Arabella Rivera "This is totally peer pressure and a lot of other bad shit. Why am I friends with you again?" I groan as I closed the door behind me. Gwen whirls around and winks, resumes walking while doing it backward. "Because I'm the best friend you could ever ask for. Hey come on you gotta loosen up a little. It's only a party and I'll be beside you the entire night. Promise." I grunt, rolling my eyes in annoyance. "That's exactly what I'm not looking forward to." Her mouth parts as her eyes turn into a dark glare. "Don't pretend you don't like my company bitch." " I don't." I spat and walked ahead of her. I didn't want to go to the damn party and she very well knew that. But she wouldn't stop until I do, something I was now starting to resent. I entered the car, slamming the door shut roughly. "Hey hey, careful with my baby bitch." Gwen rushed around the hood to enter the driver's side. She turns to me when she's buckled up. "Oh come on babe. Stop with the pouting, you'll have a great time!" She winked and started the car. My jaw ticked as I turn away from her and looked out the window. In the side-view mirror, I caught a glimpse of a familiar boy. Christian was also behind him, seeming to recently be catching a ride with Haiden now. They were trying to get along, well that's what he said. I didn't really know, I hadn't talked to Haiden, not since the day at the alley. Neither did he try talking to me. I suppose I should like that we were ignoring each other, but I would be a fool to not admit that I still craved him. I was hoping he craved me too, but the coldness I felt when our eyes met depleted my hope. My heart throbs when our eyes seem to meet through the mirror. I'm the first one to tear away from the short intense gaze, my heart pummeling loudly. I hated that he affected me so much. Gwen drives away leaving me fighting the urge to take one last peek at him. Fuck it. I thought as my eyes snap to the side-view mirror and caught the glimpse of him still looking. ______________ "Seriously cheer up cinderella, it'll be fun." Gwen playfully slapped the ends of my hair.I turn to her, scowling like I just ate something sour. "How can mingling with horny and sweaty teens possibly be fun? Fun is in my room binging on Supernatural while eating my hidden stash of chocolate." Gwen's mouth part. "You have a hidden stash of chocolate?" She shouldered me playfully with a smirk. "You naughty girl." "Hey guys. Ready for tonight!?" Samantha squeals, placing her lunch tray on the table. "Oh my God yes!!" Gwen's palm hit the surface of the table to show her eager excitement. I grit my teeth, stabbing the fork into the salad. I tried everything, and I mean everything to make Gwen just delete the picture and leave me out of the plans tonight. But she didn't give up, admirable but in my case it was irritable. "Someone is stabbing her lunch again." Christian noted as he tugs an empty chair to sit beside me. "Yeah well, that's the only way I can vent out my emotions." I said dryly while looking down at my tasteless salad. When will I learn that I should just make my own? I lift my head to stare at him with a raised brow. "Have any other ideas?" His eyes twinkle with mischief as he winks. "Well, I have one." Gwen makes a fake vomiting sound at the back of her throat. "Eww, you guys are so adorable that I might just throw up my lunch." "Aren't they Sam?" "Yeah definitely," Samantha said with a slight flicker of sadness. I rolled my eyes and whispered to Christian. "She's always so delusional. I'm thinking of bringing her to rehab." "Hey I can hear you, you know!" Gwen hissed. I lift my eyes to the ceiling and groaned. "You were supposed to." Gwen doesn't answer me, only goes back to chatting about the party tonight with Samantha. Was it bad that I was wishing a storm would rain on their parade? Christian narrows his eyes at my face. "Hey what's with you today? You look sad and annoyed?" He asked unsurely. I turn away from his gaze and looked at my unappetizing salad. I was starving but couldn't find it in me to chew it much less swallow it. It really could use some salt and a nice bit of dressing."It's nothing really. Just upset that I have to attend the party tonight." I hissed the word party hoping Gwen would catch my displeasure. Christian brows raised in surprise. "Oh, you're going to a party tonight. Nice." I narrowed my eyes. "Did you take note of my tone of displeasure? Because I think you missed it." Christian laughs, the corner of his lips tilting into a smirk." I think parties are cool." He shrugs. "Oh then in that case you must come tonight! It slipped my mind to ask you earlier. So much shit going up in there, am I right?" Gwen slaps her head and does a funny face. Christian nods with amusement dancing in the swirls of blue. "Right." "But I can't tonight." He shrugs. " Kinda have a ton of homework already, can't imagine the pile I'd receive the rest of the day." Gwen's lips shift into a pout as she darts her eyes between Christian and me. "You guys really are a match made in heaven." "Too bad Arabella is more like a devil and not an angel type." Meredith jabs as she seats across Gwen. I ignored her like I usually do. "Did you get the weed?" She asked Gwen as she bit into her burger. Gwen nodded. "I'm stoked and ready. I'll bring it over at Samantha's after school. We'll do the brownies then. Arabella's first time making weed brownies, I feel like a proud mom." My eyes widen. I didn't sign up to make weed brownies. I had already made a plan to lock myself in one of Samantha's rooms. Making weed brownies wasn't part of my plan. Meredith made a nasty scowling face. "Did you really have to bring her? Can't she like, stay in her room like usual and masturbate to barney the dinosaur?" I sent her a sharp glare. "You think I want to come to that stupid party anyway? I rather stay in my room than have to see your nasty face." My voice then grew soft as I looked at her in pity. " Look Meredith, hunny, it's okay to admit that you have an unhealthy obsession with me. Sorry to burst your little bubble but I only go for dicks, you on the other hand should look for a pussy like, you." Meredith sneers, her face turning an ugly shade of embarrassment and anger. "You bitch-" "Shut it! Arabella's coming to the party and that's final. If you have a problem with it then you stay home Meredith. Right, Sam?" Gwen looked at Sam asking for validation. Samantha nodded, refraining from staring at an angry Meredith. "Right.""Fine. But she better stay far away from me." Meredith snaps. I rolled my eyes, faking a yawn. "Wouldn't want to catch a disease anyway. " Meredith growls and stands up. She doesn't bother taking her lunch with her and walks away. "She seriously needs to work on that attitude." Gwen mumbles. Suddenly I felt a hot breath on my neck, making me still. "That was pretty hot Ella." Christian chuckles and pulls away. I turn to him and grinned. There's a loud screech of chair legs scraping on the surface of the tiles as it drags. We all turn our eyes to the culprit. Instantly our eyes collide and like usual I grow queasy with emotions. He looks angry as he tears his gaze away from me and strides out of the cafeteria, leaving his friends staring at him in confusion. " Does he always have to make a scene? Such a fucking show off." Gwen groans in annoyance. Christian shrugs and turns around. "He isn't the worst. " I couldn't agree more. He really wasn't the worst, in fact- What the hell was I thinking? Of course, he's the worst. He's the worst of them all. I rip my eyes away from his departing form and focused on my nasty lunch. I wasn't hungry anymore.