More than Secrets

A Sophisticated Shindig

DANI'S P. O. V.

Lee, Brie and I walk into the foyer of the huge mansion that is Tyler Black's house. It's like stepping onto a page from a fairytale.

Oh... my... gosh. This is not what I was expecting when Tyler invited me to his "18th birthday party".

There's about a thousand twinkling fairy lights, strung up like bunting from the corners of the magnificent double-volume rectangular room. The sparkling ropes meet in the middle of the ceiling at the bottom of a giant, crystal chandelier.

I don't know why, but I thought there would be kegs and beer pong, and people making out in dingy corners or grinding on the dance floor to David Guetta music, you know? Like the stereotypical teenage parties you see on TV or in movies with lots of red cups and a lot of drunk people, just everywhere.

No. This, right here, is one hell of a sophisticated event.

How fitting that I've arrived here wearing a dress fit for a modern day princess? It's a shimmery and gold (to compliment the specks of gold in my eyes), floor-length dress with an open back and a long slit up the right side, paired together with gold hoop-earrings and strappy gold heels.

Lee has worked her magic on me, getting my hair and make-up to look flawless tonight (she definitely did not disappoint). I have minimal make-up, just a smokey eye and red lipstick, but Lee's spent close to 2 hours carefully braiding my hair into an intricate "waterfall" braid. It swings over my right shoulder.

Lee is wearing a forest green, 50s inspired halter neck, pin-up dress that ends at her knees. It's encrusted with a dusting of tiny rhinestones at the bottom that sparkle under the twinkling lights. Her auburn hair is also curled and pinned up in that same 50s style, giving her a retro vintage look.

She has on a pair of glittery, silver peep-toe heels, and has finished off her look with a cat eye and coral-colored lipstick.

Brie's wearing a sexy white pants and jacket combo suit with a plum-colored silk blouse. It's form-fitting and makes her look tough yet elegant at the same time. Her lips match her blouse and her light brown hair is pulled back into a slick, high ponytail.

She finished off her look with a pair of Vans SK8 high top sneakers in white leather. I've never seen Brie in anything other than basketball shorts or baggy sweats until now. She looks like a total badass boss.

We are greeted by, who I assume are, Tyler's parents - both of whom are dressed to impress.

I notice immediately that Tyler has all of his dad's features - handsome, strong jaw, tall, muscular and the same thick, black locks - but he gets those amazing emerald green eyes from his mom.

She is the most elegant woman I've ever seen. Her short black her is cut into an edgy Bob that frames her gorgeous face beautifully. She doesn't look like any "mom" I know in that long, strapless black velvet dress with a sweetheart neckline. It hugs her petite frame in the most flattering way.

They both smile at each other, exchanging knowing looks as I put my hand out to formally introduce myself to them.

I'm so nervous, I could puke. I don't know how much they know about me, if at all, since Tyler and I have only been "dating" since Wednesday.

Tyler's dad takes me by surprise when he gently pushes my hand aside and embraces me instead.

I'm so shocked I can't even move my arms to hug him back. Then Tyler's mom steps forward and does the same. I, somehow, manage to get myself to react like a normal person would, and hug them back.

A giggle slips past my lips as I think about how this must look to everyone around us. I'm sure we look comical, all of us dressed to the nines, and sandwiched together in a three way hug.

"Dani, oh my, but you are a vision indeed," his mom says as she holds my face between her hands and turns it slowly from side to side. She has the biggest smile on her face.

Tyler's dad clears his throat, "Celia, let's not scare her now," he chuckles nervously.

His wife scoffs and waves her hand at him dismissively. "Hush, Amos. I'm doing no such thing," she says innocently then she looks at me and narrow her eyes. "Am I scaring you, dear?" she asks me with a raised eyebrow.

I freeze. How do I answer this one? She's intimidating that's for sure, but, then again, I probably only think that way about her because she's Tyler's mom.

She throws her head back and laughs out loud. A snort even escapes her mouth and I just have to laugh along with her, it's so infectious.

I can already tell we're going to get along just fine - we have a similar sense of humor.

Our laughing quietens down and she holds my hand. She looks at me with sincerity now. "I'm just teasing you, dear. I'm so happy my son has you."

"Thank you," I smile back. "I'm glad I finally got to meet you both."

We leave them to do their host and hostess duties, and wonder around the massive ball room (the birthday boy has yet to make his appearance). There's even a live band and the performer is singing a cover of Sade's "Lover's Rock".

It's all so romantic and glamorous. Our school prom may as well be a hoedown in a barn in comparison to all of this.

Lee and Brie quickly hatch a plan to swipe some of the "good stuff". They tell me to "be a good girl and wait right here" for them.

I stand near a group of people chatting animatedly with one another and feel my confidence starting to dip.

I don't know anyone here. Sure, there's a few kids I recognize from school, but there are many more strangers. The "good-looking and fancy-dressed with more elegance in their pinkies than I have in my whole body" kinda strangers.

A girl with, notably, the longest legs I've ever seen on any female, saunters over my way and greets me with a breathtaking smile. She has on a deep red, form-fitting, floor-length gown that fans out at the bottom with a sweeping train. This girl must be Aphrodite herself.

"Hi, I'm Sierra. You must be the lucky lady I keep hearing people talking about... Daniella, right?"

We shake hands. She's so delicate, I fear I might break her hand with my awkward grip. "Just Dani. How do you know Tyler?" I ask her, a little worried to find out that my boyfriend knows someone as stunning as her. I'm crossing fingers that she's family... maybe his cousin?

Sierra flips her honey-blonde locks over her left shoulder, "Oh, we go way back. Since we were young, actually," she steps closer so we're toe to toe. "Why, we've done practically everything together," she leans in and whispers in my ear, "...everything," in suggestive tone.

Okay, they're definitely not cousins.

I look at her completely taken aback. Is she insinuating that Tyler and her were intimate... lovers, even?

I swallow and bite down hard onto the inside of my cheek. I cannot afford to start a fight in this very sophisticated shindig.

She smiles at me, probably thinking that she's won.

I laugh humorlessly, feeling that powerful aura taking over my body like before, and I bear my teeth at her, menacingly. Everything is red.

"Oh honey, don't you know?" I say with a tone I can only describe as being superior. Sierra whimpers and bows her head in submission. I smirk and carry on, "The only battle that matters is the one where I win the guy and you end up flat on your tiny ass. A place, I take it, you don't fall very often, am I right?"

I look around and everyone's eyes are on me and Sierra. Even the music's stopped.

People are whispering, but I just can't stop. It's like I'm on a mission to make this girl suffer for trying to threaten me. "I asked you a question, Goldilocks!"

"Yes," Sierra replies through gritted teeth.

Okay Dani, maybe you should take it down a notch? You're starting to scare people, I think to myself before Tyler is suddenly at my side. He touches my shoulder gently and looks at me with soft, caring eyes. "Dani, come back to me..."

His enchanting voice is the last thing I hear before the darkness consumes me.