12

A/N: hey lovers! Just a quick note that this chapter's font is going to be in italics because this particular part of the story takes place in the past.

Okie anyways happy reading!

...

"Oh no! There are only a few hours until the party begins! "I have no idea what to wear!" I muttered as I sat back down on my bed, bored of looking for an outfit.

"It's all right, Nyx. We'll figure it out. "Would you like to go to the mall and get something?" She questioned as she sat next to me.

"No, we've already spent a lot of money!" I don't want to go out and get anything just for a party; it seems pointless." I let out a sigh.

"Why do you think it's pointless?"

"Because..."

"Because why not?" Learn to enjoy yourself! "Your senior year of college has just ended, babe!"

"Because you already know everyone is going to get wasted!" And I'm always left out at parties. "I feel as if I don't belong there." In my defence, I stated.

"Your parents are throwing the party!" I'm talking about YOUR PARENTS! My parents would never do something like that, and they also want you to have fun! You should not isolate yourself in your room. They want you to live once again. You learnt how to separate yourself from everything after...after he went. You shouldn't let him impact you in this way. He's been gone for over six months. He didn't explain anything to you. Or any phone call or text message. Nyx, get over it. Get rid of HIM. Don't let him spoil your future because he was your past." Grace explained everything to me. Despite being roughly the same age, she had always been my elder sister. And she was correct; I should not allow anyone to dominate me.

Jeremy was his name. Jeremy and I had been dating for over four years when he decided he no longer wanted me. He thought I was "too simple" to brag about to his "popular" buddies. He didn't explain anything to me and simply departed. It had been over six months since he had left, and I was still struggling to deal. We were one of the most basic couples around, never being caught up in the mainstream. I had no idea when we began to drift apart. And though we were so similar, we developed very opposite personalities. I saw the warning signs but disregarded them; he set fire to my forest and let it burn.

"Hey! "I think I found the perfect outfit for you!" Grace squeaked as she selected an outfit. It was a short white corset one piece that was ideal for the evening.

I smiled at what she had chosen and searched for matching jewellery and shoes.

"You should unwind tonight, girl." Get a little wasted. But don't do it too much!" She warned me.

"I won't, mom," I joked.

......

"Grace, are you sure about this?" "I appear to be an outsider." As we approached her home, I questioned. Mr. and Mrs. Williams had agreed to let us use their home because the lounge was large and they felt they could rely on us, especially my parents. They were in one of the rooms with my parents. They were aware that we had not invited anyone who would cause a commotion.

"Nyx...Relax! Simply inhale and exhale in and out." I began to breathe heavily, in and out, as she did.

"What are you doing? "Are you having a seizure or something?" She looked at me, wide-eyed.

"No. Silly!" I paused.

As I stepped inside, loud music began to fill my ears. I spotted Sapphira and drew her away from the group she was with. But she didn't mind.

"How are you?" She embraced me. 'Wow, Saph!' "You look fantastic!" "You did not say that just now!" Take a look at yourself! "You look fantastic!" She laughed.

We hunted the crowd for Hazel and Haya and found them already at the bar. "Hazel! Haya!" They all said it together, shocked at how quickly they began to drink.

"Don't be alarmed, babes. It's nothing but fruit champagne. 'Adult supervision' is required before alcohol is served. Hazel sighed angrily, air-quoting the words "adult supervision."

"Haha! Hazel is typical." I burst out laughing.

"Come on, let's go to the backyard." And have our little get-together!" Haya proposed.

We all made our way to the backyard. Haya and Hazel exchanged strange looks before pushing the barbeque to the side and grabbing a few bottles from behind. When I, Grace, and Marisa saw the bottles, our jaws dropped.

"How did you get those?" I asked.

"We're pretty good at sneaking things!"

The twins said it again in unison.

"Sneaking? What do you mean, stealing? These are from my father's pub!" Grace exclaimed, sounding pleased.

"Don't tell me you're going to drink?"

Sapphira said something.

"No way!" I emphasised that I was completely opposed to the idea.

"Nyx! Cmon! I'll get the grill!" Grace offered.

"Could you help me with the gas cylinder, Nyx?"

"Sure!" They have one of those old grills with the gas cylinders.

The aroma of frying bacon, sausages, and onions filled my nostrils, instantly making me hungry.

"Nyx?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you remember what I said earlier?" About. Abo-"

"I'm aware. What do you think?"

"Nyx. Babe. Please relax. move on on. I can tell you're stressed. Simply... Welcome the new life." Grace said something.

"I'll try, Grace." I will." I comforted her.

"Hey, Haya, give that to me." As I took the bottle from her, I stood next to her.

"This.." I said, raising the bottle in the air, "is to new beginnings."

I mustered the bravery to untwist the top and guzzle it down. As I was not a regular drinker, I could feel the scorching feeling in my throat. I coughed and cleared my throat.

"Nyx? You did not do it by accident! Gal! This has a lot of booze in it! We don't want to tell Mr. and Mrs. Summers anything! Oh my God!"

Sapphira gestured with her hands in the air. Hazel and Haya looked at me with amusement.

"I am extremely proud of you!" Haya squeaked as she squeezed me into a hug with Hazel.

"Let... G-g-go!" I choked. I made it.

"Nyx! Oh my goodness! I told you to have fun, but not to drink the whole thing!" Grace reverted to her older sister persona.

"Well, I can't drink it any longer... If there is such a thing." As I stumbled to settle in the chair, I could feel it taking over.

