chapter 6.

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I take a deep breath and turn to her. I think I might have slapped that statement off her mouth if I'm not six feet from her. "What?" I ask in a small voice.

"Yeah…" she takes two steps closer to me, with both her hands hiding behind her. "And Jeremy is taking the blame for you, just like he always does." 

I can no longer tell if this has to do with her feelings for Jeremy, or if she thinks I'm such a horrible person. "I wonder why he would do that," I say, bringing out those hidden jealousies of hers.

"He doesn't have eyes," she utters, and her voice comes out a bit shaky.

"For you?" I take two steps closer to her. "I think so too," I say and take my leave. I don't bother carrying my math textbook, I will just borrow Zack's own, that's if he has it with him.

 Charity And I go to the boutique and do some shopping. Well, she's the one doing the shopping 'cause she'll be the one to pay for the things I get. We spend close to three hours changing outfits and laughing at how funny we look wearing skirts over Jeans. Finally, We drive back home carrying our luggage of cheap but beautiful clothes. The burning sun has been clouded by a dull grey sky. When we get inside, I see Mom and Mr. Langford in the living room laughing about a show they are watching. Their arms are around each other. Mr. Langford might be hard on us, me especially, but that doesn't mean he doesn't love his family. His overprotectiveness has ruined his relationship with me, and I hardly see him as a father but simply the man I must obey.

"Oh, the kids are back…" Mom says, her voice clear and full of happiness.

Mr. Langford turns to us, and my eyes grow wide to see a smile on his face. "Where are you both coming from?" Even if he's in a good mood, that doesn't stop him from being him.

"Shopping." Charity raises our shopping bags. "We're going to Zack's birthday party, so we thought we might be needing a makeover." The audacity at which Charity speaks gives me goosebumps.

"Oh, WOW," Mom utters as she sits up. "Today is his birthday? Is he already turning eighteen?"

Sometimes I wish I could just tell my mom to shut up without being disrespectful. "He's turning sixteen, Mom. Six-teen." I remind her again that Zack isn't older than me.

"Okay," she mumbles.

"What time are you supposed to come home?" Mr. Langford asks.

"Come on Dad…" Charity walks to him and sits at the chair handle, "It's a party that will be full of a bunch of high school students, what could possibly go wrong?" She wiggles Mr. Langford's shoulder. I can't imagine myself doing that to him.

"Come on Malcolm …" Mom cuts in, "let the kids go have some fun." Here I stand like a stranger, watching my sister and mother try to convince my supposed father to let us stay out late for the first time in five years.  

Mr. Langford stays quiet for a few seconds, giving it a heavy thought. He then looks at me, and my heart skips. "Fine…" he says.

"Yay!" Charity squeals.

"Yes!" Mom raises her muscles and forms a fist.

"Come on Ariana, let's go get ready," Charity says, all excited as she dashes past me.

As soon as I take a step, "Charity!" Mr. Langford calls Charity who is halfway upstairs. 

"Yes?" She turns to him.

"Watch after your sister," he says, looking at me. Sometimes I get confused. Why does he think I need someone watching over me every minute? Charity is just a year and eight months older than me, and he thinks Charity can take care of herself but I can't. This is just bullshit. 

I and Charity get ready. I wear a thick blue body clutch sequence, with spaghetti straps. I normally don't wear a dress, but Charity can be very persuasive. After brushing my face with concealer, I put on a dark liner which isn't that prominent considering my skin tone, then I smear pink lipstick and apply lip gloss on it. I look beautiful, but there's one problem. I place my hand on my hair which is roughly in a ponytail. I can't think of anything to do with my hair so I insist on asking Mom for help. She has always been my best hairstylist since I was a year old, I bet she can do some magic. On getting to my mom's room, I overheard her and Mr. Langford talking quietly. I put in a close ear, standing beside the door.

"I'm scared everyone will find out," Mom says.

"I promise to keep our girls safe no matter what." Mr. Langford's response makes things more suspicious. His voice is calm, assuring, and caring. He sounds like someone I doubt he could be.

I breathe in. "Mom, I need your help with…" I say as I barge into the room, "oh…" I utter after seeing my parents in a compromising position. I do not think I've ever seen Mom leaning on Mr. Langford's shoulders, or Mr. Langford stroking mom's hair. Mom raises her head, and they both turn to me. "Uhmm…do you…" I thumb over my shoulder. "I'll just…I'll just come back later," I say. 

As I take a step out of the room, "Honey," Mom calls me. I puff out my cheek and press my lips against each other as I slowly turn to her. "What do you want?" She asks.

"Huh?" I let out. "Oh, Uhmm…I was just hoping you'd make my hair."

"Oh, of course, I would," she says walking towards me. "How do you want it? Side bun? Side pony? Waterfall? Messy?" She says, ruffling my hair.

