CHAPTER FOUR

I made my way through the bustling school hallway, Ceecee closely trailing behind me. Earlier that day, when I mentioned where I lived, she had squealed with excitement, exclaiming how close our homes were. "My house is just two blocks away from yours!" she had said with uncontainable joy. "Do you think I could come over sometime, pleaseeeeeseeeee?" As she spoke, her pearly white teeth flashed in a dazzling smile, and her siren-blue eyes twinkled with eagerness. She was undeniably beautiful, a rare type of beauty , and I found myself wondering if I was the only one who saw this. I laughed dryly, wishing she knew that I was merely squatting. The thought of the girls' reactions if I ever brought her to their house was enough to make me shudder. "I could come to yours instead, today even," I blurted out, immediately regretting it. Her eyes widened in surprise, and she gasped loudly, jumping down from the desk she was half-sat on. She threw her arms around me in a tight hug, only releasing me when I gently pushed her away. I realized then that I had made a promise I might grudgingly have to keep .

It was mid-October, and Halloween preparations were in full swing. The halls were decorated with artificial spider webs, pumpkins, red LED lights, and a light mist of fake fog that drifted peacefully through the air. As I walked, I overheard excited chatter from several groups, all abuzz with talk about a certain "Tennyson's party." Tennyson was the school's star athlete, a senior, and the subject of Tricia's endless daydreams about him being her future man. My thoughts were interrupted by Ceecee's innocent yet annoying voice. "I think we should go to the party, don't you?" she asked, her excitement apparent. I remained silent, wondering if accepting her as a comrade had been a mistake . "I don't attend parties I'm not invited to," I finally replied after a moment of awkward silence. "Ooh," she responded blandly, her enthusiasm dimming slightly. We continued down the hall, and just as we were about to take a turn toward the exit, a sudden shadow loomed before me, halting me in my tracks. I nearly ran into the person who had appeared before me so abruptly.

Looking up to scold the offender , I found myself face-to-face with what seemed like an ancient Greek god. He stood roughly six feet tall, with long, flowing blonde hair which he did not bother to put in a ponytail or bun. His hazel eyes, though sharp, were filled with warmth and his masochistic physique was one that could leave a girl weak in the knees. I did not need a seer to tell me that the one standing before me now was nin other than Tennyson. It was immediately clear why Tricia was so infatuated with him; he was a sight to behold. Frozen in place, I struggled to find words, my mouth almost agape. I quickly averted my gaze and focused on my trembling feet, unsure why he was blocking my path. I turned to see Ceecee staring at him in awe, her mouth slightly open. I gently slapped her to snap her out of her trance.

Turning back to the guy, I mustered the courage to speak. "Excuse me, but you're blocking my way. I'd like to leave." "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be an inconvenience," he said, his voice a blend of ethereal and masculine. I gulped and raised an eyebrow in question. He smiled, "I noticed you're new here, Rain, right? I was wondering if you'd like to come to my party next Friday. You can bring your friend, too." He gestured to Ceecee. I frowned, puzzled by the unexpected invitation. "I'm busy next Friday," I muttered, almost to myself. "Oh, I hope you can make it. If not, no problem… see you around then," he said with a charming smile, and walked away. I opened my mouth to respond but closed it as I watched him retreat. The hall, which had been filled with animated chatter, fell silent as everyone's gaze turned toward me. I felt a wave of self-consciousness wash over me.

Ceecee suddenly burst into applause, her excitement barely hidden. "Oh my God, Rain! Do you know who just invited you to his party? Oh my God, I'm going to have a heart attack!" She clutched her chest in exaggerated distress, her eyes wide with disbelief. I frowned slightly, feeling a mixture of confusion and unease. "I don't understand why he invited me, but I won't be attending," I said firmly. "And who are you to turn down Tennyson? Come on, Rain, you weren't the only one invited. Because of your invite, I was also invited, and I'm definitely going. So you have to come with me!" Her enthusiasm was infectious, though I couldn't shake the feeling of being caught in a whirlwind.

"Can we go now? Or do you want me to go home and not come to yours anymore?" My tone was a mix of playful frustration and genuine excitement. Her mood immediately soured when I hesitated. "No, of course not. Let's go now. Ugh, I'm so excited, Rain! This is a big deal for us, a huge deal!" I shook my head in exasperation as I led the way out of the school and toward the gate. The walk to Ceecee's house was filled with her excited ramblings about the party and how significant it was that Tennyson had personally invited me. She speculated about his intentions, analyzing every detail of his appearance, and insisted that it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Throughout my visit to Ceecee's house, she continued to rave about the party. As she went on and on, I found myself growing increasingly anxious . The prospect of attending a party where I wasn't sure of my place made me uneasy. Yet, despite my reservations, Ceecee's excitement was contagious, and I couldn't ignore the nagging feeling that I was about to step into a world that was both alluring and intimidating.