"Look at yourself! How are you going to.-- ugh!" Sapphira rubbed her brow. The remainder of them drank from the last bottle they had.

It was a couple of hours into the night at this point, and I could feel the alcohol overpowering me.

"I think... I think we should play a game!" I told. I rose up, mumbled, and fell back into my chair.

"Nyx! "Sit down, babe!" Haya stroked my back. "I believe we should contact spirits!" Oooooh!" I slurred once more.

"She's completely insane!" Well! At the very least, she'll be more alert now!" I overheard Grace conversing with Sapphira.

"Yeah. "I believe she needs it." She responded. I grabbed the candle stand behind the table as well as some matches. I positioned the stand in the centre of the table and turned it on.

"Oh, you jolly spirits!" "I command you to respond." I said it again.

"She's officially insane," Haya muttered.

"No, I am not!"In my defence, I spoke.

I kept saying my phrases to summon the holly spirits, but to my disappointment, nothing happened.

"Okey! Enough with this. Let's go outside, girls, before we get into any difficulty." In a pleasant way, Grace described herself as a leader.

"No! But I need to contact them! I'm looking for answers! Pweaze, Grace." I squealed like a baby.

"Noooo.. Let's get this party started!" Grace responded, practically tugging me along with her. My head crashed into the table as I stood up, causing it to shake.

I followed Grace, ignoring the table and resting my head on her shoulder.

"Grace..."

"Hmm"

"Why did he leave me?"

Grace came to a halt and stared at me. My eyes were getting tired.

"If someone leaves your life, it means that there is someone better waiting for you," she caressed my face and said.

"Thank you very much, Grace." I gave her a kind grin.

We became part of the crowd. There weren't many people present. Between 60 and 70. This was no flash celebration, simply a group of nice high school students enjoying their independence.

"Hazel.. In the backyard, I forgot my phone and my bag. "Can you please pweaze get it?" I made my now-famous puppy eyes.

"Ugh! Those eyes! I'll be right there!" "I can't find it, Nyx!" she yelled.

"Grace, could you please go get it?" Yeah, yeah. Sure.." She walked over to Haya.

I wandered over to the garden area, enjoying the pleasant summer wind.

I continued walking, wrapping my hands around my bare arms.

What was covering my ears eventually ripped the ground from beneath my feet.

A loud cry from two very familiar people was followed by a thunderous explosion.

I yelled and swung around, only to find shattered windows and strong flames visible from the sides of the home. Another explosion sent shivers down my spine. My ears were overwhelmed with never-ending cries.

I dashed towards the house's front door.

My heart stopped beating as I raised my head to witness the blazing flames touching everything and everyone in the house.

"GRACE! HAZEL!" As I ran inside the now-burning house, I yelled. I identified Haya's hands as they tightened around my waist.

"HAYA! WHAT HAPPENED?"

She dragged me out of the house, ignoring my question.

"MOM!" "DAD!" I had a feeling they were in there with Grace's parents. I escaped her clutches and dashed inside the blazing house.

"MOM!" I sobbed.

"GRACE! DAD! HAZEL!"I went looking for them like a lost soul.

Tears streamed down my face as I saw all these people lying here, helpless, intoxicated by the smoke and, if not, running over one another to find a way out. I took deep breaths, trying not to pass out. I noticed Grace laying there, partly asleep, among the flaming wooden logs.

"Grace! "I'm on my way!" I did my best to avoid the blazing logs.

"Leave, Nyx!" Don't worry, I'll be there! "PLEASE LEAVE!" Grace's voice pierced my ears.

"NO! I WILL NOT LEAVE WITHOUT YOU!"

I responded by yelling back.

"Nyx! LEAVE RIGHT NOW!" My gaze was drawn to the blazing wood above her head, which was becoming closer by the second.

I watched as the gap between Grace and the log grew smaller and smaller, and before I knew it...

"GRACEE!" As I raised my hand, I yelled.

My tears froze, with the sight of her plastered inside them. Hazel wasn't to be found. I could hear the sirens arriving by this point. I could feel myself becoming numb by the second as I remained there paralysed, captivated by the smoke, watching the scorching flames. I felt another pair of arms wrap around me, and the last thing I recall from that night was a vivid image of Grace, the last time I saw her...

His unspoken cries brought me back to the present. And I found myself curled up in a ball on the couch, my tears soaking it.

"After that one night." "Nobody made it out alive, maybe a few, except me, Haya, and Sapphira," I said. Haya had lost Hazel, and she hated me for it. I do too. I blame myself and only myself. If I hadn't lit the candle stand and dropped it that night, it wouldn't have collided with the gas cylinder, triggering the explosion. If only I could go back in time and undrink that drink that night... If only I'd been a bit more cautious and not dropped the candle holder. "I wish I could go back in time..." I spoke into my receiver.

"There. There are so many 'if only' and 'I wish' statements, but we can't reverse what has happened." I could tell he was at a loss for words. "Ha-Haya never spoke to me the same way she used to. Every time she did, a completely other aspect of her emerged. But I couldn't blame her.But she had no idea that if she lost her sister... I, too, lost people who meant everything to me. My older grandparents. Hazel and Grace. And even though most of the individuals there were people I didn't know, I felt guilty about ruining numerous lives.Those kids who wanted to celebrate because they were about to graduate from high school and begin a new life at university. Those parents who waited for their child to return home after a separation.. Everyone who was connected to them in some manner." I completed venting.

On the other line, I could hear him sobbing and possibly crying. "You don't have to say anything, just stay here... with me?"