Diehard Desire

First Party

"Come on, just one more stop and then we are done." Iris whined as she stomped her feet on the floor of the cafe they were sitting in.

"But I'm tired, Iris." Ivy said as she tried to convince her shopping-maniac of a friend to go back home.

"I promise that it wouldn't take long. Please, do it for me." Iris said before contracting her face in annoyance. Iris loved shopping either and this was her best friend's first high school party and she wanted it to be perfect.

Ivannah reluctantly nodded her head only to be dragged to the car by Iris. One of the guards opened the door for them to get into the black BMW M6 they came in today. Ivannah sighed as she waited for Iris to be done telling the driver the address of their next destination.

Two days had passed and it was Saturday already. The God-forsaken party was tonight. Iris had been blabbing about the stupid party for the last two days and Ivannah cursed the moment that she had said yes to going there with her.

It had been three hours since they were in town and Iris had forced Ivannah to visit almost every shop there was. She couldn't help but feel uncomfortable in the presence of new people due to living in solitude with the same company for so long.

It had been two days since she had left the voice message for Mr Salvatore. But just like she had expected, he had given no answer. No phone calls, not even a text. Even though she already knew that he wouldn't reply didn't mean she wasn't disappointed.

She had hoped that he would have been happy and excited on hearing her voice. But the lack of response told her it was anything but excitement. She didn't dare tell anyone about the phone call for the sole reason that she was embarrassed.

"Earth to Ivy." Iris's voice and her hand infront of her face brought Ivy back from daydreaming about someone that probably didn't even think about her at all.

"Yeah? You were saying something?" Ivannah questioned shaking her head to get the haze away from her mind.

"Are you alright Ivannah? Are you well?" Iris questioned with worry lacing her voice and a frown on her beautiful face.

"Yes, of course. I was just thinking about some study stuff. You-you were saying something?" Ivannah said giving Iris the most convincing smile she could muster.

"Okay..." Iris said not believing a word Ivannah said but decided to leave the topic at the moment,"I was saying that I'm taking you to this designer's shop and her clothes are wonderful, I tell you." Iris said excitedly with a huge grin on her face.

"But didn't we buy enough clothes already." Ivannah asked looking at the piles of shopping bags surrounding them.

"C'mon girlie, these clothes are for later. We are going to buy something for the party tonight." Iris said with a devilish smirk on her face.

"Okay?" Ivannah said hesitantly, not trusting her clearly deranged friend's intentions.

"Anyways, the shop is owned by one of my class mate's mom." Iris said while going through her phone. Ivannah hummed at the information and looked outside the window. "Her son is actually the soccer team captain of our school." Iris added making Ivannah look at her weirdly.

"So?" Ivannah asked as she looked at Iris trying to keep her smirk in check. Now, she wasn't sure if she wanted to go to the shop or the party in general.

"Nothing, just saying." Iris said shrugging innocently but something told Ivy that she was up to something. 

Something that would surely end both of them in trouble. First she was already hiding their plan from Grace now, she was sure Grace would be enraged if something went downhill.

The car rounded a curb before coming to a halt. Ivannah took a deep breath as her side of the door was opened. She elegantly exited the car and thanked the driver, James. 

Ivannah shivered when the cold breeze blew and made her feel the coldness outside. She cursed herself for wearing a dress even after Grace warned her not to.

Ivannah observed the elegant looking shop infront of her as she waited for her friend with her hands in her jacket's pocket. There was the name of the shop elegantly written above the glass door. Splendour. 

Ivannah found herself instantly liking the simplicity of the shop. She could tell the shop must be very famous and the owner rich as she looked around to find herself in the expensive part of the town.

"Let's go. You must be freezing here." Iris said as she appeared from behind the car and urged her shivering friend inside the shop.

Ivannah felt relieved as she entered the warm shop. She rubbed her hands together and brought them to her cheek to warm them up. She was sure that her face must be white due to the cold weather outside. 

She looked around herself at the surprisingly large place. The smell of new clothes wafted in the air and she found herself liking it.

"Hey, you are here." Ivannah heard a masculine voice behind herself and turned around to look at the new person.

Her eyes widened as she looked at the boy infront of her. He looked around her age and was easily above 6 feet with an athletic build. Ivy found herself gawking at his razor sharp jawline and broad shoulders. 

