half/closer

half / 5

........

I woke up as my alarm went off at seven in the morning. Rolling on my bed, I blindly took my phone from the bedside table and killed off the sound. Honestly, I had no energy to stand up because I wanted to stay on my bed and sleep until I had enough. Khloe drove me home at four because I didn't want my parents to know I was not in my room for the entire night and I was at Khloe tree house, hoping for s*x.

And I had school so without any choice, I pushed myself up and headed to the bathroom to do my morning routine. I had no time to ponder about my outfit today or even choose which lipstick color I would put on my lips. I just wanted to come to school, listen to the daily drama, finish my classes and -s**t!

Oh my God! I forgot that I rescheduled our cheerleading practice today.

"Damn Khloe!! Why are you ruining my life?" I whined as I threw my towel in my laundry basket. After I fixed myself for the day, I stomped my feet downstairs, greeted my parents lazily and had my breakfast.

I was never late for school and even Khloe would never change it.

When I got to school, it caught me off guard and I was never more awake in my entire life. Everything was in chaos and there were police officers clearing the place. Some students were captured down on the ground and illegal contents were confiscated from everywhere.

Are they insane? Why these police morons raided our school filled of innocent students?

One person came to my mind immediately so I ran off to search for Tiana. I headed to the hallway and I saw her with Bailey, talking with an officer.

Tiana looked calm but I knew that she was tense inside because of her involvement with her drug lord father. I watched as she nodded to the officer, talked to Bailey before she walked out with the man. I ran again closer to Bailey and engulfed her in an embrace.

"Don't be scared," I muttered as I tightened my hold to my friend who was shaking in fear. "Everything will be all right."

I wished that Arisa was here to keep us intact but she was also fighting her own battle with Quinn. Although Quinn was already safe, they needed to talk about their relationship and all the legal stuff she needed to face with her family.

The entire class was dismissed because of what happened. Arisa's father which was the director of the school gathered us in the arena to explain the sudden raid. He said it was necessary because they had to be caught in act and the police department promised that they would do everything to keep everyone safe while they do their job. It was happening all over the place. Not only in our school but at the entire town. Tiana's father was a serious case and I couldn't imagine what Tiana felt right at this moment.

Squeezing Bailey's hand into mine, I looked at her with concern. "It's better if I drive you home."

My friend just nodded at me and gave me a weak smile. I couldn't help but sigh at all these events in my life. I couldn't believe I was caught in between with all of these. I was there at Quinn's party shootout and then this- my life could be better than this but I rather choose this path because they were my friends. Arisa, Tiana and Bailey were already my sisters and I wouldn't change it for anything.

I drove Bailey to their house and I was glad that her father was there. I looked at my bag on the passenger seat and let out a breath. I parked at the side road first then called my Dad to inform him about my safety.

"Hello, Dad..."

"Thank God, you are safe," he said out of relief. "I couldn't call you because the police were holding us down for safety measure. They just finished right now."

"How about Mom?"

"She's safe. I already talked to her before you called," Dad said in a rush. "How's Tiana? I can't believe that her father is a drug lord."

"She's okay, I guess," I wished. "An officer took her in the police to ask for her statement. I am planning to go there-"

"No, Hilary. Don't even go there. I want you to go home and wait for the news to come."

"But Dad, she's my friend," I complained, anger evident in my tone because I couldn't do anything.

"I know but I need you to go home and wait for my call. I will try to get some news and I will tell you straightaway and then you can be a friend to Tiana after, alright?"

As much as I wanted to go to Tiana, I knew that I would just make my parents worry. Running my hand through my hair, I sighed in defeat. "Alright. Thanks, Dad. Just call me. Love you," and then I hung up and leaned my back on my car seat.

'This is so crazy,' I thought. When was the last time I went crazy? Probably not crazy as this.

My thoughts interrupted once my phone vibrated in my hand. My head dropped down and my screen was showing that a certain Dumbo Octopus was calling me.

And I wished that it wasn't like this. I wished it was just crazy Khloe as memories of my first body shot flooded into my mind...

.....

"Quinn! Quinn rejected me... Do you even know how much it hurts?" Arisa whined as she drank the liquid in her plastic cup. I snatched away the alcohol from her hand, causing her to groan out loud. "Ry, give me that!"

