Chapter 47 The party.
NANCY'S POV
The party was already in full swing by the time we arrived, and the bass playing was so heavy I could feel it in my chest.
Everything was just so...loud, and it wasn't the music alone.
When we stepped into the venue, I glanced around, only to realise that Diana wasn't wrong.
Everyone was dressed in...
Yeah, club attire. That's the word, and if I had gone with my original choice of casual jeans and a top, I would have looked incredibly out of place.
"Didn't realise this would be such a huge party," I muttered under my breath, but Diana, who was close to me, heard it.
She grinned, then gave me a small sink, "I told you so."
I didn't argue and let her lead me inside, further into the noise and even more bodies that were moving, laughing, and shouting.
God, how I hated this kind of space.
I'd been to a few parties back in New Jersey, but still, I could never get used to this.
“This is insane,” I muttered again.
Diana gave me a sideways glance, then corrected, "It's fun."
"Nancy!"
I winced when my name was yelled out like that, then turned to face Mason, who was behind it.
He walked over to us, arms spread and a slow grin forming across his face.
He stopped right in front of us, then scanned Diana first before his gaze rested on me.
"Wow."
"What?" I frowned slightly, grabbing my arms with eyes narrowed in warning.
"Nothing," Mason shook his head...
"It's just..." He lifted his eyes to my face. "You clean up nice."
I rolled my eyes and then said, “I was clean before.”
"It's not the same," Mason responded.
I rolled my eyes again, and Diana nudged me with her elbow, drawing even closer to me.
Without batting an eyelid, I ignored her while Mason turned to walk us in.
"You guys came quite late; the party already started," Mason said.
"It's not late if you can make an entrance," Diana answered, causing Mason to laugh. "Yeah, I guess you're right."
He chuckled some more, and then his eyes flicked back to me, lingering this time.
"Come on, I'll get you drinks," He said when he led us to a couch in the corner, a spot that overlooked what seemed to be the dancefloor.
I only had one question then.
Whose goddamn house was this?
"It's Mason's," Diana said suddenly, and it made my gaze dart to her in shock, wondering how she read my mind.
"His parents don't live here, so he has the house to himself all the time," She went on explaining.
My mouth dropped open in marvel.
If only my parents could get off my back like this, but no. Rather than give me freedom, they would prefer to sell me off to a man like Mr Hudson.
Just recollecting his name gave me chills all over, and my face darkened.
My thoughts crept to a place I didn't want them to be, and I began to wonder what was happening back home.
No doubt, my parents had looked everywhere for me. They had to answer to Mr Hudson after all.
Again, I became glad that I had kept the fact that I was still in touch with Diana a secret from them. They wouldn't have thought that I was right under their noses.
I snapped out of my thoughts then realised Mason had indeed brought the drinks he mentioned over.
He stretched a glass out to me, and I immediately shook my head, "I'm not drinking."
"You're sure about that?" He arched his brow.
Diana glanced at me, then took the drink from Mason. "I guess I'm drinking for both of us then."
Mason grabbed a chair and brought it over to sit next to us, and the instant he did so, I felt eyes on me.
I tried to ignore the feeling until I couldn't anymore.
"Why are they staring?" I lowered my voice and my body, alternating glances between him and Diana.
Mason was the one to answer, "It's because you walked in with me."
"Is that supposed to mean anything?
Mason chuckled, "Oh, it means a lot."
I didn’t like that answer.
A while later, upon my suggestion, we went into the kitchen, where it was slightly less crowded.
Mason handed Diana another drink, then leaned against the counter.
“So,” he said, looking at me. “You're really not going to take anything?"
I remained resolute in my decision, shaking my head, "I'm not."
He gave me a playful, disappointed look, “You’re no fun.”
I froze when he suddenly reached over, then let out a breath I didn't realise I was holding when he tucked the hair that had fallen over my face behind my ears.
“Mason.” A feminine voice reached me then. I didn't even know who it was, yet, but the voice sounded really grating.
We all turned, and my gaze fell upon a blonde-haired lady. She was tall and beautiful, the type of lady who didn't even need to try to garner attention.
As if that wasn't enough, she was very shapely too, with hips that curved out in a way I'd always hoped mine would.
However, I wasn't the type to undermine myself just because I thought someone looked attractive.
Her eyes went straight to Mason, then to me, and then she frowned, "Who might this be?"
"Hey, Vanessa."
Mason straightened slightly, then pointed towards me, "This is Nancy, you already know Diana."
"Who is she?" I couldn't resist asking.
Mason exhaled first before answering, a reaction I found quite confusing, and then he said, "Meet Vanessa, my girlfriend."
My head had never whipped around so fast. "Your girlfriend?"
Well, that situation, it turned out to be true.
Vanessa was indeed Mason's girlfriend, and from what Diana told me sometime later, they had been together for about three months. \`
"Why didn't anyone tell me anything?”