Chapter 1
“Come on Mum.... please” I said, giving my best puppy dog eyes, which usually worked near instantly. This time, however, she simply stared right back at me with a resounding “no and I don’t want to hear any more about this”. I couldn’t believe what was happening right now. Who was this person in front of me? The woman who had always encouraged me to go out and live life was now telling me I had to sit at home, alone, on the biggest party of the year. I wasn’t asking for much; a simple night out with my best friends, attending a little party (okay, a big party) but nothing I hadn’t done dozens of times before. As I watched her walk from the room, satisfied with her decision, I decided what she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her. It would just be a simple night out. What could go wrong?
As I began pretending to get ready for bed, the twinge of guilt threatened to take over, wanting to go talk to mum and convince her how important this was to me. She had always been so understanding and even encouraging in living a little, going out, socialising, but recently that had all begun to change. I don’t know if it was because my eighteenth birthday was approaching and she felt like she might lose me? Or maybe looking through university applications together had freaked her out?
For as long as I could remember, it had just been the two of us, us against the world. I knew it had not always been this way though. His photos hung on the walls and my mother was still grieving him. My father looked so serious in all the photos, no smile or laughter, all except one. It was an intimate family photo of the three of us on my third birthday that revealed how he truly saw us. Eyes filled with pride and beaming a grand smile as he watched me blowing out the candles. I was wearing a tiara and a silver tutu, befitting his title for me of princess. My mother used to tell me stories of him and you could hear the love and hurt as she spoke. After speaking of him, it was like opening a wound and she would go through days of depression. I stopped asking for those precious stories, seeing the pain it caused her.
My phone vibrated loudly on my bed, quickly pulling me from my thoughts. It was Izzy.... again reminding me how important tonight’s party was and who would be there. How could I forget Sebastian Hart. Her longtime crush. Well, if we are being honest, he was the crush of most of the girls in attendance at Macauley College. I could see where they were coming from. That was until he opened his mouth or made any type of facial expression. The looks he gave to others and the words he spoke were either belittling, rude or part of some sort of ploy. I quickly replied to Izzy “Be out front at 10pm sharp. And remember turn your headlights off!”. I thought about adding in yet another reminder not to waste her time on such a moron, but my multiple previous attempts and near arguments told me I knew better than to go there again.
I carefully combed through my wardrobe before finally deciding on a simple but killer little black dress, sure to highlight my bright blue eyes and compliment my long jet black hair. The two reminders of my father, in all other ways I looked exactly like my mum. I quickly changed and got ready, applying some light make-up, placing my hair into a high pony and matching my outfit with some black high heel boots. I then grabbed my bag, quickly checking the time before placing my wallet and phone inside. I had two minutes left before Izzy would hopefully be on time for once in her life. I breathed in as I quietly climbed out my small bedroom window. Lucky for me, I had always been slender, previously lanky also, but since growing older I had filled out and was now very proud of my new curves. As I walked out to the front of the house I again felt guilt consume me. I had never gone against my mum before but I quickly shock off the feeling. I simply couldn’t miss tonight.
To my shock, Izzy was waiting for me, obviously excited to go see her crush. When she spotted me she squealed in excitement “Aubrey! This is going to be the best night of my life! Thank you so much for coming. I don’t think I could walk into that party without you by my side! Oh and you look so hot, these last few years have been VERY kind to you”. Before I could reach her myself, Serena softly placed her hand over her mouth and let out a deep sigh. She took a deep breath and whispered “think Izzy. I mean, do you want us all to get caught by Aubrey’s mum before the night has even begun?”. Izzy quickly shook her head, immediately noticing what she had done. These two had been with me since kindy and although they had their moments they now got along... well mostly. As we climbed into the car, we quietly shut our doors and drove off. There was no heading back now. I mean I was already going to cop it for sneaking out, so why not make the most of it?
We hadn’t even reached the end of the street when Izzy started telling us about her newest plan to get Sebastian to notice her. Something to do with the latest dance move that she had now mastered. As I glanced into the back seat I saw Serena leaning forward, rolling her eyes with, I’m sure, another snide remark ready. I quickly jumped in supporting Izzy’s newest idea. I mean what could it hurt to try, before quickly changing the subject to what song we should listen to. Knowing what I was doing, Serena gave me a quick glare before shrugging and returning to her previous position reclining across the backseat.
We soon arrived outside a large house, if you could even call it that, it was massive. So this was where the king of Macauley College lived. I was starting to see where Sebastian’s attitude came from. Since moving after my dad’s passing, my mum and I have always lived in a small house. It was surrounded by a beautiful garden my mother had tended over the years, full of beautiful aromas from lavender to roses and had a large oak tree in the back. As we walked towards the mansion I became thankful for my simple life in my little house, it was peaceful and homely, nothing like what stood before me.
Izzy nervously grabbed my hand as we walked through the threshold. Normally very confident, Izzy grew nervous every time she was near Sebastian. I looked around, knowing he wouldn’t be far due to Izzy’s tightening grip on my hand. That’s when I spotted him standing with his usual posse with the addition of two more tall guys. And that is when it hit me, the sweetest aroma I had ever smelt, it was like roses swirled with vanilla. The smell was intoxicating, making it hard to breathe. I just wanted to stand there enjoying this sweet scent forever.
