THE HOT BLONDIES

VIOLET

After 15 minutes of convincing Margaret and another 15 minutes ride, we finally arrived at the Millionaires Row!

We are welcomed by the black mailbox, in a white number 184 on it.

I surveyed my eyes from the front seat windows and saw the fairy lights outside the open parking area.

The colorful paper buntings tied up to all of the posts of their house fence.

Then five luxury cars are lined up outside the beautiful modern Victorian-style house.

A group of young people gathered on different sides of the fully decorated garden with tables and chairs everywhere.

Then, my anxieties started crawling into my veins, and butterflies flutter in my stomach makes me want to forget about the invitation.

I turned to face Nicole in the driver's seat, "Omaygad Niki! Are we sure about these? I'm... not feeling comfortable." She rolled her eyes in response and said, "You should be used to it, right?"

"Yes! I may be working at the Junction every day, meeting different kinds of people of different social status but, in a gathering like this, it's different!"

I looked at the mirror for the last time, checking my bare face with face powder and a cherry lip gloss on my lips and hair in a ponytail.

Niki chooses my only little black dress its skirt is pleated and with off-shouldered sleeves, paired with my black sneakers.

I fought hard earlier with Niki between wearing stilettos and my fave sneakers, I black-mailed her on not coming to the party, and I won!

Dressing up like this is not my type of style. I always prefer to wear a comfy shirt and jeans.

My mom bought me the black dress for my prom and never wanted to wear it again after that.

It is making me sick, and it reminded me of a shameful past. I would rather wear my favorite jeans and shirt for the whole life of me, even every day, and Niki knows about it!

"Hey, no more time to back out Vi! We're going in... Trust me! Their heads will drop off in front of you. You have the prettiest face in Smithson Village. You look like a younger twin sister of Nicole Kidman in red hair!" she spilled out her same old lines when she saw me in the ballroom hall in one famous hotel in the Metro during our Prom party.

"You have to breathe Vi! Inhale ... exhale... inhale... exhale.." then her eyes surveyed me and added, "You are classy even in sneakers!" she laughed out heartily.

Nicole knows why I have never worn any high heels, the first time and the last time I wore them was during our prom night.

I remembered clearly when the host called out my name as the Prom Queen, and the famous Dawson Quest, the son of the village headman is the Prom King.

I slowly walked from my table towards the dance floor, digging the heels on each step, feeling uncomfortable.

Then the embarrassing moment happened when I accidentally tripped off as I walked up on the staircase of the stage and Dawson, who is following me, successfully grabbed my arms, he reached the floor while I'm on top of him.

Everyone yelled and cheered, it's deafening and drown me in shame, turning my face like I have eaten a Jalapeño pepper. I felt devastated and quickly leave the hall barefoot and went home.

After that accident, I never went out of the house for a week and pledged not to wear high heels in my entire life!

But, Dawson always visited me with his dad, telling my mom that there's no harm done and I should return to school, and my mom always giving me a lecture every day about my clumsiness and ungratefulness towards the father and son, thus, I conceded to their request.

Dawson is a boy next door type of a guy, he is pleasant, respectable, and liked by everyone but... NOT MY TYPE, that's bold letters written inside my head.

The day before the party, Mr. William Quest asked me to be his son's prom date when he pays his visit to our home while checking on my mom's condition.

He's been a widower for a long time and a good friend of my mom, aside from Margaret.

He had been very vocal about his intention and his feelings towards Amanda but she never gives him any chance.

"I know he's a good man but, I don't think I need any man right now, Lady Violet Rose! I know... I will not live any longer." She repeatedly said that every time I brought up about Mr. Quest.

Mr. Quest thought that if he couldn't be an official father to me through Amanda, he is looking forward to having his son Dawson be my future husband.

And I'm feeling creepy about it. I have no plans to get married yet and not with Dawson!

I'm not picky but he's just too perfect for me and seemed very off.

"Hey, Vi! Are you with me? Hello? The party just started! Can't you see it? Are you on Mars again? No, more time exploring the whole solar system Bestie! We need to go!" she took off my seat belt and cracked off the bubble of my memory.

We quickly disembark from Cherry Bomb and headed our way towards the gated entrance.

Nicole is wearing my mom's sexy backless, red lacy midi dress with long sleeves, it fits her well, they are of the same size along with the red shoes that Margaret prepared for her to use.

