The purpose of love

5

Julia POV

I brushed the shreds of my hair silently gazing at the clock on my wall. I have ten minutes left before I and Chad leave for the party. Kat sent me a message saying she has started. I gazed at myself in the mirror once I'm done with my hair.

I wore a pair of black skinny jeans and a red top with my denim jacket covering my shoulders. I looked good with only mascara and eyeliner. I didn't use any lipstick as I don't have any shade which suits my outfit.

I looked good, I put on my black vans as I received a new message from Chad. I moved out of my room quietly. I left my shoulder-length hair open. 

Chad stood by the hall end as he gazed at mom's room. His gaze shifted to me as I climbed the steps down. We slowly walked towards the kitchen where our back door is.  

I exhaled heavily once we stepped out of the back gate without making any voice, we crossed the street to where Kat's car stopped. 

"You sure right? mom won't wake up in the middle of the night right?" I asked Chad as we walked.

"Julia, she won't. Mum needs sleep and she is a heavy sleeper. Have you ever seen her walking into our rooms at night?" He questioned.

"No." I opened the back door as Chad took the passenger seat.

"Hi, Kat." I smile at Kat.

"Hey, Julia. I have missed you." She turned around in her seat to see me.

"Even I missed you, you should come home this weekend." 

"Yes." 

The next twenty minutes are spent talking, it was mainly her as she spoke about her college. In meanwhile I checked my messages. There were texts from Peter and Mila saying they have reached the party.

Lori couldn't attend as she is taking care of her sister, I felt sad reading Lori's message. I wanted her to be there. I tilted my head looking out of the window watching the roads.

It was a short trip, my eyes widen watching the people entering the huge mansion.

"Don't worry Julia. We will be with you. Even your friends are here." Kat spoke looking at my expression. I nodded my head as Chad wrapped his arm around her. Kat is wearing a black frock, she is beautiful with long hair and brown eyes.

 I followed Chad and Kat inside, they stopped when some of the already present people greeted them. I stood behind them like a kid. Loud music is booming throughout the house as we entered the house.

There were tons.... tons of people as we walked inside, I texted Peter and Mila asking where they are. Most of them are near the dance floor and drinking section.

"Kat! Chad!" A group who were sitting near the tv section called. They were all sitting together. 

Kat and Chad smiled walking towards the group, I remember a few faces from the photos Chad posted. 

"Who is this?"  a guy wearing a black t-shirt asked.

"Luke, meet my sister Julia and Julia, meet Luke. We go to the same college." 

"Hi." I say softly to the Luke guy taking his hand for a handshake.

"Hello, Julia." I smiled at the rest of them. They weren't rude, they smiled back and greeted me.

"Jaggers are here." Luke told Chad. Kat immediately looked at where Luke is pointing. 

I tried to look where they were looking but couldn't as Mila and Peter stood in my line of view.

"Julia!" Mila hugged me and I smelt a different smell on her. They both greeted Chad and Kat before pulling me towards the other side.

"Message me where you are, or if something happens. Don't talk or indulge yourself in a conversation with strangers." Chad spoke walking towards me.

"Sure. I will remember that." 

"I thought you won't be coming." Peter said as Mila is taking us somewhere. I looked at Peter as he is looking down at me. 

"I asked Chad, he is okay with me coming here." 

"Good thing, we can enjoy so much. Everyone is here." Mila took us to where all of our friends sat. 

I saw Grace, Sofia, Harper, Penelope, Selena, Kawhi and some other new faces. Harper is giggling at something the boy beside her said.

Penelope is taking sips of her drink. Grace and Sofia were talking, "Hey everyone." I greeted them with a happy smile on the face.

"Babe, you are here." Selena said hugging me. I chuckled hugging her back. I took a seat beside Kawhi and peter sat beside me.

"You need a drink?" Kawhi asked. From the corner of my eye, I watched Sofia rolling her eyes at me. I don't know why she rolled her eyes.

"No, I don't drink any alcohol." Peter and Mila chuckled as Kawhi made a face after hearing that.

"Okay..." Kawhi went to the kitchen to get herself a drink. I watched the people around me. There were so many of them, I don't even from where these people came.

Most of the faces are very new to me, my gaze shifted to Chad and Kat who are laughing looking at each other. 

"Your brother is serious about Kat?" Grace asked.