"No, A! You're already drunk," I complained, throwing the cup in the garbage bin. I looked around us and I was thankful that everyone were busy at their own world that they didn't notice my captain's struggle at that point. Or else, her reputation would stoop down.

We were currently hosting the first party of our senior year which was a tradition. Arisa postponed it last week due to a bimbo's stupid threat but it was inevitable. So we were here at my captain's town villa, socializing with all the students who we specifically invited. However, we already expected that people would come even they were not invited.

"Let me drown myself in alcohol. I neeed---"

I shushed her by covering her mouth. "A, you clearly knows that you don't know how to swim back up," I said, pointing at her low tolerance of alcohol.

Arisa glared at me and slapped away my hand. Not that it was her intention, she was just crazy weird whenever she's drunk. "I don't fuckin' care, Ry! This is my own party... I can do whatever I want."

I sighed when she turned away and let herself succumb into the bodies of partygoers. Raking my hand through my hair, I went to the private kitchen and made myself a light cocktail. I watched my best friend through the window. She had another cup in her hand and she joined the crowd at the back garden.

I just shook my head in disbelief. She was hard to control whenever she was at her rebellious mood. She even jumped into the sea during the wig party in a yacht that we had because of a stupid necklace. And it didn't fell due to carelessness, it was thrown by a certain person. That person was none other than, Khloe Summer.

She always have the knack to ruin our day whenever she have opportunities. And she found a new partner with her- Quinn Blackburn. I had nothing against her first but she was getting involved with her innocent demeanor and no-clue face. Arisa valued this new girl's opinion which confused me so much.

Speaking of the devil, I found her in the pool area once I headed out. She seemed uncomfortable at her surroundings. Typical. She looked like she can't hurt a fly. She looked like a goody two-shoes princess from a teen drama, usually head buried in books.

This was not her scene at all.

Of course, an average observer would view her like these and that's not me. Quinn made a miracle by messing with my best friend with just a blink of an eye so it was my right to suspect.

And it was too early to judge.

Eyebrows furrowed, I approached her from behind, lightly gripped her arm and dragged her inside the house to the kitchen.

"What are you doing here?" I asked as I gave her a cup of expensive beer. She maybe messing with Arisa but we were hosting this party so I tried to be hospitable.

"I'm looking for her," she answered before sipping the beverage as if it was just nothing. Yeah, too early to judge. "By the way, awesome party," she added.

I rolled my eyes at her comment because I knew that she was lying. Yeah, the party was awesome, indeed. However, there was a little hint in her eyes that she was thinking otherwise. I was right. This was not her scene at all because her scenes must be better than this. I heard that she came from a prestigious school, from a wild city. Arisa fuckin' had no clue who she was involving with.

However, I decided to brush it off. "It's not awesome. I'm trying to manage her. She's messing around like she's broken hearted or something which is by the way true because you rejected her."

"I didn't reject her," she was too defensive as she gulped the liquid in one swift. Yeah, too defensive.

"Then why are you avoiding her like a plague?" I asked, putting my hand on my hip and just ignored the squeals of the girls at the living room.

"I was surprised," Quinn tried to explain. "And it took me a while to consider my feelings."

"And?" I prompted to convince myself if she was really sincere.

"And... I'm now looking for her," she answered, completely uncomfortable.

I nodded, contemplating her reaction. I was thinking she deserves a chance and I couldn't manage Arisa anyway so I handed her a filled cup again. "I saw her in the back garden not so long ago. Make sure she's not crying her eyes out or I will punch that angelic face of yours."

Quinn stared at me amused and I could tell that she wasn't threatened by me. She shrugged her shoulder and turned away from me to find my captain. No way! How rude!

"Ohhh, thanks Hilary. You're the best," I mumbled to myself sarcastically. The damn blonde s**t didn't even say thanks to me. Arisa? This is gonna be it?!

"Ry!!"

I heard Cathy, our manager called my name so I turned to see her with our flyer, Fiona at the doorway. They both have a worried expression on their faces, causing my eyes to twitch in confusion.

"You don't wanna see this but Khloe is currently outside making scenes," Fiona initiated to tell me. Those people around me perked up at the mention of the notorious bimbo. She rarely attend parties but when she do, something crazy and insane would happen, marking it the best party ever. Of course, Quinn was here so it would make sense that that parasite was also here.

