Chapter 24

"I am not an alcoholic, alcoholics go to meetings, I am a drunk we go to parties"-Unknown

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Fear paralyized me, making my breath quicken. Once again in a span of few weeks adrenaline took hold of me. I squirted and slid under the bed in time when I heard footsteps. What if the bed was closed? What would I have done? My breathing was coming in pant. I had to school the amount of air I was gulping so I wouldn't alert the intruder. I don't know who the intruder is though. Is it me or the one who wore heels? In the midst of it all, I noticed I left the lamp on and Justin's shirt was laying on the floor. It must have slipped from my armpit. I sighed inwardly. I can see red, almost 5 inch heels, from here. Before she came to the side of the bed, which had Justin's shirt spiraled, I stretched my hands and grabbed a hold of it. I swiftly pulled it towards me when her heels clicked towards the side of the bed. I put the shirt on my nose and his smell calmed me down. She turned the lump off and sat on the bed, the action making it creak. Her shoes glowed in the dark, illuminating her french painted nails. I heard the tearing of a paper and the friction of the pen against the smooth place. My phone pinged, and I held my breath thinking she heard it. I don't think she did so I flumbed and silented my phone.

'Where are you?' It was from Penny. The girl who wore red heels left the room, and I got out from under the bed. Wired there was no dust under the bed.Mr. Chrstian Black must have paid them a lot to keep his house squeaky clean.

'Where are you?' Another text from Penny. I wanted to snoop around,and I definitely wanted to read what the girl wrote but there was no time. I am sure it will be Justin who will come here and I won't have good luck finding a place to hide the next time. I will have to explain to him why I was in his room when the party was not clearly here, and why I had his shirt. No thank you. I left the room tiptoeing and softly closed the door behind me. Everyone on this floor was either too drunk or didn't care enough to pay me any mind. The party was in full blast now, the music too loud, the students going savage. How could the neighbors not call the caps? I found my friends in the kitchen. Sam and Penny holding Isa in the middle. She had her hands around their shoulders and her legs were slugging. Great, she is drunk. Penny tried to give her water, but Isa pushed her hands, giggling uncontrollably.

"Seriously," I groaned when I reached them.

"Penny have been-" Isa giggled. "bugging me to go-" she hiccuped. "She doesn't know how to have fun." her words were slurred.

"How much did she drink?" I asked for no one in particular.

"I don't know?" Sam pulled Isa closer by the waist when she was about to fall.

"When we came back, she was like this." Penny tried to give her more water. Isa slipped and spit it all out.

"Isa!" I shouted. The water was on my sweater right now, some spit sticking on my hair

"Let's go." Penny let out a frustrated sound. I nodded, leading the way. They had it under control, I told myself. I won't carry that drunken maniac after what she did to my favorite sweater.

"What took you so long?" Penny panted. She was tired and Isa had all her weight rested on them, her legs barely gazing at the ground.I didn't answer Penny, my eyes searching for red high heels. The shoes looked expensive, but I couldn't see anyone who wore them. I have no clue as to who that was and why she was in Justin's room. What did she leave for him?

"What do we do now?" Sam panted, pointing to the car. Isa can't drive obviously, unless we want to die, and I don't plan to die before I finish the plan. Penny can't drive, and Sam just started learning.

"We can't leave the car here,'' Penny pointed out. It might get broken or worse. I wanted to leave the car in hopes that it would get damaged. That's what Isa deserves after dragging us to this party and getting drunk.But if something happens to this poor car, who would take me to school? I won't get on the bus with freshmen kids.

"Give me the keys,'' I whispered. Penny's eyes lit, and she started to search for the car keys inside Isa's pockets. When she found it, she tossed it to me, which I caught in mid air.

"Pen Pen." Isa slugged. When Penny didn't say anything, Isa licked Penny's face.

"Ewww." Penny tried to wipe Isa's sipt to no avail."Let's go." Penny was about to cry. Something had her on the edge, other than Isa's drunken state.I unlocked the door and Sam and Penny dumped Isa at the back. Isa groaned and slept in an awkward angle.Penny opened the passenger door. "I am not going to share a seat with her." She used her sweater to wipe her cheeks. Sam just sighed and got in the back, pushing Isa like she is a doll.Isa mumbled something and went back to sleep.

"Do you have your licence?" Penny asked, strapping her seat belt.

"Unfortunately, I didn't think this would happen so I dont have my licence." I arranged the rear view window and started the ignition.

"What if the police stop us?" Sam looked worried about the whole thing.

"If you keep quiet and don't say a thing the whole ride and let me concentrate, it will be ok." I said. My heart shuddered and my palms felt sweaty in the steering wheel. With my posture tense and fingers stiff, I gave it a gas.

"Isa slept on my book,'' Penny shouted.

"Penny!" Me and Sam scold her in union. If we crash it's her fault.

***

I hadn't thought unlocking the front door of my house would make me feel so much joy but it did. I exhaled in relief when I got in my house.I dropped Penny and Sam and returned to our neighborhood. The image of blood creeping on my subconscious the whole ride. Isa was asleep when we reached her house. I parked her car in the garage and dragged her to her room. She was sleeping on my shoulders, rubbing her butt. I kicked her ass oh right! I thought that was the best way to wake the sleeping beauty. I removed her shoes and covered her in a duvet, leaving the keys under the flower pot outside the house.

"Where have you been? My mom's voice cut through the darkness.

"Mom, you scared me,'' I said when she approached me, flickering the light on. I thought my parents were at work or they were asleep since the house was dark.

"Where have you been Cassindra? I was really worried. Do you know what time it is?" It was 10 I didn't notice it was this late. My mom was close to me now. "I thought you were hurt." her voice cracked with unshed tears.

"I am fine and in one piece."

"I saw you." my mom's voice changed into an accusation within microseconds. "I saw you dragging that girl through the window." Now it's clear who I got my stalking tendencies from.

"She was-" I couldn't finish the sentence. What would I say? My friend was drunk at a party we all went to?

"She is a bad kid, a bad influence, she is changing you. Can't you see?" My mom cupped my cheeks. I wanted to shout. When had she known me in the first place to say I have changed?

"You have to stay away from her."

"Mom," I whispered.

"Have you seen her mother. She is-" I cut her off.

"I am tired. I am going to bed." I don't want to hear what my mother had to say about Isa mom.

***

"Stop groaning." I shouted at Isa. She have been cursing the whole car ride.

"My back hurts," she moaned. I am satisfied to know that. Maybe next time she would think twice before drinking. "Who drove us home by the way?" Isa asked me. I can feel her gaze on me behind her black shades. She looks like a mess, her clothes jumbled, she had a scarf around her head.

"I don't know." I answered.

"You know being drunk doesn't make me stupid. I remember you driving. I didn't know you could drive."

"Surprize," I answered dryly."We completed the mission."

"I was not that drunk, I still remember."

"You were not that drunk?" I turned my body to her as much as the seat belt would allow me. "You were sober when you licked Penny and when you were shouting?"

"I did not do that!" Isa looked at me horrified, "And I licked Penny because she is cute."

"There is no point in talking to you." I chose to stare at the road I had seen for years.

When we entered the school, everyone was whispering. Apparently I know why. Justin shared his and Tiana's picture on his instagram story yesterday.

"High Schoolers are clueless." Isa muttered when we saw them buzzing with energy and gossip. "They were badmouthing him days ago and now they are worshiping him."

Georgina entered the doors, and students started to snicker behind her back. She is the loser now that Justin has moved on and she still has no boyfriend. Highschool is sure funny.