"Uhmm…" I smile. "I think a cornrow would do just fine." She has been waiting to do one of those hairstyles on me, but I never give her a chance. I always go for a simple ponytail or a cornrow which doesn't look bad on me.

She presses her lips against each other, staring at me like I just lost a nut. "What?" I ask with a slight smile stuck on my face.

"Nothing," she lies. "I think you'd look beautiful on cornrows, most especially while in this dress."

"No…" I giggle. "No you don't think so."

"Yeah, I don't," she laughs, walking me out of the room towards mine.

Mom helps me weave my hair in cornrows and apply some gel on my frontal, and I must say, I am impressed by how beautiful I look.

"Arianna!" Charity screams my name from God knows where. I don't answer her because of the hast in her voice. Charity has always been a party groover. I don't think there were any high school parties she didn't attend.

"You should get going. You don't want to keep her waiting, " Mom says from behind me. I smile at her reflection in the mirror before me.

"A-ri-an-na!" She shouts again.

"Coming!" I respond before she tears down the house with her thunderous voice.

"Geez!" Mom places her hand on her forehead.

"I know…" I say, standing up from my dresser. "She's in need of going," I tell Mom.

"Desperately," she replies.

I go downstairs and see Charity boiling with anger, or maybe anxiety. She looks beautiful in a flared black gown, which is on top of her knees. She paces around the living room and sights me on the stairs. Even in a dusky room, I can still see her glaring eyes. "Arrgh!" She groans as she marches out of the house, slamming the door hard behind her. What the hell is she so worked up about? Let's not forget it's the birthday party of a guy she hates. I follow her and get into the car. She maintains a steady speed, but I can tell how it's killing her that she'll be late for the party.

  I've always wondered what it feels like to be as rich as the Freemans. What it feels like to own a house that occupies half of the town. I don't think the Freemans have anything to worry about because they can solve any issues with the snap of their fingers. Driving through the boulevard of Freeman's Lane, the tall trees flatter and bloom with the cool air and the spherical glowing moon. It's a three-minute ride into Freeman's Lane before we arrive at the front gate which automatically opens itself.  

"Cool," Charity utters before driving in. I can hear the high bass of a jazzed song playing from inside the mansion. And I see tons of people hovering outside the house. I bet every teenager in Stoneybrook is here. Who would want to miss a Freeman's party? 

"Whoa," Charity mutters as she parks her car among others in the driveway. "It's sure going to be a fun night." She smirks at me, unlocking her seat belt.

"Mmhmm" I mutter, and we both join the crowd.

I lose Charity the moment we get inside the mansion. I've been here quite a few times, but I can't picture how it was before these bunch of shenanigans that are parading around, drinking and doing all nasty, nasty things. It's as if I'm in a concert where blue, green, and red lights flash across the hall. Funny enough, there's a bar, like a classic bar. Has there always been a bar in the living room where the counter is two meters long? Or do they always have that much vodka and cognac littering all over the back bar? I'm wowed. He got a bartender who bartends like a professional. I watch how the young dude mixes wines in a flash. I look closely at him, and guess what… "Matthew?" My eyes bulge out of surprise.

He raises his head and spends about three seconds scrutinizing me. "A?" He utters. I smile and make my way to the counter. "Here are your shots mah ladies." he hands over two shots of whatever to the blondes seating at the front counter. One of the blonde girls takes a shot from him. 

"What if we bartend with you?" The other blonde says, caressing her long shaded nails on Matthew's hand. Matthew smiles a smile that seems to lug out his dimples. "Not really. I think I can do a lot better without the help of two maniacs," he says with sarcasm. All of a sudden their pale face turns red. She immediately hauls the glass from him, and they both march away.

I move closer to the counter and we are just two blocks apart. "Don't you think that was a bit harsh?" I say even if I liked it.

"Don't you think they deserve it?" He asks back. I stand quietly and stare at him, from his head down to the towel on his shoulder. Damn!  I've known him for seven years, and I probably see him every day, but each time, I'm amazed by how handsome he is. I mean, I love his red lips even if he thinks they are too red to attract attention. And I love his round face even if he thinks it makes him look chubby. And I always love his cornrows, he's the reason I'm having it on my head, just like I do occasionally.

"You look beautiful in that…" He rolls his pointed fingers over me with his pupil squinted. "Arianna Langford, in a dress? A minute ago I could swear upon my life that this would never happen."

I suck my teeth. "Me too. But Charity can be…compelling."

"At least she gets an 'A' in something," Matthew says, cleaning the messy counter with his bartending towel.

"What are you doing here anyways?" I ask.

"Well, I got an invite from your rich buddy." He picks up two bottles of vodka from the counter and places them on the back bar.

"No. I mean, what are you doing…here." I press a finger on the counter.

He, first of all, arranges each bottle on the shelves nicely, then wipes Invisible dust from them.

