Chapter 1: Freshman party

"Jessy", she yelled out standing in front of a large mirror with it's edges made of green aluminum plates, "I told you the combination was nice" she said with all excitement.

"Yeah, you actually did" she said packing her hair up in a bun, with some curled strands falling to her cheek bone "never will I have imagined that a Lilac silk dress will be perfect on black leathered boot heels". Enthusiasm was so much evident in their voice, you will wonder what they were actually preparing for.

Luciana was the most excited, her face had this wide grin all through, her cheeks was all red, it was evident it wasn't just because they decided to appear in matching outfits or because the combination was unique and simple. She probably had some other plans for the party they dressed up for, who knows she may hook up with some cool guy, she thought.

The college they just got in was holding their Freshman's party and this wasn't one that was opened to all freshmen probably because it was sponsored by some certain cool dude, so he had his picks. Every Freshman at college heard about it, obviously it was the talk of the school. Well, Luciana and Jessie weren't among the rich kids at college, it just happens they are so beautiful that they have to be included in almost every guest list.

A week to the party, they hadn't received a mail yet as the invite ticket which was to be shown at the entrance. Only the few that got the mail had access to the party, others could probably sleep at home as sadly they weren't fortunate enough to be golden-spooned or at least Silver per se. Jessie really cared less about the invite, not like she didn't want to be there either. But to her, it felt like just another party, same couldn't be said about Luciana as she even tried mingling with the rich kids in school. Afterall, her background wasn't too low, at least among the middle class, they were part of the top rank society.

"I should fix that for you" she said while walking towards Luciana, reaching out for the hem of the garment around the collar bone with her teeths, she tore the thread pulling out from the loose ends of the edges. She thought of redoing the stitch, but luckily, it wasn't all loosed and wasn't around the bottom of the gown which could be stepped on easily.

"Thank you, what will I do without you" she said in a flirtatious manner and then chuckled.

"Lol, I have no idea" Jessie babbled as she remembered some years back when she felt all lost and Luciana was like her comforter that was sent to her. She didn't remember vividly well but she knew she had few fragments of memory, where she had this one perfect home and suddenly all of it came crashing. The exact details of her Family wasn't clear to her yet but she knew her origin and that the Ranez family, Luciana's family, wasn't her home though she is counted as family.

Jessica Gibson (Jessie), an elegant young lady of "the Gibsons" known for having old money, lived the recent years of her life as a Ranez. For some reasons, she had to stay away from home, not like it made sense to her. She didn't understand why suddenly her Parent's attitude changed towards her and why she was sent away. She remembered walking down this alley all sober, feeling so lost and confused.

"Babe", Luciana called her out from her moment's reflection "I asked you a question"

"Sorry, I didn't get you", Jessie replied with eyes pleadingly screaming out "I AM SORRY AND I PROMISE NOT TO GHOST OUT ".

"It's fine" she said in a soothing tone "I was asking if I could go with the new purse you got from that designers shop"

"Sure",Jessie shrugged.

They made their way out and took the ride they booked about five minutes ago to Onyx lounge, where the party was going on. Jessie and Luciana lived in the family house of the Ranez as the distance was about sixty miles to Chelan college. The ride to the lounge wasn't a quiet one as they kept on talking about the recent things that took place at college.

For some reasons, Jessie was tensed. She had her eyes on this guy Charles and she was certain he was attending the party. He really was so cool with her but on a homie basis, she wanted more. She needed this relationship where she could feel his warmth and be cuddled up in his arms. Few days back she finished this novel with heated romance, it really stirred up some emotions and she wished to have such thrill, not just with any random person though.

"Finally," Jessie blurted alighting from the taxi "it doesn't look bad ". It was fifteen past nine, they were just thirty minutes late and the party was holding up till dawn. The night was dark and the stars were out already beautifying the atmosphere. The see-through fence of the lounge had LED lights attached to strings giving off colourful glows. The girls walked in to the lounge, the place wasn't orderly as a lot of people made their entrance too.

Jessie and Luciana hurriedly caught up with a few of their friends there. "Hyee Oswald", Luciana beamed silently whispering "your crush" to Jessie which made her giggle and replied ,

"in your wild dreams".

Luciana chortled at her response. Oswald have been a friend since they got in, she recently noticed the look he gives Jessie and it definitely wasn't same with others. He had tried hooking up with her so many times, his actions showed it all, even the way he stalks her on social media. Luciana just didn't understand how Jessie did not get the signals or if she was just playing dumb to it. Anyhow, she felt bad for Oswald and still found it funny that he was not giving up, also, she enjoyed watching the chase.

Since they got admission at Chelan college, this was the second party held, Jessie concluded that this particular one was going to be the life of the academic session. Students were gathered all around the lounge and at different spots, some were in the swimming area, the pool and some chatted at a corner.

Luciana turned around and noticed some of her friends at the bar area,

"Jessie, I will be back", she said smiling "and have fun"

"I will, definitely"

She moved away leaving Jessie behind. She decided to look around, maybe she could see someone she knows, her heart knew she was just looking for Charles but she could pass it with any other person. Turning, she saw two figures , her eyebrows slightly drew in realization, it was Charles and she didn't just see him, he sat on a couch at the end and a girl with blonde hair sat on him, she couldn't tell what exactly he whispered to her but he had said something that got the girl laughing. Jessie looked away and she felt slightly hurt, she was burning within, she had no reason to be jealous, she just couldn't stop herself from being jealous.

She fought it hard to not give him another glance but her head moved faster than her brain and she turned again, this time she couldn't see him clearly because some "busybodies" as she will put it blocked her line of vision.

Looking away from him, her eyes found some few other people, first it was Oswald near the stage with some few other guys, then she saw a group of girls that called themselves Sassy Snitches surrounding one other girl Alyssa. She was certain they were up to no good and she wondered why they masked their lips with black everytime, she found it rather ludicrous and she felt someone had to talk sense to them. Just after them, her gaze fell on Luciana, she had this wide grin on her face and she looked like she was enjoying the conversation she was having. In quiet amazement she stared at her, ever since she knew Luciana, she always looked cheerful with positive energy, she remembered she was still alive because Luciana had saved her from a suicide attempt,

Jessie smiled remembering what Luciana said. Her exact words were, "You can always tell me anything and you know I will risk everything for you". Then she wondered if she really had no pain since she gave this smile always or if she was just good at masking it.

"Always lost in your world", a voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Please, please not him", she mumbled. Turning her head, she forced a wide grin, "Oh, it's you Charles"

"Mmhmm, or did you expect someone else?", he said with the side of his chin curved upwards.

"Not at all", she said with burgeoning excitement "you really are enjoying the party".

"I think I am", he said in approval "It's been going good and I hope it gets better"

With a nod, "Sure, when you've had company all along", she voiced out and instantly began to curse herself for speaking out loud.

"Interesting.. someone's been watching me", he said, "about that..."

"Attention please!", Someone stood at the middle and clinked a fork against a cup.

Charles' speech was interrupted by the call and Jessie exhaled a sigh of relief.

"I hope we are having fun", Carl stood at the middle and spoke outrightly, "let us play a game of truth or dare".