Chapter 9

                                    

                                          
"Grace, let's go for a dance." Ava demanded, removing her top and standing solely in her bra.
Grace took my hand and pulled me, "come, dance with us, you said no for dress and drinks but not for dance." I didn't t know how to dance but even though I would have known, I certainly won't have executed here, I didn't want to humiliate myself in front of them.
" I don't know how to dance," I said, timidly.
"Leave her Grace, she is just a prude baby," Ava piped in. 
Her attitude towards me was incomprehensible, why was she always impertinent to me? Why everyone here was?
"I am not a baby," my tone comes out substantial and hard. Her face took over into an arrogant outlook.
"Really? So, tell us have you ever drunk? have you ever fuck?" she looked around while taunting me with her words.
All the confidence that I conjured up vanished, as everyone's gaze was fixed on me. My eyes widen and my hand began to clammy. Drunk or not, she still did everything in her power to make me see the nightmare with my open eyes. Wheels in her head turned, as she caught the look of distress on my face because of her statement.
" Wait, don't tell you never been even kissed," she continued haunting me.
Her words send a brusque bolt of terror right through me, it was true, I had never been kissed. My lips trembled, and my courage betrayed to stand still, it slowly crumbling down. I always thought the kiss and intimacy were private subjects that one should talk about when they are comfortable, and I was not comfortable at all. When I peeked at people everyone around me had an expression of surprise like I had committed the crime of murdering someone. It was my life and my choice to kiss or not, why did they even bother to wriggle into my matter? Oh of course I know why I was easy to stomp on and could be their entertainment for the day. 
My lack of retort was confirmation for her indictment.
I heard a raucous laugh of Ava, and others soon engaged. Their exterior had amused smirks and I could read their eyes which were shaming me for my lack of experience on a particular subject. I feel so humiliated and so without squandering a moment, I sprinted from there but not before catching Aiden's astonished face. Surprised and empty he appeared.
Tears started falling freely, as I made my way through people and then the pavement outside the estate. I never wanted to come to this party, I never wanted to live in the dorm room, I never wanted to leave my mom behind, I never want to be here. But life played a cruel game with me. And I was here, where I was unwanted.
"Emerald!" Holden called from behind, but I didn't cease. My steps were quick but not sufficient to overtake him, so his giant steps gained up with my pace soon. I felt a hand lightly brush on my shoulder, for me to stop but still, I didn't.
"Emerald, wait. Let me take you to your room, it's night and not safe, you won't be getting any cab this late."
At that, I halted acknowledging that I don't have any medium to take me to my dorm. I nodded in agreement, not trusting my voice. Silently, we made our way to the car. I was yet unfamiliar with the roads here and was a complete mess because of what happened, so it was a safe choice to go with him. At least he wasn't like them, he always helped me whenever his friends brought anguish in my life.
The car ride was quiet, no words were traded, I obstructed myself from speculating anything further, just remained lost in the beautiful starry night and trees out of the window. The car came to halt after a few torturous moments.
I sighed; my tears had dried with air that caressed my face during the drive back here. Anxiety was calmed and collected. Definitely, I was not high on the moon, however, I could move on and not be upset about the phenomena for meanwhile, conceivably while sleeping at night, this will trouble me for sure.