"Yes, she makes him happy. He is very serious about her."

"s**t, Antonio and his gang is here. The lady is too hot..." Kawhi said walking back with her drink.

"Antonio?" Sofia asked. 

"Yes, he is talking with Shawn and his brother Brad." Kawhi replied. Harper stopped talking with the guy and took a seat beside Mila.

"And there is this tall and fat guy. I think he is the head of their group." She said.

"Fat guy?" Penelope asked.

"Yes." 

"He must be Ace, the oldest and captain of their tribe. They all listen to him." The guy who was talking with Harper said.

"Ace? is that his real name?" Sofia asked.

"No, it's his stage name. He is the captain of their tribe 'Jaggers'. He is famous in the gaming world." The guys explained.

"What is his name?" I whisper asked, Peter.

"Ibrahim." 

"He is ugly and horrendous." Kawhi said. I frowned not liking that, we shouldn't call anyone ugly. That is offensive.

"Really? what a setback." Penelope said. Sofia and Grace chuckled.

"He is fat but man, he is a pro at gaming levels." Ibrahim stated standing up.

"Where are you going?" Harper asked him.

"To get a drink, you want one?"

"Yes, mix vodka in it." 

"But what they are doing here?" Grace asked, I just sat there listening to them.

"I heard Antonio is friends with Shawn's brother Brad. He invited them to this party." Peter spoke.

"But honestly, the girl and the other two boys except the fat guy are stealing the limelight of this party." Kawhi spoke. 

I shut my mouth before I say something, I stood up making everyone look at me.

"I'm going to go and wish Shawn a happy birthday." I tell them.

"Wait, I will join. I didn't wish him either." Selena stood up from her seat. I and Selena searched for Shawn. It took us time before we found him outside near the pool. 

He was standing with a few boys and girls. I know Shawn, he and I have been partners for three assignments. He might be a little crazy but he was and is good with me.

"Hey, shawn." I say softly standing behind him. He turned around immediately and a smile spread on his face.

"Happy birthday." I hugged him.

"What a surprise Julia. Didn't think you will be attending the party." Shawn said hugging me back.

"Here." I pulled away to hand him the small gift I brought for him. I know he is a fan of thor.

"Haha, thank you, Julia. The only gift I got is from you." He hugged me once again as I gave him the small box. 

"Woah! I love this." I gave him 'Thor's hammer' keychain.

"Did you come with Mila and Peter?" He asked after Selena greeted him.

"No, I came with Chad and Kat." Shawn knows my brother.

"Oh yeah, I met Chad but he didn't tell me you were here." I spoke with Shawn for two minutes before someone called him. 

Shawn turned back making me look at who is calling him, I saw the guy from the ice-cream shop. "He is Antonio." Selena whispered to me.

"Oh my god, he is hot." Selena said. My gaze shifted to the girl wearing a blue frock with her legs crossed. 

She is sitting with three boys, she leaned towards the 'Chunky' guy whose stage name is Ace. "Brad is setting up the gaming room, man." Shawn said taking a step back standing right beside him. 

"We won't be waiting for too long. Ace doesn't like to wait." 

"I'm sorry man, just give Brad five minutes." Antonio's gaze shifted to me before he looked back at Shawn. 

I looked back at where Antonio is going, my gaze met Ace's when I tilted my head a little to look at them. He looked away, most of the people are now surrounding them. 

"Is there going to be any match?" Selena asked Shawn.

"Yes, there is a match between Jaggers and Rykers. That's why it is crowded here." Shawn spoke pointing the people.

"Who are Rykers?" I asked him.

"Rykers are Connecticut gamers while Jaggers are from Florida. Jaggers are pro gamers while Rykers upcoming. They decided to have a face-off and the night is here." Shawn wrapped his arm around my shoulders looking at the keychain.

"Thank you, Julie, I love this." I smiled at him.

"Where are others?" He asked Selena.

"They are sitting near the stairs section." 

"Wanna have a dance with me beautiful?" Shawn asked me. I chuckled knowing antics. Selena raised her brow with a teasing smile. 

"Sure." Selena went back to others while Shawn and I went to the dance floor.

"How is everyone treating you? all good?" Shawn asked as  I wrapped my arms around his neck.

"Everything is going good, I'm just worried about GPA." A few of them turned around looking at us.

