Chapter 3 Resident Weirdo

• Willow POV
• There is a knock on my bedroom door, causing me to look up from the book I'd been trying to read for the last half hour but failing to concentrate.
• “Come in,” I say with a sigh before the door opens and Ava walks in with a blinding smile and a shopping bag clutched in her left hand.
• I blink in suprise sitting up on my bed as she walks further into my bedroom, “Hey girl,” she waves, plopping down on edge of my queen sized bed.
• “Oh hey Ava, I wasn't expecting you until later,” I say rising from my position on the bed to tuck the book back into the my bookshelf with the others.
• “Yeah I know Chase's party isn't until later tonight, but I wanted you to see what I chose for you which is why I brought you the costume as promised,” she winks and continues with a visible slouch in her posture, “We can't go to the party together though Willow,” she sighs in disappointment and I frown, my brows furrowing in confusion.
• “Why Ava, you know I can't go to the party if you're not gonna be there,” I deadpan as she rises from her seated position, leaving the bag containing my costume on my bed.
• “I'm not abandoning my best friend at this crucial time,” she reassures me with a small smile and I heave a sigh of relief.
• “There's just been a little hiccup, I have an important errand to run for my mom you know how persistent she can be, but I promise I have it all planned out, I'll meet you at the party,” she rambles, clutching my hands in hers in a tight grip as she regards me with puppy eyes.
• “Fine, just don't think about ghosting me,” I say and she squeezes my hands in reassurance.
• “Scouts honour,” she quips, grinning from ear to ear that I join in, unable to resist her contagious smile.
• I managed to offer a slow nod before she let's go of my hand completely, sauntering towards my walk-in closet situated on the other end of my spacious bedroom, “I'm taking the dress,” she calls behind her, not even bothering to turn around before slipping into the room.
• I roll my eyes at her antics, smiling softly as I glance at the costume she'd gifted me before leisurely walking towards my walk-in closet.
• Leaning against the doorframe, I watch her flip through a bunch of dresses hung in the dress section of my closet. Maybe not a bunch of dresses but more like a thousand because my mother for some weird reason thinks I require a truckload of dresses for every occasion you can think of.
• It doesn't matter if it's my style or not, it's dress to impress on the rare occasions I got to attend a function with my family, which always ended in me being ignored for the rest of the night, but it was nothing I wasn't used to.
• “It's hopeless trying to find that particular dress you know,” I mutter lazily, brushing those thoughts aside before they turned dark.
• Ava huffs but doesn't relent in her search, she is determined to find that dress but who knows how long that would take, I for sure I'm not planning to stand here and watch her looking everywhere for it.
• “Suit yourself, I'm going to ask Irina for a snack, do you want something?,” I ask with a raised brow, referring to our cook, who Ava is also quite familiar with since she frequents my home a lot.
• “Some brownies will do,” she responds, her voice muffled as her upper half remains buried in the material of those dresses.
• I chuckle, shaking my head as I turn away from her, strolling out for my bedroom and down the empty hallway that led to the winding staircase leading towards the foyer and the kitchen where I know I'd find Irina.
• The taxi pulls into the curb of a one story house, the driveway packed with cars and loud music blaring through loud speakers.
• “Thanks,” I murmur to the driver who as unlock the door and step out of the car, he nods speeding off.
• I inhale a slow shaky breath, clutching the red suspenders that held up the black pants of my mime costume.
• Digging my hands into my pants pocket I pull out my phone as I make my way up the lengthy driveway that leads up to the front.
• I notice some teenagers leaning against the hood of some parked cars throwing me weird glances and sniggering among each other as I approach.
• Gripping the material of my pants I proceed to walk up the steps that leads to the front porch ignoring them entirely. The music was blasting loudly and as I turned the knob, pushing the door open and walk into Chase's house packed with teenagers drinking from red plastic cups and dancing to the loud music.
