Her Inamorato's Obsession

Chapter 8: Bad Daughter.

"Are you going somewhere?"

The question landed like a slap on Lily's face. "What? No—why would you think that?" Lily stammered, her voice trembling and her body tensing, instinctively moving backward. Why did her mother think she was going out?

"You smell refreshing, and your shampoo too. It seems like you took a long bath, didn't you?" Mrs. Davis observed. "If you're not going out, then why?"

Lily searched her mind for the right excuse. "I'm on my period, I just wanted to feel fresh," the words spilled out of her mouth before she realized it. "And my hair—I was just bored, so I washed it," she added, leaning closer to her mom.

"Are you having cramps?" Mrs. Davis asked, with worry in her voice,

Lily let out a sigh of relief; thank god her mom believed her.

"Yes, but I've taken painkillers," Lily replied, trying to ease her mother's worry. She then stepped forward, standing in front of her mom. "Mom, do you really think I would go out without telling you? That's not nice. What do you think of me?"

"That's why I asked. You smell nice, and I can see from your face that you did a skincare routine. By the way, why did you come here? It felt like you wanted to tell me something," Mrs. Davis inquired, her gaze intense. "Or maybe spy on me."

Mrs. Davis accidentally dropped the blusher she was holding, finally turning her attention fully to Lily with a fierce yet questioning look.

"Come on, Mom, I just wanted to see you off and how you dressed. You look beautiful, by the way," Lily quickly deflected, squatting down next to her mother's dressing table and placing her hands on her mother's.

"I just want you to know that I love you, and you can tell me everything," Mrs. Davis said, stroking Lily's hands gently with her thumbs before kissing her forehead.

"Of course, Mom. You're my mother. Why wouldn't I tell you everything?" Lily forced a smile, feeling guilt weigh heavy on her heart. She knew her mother was a lawyer, but it felt like she was a detective. How did she figure things out so quickly?

Mrs. Davis stood up abruptly."I better get going. If anything happens, call me, okay, baby?" she said, preparing to leave.

"Yes, Mom. Let's go. I'll see you off," Lily replied, walking with her mother to the front door.

* * *

"Bye, Mom," Lily watched as her mother got into the car, responding with a small wave.

Once the car was out of sight, Lily let out a huge sigh. she hurriedly went back into the house, slamming the door behind her shut. Her eyes scoured for the wall clock. It was now only 15 minutes to 10.

"I better get ready," Lily muttered to herself, her footsteps echoing as she ran upstairs and shut her bedroom door. She quickly located her pre-arranged outfit and hurriedly put it on, one piece at a time. When she finished, she sat at her dressing table and contemplated the perfect necklace to complete her look. Then she saw it—the necklace her grandma had given her before she passed away.

Hot tears welled in Lily's eyes as memories of her grandmother flooded her mind. Their bond had been incredibly strong and the necklace was the last gift she received from her.

Lily felt closer to her grandmother than to her own mother. She had confided in her grandmother about everything, from the gossip about Madison being a trashy hole, to her longing for a boyfriend. They even watched their favorite dating shows together. Her grandmother was Lily's best friend at home, as she shared the stories of her exciting high school life and teased on her boring life. Her grandmother was always there whenever she needed someone, a shoulder to cry on. Lily knew she would go one day but it happened too soon.

Blinking back her tears, Lily didn't want to ruin her mascara. She finally put on the necklace, sprayed her favorite perfume, and let her hair down. She went to her mirror, took a selfie, and sent it to the group chat.

Lily: I'm ready, guys, and waiting.

Sary: You look so cute! I'm on my way with Emily.

Emy: I thought "hot" was the concept.

Emily sent a picture of herself wearing a short purple fitted jumpsuit gown, paired with white sneakers. Lily's eyes widened in surprise—she had never seen Emily dress like this before. Emily's slim waist stood out, and her straight brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail, leaving two strands framing her face, making her look absolutely stunning.

Sarah also sent a mirror snap of herself. She was wearing a red sleeveless crop top with black shorts and black boots. Her dark brown curly hair cascaded down, making her as hot as ever.

Lily: What? You guys are betraying me. I'm changing my outfit.

Emy: What? No, girl! I was just kidding. Yours is also hot!