"Oh," he utters as he turns to me. "You know, Nana is sick…got a bad stroke." Mom told me about his Nana. I really do feel bad for him. Nana is the only adequate parent he has, aside from a drug dealer gangster of a father who everyone is so scared of. I try not to think of how partial Mr. Langford is for not arresting him just because they are old-time friends. And Matthew's mom, well, she hasn't been herself since the death of her precious daughter, Mikeala.

"Yeah, I heard. I'm so sorry," I say.

"Don't be. Your rich buddy was offering to pay five thousand dollars for this. Damn, I took the job ASAP."

"What?" My brows raise. "Five thousand dollars for bartending? just for the night?"

"Yup," he says.

"Damn!" I mumble. I can't think of any reason why Zack would offer Matthew such an amount of money. Why did he even ask Mattew? Of all the jerks he could ask who would be willing to do it for a thousand bucks, why Matthew for five thousand?

"Matthew!" Someone yells above the music.

"Uh-Oh," Matthew mutters as he brings down his head. I curiously turn around and see the fairytale-looking princess Alisyn. I watch her sashaying toward us looking like a real-life Barbie. She swings her hips in her pink skirt that's a little below her thighs. Her white bralette fits nicely under her pink short-sleeved blazer. And I love the way her red hair tosses behind her. 

"Matthew?" She throws her hand in the air and leaves her mouth open. "What happened? I thought you said you needed a ride?!" Alisyn growls.

"I did?" Matthew asks, and Alisyn squints her pink mascara eyes at him.

"I mean, I did." Mattew gulps. "But you see…" he pauses, with his demonstration finger hanging in the air. "Okay, I'm sorry," he says calmly. "I just didn't want to be late for work so I left early."

"You should have call-ed?" She spells out her rage.

"I know. I'm sorry, okay? I promise it will never repeat itself," Matthew tells her.

"Of course, it won't. Because I'm never giving you a ride, ever!" She says to his face, then tosses her shimmering hair behind her and her pupils meet mine. "Ohh, look who we have here." She locks her fingers together and drops her hand. "A chameleon in a dress." She eyeballs me. "I must say, I'm surprised it fits," she adds, smirking.

"You are also looking beautiful. I don't think Stoneybrook would ever get tired of leering at your body." I bring my face forward. "You look flawless," I whisper. She knits her brows, glaring hard at me.

"Okay, I think that's enough compliments for one night." Matthew stretches out his hands towards us.

"Yeah, it is. I need to go find Zack anyway." I scowl at Alisyn. As I'm about to take a step, Zack jumps on his royalty dining table, alerting everyone.

"How is everyone enjoying the par-tey?!" His voice appears to be louder than the microphone he's using.

"Whoooo!!! fucking love it!" His disciples yell back.

"Why do I have a feeling that he's about to say something stupid?" Matthew says, and I tilt my head behind me and see him mixing Alcohol of different kinds in the air, filling a glass cup.

"Because he is, and that's why I love him," Alisyn says and half-shrugs. Her eyes are fixed on Zack. I look at her with a stank eye, hoping she sees and feels my stank eye. All of a sudden, Zack and Alisyn are close buddies. I can vividly remember Alisyn competing with Zack on who drives the most flashy cars in school, who wears the latest brand of Gucci and Dior, or she being more independent than Zack who constantly asks for his parent's credit card to do anything.

"First of all, happy birthday to mua!" He shouts.

Everyone whoops. 

"Whoo-hoo!!!" I shout even louder. Even though I hate this kind of lavish party he's throwing himself, it remains his birthday and I acknowledge that.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you," he says to everyone with one hand on his chest as he keeps bowing down. "Secondly… " he raises two fingers, then he smirks. "Who wants to go home with some TREASURESss, " He pronounced the word with a low deep voice, sounding like a villain. Everyone might be confused, but they all raise a finger. I and Mattew look at each other. Our confusion matches. He sips from his light booze that looks like a bloody martini. 

"I told you it was stupid," Mattew says. I wonder what drastic plan he has cooked up. 

"We are going for a treasure hunt inside this Mansion." He opens his arms and lifts them. 

While everyone murmurs their confusion, I ponder on mine. What the hell? A treasure hunt at a birthday party, not just any party, but Zack's. I was expecting something more irresponsible, something rogue. 

"The Treasure is a very solid one, and quite heavy because It's filled with something everyone has. If you find it, you've found me, and you know what I'm made of… " just when I start to think if Zack is still the one talking, he reveals a bit of himself. 

"Can he be logical? I'm starting to think I underestimate this guy," I hear Matthew say. 

"Ten thousand dollars for whoever finds it first," Zack adds, and my eyes bulge. Need I say how loud the gasping sound of everyone is?  

"Just when I start to think he might be sensible," Mattew says and chunks his booze again. Alisyn and I share a gaze, deep enough to see our bewildered selves in each other's eyes. 