No damn way I was gonna let her ruin our own party and students claim it the best after because of her stupid stunts. This party had to be the talk tomorrow because we were exactly the one who threw it. Not because of some bimbo who always loved to be the center of attention.

My frown deepened in irritation. Immediately, I rushed out with the two girls behind me- and dumb teens followed us, totally interested on what would happen.

I came out of the main villa and the crowd was already cheering outside. Their screams were encouraging my anger to boil up more. I still couldn't find the narcissist bimbo because of the waves of bodies dancing like wildfire while pumping their hands up. Shots by LMFAO started to play all over and the beats were too loud compared a while ago. Who the hell messed with our sound system?!

I looked over to our hired DJ but I only found Xander there, banging his imprudent Mohawk head with the rhythms. However, I didn't need to find for the culprit anymore because my head jerked up to the girl who suddenly screamed her lungs out while yelling 'shots' repeatedly as she sang along with the lyrics. She was holding a mic in her hand at the edge of the pool and she was jumping so carefree. So soul-free... Her chocolate hair swayed at will in each of her motion and I could feel her voice in my system like a drug. So influential and... dominant.

In a slow pace, I witnessed as the crowd worshipped her every move. The hordes around me hopped up with her, screamed along with her and pumping their heads, their fist rose above under the wild music. Few eyes were shut close in liberty, never fear of anything and bodies were all open up in transparency.

It was amazing how Khloe turned a party into this with just her presence. And I loathed it... It irritated me so much that she had the crowd in the palm of her hands.

Our crowd!

Thumping my feet in anger, I struggled to come closer to her because of these stupid worshippers. Once I was near to her spot, she immediately noticed me and her eyes shone in excitement.

That was not a good sign.

"The Golden Jaguar is in the house!!!!" she screamed, pointing at me as if she was the one who threw this party. "Please give her a mojito to be my favorito in my cuarto, bitches!!!"

The crowd screamed as they have seen my burning eyes, directly aiming at Khloe. It was no secret at the whole school that Khloe and I were archenemies and this was an entertainment for all of them. It was a fun show to them that we were probably going to clash right here. If they wanted a show, I would give it to them. Arisa, Tiana and Bailey were nowhere near me to back me up but I was hell sure that I could manage this all by myself.

Approaching my enemy with courage, I snatched away the mic from her hand and glared at her. We were having a violent staring competition right now. There were foxy smirks on each of our faces, measuring each other's capability. She was wearing her pyjama for fvck's sake, like she just woke up and decided to come here to spare time. She didn't give a damn how she looks like and still managed to cope with the wild environment.

I raised the microphone under my mouth and spoke with poisons in each of my words, "Khloe Summer, welcome to our party, bimbo!!! Can somebody give her a Bloody Mary so that I can put her name on obituary?!!"

The crowd cheered once again and Khloe crossed her arms, lifting her chin up. She was challenging me and I clearly knew that she didn't want to lose. Well, bad news! I was born to be a winner.

All of a sudden, the people around us started to chant. "Chug...chug... chug chug...chug chug chug chug!!!"

Damn it! I wouldn't expect it would turn out like this. We threw a traditional party and this kind of party was being improvised each year with new ideas. There were games and there were also rules for everybody. Arisa was equipped with materials and all the things needed in case this happened. I just didn't anticipate that I would be one of the participant because of this girl I hated so much.

'Chug' meant only one thing.

One of the senior stood between me and Khloe. I let him take the microphone from my hand and once he shouted, "TRUTH or DARE!!" everybody went wilder. I couldn't even hear the music because of their screams. The bimbo in front of me was smirking so much. I was panicking inside but I kept my poker face. I wouldn't back down no matter what the consequences is because I wanted to rip that smirk right off her face and smack her good after.

The senior, whose named was Chad, held the mic under Khloe's mouth. Everyone came to a halt and the bimbo stared back at me with a playful smile on her lips before she lifted her arms and yelled, "DARE!!"

People cheered loudly, only to take a pause when Chad faced me and lifted the mic up for my answer.

And there was only one answer I would give...

"F*CKIN' DARE!!!!!"

.........