His dark eyes crinkled as he smiled happily at something that Iris said. His perfectly proportioned white teeth were on full display as he laughed at something.

Iris turned around to look at Ivy making her snap out of the trance she was in. She saw Iris trying to stifle her laughter and the stranger look at her with amused and curious eyes as she wiped the corner of her mouth hoping she wasn't drooling.

"Ivy, meet Jayden Smith, the soccer team captain of my school who also happens to be the son of Meredith Smith, the owner of the shop." Iris introduced him and then turned towards Ivy, "Jayden, meet Ivannah Montgomery, my best friend and sister." Iris said with a smile on her face.

"Ah, the mystery best friend of Iris." Jaden said with a chuckle as he put his hand forward for a handshake. Ivannah smiled and shaked his hand, pleased that Iris talked about her at school.

"Yeah, that's me." Ivy said with a chuckle but blushed in embarrassment afterwards. 

She couldn't believe that that was the first thing she said to him. Yeah, that's me that was so cliche. Jayden laughed upon noticing her reddened cheeks.

"I hope we are not disturbing you." Iris said, making them break their 'a-little-too-long' handshake. 

"It's just that we needed to buy clothes for the party tonight and what's the benefit of knowing a designer's son if I don't get some discount on my clothes." Iris said jokingly, making Jayden laugh.

"You are malicious." Jayden said with a chuckle before guiding them inside. 

"And believe me, you are not disturbing me at all, I was here anyways to look into the shop's accounts when I got your text. And as far as the discounts are concerned, I would try to butter my mom up if I were you instead of me." He joked and gave Ivannah a heart stopping smile.

"Oh you just wait and watch me working my charm, pretty boy." Iris said as she took a hold of Ivannah's hand and let Jayden walk ahead of them.

"So?" Iris asked excitedly as she grinned at her blushing best friend.

"So, what?" Ivannah hissed at her, "Why did you call him here anyways Iris?" Ivannah accused her best friend, keeping a close eye on Jayden's muscular back.

"I just wanted to introduce you to him." Iris said grinning from ear to ear, "He's hot, isn't he?" Iris asked bluntly. Ivannah gasped in horror of him hearing their conversation.

"No, and shut up." Ivannah scolded in embarrassment.

"Really? That blush tells me otherwise, darling." Iris teased her as she pinched her friend's cheek.

"So, I guess you are going to be there at the party?" Jayden asked awkwardly from beside her as Iris looked at different dresses along with Jayden's mother.

"Yeah, Iris has been bugging me to come with her." Ivannah said as she smiled up at him which caused his own lips to curve into a breathtaking smile.

"That's great." He said before scratching the back of his head nervously, Ivannah looked at him in confusion. 

"Do you m-mind, No, no, C-can I g-get your number, please?" He said with a blush painting his cheeks. Ivannah wanted to giggle at his nervousness but controlled herself before nodding. He grinned before handing over his phone to her.

Their clothes were put neatly in a bag and handed over to them. The guard with them paid the bills as usual, before they bid adieu to Jayden and his mom. Jayden hugged Iris before waving at Ivannah.

She exited the shop with a contented smile on her face. Ivannah couldn't keep the smile off her face ever after she sat down in their ride back home and drove back to her prison.

***********

"Stay quiet, stay quiet." Iris whispered as they hid behind a wall waiting for the maid to pass by.

"This was a bad idea." Ivannah whispered as she pulled down the extremely short dress to cover her thighs. She ducked down behind Iris in fear when she saw Zoya humming to herself and dusting a flower vase.

Iris shushed her before patiently waiting for the woman to be done. They heaved a sigh of relief when they were undetected even after Zoya left. They slowly sneaked out of the mansion only to hide behind bushes to get out unnoticed from the guards.

By the time they were finally out it was already nine. Ivannah held onto Iris's hand in fear as she looked around at the dark, deserted street. This was the first time she was out so late at night and that too without the guards. 

Iris silently guided them to a cab waiting at the curb of the street and they got inside.

Iris gave the cab driver the address before they both looked at each other and broke into fits of laughter. 

Ivannah couldn't help the grin on her face as she enjoyed her first taste of freedom. She looked outside at the cars driving by them when she felt her phone in her hand vibrate.

