Chapter 1 : Graduation Party

The night sky was dark and gloomy yet the city underneath is glowing with lights and laughter but neither of it can be appreciated by the young girl whose mind and eyes are far away. The light wind ruffled her hair, soothingly yet her thoughts remain aggravating.

She held the railing in a death grip, making her green veins visible as if she was battling within herself because of various uncertain thoughts revolving around her head. The dim lightening from the moon shone on her journal resting on the recliner chair behind her, making the pages glow as they rustled due to the calm yet powerful breeze. The beautiful calmness around her was lost, only the world of her thoughts surrounded her and suddenly a knock startled her, bringing her soul back to the balcony of her bedroom.

She picked up her book and swiftly ran inside to open the door but only after hiding that journal under the pillow not because she feared that whoever the intruder came might check it out but she rather be careful. Some secrets are best hidden even from friends and family.

“What? Are you kidding me?”

A loud voice reached Fiona’s ears as soon as the door was pulled open. Firstly, a red-haired girl entered, assessing her look sternly, followed by a grossly kissing couple and a nicely built young man glued to his mobile, chatting probably.

“The agreed time is eight Fiona and it’s already quarter past eight yet you are still in your pyjamas”

Darla scolded Fiona as the latter stood frustratingly calm giving I-got-it-under-control look which further irritated the redhead. Fiona was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn’t take notice of the time but saying sorry was not her thing and agreeing to her mistake will only get her more scolding thus it’s better to remain collected.

They all planned a small graduation party as a token of celebration for their successfully completed high school journey. When it comes to prom, these five buddies think it as a lame and totally sucking party thus decided to do something daring and adventurous.

Fiona suggested a party at the night club which is restricted to teens under eighteen. As they all wanted to take up this challenge, nobody was against it. Thus, the gathering happened in glittery short dresses and button-down shirts.

All heads turned to Fiona in a questioning manner after hearing Darla’s outburst.

“Darla! Calm down, I am waiting for you to select my dress that’s it.” Fiona grinned, revealing her pearly teeth and charming eyes.

Darla looked at her suspiciously, dropping her bag on the sofa.

“Who are you?” She questioned, nudging her head up and down, while folding her hands.

Fiona rolled her eyes, walking towards her closet at the other end of the room. She never let anyone not even her parents touch her stuff since childhood no matter what so Darla’s somewhat over reaction is clearly justified.

That’s how much possessive she is about her things. Wanting to have control over everything around her is one thing she desperately clung to since that unfortunate incident happened nearly a decade ago. She was so young and can’t do anything then but now she grew up and she never wants to be that helpless again.

“Never mind. Can you all wait for me downstairs? I will be there in five.”

Thiago, the only single guy in the room was the first to leave, whistling loudly while doing a little happy dance saying he just made the poor girl he met and made acquaintance a few days ago, agree to be his date tonight. Fiona shook her head in disbelief staring at his back.

A street dog is better than him as it at least barks at the people passing by but this man ignores even his friends unless they got a company of other girls. Either that or he will be busy flirting with random girls in those dating apps, looking for no-strings-attached date nights. He got some muscles and those dark eyes, straight nose and charmingly seductive smile will never get him a ‘no’ from the girls he wanted.

She then turned towards the still kissing couple, Neil and Gwen, thinking they might’ve stopped after hearing her unsaid request to vacate the room but no, and she shouldn’t have dared to see.

Fiona quickly closed her eyes, nibbling hard on her bottom lip while fisting her right hand at the side and held her churning stomach with the left, trying to calm herself from puking by taking deep breaths.

“Darla, take them out” requested Fiona ever so politely while walking towards her balcony for fresh air and a view that didn’t involve lips licking.

“I feel terrible” She yelled scaring the redhead.

Darla knew Fiona despises witnessing lip kisses. It was something only she observed from their movie-get-togethers where she would hide her face behind a pillow whenever she anticipated the protagonists to kiss or every time, she took a detour just to avoid the kissing couple lurking in every corner of their campus during High school.

But she had no problem watching other intimate scenes, Darla observed that too when they sneakily watched a p**n video a few months back for example. It was Fiona’s idea. Darla was so confused and also concerned because at one time Fiona nearly puked on her notes just because she saw Ron and Olivia downright started making out in their classroom, sucking each other head’s off.

When Darla asked her about this unusual reaction, Fiona was surprised at first thinking how did she knew? But later realised her disgust was not quite discreet. She just nodded, accepting but didn’t give any details except “I don’t know but that’s how I feel.”

All friends would hang out whenever possible after classes or during weekends but mostly it’s always Fiona, Darla and Neil as they were friends since middle school, Gwen and Thiago joined the trio later in High school. So, Darla and Neil were more into noticing little things, caring and understanding Fiona better, so it was only them who knew this dislike of hers.

Neil talked to her about this a few times, saying she should get used to it and avoiding it would be impossible. He was a bit more attentive towards her every time the little gang was out together, making sure nobody touches her as she hates physical contact when walking in crowded places, opening the car door of her side, handing her tissues while waiting to wipe her mouth. So caring.

But after he started dating Gwen in High school, Fiona didn’t want him to keep distance even with his girlfriend just for her sake so she lied to him saying she was not so affected by kissing anymore as she was before. He didn’t believe it at first but later…the boy in love couldn’t care less.

“I’ll come knocking again after five minutes so make sure to be ready by then.”

