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THIRTEEN
STELLA
I should have known from the start Prom was never like it was portrayed in movies. Pretty girls dressed in the grandest of gowns, head to toe in thousands of dollars’ worth in garments, hanging on the arms of the most popular boys who’ve swept them off their feet, arriving with the best of friends with whom they’ve made a lifetime of memories together.
Those are nothing but sweet little lies, sugar-coated yet laced with venom. At least for girls like me who may have the expensive dress but will never get the guy.
Actually, if I’m being honest, my prom could have been a movie, only I think the movie might have been more like the one which ended with the insecure little girl covered in pigs’ blood who doused her school in fire, and less like the one where thePrinceton GirlmeetsNomadin the middle of the dance floor.
MyPrincedidn't show up to sweep me off my feet. He didn’t even show up with Casey like I would have expected him to after he continuously rubbed thatrelationshipin my face for weeks. He did worse and showed up with someone I never thought he had ever even talked to before, only to prove that any chick in all of Servite Academy was a better option than me.
I didn’t want to let it hurt me. After all, I was the one who showed up on the arm of his best friend. I guess it was a huge fuck you to me and I deserved it.
However, I took myinsuranceprior to leaving, popping a much needed dose of my medication to deal with whatever shit the night was going to bring me. Mixing my pill with alcohol never ended well, but it sure as hell ensured I didn’t feel a damn thing.
And at that moment, I could have used another.
My knuckles were throbbing, aching from the punch I threw that landed against Kinsley’s perfect face. The bitch who’d been pining for my cousin since the moment he dumped her on her ass for cheating on him, then again when he fell in love with Jade, deserved it after coming after Jade like that. Not only is Jade one of my best friends, but she is soon to become family, and for once in my life, which meant something again. I had to protect her and Sebastian, and the little bundle of joy inside of her, my soon to be niece or nephew.
Not to mention I had my own reasons for wanting to punch the bitch in the face. It was a long time coming since she’s mainly to blame for my sudden shaming and exile from the hierarchy of Servite Academy. I was part of their little group at one time, being from one of the wealthiest and most influential families in Hillcrest. I had a sure seat on the Royal court, but I chose family and honesty over status and fake friendships.
I was the reason Sebastian found out of her infidelity and when she discovered the truth, it was bye-bye Stella. Which I didn’t mind. I never fit into their circle of plastic and false ideals of perfection. I was hiding away from it all, waiting for my real friends to show up and save me, and they did. At least they tried.
Except for him, who turns out was just as fake as all those phony bitches.
I had a lot of pent-up anger I needed to release after seeing Carrington, the Queen Bee of our school and Kinsley’s best friend, walk in draped on his arm. If only that swing was enough to release it all. I still felt it bubbling inside of me.
The entire gang headed over to Scottie’s, my favorite diner in town, to continue the night's festivities. Honestly, although Jade said it was to celebrate the immaculate punch I threw, I know it was only because she and Scarlett were starving. Yeah, turns out they’re both pregnant, and their pregnancy cravings would end world hunger alone given the chance.
I wasn’t in the mood to celebrate or interact with anyone else after what happened, which is why I asked Damon if he wouldn’t mind driving back to the dorms. If I’m being honest, I was afraid Kai would show up with her and I’d have to sit there and watch them feed each other French fries or something sickening of the sort.
Damon insisted on walking me all the way to the door of our room. The least I could do was invite him in for a drink. It probably wasn’t the smartest idea, but I’d run all out of those.
I’d gone from cautious and responsible, to careless and reckless all in a matter of weeks.
Leaning back against my headboard, still wearing my thousand-dollar prom dress, I twist open the bottle of vodka, saluting him while he sits on the edge of the bed and watches me with a curious yet relatively worried gaze.
He’s taken off his tuxedo jacket, the sleeves of his black dress shirt rolled to his elbows, displaying the hordes of ink along his forearms. Tiny specs of tanned skin seep through the intricate black drawings. “We can’t do this anymore, Stella,” he murmurs, taking a swig of his beer. His throat bobs and my eyes focus on the movement of his Adam’s apple as he swallows.
I feel the second pill taking effect now, my body relaxing and my mind going disturbingly numb.
Shaking my head, I smile at the absurdity of what Drake is saying. For starters, it was his brilliant idea and now he’s the one backing out. “Why back out now Damon, we’re so close to getting what we want.” I make my way over to him, kneeling on the end of the bed right beside him. “Wait, what is it you want from me? I’m done with the bullshit about you wanting to help your friend. Let’s be honest. What is this really about?”
Running my hand over his back, I feel his body tense beneath my touch. He quickly stands, pushing me back, “Stella, you’re drunk, okay? How about I just let you sleep it off? I’ll get some ice for your hand before I go.”
“Don’t go,” I shriek, my voice cracking as I reach out to pull him back. Pain. Excruciating pain. Shrilling pain digs at my temples. I feel my lungs shrinking, the air leaving my body, crushing me from the inside. I collapse beside him, falling off of the bed as he pulls away.
“Shit Stella!” he shouts, as my head hits the ground at his feet. My body trembles, shivering like I’m lying in the freezing snow, yet I’m sweating as if I’ve spent hours in the sauna.
“Damon,” I cry out, my vision fading to black and coming back into focus. Flashes of light. White, black, bright red, then back to black. “Please Damon, I don’t know what’s wrong.”
“It’s gonna be okay, Stella, I promise.” Bending down to sit beside me, he cradles me in his arms, holding my head up as I snuggle up to his chest. I feel like shit, and I’m terrified there may be something very wrong with me. Maybe I shouldn’t have taken the additional dose.
???
“Stella, come on, wake up.”
I gasp for air as the water splashes against my face, burning as it enters my nostrils. Like a fish out of water, I try to catch my breath, flailing my body around, slamming against the ceramic tile of the shower. Rain pours down on me, Damon hovering over me shirtless and soaking wet, holding the shower head in his hand, pointed directly at me.