"The same, I'm worried about my scholarship." He replied.

"I heard you got admission letters from three top colleges?" He chuckled.

"Yes, but I need to get a good GPA and you already know I'm very bad at math." I nodded my head slow dancing as the tune changed.

"I'm working on hard subjects every day."  I tell him, my eyes went to Grace and Sofia who are looking at us.

We danced on the next two songs when Brad walked towards us, the 'Jaggers' were standing together gaining everyone's attention. My gaze shifted to the other group standing in front of them.

"The set up is done, tell everyone to leave. Only important stay." Brad said.

"So, Julia. You going to stay or go?" Shawn asked.

"Hmm... I don't know. I came with Chad and Kat, they are my ride." I tell him. I never spoke with Brad but he is one of Chad's close friends.

"Chad and Kat are going to stay. I guess you will be staying." Brad spoke. 

"Thank you." I smile at him as Shawn chuckled.

"Wanna sit with me and watch their match?" Shawn asked. My smile widens as I never watched any face-off nor I saw any gamers playing.

"Sure, let me go and see if my friends are staying or not." I turned around to see most of them are leaving the place. 

"No, they will be leaving." Shawn said.

"Oh." I felt bad, I wanted them to stay because they were more excited than me. I don't even know about 'Jaggers' or anything about video games.

Peter and Mila left together, Grace and Sofia left too. Kawhi, Penelope, Selena and Harper stayed back. I don't know how but they stayed. 

"You sure right? you have school tomorrow." Chad asked.

"I'm good, I can stay awake." I tell him. Even now there were people, they arranged a huge two tables with five laptops on each table. There were other electronic gadgets too which I don't understand. 

I sat beside Shawn, in between Chad and Shawn. it's like we are watching a real tournament. Ace, the guy took the first chair, the others followed. Even the beautiful girl is going to play.

"They are playing Dota-2." Shawn said.

"You see the fat guy, he is Ace. He is 24 years old, the oldest among them and the captain. The girl is Ruth Parker, 21 years old. Antonio Graze, 21 years old. Kaleb Jackson, 21 years old. Diego, 22 years old. They all are best friends and their tribe name 'Jaggers'. Ace taught them and he is their master." Shawn explained as they all took seats.

"How they met?" I asked as I looked at Ace. He removed his hoodie revealing his buzz cut. He put on his headphones as his eyes concentrated on the screen.

"No idea, they are like family. They don't allow anyone into their tribe." I nodded my head looking at each of them.

"Aren't they so cool." Kawhi spoke. She is sitting beside Ibrahim and Harper.

"Shawn, it's bad to call someone as fat. Please don't call anyone like that." I tell him.

"Sure, sorry." I smiled looking back at them. Even I was called fat. I'm not overly weighted but I do have body fat and belly fat. Not to forget the tighs.

The face-off started, I couldn't understand a thing. Often I found myself wincing at the crude words they yelled while playing. My cheeks turned bright red when they used the b-word, p-word and many other words at each other.

"The yelling is very common, they do in frustration I guess." Shawn whispered in my ear. The only one who didn't yell or uttered a word is 'Ace'. According to Chad and Shawn, the 'Jaggers' are winning.

The Jaggers ended up winning the face-off, I looked at Ace in awe, this is my first time watching a gaming match. While others complimented how Antonio, Kaleb or Diego my eyes fixed on Ace.

He is wonderful in my eyes, I didn't stop looking at him as his teammates or tribe mates hugged each other. He just sat in his gaming chair with folded arms. 

"Julia, it's time to go home." Chad spoke standing up.

"See you at school, Julia." Shawn hugged me as I stood up to leave. I want to look at Ace for once. I don't know if I'm going to meet him or not.

As I walked towards the entrance following Chad and Kat, I turned my neck to see him, I blinked my eyes when I found his eyes on me. His chubby cheeks are covered by a beard. His black beard suits him and his personality.

"Julia, you coming?" I don't know why but I felt the need to smile at him, I smiled at him making my dimples pop out. Whenever I smile my dimples are clearly visible. There is quite a distance in between him and I but I know he can clearly see my smile.

He didn't stop or looked away, as I looked at him and his huge personality. He isn't ugly, he is cute and mainly his skills are amazing which makes him wonderful.

"I'm." I turned back shaking my head.