Chapter 6

The Party

The house looked like it was owned by a superstar. We drove in Ariana's friend's car, with a few of her other friends who giggled about the party in my room. I didn't know what to expect, but not what I was seeing right now.

I have never been in a room with so many people around. They were booze everywhere and horny teens feasting on each other's bodies. The loud music kept me from hearing what Ariana was saying to me.

"Relax,"Ariana nudged my shoulders. "It's just a party, they won't bite."

"Okay,"I smiled pretentiously.

The tension began to ease up a little as I watched other students have fun.

"Ari Ari.."A girl from the crowd rushed towards Ariana. "You need to come see this. Phil just stripped on the kitchen table and is putting up a show."

"Shut up!"Ariana sounded excited. She let go of my hands and ran towards what seemed like a dream come true for her.

"Hey,"I called out, hoping she could hear me with the loud music playing in the background. "You said we would stick together."

She whispered 'I am sorry' into the air and left me standing on my own.

"Great, just great."I exhaled and went to the sofa to hide away from the guy who was already checking me out with his eyes like I was on his bucket list.

I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my contacts. 'Papa…' I never knew I would miss him this much. I always thought it to be a breath of fresh air once I left for college. But I was wrong, I felt homesick and the kids around weren't making it any easier with their loud cheers and stern stares like I was the awkward one.

'Where is Ariana when I need her….'

I turned my head in search of her, hoping she would come to put me out of my misery. But then I heard my name.

"Luna Rossa,"I turned, wondering how fast one's name could circulate through the entire school. But I saw him instead, Nico, standing there like a tall glass of fine wine, with his perfect figure and chocolate brown hair that looked like they never went out of place. 

He sure knew how to make an entrance, with girls hovering around him and football jocks extending handshakes

'Must be nice to be popular…'

My butterflies came back just by staring at him. I stood up and went to look for Ariana. The next room I entered was worse than the other one I left. The entire room was filled with smoke, the students lay helplessly on the floor all wasted and drained. I tiptoed in between spaces trying to find Ariana.

"There you are,"I said, relieved that she was awake, at least partially. "I have looked everywhere for you."

"Well I am sorry Mom,"Ariana burst into what seemed like confused laughter.

She was high. She tried to stand up but fell on the couch. She stood up again and started narrating how sexy Phil was on the table.

"I tell you, Ella, there's no man on earth as sexy as my Phil." 

Ariana was not the type of girl who got herself stuck to just one man. She liked to have a taste of them in their varieties, so I wasn't so surprised when it was Phil she spoke about now and Nico a few hours ago.

"Let me get you some water,"I said. "I will be right back." 

"Whatever,"Ariana continued laughing and collapsed on the couch again.

I walked toward the fridge and grabbed a can of water but stumbled on Nico as I turned away from the fridge.

My eyes widened in shock and my cheeks were burning from much blushing. The butterflies came back again for the second time that night and I stood there, mouth wide open, not able to say anything to the man I just bumped into.

Nico reached forward and closed my mouth with his hands. "You might get a fly in there if you keep them open for too long."

For whatever reason, Ariana didn't matter anymore as I stood completely breathless before Nico. He leaned in closer and I could hear my heart beating fast in my chest. For what seemed like a moment of maybe stolen kisses, he reached for the red cup on top of the fridge and moved his eyes to my lips. My eyes searched his beautiful amber eyes and the sensation in my body grew hot.

"Hey Nico,"His friends called out to him. "Have you found the cup yet?"

Nico raised the cup while still looking at me and replied "Yeah, I found it."

He moved away from me and walked towards his friends. I stood still for a minute unable to feel my legs. Did I just look at Nico up close? Were we just 5 inches away from kissing? Was he just messing with my head?

I shook my head and ran to meet Ariana in the other room, not letting the sweet incident get to me.

Darn it. She was already a goner. I moved closer to her and washed her face with a little water, poured some on her hair and asked her to drink a little. Ariana sat up and gulped down the whole water in the can.

"Should I get more?"I asked her.

She nodded and I went back to the fridge. My pace slowed down when I saw Nico touching a girl's hair. I felt a lump in my chest which only grew bigger as Nico leaned closer to her and whispered something into her ears that made them both giggle.

My excitement from a few seconds ago dropped from a hundred to zero. I increased my pace and handed the water to Ariana. "I will be outside for a few minutes, I need fresh air." 

I walked past Nico and the girl who looked very familiar, but Nico didn't as much as flinch or look my way. I came out of the house feeling low and wanted to return to my room.

"I guess I got the answer to my question,"I said to myself.

'He was messing with my head…"

Feeling glum over Nico wasn't going to help me achieve all that I wanted. I pushed the dejection I was feeling and moved back towards the house.

I had gotten so deep in my thoughts I didn't know how I got to the side of the house I was currently in. I tried to figure out my way to the front door but I continued missing steps and moving around in circles. I heard a sharp noise and turned with fear.

"Who's there?"I said in a frightened tone.

The noise came again, louder. "I have weapons, I wouldn't want to mess with me if I were you,"I threatened as my voice shook in terror.

The noise was replaced by a soft pant and whimper. I directed my torch to where the sound was coming from and stood in horror as I watched a girl bleed to death. I stood there like I was in a trance not able to move or talk.

My breath matched the pace of her own but only louder. I tried to move closer to her but the movement of her head brought me to a halt. She shook her head like she was telling me not to come closer. Her hands moved upward to a spot in the dark and I followed the direction of her hand with my torchlight. My legs and hands began to shake as I looked at what came into the light.

I gasped for air as I looked into the face of a living werewolf. I tried to find my ground as my feet trembled with each step I took backwards.

"No no,"I continued moving backwards. "Please don't hurt me."

I moved back with tears in my eyes and only one thought in my head. How to outrun this beast. I turned around and ran like I had never run before. I didn't know where I was going but I kept on shouting; 

"Help help!!" 

I somehow got to the front door and exploded on everyone.

"There's a girl who is almost dead at the back of the house, she's seriously bleeding. I think she was attacked by a werewolf."I said panting heavily.

The entire room looked at me like I was insane and continued drinking.

I couldn't believe them. "If you don't help her, she's going to die and so are we."I continued, this time more angry.

A few boys agreed to go with me and the rest followed, including Nico. We got to the place where I found the girl lying, and I stared in horror at what looked impossible before my eyes.

There was no blood stain, no wolf. She was gone.