the car since we came too early?” I fidgetted. “We don’t want to intrude so…”

“It’s fine,” She cast a look at Ansel. “I don’t think Evan will mind if it’s you guys.” What’s that supposed to mean?

I didn’t have a chance to ask her as she stalked off without another word leading us to follow at her heel.

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-6:40 pm-

If it weren’t for the atrocious music, loud cheers and whoops, and all kinds of smoke billowing out of the entrance, no one would’ve noticed the huge mansion on Crove Street had a bunch of people in it.

Ansel forced me to cut through the bodies over to where the very drunk teenagers were getting their drinks from. I wasn’t planning on drinking since we both declared me to be the designated driver but I put it upon myself to watch Ansel and be near him at all times in case anything happens. That and I didn't want to be left alone in this place.

As we were getting there, someone bumped into me. A nice-looking guy with dark brown hair and grey eyes. He gave me a subtle once-over before grinning. “Jack Frost right? From last week?”

“It’s Levi Scott,” I deadpanned.

Dylan Kostas ran his hand through his long brown hair. He had really nice hair. So luscious. So smooth. “Sorry I-” he was going to say more when someone called out his name and he slipped away. Dylan was the group’s flirty confident womanizer. He's obsessed with two things: women, sex, and food. I mean, that’s what the website said about him anyways. He can get anyone to drop their pants or get on their knees in a flash with just a simple 'hey'. He apparently also tends to be quite childish at times and is constantly throwing parties whenever he can which, my guess is to cover up the loneliness he has since his parents died in a plane crash.

Once we got sight of red solo cups, Ansel moved like a fucking weirdo. At the corner next to the table, I met the gaze of Finn Tanaka who regarded me with a vague nod before continuing his conversation with Bianca (from chapter 4). I didn’t peg Bianca as someone who went to these kinds of things but I’m here as well so who am I to judge. She wasn’t a Royale but all of them seemed to like her enough to not mind and hang out with her regardless. That’s the thing about her, everyone likes her and she’ll keep the company of anyone who’ll let her. She gave me a cheery wave tipped her Capri-sun to me with a wink. I guess she doesn’t drink either.

Out of all the Royales, I’d say Finn is the most laid-back one. He doesn’t talk much and he never seems to be interested in the drama the others are always involved in. His quiet, soft-spoken, and level-headed personality in contrast with his best friend Dylan’s loud promiscuous, and dim-witted is really interesting to see. It was like a ying-yang situation. I heard they’ve been friends since kindergarten which is why they’re so close. He was there for Dylan when his parents died and Dylan was there for him when Finn transitioned from female to male.

Finn never seemed like the type to say much yet here he was laughing at something Bianca said. I’ve never even seen him so much as smile. She must be really good. He raised one of his eyebrows, which showcased his high cheekbones when he noticed me staring. He has really nice cheekbones. Very tall. Very attractive. Isn't he like 6'4? He could be a model if he wanted to. “Take care of your friend,” he motioned over to Ansel who was too busy gushing over the display of food and drinks to notice. When I glanced back to offer some response both him and Bianca were gone.

I inspected one of the cups on the table. It looked like apple juice. I downed it on one go and it sent a warm buzz in my stomach for some reason. It tasted like apple juice though.

“It’s extremely crowded here,” I stated. “I didn’t even realize so many people were in our year level.”

“Relax,” Ansel inspected the drinks on the table. “You only live once. YOLO. Have some fun.”

“I’d have a lot of fun if we left.”

“Then you just have to fake it till you make it,” he waved me off as he downed a cup in one gulp. “It burns,” his face scrunched up.

“No shit,” I laughed.

Rosalie and Evan headed towards us and I pretended to bop to the music. “We Found Love” by Rihana was playing over the speakers.

“Oh my gosh Rosalie and Evan are coming, I repeat Rosalie and Evan are approaching us. Together. They’re approaching us together,” he nudged me repeatedly and I rolled my eyes.