• I stand there glued to the foyer as it becomes glaringly obvious I was the only one in a stupid costume.
• Some eyes turn to me as I stand there, covering their mouth as their laughter rocked their shoulders. It has become glaringly obvious that I was the only one wearing a silly costume, a mime costume no less.
• I feel like melting to a puddle on the floor as I feel my face heat up from pure embarrassment. Had Ava made a mistake or was the dress code changed last minute? Either way I'm not going to stand there and endure their judging eyes.
• “Isn't her parents like wealthy, why is she wearing that,” came the whisper, from left right and centre. I just couldn't take it anymore so I dash through the crowd, towards the open back door that leads to a garden. There were fewer people hanging around here and they don't bat an eyelash when I approach, huddling to a corner.
• I unlock my phone, sending a bunch of text to Ava that goes unread. I sucked in my teeth in frustration, opting to dial her number instead.
• It rings and rings but she never answers, I curse underneath my breath. She was supposed to meet me at the party but now I'm standing out here all alone, in this stupid costume that makes me stand out like a sore thumb. I continue dialing her number but it goes straight to voicemail.
• The initial plan of approaching Chase again flies out the window, I couldn't do this, not when I'm dressed like a freaking clown but more importantly Ava is nowhere to be seen.
• Fuck this.
• I turn to walk away when I spot Chase some few feet away from me, I freeze in my tracks. He has his tongue shoved deep down some girls throat in a heated kiss.
• I feel my stomach drop as stand rooted to the spot, watching my living nightmare play out before my eyes.
• He had rejected me before but why does seeing him kissing someone else hurt so damn much.
• The girl he has his arms wrapped around seems eerily familiar but her face is turned away from me so I can't make out any of her features no matter how hard I try, save for her dark hair, cascading down her shoulders in thick curls.
• My feet is carrying towards them unconsciously but before I could even remotely get close, someone grabs my arm and I'm shoved back suddenly as my front collides with theirs, my phone tumbling from my hold and their drink spilling over.
• I head snaps up to meet Jack Carter?
• I gasp, my eyes widening in to saucers, “Hey Blondie,” he grins, his dark gaze flickering behind me briefly, no doubt looking at Chase kissing some other girl.
• “You don't have to see that, if you want I could make you forget,” he murmurs, his dark eyes flickering down to meet mine.
• “What do you say?,” he whispers, he dark eyes gleaming dangerously like he was the devil making awaiting my response but I was too stunned to speak.
• Before I can respond he snatches my phon off the ground and begin to pull me along with him towards the driveway.
• I panic.
• “Where the hell are you taking me?,” I ask, trying to jerk my arm out of his hold but failing as it becomes firmer.
• “Relax–
• “Jack,” he is cut short by Jessica who appears in front of us with arms crossed over her chest, her eyes turning into slit as they narrow down to where his hands are clutching mine.
• “Did you humiliate me because of this thing!,” she snaps, her voice coated in venom causing me to flinch.
• Jack rolls his eyes in annoyance, his shoulders flexing as though he didn't have the patience to deal with her.
• “Get out for my way Jessica,” he grinds out, ignoring her question while I stand there in confusion as to why Jack Carter would talk to me or so much as give me the time of day.
• “Look at me Jack, I'm better than her!,” she cries, stomping her feet on the grass, causing a few heads to turn out way.
• I duck my head in embarrassment, no doubt news is starting to go round about Jack Carter being seen with the party's resident weirdo.
• “I'd hate to repeat myself,” he says through gritted teeth, his voice an octave lower that it sends a chill down my spine.
• Jessica's eyes widen in fear, she sees that he is dead serious. Without a word she shuffles back and he doesn't waste a second pulling me along to his parked car.
• Pulling the passenger door open, he helps me into the seat, proceeding to clasp in my seat belt before rounding the car and getting into the driver's side.
• He pulls out of Chase's driveway and into the road without another word, while I stare ahead in a daze unable to question his action.