Jayden: Hey, hope you are still coming.

Ivannah smiled as she read the text over and over again. They were a few simple words but they meant so much more to Ivannah. 

It meant Jayden was thinking about her, waiting for her arrival. She found herself grinning like a cheshire cat as she typed her reply.

Yeah. On my way.

She pressed the send button before relaxing back in her seat. She bit her lip in anticipation at how the night would turn out to be. She felt someone's stare on her face and turned to look at her grinning friend beside her.

"You look really happy." Iris said with a chuckle and took ahold of Ivannah's arm. Iris watched as her friend beamed in happiness and laughed.

"Yes, I am." Ivannah found herself admitting, "But you don't think Grace would find out, right? What will she do if she finds out?" Ivannah asked nervously as she twisted her fingers in her lap.

"Come on, you shouldn't be worried about my mom." Iris said reassuringly with a smile,

"I'm more worried about my dad." Iris confessed wide-eyed before gulping in fear. 

Ivannah's eyes too widened in fear at the thought of Frank finding out. Frank was very loving but his anger was something she didn't want to be on the receiving end of.

The rest of the ride was silent as both the girls prayed for no-one to find out. But all their worries evaporated as they rounded the corner of the party host's house. 

Loud, blaring music could be heard from a block away as they saw lines of cars parked infront of the beautiful house.

Ivannah waited anxiously as Iris paid the cab driver and looked down at her outfit one last time and took a deep breath as she went towards the house with Iris by her side. 

She bit her lip as she watched kids her age stumbling out of the house completely wasted. She scrunched up her nose as soon as she entered the house.

The whole place smelled like sweat and alcohol. Ivannah felt like gagging at the unpleasant smell but held herself back because she didn't want to be rude. 

She looked at the bodies of teenagers grinding over each other on the make-shift dance floor and let out a horrified gasp. It had just been less than two minutes and she already wanted to leave. 

The whole thing was too much for her.

Just when she was about to turn around and leave she heard Jayden's voice calling for her from somewhere in the room. 

Ivannah watched as he pushed past the sea of horny teenagers and came to stand infront of her. His forehead was sweaty from heat and the strenuous efforts he had made to get to her.

"Hi." He said sheepishly as he grinned down at her 5'7 frame. She returned a beautiful smile his way and she waved at him.

"Ivy, if you comfortable here with Jayden?" Iris shouted over the loud music,"If you don't mind then I'll go and greet my friends." Iris said while pointing towards a group of teenagers in one corner of the crowded room. 

Ivannah didn't like the thought of keeping Iris from her friends so she reluctantly nodded. She watched as Iris rushed towards her friends before looking at Ivannah from over her shoulder and mouthing 'Enjoy'.

Ivannah stood uncomfortably beside Jayden and looked at the students dancing, singing, drinking with their friends. Whereas, she stood beside a complete stranger she just met the morning and gave him an awkward smile every few seconds.

"Let's go somewhere quite, okay?" Jayden asked from beside her making her look over at Iris. She watched her friend enjoying herself with her real friends as she drank something from a red cup.

"Okay." She said with a forced smile stretched onto her lips as she took off with him.

Jayden guided her away from the overcrowded hall to an almost deserted hallway. The place was empty except a few people making out her and there. Ivannah tried her best to look at anything but them. 

Jaden noticed this and chuckled at her innocence. He finally took her to a deserted, elegant looking kitchen. They both sat themselves down on the chair around the island before complete silence took over.

"So," Ivannah said, breaking the awkward silence, "You really know your way around the place. Is this your house?" She questioned curiously.

"No, it's actually my friend's house." Jayden answered with a shake of his head and a small smile. "So, tell me about yourself." He urged as they sat at the counter.

"What about me?" Ivannah asked, not sure what to say to him about her life without looking miserable.

"Okay, how about this? I'll ask you a question and you give me the answer." He suggested making her smile in approval, "So, which school do you go to?" He asked after a moment of thought.

"I don't." Ivannah said, making him knit his eyebrows in confusion. "I'm homeschooled." She explained.

"Oh, strict parents, I guess." He said with a chuckle making Ivannah smile sadly.

"More like no parents." She said as his eyes widened before he started apologising profusely. Ivannah just reminded him that he didn't know before giving him a reassuring smile.