Darla warned Fiona before dragging Gwen and Neil out and down to the living room where they can wait for her. Fiona ran her hands through her brunette hair, inhaling and exhaling deeply, making sure she was okay.

She sighed loudly thinking how many such scenes she has to witness tonight. She still can’t tolerate watching them but learnt how to control her senses and not puke every time it happened. She can do it. She did it till now except that one time in class where she almost lost it but later, she controlled it well. Hid it well except Darla found out but her other friends couldn’t so it’s a half win. That’s better actually less knowledge means less questioning.

Without wasting another second Fiona started dressing up for the party. While tying her hair she gave a glance at her unfinished painting on the canvas beside dressing table making a mental note about it before quickly adjusting her dress and making sure her hair and everything was in place and left downstairs

“Ah! My beautiful daughter!”

Logan Wilson stood up from the couch, smiling on seeing his daughter descending the stairs and briskly reached the end of steps to extend his hand which Fiona gladly took, returning his smile.

She wore an open back, mini black bodycon dress which reached her mid thighs, screaming hot and her hair was styled into a sleek ponytail leaving a few strands to hang on either side that reach down to her chin.

She held a gold clutch bag with her right hand while a beautiful diamond bracelet adorned her left hand, highlighting her slim wrist. Her lips were bare without any lipstick, bringing out the natural glow of her rosy lips.

“Dad!”

She gave him a hug and then turned to face her friends, just in time to see Victoria coming from their bedroom bearing a gift box. She gasped looking at her daughter.

“Oh my!! You look stunning.”

Gwen who sat beside her boyfriend stood up pouting her swollen lips. Darla and Neil shared a look shaking their heads meanwhile Thiago was eager to leave for the party as that girl named Ria was waiting for him already.

“Come on Victoria, we all knew that your daughter is as beautiful as the evening sky but we dressed pretty as well. Look at us too.”

Gwen’s somewhat-funny-but-induced-with-jealousy comment brought smiles to everyone present as they took only the funny part to heart because they knew Gwen. She is Gwen.

Victoria gave the gift box to Fiona only after hugging her daughter to her heart’s content. She opened the box excitedly to see a rose gold neck piece with a diamond pendant that matched with her bracelet.

“Aww…Thanks mom. I loved it”

Fiona kissed her mother’s cheeks, beaming with happiness. She saw this duo set when they went for shopping a week ago as she didn’t want to exceed the budget, compromising on the necklace felt right.

They weren’t too poor to afford both pieces but just couple of months ago Logan bought her a sapphire three piece diamond studded jewellery and she didn’t want to be too indulged as she has to leave soon. For college.

“You are making us sick by showing off”

Darla said dramatically by waving her hands, giving a side eye to the trio. They all grew up watching the couple’s love and care for Fiona. It’s to say that she is their only world and entire universe of their lives and for Darla it became a habit to bicker with Wilson’s every time. She is their family too.

“Enough guys. Let’s go. See you soon, dad.” And then she faced Victoria “Thanks for the gift mom. It’s lovely” she said with a kiss on her cheek.

After that Fiona and her friends briskly reached to where the jeep was readily parked at the front by the impatient Thiago just a minute ago and hopped into it except Fiona who raised her eyebrows at the red jeep.

“That’s cool!”

It’s time to hit the ‘Night World’ - the famous and very dangerous night club in the whole Kandon where underworld mafia business dealings would take place and people from every clan can be seen there either closing an illegal deal or spying on other clan, trying to sneak some or other details about shipping or attacks planned or just partying.

Technically, they weren’t allowed even to enter the club premises but Thiago’s brother works as a bouncer in that club, so he helped them to sneak when promised in return to set him up with one of their ex-classmates on whom his brother has a secret crush since he first saw her when he gave Thee a ride to school, a month ago.

And, that’s the adventure they decided to do tonight, for their graduation party, trying to be an adult before becoming an actual adult, sneaking into a club where they don’t belong, party hard in the face of danger and return home unscathed. Sounds fun!?

The top floor was completely reserved to the common people whereas, the basement is for mafia people. When Fiona first proposed this night club, her friends were shocked yet excited and immediately agreed. Is there any record where teenagers said no to adrenaline rush and danger? Yeah! May be some good kids but these were not.

As soon as the car was parked, Neil was the first to jump down the jeep

“This is it. Our heaven for tonight” he said, looking at the building, lit with red lights giving dangerous vibes. The girls were a little scared now to get down because all the people stood outside were totally scary covered with tattoos and piercings. Few even had scars as to remind people what they are capable of. But isn’t it far too late to be scared?

“What’s with those looks cowards? Get down already!”

Thiago said impatiently, after killing the engine, while looking at the three girls, who sat like they just saw a dinosaur and are going to get killed by it any second now. Fiona was the first to climb down, bracing herself and encouraged Darla and Gwen to get down too.

Neil hugged his girlfriend while whispering “I am here babe. Just relax” in her ear and planted a kiss on her cheek to ease her racing heart. She smiled slowly, nodding her head, inhaling sharply.

The five of them made their way towards the entrance. The bouncer, Thiago’s brother stopped them to check the entrance pass. Thiago rolled his eyes at him but Neil hit his shoulder, reminding him to behave, while pulling the passes out of his pocket.

If he let them in without checking, then that would rise suspicion and of course it’s a huge risk. One wrong move, they’ll end up grounded and worse, Thiago’s brother will lose his job.

Just when Neil was about to handover the pass, they heard a shrieking whistle and a few howls from behind. The five of them turned around to see a group of men walking towards them.