"You've got thirty minutes to find it. Let the hunt begin!" he shouts over the microphone, then jumps down into the scampering crowd. Everyone's determination and love of money are causing a strong collision. 

"Do you know what I would do with Ten thousand dollars if I were him?" Matthew asks.

"I don't know." I shake my head, "buy a bar full of liquor?" I half turned to him.

"Maybe," he says, smiling.

"But I'd rather do a brain surgery, he needs it," Matthew says

"Stop it," Alisyn says. "I think he's sweet to come up with something as profitable as this." 

I crease my brows. Alisyn thinks Zack is sweet? I'm hearing the strangest things. "He's not Jeremy, in case you're seeing things," I say, and she rolls her eyes.

"ouch! " I yelp as I feel the weight of a two-sized booth piercing my feet. The pressure of the crowd presses me to the counter where I feel the sharp edge of the tile impaling my arm. 

"You okay?" Matthew places his hand on top of mine on the counter.

"Yeah…" I reply in pain, with my eyes gazing at my feet which have been munched on, "I guess," I add.

"Arianna?" I hear my name. Raising my head, I see Zack striding towards me. "What are you doing?" he asks with open arms. 

I crease my brows, not sure what he means. "Uhmm…"

"The treasure hunt!" He taps the back of his hand on his left palm.

Right now I'm totally confused. "What about it?"

He widens his eyes and stares at me like I just got discharged from a psychiatric hospital.

"You're supposed to be treasure hunting right now."

"Nope." I swipe a finger at his face. "I'm supposed to be partying, not looking for treasure like a three-year-old baby."

"Arianna you're supposed to be on this," he says it like it's meant for me. I might have thought so if it was my birthday, but luckily it's not.

"Why?" I ask.

"Because who's best to receive ten thousand dollars from me?" He throws his hands towards me.

"I don't know…probably one of the girls you've used and dumped in the past 24 hours?"  I respond without giving it too much thought.

"What?" He asks with a furrowed forehead. "Never mind." He shakes his head. "Can you just participate, for me…" he practically pleads. "Remember…" he points out a finger, "It's my birthday."

"And I have a perfect present," I say.

"This is what I want…"

"No," I mutter, shaking my head.

"Remember friendship rule number 2?" He says and my eyes widen.

"Oh my God, you gonna use that against me?"

I definitely did not picture my own rule turning around to backstab me. There's this rule for friendship I came up with when I was nine. There are three rules.

Rule no.1 -: We tell each other everything. No secrets.

Rule no.2  -: Always help a friend in need, no matter what.

At this moment I think I'm beginning to regret ever enforcing such rules.

"Sorry, but you left me with no choice," Zack says.

"Wow," Matthew utters and gets our attention, "Friendship rules? Should I be jealous?" Matthew says with a slight smile on his face. He might not look serious, but I know he is. I also missed those times we used the rules for our selfish gain. For one time I made Jeremy wash the dishes for me, and I also made Matthew carry me on his back from Jeremy's house to mine. My childhood memories were almost fun.

"Come on, it's nothing new," I say and a plate smashes to the floor, the scratching sound is nearly unbearably. The three of us begin to scan the area to determine the source of the unwelcome sound. the dining room. Though Zack's house has already been turned upside down but right now it has been transformed into a typical mess. I see teenagers throwing things out from the cupboard, not minding the plates smashing on the floor. God! Even the refrigerator? They throw out fresh food and fruits mindlessly looking for a logical treasure. They turn the chairs upside down. Surprisingly enough, some are trying to reach the ceiling. I wonder what they are going to do, reach the ceiling, burst through it, and hopefully find a treasure inside the belly of a dead rat.

"Really?" I ask, pushing back my head. He shrugs his shoulders and opens his palms. I roll my eyes and join the treasure hunters.

I'm not a critical thinker though, but I think something's up. Right from this morning when I saw Zack talking to Jeremy at his house, back to the moment when Zack was wearing a sullen face at school. Now a treasure hunt he's forcing me to partake in. Seriously, what the hell is up with Zack? I first climb up to Zack's room, but the moment I step in, I almost let out a gasp or I think I did. The person  before my eyes is Jeremy, though I can't see his face because he's facing the shelf. But I can tell by his shiny dark hair in a low ponytail. Even amid a monster, I can't help but notice how messy Zack's room is. The bed sheets are halfway to the ground, while the pillow litters on the floor. And the night lamp has been shattered. His favorite poster of half-naked girls that's plastered above his bed had been ripped in half, slitting one of the girl's asses in half. I take one step in, but thread upon something light, yet solid. Looking down at my feet, I see the hand of a bra leaking out from under my heels. I shake my head and pick it up with the tips of my fingers. Ugh! It smells like…

"Sex?" I hear Jeremy say without a glimpse at me.