Under The Stars

Chapter 7

Zia’s POV

“Come on!” Lisa said excitedly as she tried to pull me by my arm into the house.

“No, am not sure I want to go in.” I said completely frozen out.

“Don’t worry I promised I’ll be with you the whole time right?” She said softly.

Jay looked at me with a sneer in his face and rolled his eyes. “What is so scary about a party though?”

“Be nice, it is her first.” Lisa said as she hit his arm, playfully.

“Okay, let’s go in.” I said feeling nervous as hell.

We walked in to very loud music booming from the stereo. For a Monday, there were sure a lot of people at the party, but well what did I know about parties. I looked around and couldn’t help but be amazed.

The house was packed to the brim with everyone seeming to be lost in whichever activity they were doing. Some stood in groups laughing, others were seated in circles playing games and others well, were at the couches lost deep in each other’s mouths.

“Iam going to get drinks, what do you ladies want?” Jay asked once we had found a spot to seat.

“You know my favorite.” Lisa said smiling at him.

“Of course I do.” He answered smiling back at her, affectionately.

“What of you Zia?”

“Nothing, am okay.” I answered quickly.

“Come on, you can’t come to a party and not have anything.” He insisted.

“No, really I don’t want a drink.” I said firmly.

“Well okay, if you say so.” He said as he stood up and left to get Lisa’s drink.

“Do you want to dance?” Lisa asked a few seconds after Jay had left.

“Not really, I would prefer we sit here and just chat.” I said.

“Aaargh, okay. What do you want to talk about?” she said, looking at me disappointedly.

“I think Jay really likes you, why don’t you date him?” I implored, hoping that she would not get offended by my interference.

“Well I told you, dating isn’t really my cup of tea.”

“But why not?” I insisted.

“It is complicated Zia. Do you have a boyfriend yourself?”

“No.” I answered honestly.

“What of before?” She asked.

“Never”

“Never? You are joking right?” She asked clearly surprised.

“No am not” I said as I shook my head.

Lisa looked at me in awe clearly shocked at my revelation of never having a boyfriend before and before long Jay came back holding two glasses and handed one to Lisa.

As Jay and Lisa drank while laughing at the stories they were whispering to each other, I decided to take a walk around the house.

The whole place was beautiful, from exquisite furniture to the well painted walls with beautiful art pieces hanging on them.

I walked on towards the backyard as I tried to squeeze myself through the people dancing. I needed to get away from the almost deafening music that was playing in the house. Everyone reeked of alcohol and I could help but feel sickened by the smell.

The backyard was hefty with a large swimming pool and beautiful flowers planted in neat rows. In the pool was a group of girls and boys playing with water guns. I couldn’t help but admire the girls’ very elegant bikinis.

I did not realize I was staring until my phone vibrated and I was startled. I looked at the caller id and there on the screen was my dad’s number. I immediately froze and felt my legs get weaker. Why did he have to call at that time? How was I going to receive that phone call and what would I even tell him?

I watched the phone continue ringing as a surge of regret passed through my mind. I knew that going to that party with Lisa was a bad idea, and my dad calling that late was only a confirmation that I was right.

I rushed into the house and tried to find Lisa. She wasn’t seated where I left her and I became even more vexed. I needed to get out of that party and go back to school. I was worried that there was something wrong with my dad and that is the reason he had called that late.

I strode around the massive house trying to find either Lisa or Jay but couldn’t seem to locate any of them. I was devastated, I did not know my way back and had no means of getting to school. Lisa and Jay were nowhere to be found and those were the only people I knew at the party.

I could feel stinging tears forming in my eyes as I wished I had stayed back and read my novel. I knew my dad would be greatly disappointed if he found out that I was at a party. He had warned me against such indulgence and I had heeded his advice until today.

I decided to call Liam and see if he could help but his phone was switched off. I sent him a couple of messages and went off to stand at a corner, still trying to see if I could spot Lisa and Jay.

I was still standing at the corner looking at my phone hoping that Liam would respond when I heard someone clearing their throat beside me.

I looked up and couldn’t believe that the face I was trying to get out of my mind earlier was here beside me, Keith Johnson was standing next to me grinning widely.

I felt my stomach clench. He was the reason I was here in the first place.

The only reason I agreed to come with Lisa was so that I could get his face out of my head. I had been distracted the whole day after bumping into him earlier. And now here he was again.

“You know you didn’t really strike me as a party person earlier when you bumped into me with all those books.” He said looking at me directly in my eyes.

His hazel eyes seemed to glow like emeralds in the dim lights. His eyebrows were arched perfectly and his eyelashes were really long. How could one person be that perfect?

My phone vibrated again reviving me from my admiration of Keith’s eyes. It was a message from Liam saying he was still feeling unwell and couldn’t come pick me up. He however said I should request an uber, which would get me to school safely.

“Actually am not. I need to go.” I said walking away.

“Go where? It’s still early you know.” He said blocking my way.

“Please let me go, I need to be at school.” I said my voice shaking, I wanted to cry.

I saw his face change and he now looked confused and worried.

“Are you okay? What happened?” he demanded.

“I just need to get an uber to school, and that would have happened already if you just got out of my way.” I said my voice normal again.

“Well Iam also leaving the party, I could give you a ride.” He said smiling.

“No thank you.”

“Would you rather ride with some stranger in an uber? You know you wouldn’t have to pay me.” he insisted.

I thought of his offer for a second, I could really use the money I was to spend on the cab. It wouldn’t hurt to ride with him one time; after all he was the one who had offered.

“Okay let us go.” I said heading out.