The chalet

Traffic was slow on the way to the Petrelli country house. It was the first time Luck had thrown a party that wasn't at his father's club, after closing time, in a clearing or on a golf course. This time, it was official, he was using one of his father's cottages in the countryside to throw the party. That's why it was more special than the others.

The illuminated driveway, flanked by small bushes cut in the shape of the family crest, the large fountain illuminated with neon lights facing the entrance hall. It was all fantastic, almost as big as the school which, lately, was my home. The car stopped. We shook each other's hands and waited for Matthew to open our doors. We took a deep breath and went downstairs, saying goodbye to Matthew, who just waved because he wasn't happy that we were there.

I didn't know how he hadn't told my mother, but I think it had something to do with the fact that Vivian had threatened to tell his wife about his affair.

We followed the mansion ahead. Yes, because that country house was definitely a mansion. The house was made almost entirely of wood and glass, facing a gigantic lake with dark waters and flanked by a dense forest. We could clearly see the makeshift nightclub outside. Because the neon lights were flashing outside, through the glass on the second floor.

We climbed the stairs, with the music playing loudly in the large ballroom. There was a large bar to the right with high stools where the barman should have been, but it was empty. This was an informal "graduation" party, at which Luck was the host. It turned out that he had always liked parties. Most of the time, we simply ignored who was using their iPhone to snort cocaine, who was smoking weed and the moans in some corner of someone having sex. Because, deep down, we just wanted to feel free and fall in love like any teenager. However, things didn't seem to work out that way for me. I had serious problems socializing, I was very shy and insecure about myself. I hadn't even kissed anyone when I was seventeen. It was embarrassing just to talk about it.

I think that's what charmed me about Luck, he was brave, daring, adventurous. Deep down, that's what I wanted for myself. And he also had a reputation to uphold, he was the mayor's son, the town darling. The new generation of New Braunfels.

But there he was, throwing a party he called "Graduation" for some students from nearby schools. The invitation was secret and only for selected people and, of course, Vivian had provided three invitations, guaranteeing us a decent graduation, unlike the boring stuff at our school. I looked at the part set up like a nightclub. The neon lights blurred the vision. The electrifying beat of the music seemed to shake the chandeliers.

- Aaaaaah! I love that song! - Vivian swayed her hips from side to side as she sang loudly. I definitely don't know what her problem was, because even though she was doing badly, she insisted on singing. - Come on, let's go! - she said, pulling my hand as she danced and sang, heading towards the nightclub.

I shook my head negatively. All right, I'd been drinking, but dancing in the middle of a group of strangers was something I refused to do.

- It's okay, Vivian," I told her. - Look, why don't you go with Alice? - I looked around for my friend and realized that she was already far away, talking to other girls we had met at another Luck party.

- Better, why don't you go by yourself? I'm going for a walk and we'll meet up in a little while, I'll get to know the place better, because it's not every day that the mayor's son, Christopher Petrelli, opens the door of his humble country house and offers a graduation for the students.

- As if Luck didn't have a bit to do with it, right? - she let out a stifled smile and continued. - Fine, then, but don't do anything I wouldn't do. - He winked and left in the direction of the music.

A few hours passed, I chatted with colleagues from other parties and the drinks kept coming. At one point, I even ventured out to dance a bit with Vivian and Alice.

I left the makeshift nightclub just as Vivian started sticking her tongue in the mouth of a guy who must have been ten years older and whom I'd never seen at any previous party. It wasn't long before she went into a dark corner with him. I moved on, only to find Alice being pushed against the wall by someone. The truth is that almost everyone there was like that. This was the time of the party when most people went crazy, whether from drink, drugs or excitement.

In fact, I think I only realized this because I was always the only one who wasn't almost inside someone in public. I walked slowly, cutting my way through the average group still at the party, ignoring the dizziness resulting from the mixture of drinks I had consumed, towards the bar, following this line of reasoning: well, if I don't have anyone, the drink will be my company tonight.

- I can't believe they've already started having fun without me!

Something hit me in the chest and I lifted my head to look at him. Luck's raspy voice was capable of giving me goosebumps. He made a shit speech about enjoying our lives to the limit.

When one of his friends told him to fuck off, Luck replied that he was being a good Samaritan by helping his father's campaign, which was running again that year. That's why it had taken so long, but I hoped that everyone would be with these choices of words: Fucking their brains out until dawn. And that it should be an unforgettable graduation for this fucking city.

And I wanted it to be unforgettable, like I wanted...God! He was beautiful. Wearing only part of his dress suit. The white blouse with undone buttons, a little creased at the neck as if he had tried to open it in a hurry, the sleeves of the blouse pulled up to his forearms completely covered in tattoos. The navy blue pants, the only immaculate thing about him, sculpted his body perfectly. His sublime hair was a mess, which I confess made him look more dangerous. My eyes followed him as he greeted some friends and grabbed a large bottle of whisky out of the air. That one of your friends threw.

- Girlfriend, you're literally drooling. - Alice gave me a little nudge on the chin and then a wink. - Do you really like him? - He let out a sad smile. - Look, Nicole... - She snorted. - I know this isn't the time or the place, but there are so many nice boys out there, and you're beautiful! As beautiful as me and Vivian.