And speaking of Margaret, her voice is buzzing in with endless reminders while we are dressing up.

"You better call me, if there's an emergency okay? Both of you should be here before 11! Or else I'll be there with the cops to end the party! Do you get me?" she said while her eyes glared at us.

Niki keeps shaking my arms, my hands are sweating and it's nerves wracking to see people in their classy dresses.

I hold Niki's hands tightly and she turned to face me, smiled and her eyes telling me, "It's okay, you are fine, I'm here!"

The guest was all same age as mine and Nikolai, there are a few that I haven't known, not from Smithson Village, looks like they are from the Metropolitan City.

Then, my eyes caught, "Miss Over the Top", Darcy Moore our hottest, cheer captain in Metro College, pouting her lips while brushing her body towards someone.

The Moore family owned the only hotel in this small village, the Smithson Travelers Inn, and a small fishing boat, they are one of the prominent people in our small community.

And Darcy is well known for her "over the top flying" in our Metro cheering squad, she is a popular chick for the guys, they call her "the hot flying captain".

[I just hope it's not Dawson! I do not want to see him in here with my memorable dress.]

The last time I have known that Darcy was in a relationship with Dawson and I saw them last month in the Junction.

Then, her eyes... crossed mine, she flashed her irksome smile looking at my dress.

[I knew well in mind that the dress reminds her of how she lost the crown as the Prom Queen and my mortifying accident.]

And the guy turned to face us, he is in a khaki-colored suit and fitted pants with a white undershirt and white sneakers, and I heard Niki whispered in my ears, "Lady Violet Rose! You need to snap out of it, NOW!" I felt her pinching my arms, "Ouch!" and turned to face her.

"Hey, Violet! I'm glad you made it!" his cheerful tone of voice is calling my attention as Vaughn approached us, halfway towards the party area.

I saw him leaving Darcy behind without even excusing himself, and her annoying smile changed to a malicious scowl.

[What is she doing? She's flirting with Vaughn while she's in a relationship with Dawson?]

"Hi, Vaughn! Thank you for inviting us." Nicole interrupted him, she knew that I needed a speaker, she saw how Darcy links her body towards Vaughn earlier, like a snake ready to bite.

And Nicole knew that Dawson is like a brother to me, I will be hurt if he's hurt.

But at this moment, I'm not hurt for Dawson.

I felt a pinch of pain inside me, my blood is boiling like a volcano about to erupt, she's just too much!

[How could she play around like that? And our community is too small for not everyone to know! She's a crappy b***h!]

"Violet, are you okay?" he looks sternly at me and turns to trace my eyes, and found Darcy walking towards us.

"Oh, my! The genius is here!" she flickered her lashes and added, "Vaughn, sweetie could we have the dinner started? I'm starving..."

"I guess, everyone knows everybody in Smithson Village, I do not need to introduce Darcy to you." His aloof tone and actions towards Darcy mean they do not have the "connection".

"Hunter!" Vaughn called out, and his bodyguard quickly took Darcy out of the picture.

"Oh, I'm so sorry about that! She just invited herself to the party." He sighed.

"Welcome to my farewell party, Violet and Nicole! Please..." [So, his leaving too?]

He ushered us to a table near the small stage located on the left side of the white and gray 3 story house, standing gloriously like a castle.

The wooden table is decorated with 3 white votive candles in a jar and a huge flower arrangement of spring colors.

Vaughn helped us seated and excused himself, he walked gracefully towards the waiters on standby and then, one by one, bring out food in trays from the inside.

"Vi! I think I need to get to the restroom, you stay here, I'll be back right away!" I nodded.

Then, I saw Niki approached Vaughn to asked for help and he accompanied her inside.

"Well, well, well... who do we have here?" Darcy and "The Hot Blondies" her group of cheerleaders, her minions, Penelope, Zoe, Caroline, and Natalie, grinning like they saw a funny puppet in front of them.

"Not this time Darcy... I'm not in the mood today! Please stop it now before I could harm all of you." My body is shaking.

I know... I couldn't hold it any longer before jumping into my fighting stance.

"Oh? What are you doing at this socialite event? Where is your low-class Bestie? You better leave! You do not belong here!" her minions were giggling. They are all wearing skimpy glam dresses.

I positioned my fighting stance and was about to give my front kick. Then suddenly, "And why are you talking to Violet like that?!?" His voice is booming like an atomic bomb, killing all of them at once.