Forbidden Soul

Chapter 7: Fresher Party

Mia’s POV

How can it be? I rush to the window. It’s tightly shut. I open it with a loud bang and look down. No one there. How can it be? I have seen him. I look around the room once.

“Mia? Hello?” Sam grabs my attention again.

I stop there blankly, not knowing what to say! I know what I have seen. He was here just a few moments ago.

“Mia, are you okay?” Sam asks again in a concerned voice.

“Sam, I just saw him. He was here.” I blurt.

“Him? Who?” She inquires. Her eyes are wandering around the room, scanning every inch of it.

“Him, Sam! The guy who saved me!” I exclaim.

Sam rolls her eyes as she faces me, “have you really hurt your head, Mia?”

“Sam, please, just trust me, okay?” I try to win her faith.

She sighs and drags me to the bed.

“Here, sit,” with her words, she settles on the bed.

“Mia, listen. I know you are new here and your first day wasn’t a piece of cake. But you need to understand that you weren’t saved by anyone down there in the woods, Mia. There were only Scarlett and me! I don’t really know how you’ve survived, but I guess it was just your luck and nothing else. No guy with dreamy eyes was involved in that, Mia, and get it clear.” She tries to put her words in my head.

I know what she is talking about. Hell, anyone will think I’m crazy. But I can’t deny what I’ve seen with my own eyes, what I’ve felt every time he was around. There has to be something. I keep silent.

“Well, look at you! You look so amazing! This dress really suits you, Mia. You know what, you just keep it.” Sam is now trying to change the topic. I can see through it. I give her a forced smile.

She sighs again, “listen, Mia! Even if there was someone, how can he just show up in my bedroom? It’s so creepy.”

“I know, Sam, but I just…” I've lost words. I don't know what to explain. Hell, I can't even digest all these.

I don’t know what is out there in those woods are which keeps dragging me. I don’t understand these winds. Am I just imagining? Why even am I here in all the cities? Is that just a mere coincidence?

“Okay! Fine. Even if he has saved you, he has to be somewhere in the town, right?” Sam speaks again. I give her a small nod.

“Then how about this? We can look for him at the party tonight.” Sam shows me some hope.

“But Sam, it’s just a fresher party. What if he is not in the college?” I ask her.

“Mia, it’s a small town, and any party includes all the important families. We all know each other here. If he is not at the party, he doesn’t exist in this town. Deal?” Sam declares.

Well, that makes sense. The population of the town is only a few thousand, maybe. The major area is covered in forests. Besides, the majority of the population is from business families. They all are connected somehow. I concur with her.

“Deal!” I shake her hand. She giggles.

“Okay, give me five. I’ll change,” Sam strides to her closet and comes back exactly after five minutes wearing another oversized hoodie. No way! It’s a party. We all supposed to look good.

“Sam! You’re gonna wear this?” I ask her in horror.

“Babe, if I wear a dress like this, people won’t recognize me,” she scoffs.

“Come on, Sam,” I still insist her on changing. She has such beautiful clothes.

“No way,” Sam grabs my hand and pulls me out of the room, “let’s go before we get late.”

 She drags me to their garage and throws her backpack on the backseat. Why on earth is she carrying a backpack?

“Sam, why are you carrying that junk?” I ask her as we get inside her car.

“Don’t call this junk, okay?” She protests and then she leans towards me and whispers, “it has my secret weapons.”

I laugh at her way of talking. She is really something! I’m lucky to have her as my friend. Sam drives me straight to a road. The only thing I can see is darkness and lines of trees. The woods of Camelot. What mystery are you hiding from the rest of the world?

Soon the forest disappears, and we are back to the civilization before even I can realize it. Sam pulls over in front of a hotel. A chauffeur rushes towards us as we get down.

“Here,” Sam hands him over the keys and we walk inside.

My jaw drops as we enter the hall. OH. MY. GOD! I can hardly believe my eyes. This is one luxury hotel. The hall is well decorated with a huge ‘WELLCOME’ banner. The loud music is banging the dance floor, giving it a disco vibe. Fresh food and drinks are arranged properly on the surrounding tables. All the servers are well dressed and well manner. Who will say it’s just a fresher party? And all these girls here! Just look at them. Their dresses are so expensive and revealing at the same time. But my mind leaves behind all these and looks for my mystery guy.

“Hello! Earth to Mia!” Sam’s voice brings me back to my senses.

“Hm?” I hum.

“What are you thinking? Let’s go and paaarrty!” Sam yells in my ears while dragging me directly to the dance floor and starts doing her special dance moves, which are apparently very popular in the town.

“Mia! Sam!” Nugget shows up from nowhere and hugs us suddenly. The skirt she is wearing is stopping on her mid-thigh and the crop top is revealing her toned belly. The belt on her waist has a huge pink bow and another matching one is decorated on her hair. This girl has some serious fashion issues. Well, I’m not a pro, but I can still say that.

“Look at you, Mia, you look beautiful!” She compliments me.

“Thank you, Nugget,” I reply.

“Hey Nugget, let’s dance,” Sam pulls her as well. I excuse myself and start looking around in a hope that I may find him somewhere in this hall.

People are dancing like crazy here and there. Thank god they are at least not serving alcohol. Well, the majority are still underage! My eyes fall on Clayton Albero. He is standing in a corner, trying to hide from everyone else. This guy has some serious social issues. I doubt if he will ever be able to make a single friend.

I walk over to introduce myself. I kind of feel him. I’m also like him, in an unknown world.

“Hi! Clayton, right?” I start with a small hello.

He hides his face as he nervously speaks, “H… Hi!”

“I’m Mia. New in this town. Sam told me about you.” I try to engage him in a conversation which only makes him more uncomfortable. His breathing becomes heavy. It feels like he is trying hard to fight something.

“Clayton! Are you okay?” I ask him. Maybe he has asthma or something.

“I gotta go,” and with that he avoids me and sprints out of the hall, shoving Beverly on his way. Beverly’s drink spills on her attire.

“Aah!” A scream leaves her mouth. But before she can do anything, Clayton is out of her sight.

Lucky me, I was following Clayton. My legs stop only a few steps away from the queen bee. Beverly turns towards me, fuming in anger. Oh god! This isn’t good.

“You! What are you looking at? Go and get me some napkins,” she orders.

I keep standing there blankly. Is she ordering me?

“Are you dumb? Or deaf?” She shouts again.

I really don’t like her. Better I just get her some napkins and then step away from this crazy girl. I give her a small nod and grab some paper towels from the washroom.

“Here,” I hand her over.

She cleans herself and then returns that to me, “now go and throw it in the bin.”

What! What does she think of herself? I’m not her servant.

“Haven’t you heard me? Fresher?” Her voice is mean.

She looks into my eyes as she questions, “what do you think of yourself? Do you really think just wearing these clothes will make you one of us?”

What does she mean? I don’t understand. I look at her blankly.

“This is hotel Camelot. Every party hosted in this hotel is for elites only. Borrowing clothes from others isn’t enough. Look at the way you walk or talk. So cheap and desperate. You are not meant for this place, you slut. I heard you’re an orphan. No wonder your parents have left you behind. After all, who wants a daughter like you? You are an embarrassment to yourself and to the people around you.” She insults me again.

Her words hadn’t affected me until she brings up my parents. So mean! How can she be like this? What does she know about me or life or anything except being dressed up? Tears roll down my cheek. I try but can't hide it anymore. I run out of the hall to hide myself from others.