"So, you are like-where do you live?" Jayden whispered awkwardly and apologetically as he tried to look anywhere but her eyes in shame.

"I was adopted." She said squeezing his hand in reassurance before retracing her hand. She smiled as he finally looked up at her.

"So you live with your adoptive parents." Jayden asked relieved but tensed again as he saw the frown marring her forehead.

"No, actually, it's hard to explain." It wasn't actually. 

Ivannah's adoptive guardian adopted her and then forgot that she existed but Ivannah didn't want to say that and look pathetic infront of Jayden. 

Jayden nodded understandingly and opened his mouth to say something but was cut short by the slamming for a door.

Ivannah jumped up from the chair in fear and looked at her wide eyed bestfriend. Iris was breathing heavily as if she had run a marathon and looked at Ivannah in fear. 

Ivannah was frightened just by the thought of something scaring her bestfriend. And just like that she knew they were screwed.

"We need to go." Iris said before taking a hold of Ivannah's hand and dragging her outside with her.

"Hey, everything alright?" Jayden asked worridely from behind them as he jogged to catch up with their fast pace.

"Yeah, we just need to get home urgently." Iris said as they exited the crowded hall in a frenzy. 

Ivannah tried to gauge everything around her. She couldn't think of anything else but Grace finding out that they sneaked out. Helpless tears filled her tears as she tried to run in her high heels.

"Wait, I'll drop you both." Jayden offered kindly making Iris raise her eyebrow in question. "It's late, it's not safe for you both to leave alone. And I didn't have a sip of alcohol, I swear." Jayden said before running back inside to fetch his car keys.

He tried to make small talks as he guided them to his black truck and helped them inside. Iris sat in the front beside Jaden whereas Ivannah took the back seat. 

After a few minutes of silence in the car Ivannah finally broke it.

"We are dead." She whispered and watched in fright as Iris nodded her head in agreement.

They stayed silent throughout the ride except when Iris guided Jayden to their place. Ivannah saw the building and houses become scarcer and knew they were getting closer to the estate. 

Ivannah felt a weird feeling in the pit of her stomach as they drove nearer to her doom. Her heart beat increased as she saw the familiar huge gates in a distance.

"Stop, stop. Don't take the car any closer. My dad will surely kill you if he sees you." Iris warned before opening her door. Jayden looked wide eyed at the main gate of the estate before whistling in amazement.

"Woah! Your parents are loaded Iris." Jayden said in amazement before grinning at Iris's unimpressed face.

"It's not my parent's." She cleared as they exited the car and waved him farewell.

They both silently walked to the gate with their heels in hand already dreading what was surely to come next. 

They watched as the smaller gate opened and a guard stepped out to guide them inside. They both held their breaths as they were guided through the estate to the main mansion.

Ivannah and Iris held each other's hand tightly as they entered the familiar surroundings. They both looked at each other confused as they watched the whole staff walking around like their behinds were on fire. 

They all stopped when they noticed Ivannah and Iris at the front porch.

"Ivy," they heard Grace's distressed voice before she stood infront of them with angry eyes. 

"How could you both be so careless and stupid? And you Ivy, I took you for the responsible one, clearly I was mistaken." Grace said with disappointment visible in her orbs. Ivannah looked down at her feet ashamed in herself.

"But mom..." Iris started before being cut off by a furious Grace.

"Not a word Iris." She said sternly before continuing, "You should be glad that your father isn't here to look at your outrageous outfit." She said with disgust looking at their exposed thighs.

"What do you mean dad isn't here?" Iris said looking around relieved that her father wasn't there to know about their little endeavour. 

Whereas, Ivannah looked at her feet completely ashamed in herself for lying and sneaking out of the house.

"We don't have time for this." Grace said before hurriedly taking Ivannah's hand in her own. "Ivy, come with me. He wants to see you right now." She said and guided Ivannah out of the main hall in a hurry.

"Who wants to see Ivy?" Iris asked the question in Ivannah's mind as she followed them through the hallways.

"The boss. He's here. And he's not happy, might I add." Grace said angrily, making Ivannah and Iris gasp in unison. Ivannah couldn't believe her ears as she tried to process the new information.

He came. He came here for her.