“I know.”

“They’re coming! They’re coming! Levi, they’re here.” He stood up straight (haha).

“Hey, guys, are you enjoying yourselves?” Evan smiled. He glanced at Ansel and something I couldn’t identify seemed to cross over his eyes.

“Of course we are,” Ansel grinned. “This is amazing! You’ve really outdone yourself but I wouldn’t expect any less from you two.” That earned a bright smile on Evan’s face. Simp.

“Um, yeah, it really fits the valentines day theme,” I tried to add something to the conversation. Dry. So dry.

I need more of that apple juice.

I think Evan had forgotten I was also here. After shaking his head he gave me a kind smile. “Thank you, you’re too kind. Call me a hopeless romantic, but it's my favorite holiday. I think there's something really great about a day where you're encouraged to just lay it all on the line and tell the person you have feelings for how you truly feel,” He shot Ansel a look as he said this but he didn’t notice. So formal.

“That’s so cute,” Ansel cooed. No, it's not. It's not that cute. Evan shrugged to hide his embarrassment. Rosalie just stood there. I’m not much of a romantic but I occasionally might cry over a sad romantic movie. Maybe. It depends.

“Would you like to join the others?” he asked us. I would like to join the factory that made the apple juice I just had Evan.

Ansel and I glanced at each other. “Nah,” I said the same time Ansel said “Yeah.” We glanced at each other once more and said the exact same thing.

“Levi can stay with me,” Rosalie spoke up. She hadn’t said anything since she came over to us.

Ansel’s eyes darted between Rosalie and I. He tried to hide the smile creeping upon his lips. Idiot. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.

Before he could say something that would potentially embarrass both of us I told him, “it’s fine, you can go talk to Laron.” I didn’t like him but I can’t control who my best friend is or isn’t obsessively infatuated with.

“Yeah, no, I can’t,” he sighed. “I’m way too nervous.”

Evan gave me a curious look and I explained, “Laron is his unrequited crush since forever ago.” He nodded seeming to get it but a hurt look came over his face for a split second. Rosalie nudged his arm and his mask came back. I mean, he smiled again. He's always smiling. It's so annoying. Does he ever not smile? Angry Evan. I'm waiting for angry Evan to make an appearance.

“Shoot your shot,” Rosalie told him. “He’s really picky though so I wouldn’t get my hopes of if I were you. I heard a rumor his last boyfriend bought him a store because the shoes he wanted were out of stock.”

Yeah, that’s definitely just a rumor. I hope.

“Okay,” Ansel decided. “Yeah, I’ll go speak to Laron. I can be smooth. I am smooth. And sophisticated and calm and-”

“Wasting time talking to us when you could be chatting with Laron,” Rosalie cut him off.

“Right, right.” After gulping down one last drink Ansel and Evan left us and headed over to where the other Royales were hanging out.

“So, uh…” I sucked in my mouth. “Where...have... you been? I didn’t see you much this week.” I’m just trying to keep the conversation going.

“Places.”

How vague. Always so vague. Vague Rosalie. Rosalie miss vague.

“Cool,” I took a sip of apple juice? I don’t really know what it was but it tasted like apple juice. “I like places. Places are cool.”

I think the apple juice was getting to me because I could’ve sworn I just saw Rosalie Davis smile a little bit.

Yeah, it was definitely the apple juice.

Speaking of apple juice, the one I was drinking tasted amazing. I’ve seriously never tasted apple juice this good.

Rosalie’s so pretty.

Did I mention how good this apple juice was?

I would marry this apple juice.

A girl is looking at me. She seems familiar. Oh, it’s Rosalie. I would marry Rosalie. She’s so beautiful.

This apple juice is so good.

Apple juice is way better than orange juice. It’s so good.

Fun fact: apple juice isn’t just made out of apples but of other sugars and acids as well.

Rosalie’s gorgeous.

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Hey! I hope you like the chapter and comment what you think about it!

Till next time! :))))