Lily's legs were revealed in her outfit, along with her flat stomach. She wore a matching pink crop top and mini skirt, with a black crop jacket layered over it. She rarely dressed like this, but if this was what it meant to be "hot," she embraced it. After a moment, Lily sat at her dressing table, touching up her makeup to achieve the perfect look. Her makeup was simple, accentuating her already beautiful facial features. As she finished, she grabbed her favorite perfume, ready to spray one last time, when another message popped up on her lock screen.

Sary: Come outside, babe!

Sarah's message flashed on Lily's lock screen, and she hurriedly ran downstairs to open the door. Standing before her were her best friends, looking absolutely stunning. Lily couldn't help but feel a pang of envy as she compared her outfit to theirs.

"You look absolutely stunning," Sarah complimented, nodding her head in approval.

"Yeah, a perfect blend of cute and hot, just your style," Emily added with a smile.

Lily joined in on the positive energy. "Let's take a selfie, guys!" she suggested, pulling out her phone from her black purse. The three of them posed together, capturing the excitement of the moment.

* * *

As they approached the massive gate, anticipation filled Lily's veins. The night was about to begin, and she was ready to embrace whatever lay ahead. The gate stood tall, leaving the girls in awe. If the gate was that impressive, what would the house itself look like?

Sarah skillfully maneuvered the car down the long and beautiful driveway, the music growing louder with each passing moment. Finally, they found a spot to park, and as they stepped out of the car, their eyes widened in awe at the sheer size of the mansion before them.

The house stood tall, with grand columns and a majestic entrance that made them feel like they were stepping into a palace. The flashing lights emanating from within and the large glass windows gave the impression of a lively and extravagant party already in full swing. Lily gazed up at the towering building, wondering if she would be able to find Ethan in this vast mansion.

They stood at the front door, whispering and contemplating their next move. The house was already teeming with people, and Lily and Sarah displayed hints of nervousness on their faces. However, Sarah's confident demeanor remained intact.

"Come on, guys, no backing out now," Sarah chuckled, reaching for the door. "We're going in."

As Sarah swung the door open, the pulsating music flooded their ears, instantly enveloping them in the vibrant atmosphere of the party. Lily's eyes scanned the surroundings, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. The house was vast, creating an illusion that the number of people inside was much smaller than it actually was. Familiar faces from their grade caught her attention, but to her surprise, she also noticed seniors who had graduated and were possibly in college now, predominantly girls. Mark, who seemed to have close ties with the seniors, attracted their presence.

Led by Sarah, Lily, and Emily made their way to the refreshment table, seeking a momentary refuge.

"Let's sit over there," Sarah suggested, pointing to an empty chaise longue near the drinks. Lily nodded in agreement.

As they settled down, Lily crossed her legs and surveyed the house. Her mind was preoccupied, wondering if she would be able to find Ethan amidst the crowd. She wasn't planning to approach him, but she couldn't help but feel a desire to observe him from a distance. Emily and Sarah engaged in conversation, but their words faded into the background as Lily's focus wavered, resulting in a few absent giggles.

Her eyes scanned the room as her gaze shifted from one corner to another. She spotted girls and boys dancing, some boys from their grade laughing and joking around, and others simply enjoying themselves. However, there was one person who captured her attention entirely—Mark. No matter where Lily looked with every turn of her head, she found his gaze fixed on her. He stood amidst a swarm of swooning girls, many of whom seemed older than high school seniors, some even recognizing faces from their previous year. Mark paid no attention to them, his eyes solely locked on Lily, intensifying her discomfort.

With every eye contact, Lily felt her unease grow. She always averted her gaze first, but Mark continued to stare at her, a smug expression on his face. It wasn't the first time she had experienced this behavior from him. It had started after he and Ethan dropped her off at her home, and each time it happened, Lily's uneasiness deepened.

This time, as Lily glanced in Mark's direction, their eyes met once again. She swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his intense stare. Determined not to look away first, she held his gaze, hoping he would be the one to break it. Instead, he continued staring, his smugness becoming even more pronounced.

Emily nudged Lily's elbow, snapping her out of the intense moment. "Girl, why does Mark keep staring at you?"

Lily looked away at first. Again! "You noticed?"

"Girl, yes, we can feel his stare too," Sarah chimed in.

Lily sighed, feeling a mixture of anxiety and confusion. "I don't even know... he..." Her words trailed off as she turned back, only to find Mark now approaching her. Every step he took brought him closer, and Lily couldn't wobble the foreboding sense that whatever he had to say or do, would not be good.