Chapter 8

                                    

                                          

Holden fabricated when he said that Aiden live in the house because it was not a house, it was a mansion, a gigantic magnificent estate. The mansion stood in the middle, nestled in the woodland. Its windows were made of crystal, large enough to welcome bright rays of the sun. Tall walls enriched the estate, portraying it as guards, which had been called into existence to protect those who reside within.
If the exterior was this elegant and majestic, then interior probably would be beyond my imagination.
And my thought proved correct as we strode further into the massive place. 
Over darkness, the sea of figures illuminated, multicolored light flashing on faces. Boisterous music was drifting through an energetic atmosphere, the smell of alcohol hung in the air, people were romping under the influence of heavy intoxication, and from the dimmed lights interior that I could glimpse interior was design portraying the palace of kings from the Victorian age, authentic and imperial.
"Look there he is with Ava," Grace indicated toward the center where Aiden was hunching in midst of the group, while Ava was sitting on his lap kissing his neck. He was a supernova that outshone all the other stars in his galaxy.
She is not his girlfriend, Grace's words rushed into my head, as I saw her in his arms.
We waddled towards them.
Promptly, his face averted towards me, the alarming vacant forest gaze scrutinized me from top to button making my heart race. From the very first encounter with him, I couldn't comprehend how did he have the potential to give rise to a storm of sensations within me which were so foreign to me.
He smirked and then and there, I knew that something terrible was going to transpire.
Pushing Ava from his lap he sat straight as a rod.
"Did you catch a cold? Sweet innocent girl?" 
My heart leaped, in the terror.
His remark on my clothes made me want to cry, but noticing his wicked smirk, and everyone's amused gazes, I knew I couldn't give the satisfaction of revealing to them that his sharp words had hit me, hard. I can't be their medium of entertainment, again. So, I masked my emotions with a blank face, later I can sob but not at the moment.
"She must be insecure about herself," Ava remarked, with a hysterical laugh. I can't comprehend why not showing my skin bother them so much.
"If not dressing like slut and hiding my skin means that I am insecure then I am insecure," I said, looking directly into her eyes. From my peripheral, I glimpsed Aiden's eyes slightly widened which was unnoticeable if my curiosity and alertness didn't catch it at the exact moment.
He looked gorgeous, a beautiful face in vain.
Giving a ferocious glare to Ava, I swirled around and lumbered far away from her. Away from him.
"Emerald girl! Stop-" Grace sprinted to reach me," don't ruin your mood because of them you came for fun, don't you? Come." She took my hand in her hand and pulled me through the sea of people. Everyone was in their world. A world where only bliss can be tasted, felt, and glimpsed.
She took me to the kitchen, and in no time, she drowned herself in alcohol, seamed in that blissful world too. I stood in the corner, sometimes pondering a little, or watching hilarious escapades of drunk people but that couldn't occupy my mind for long.
"Huh, take it." Holden approached me, giving me a cup that contained sprite.
"Thank you," I smiled
"Are you enjoying it?"