Chapter 53 Just getting started
NANCY'S POV
“I’m fine,” I said quickly, hoping this moment would just pass over, but it became clear soon after that whoever was up there wasn't entirely on my side tonight.
"Oh come on, it's just one drink," Vanessa laughed lightly, and her eyes twinkled, more like the shine of a witch's wand, "It won't hurt."
"I already had one," I lied, inching away as subtly as I could.
Vanessa's hand landed on me before I could take a full step backwards, "It clearly wasn't enough. I can't even get a whiff of it on you."
'Do you have to?'
Those were the words I held back and silently said in my mind while my brows tightened.
I shot a glance at Mason, seemingly asking why his girlfriend was being so persistent and wouldn't just leave me the fuck alone.
Mason and I weren't even a thing. I couldn't begin to imagine what she would do if we actually were.
To be clear, I didn't need it to be spelled out to me that Vanessa had put me on her radar and on her list of women to eliminate.
Things like this were always very obvious, but the truth that she didn't know and didn't seem willing to figure out was that Mason and I were nothing beyond mere friends.
Seeing my look, Mason stepped in, practically taking a step forward and putting himself between Vanessa and me.
"Vanessa..." He called with intent.
There was no way she could have missed the meaning in his voice, but, unfortunately for me, Vanessa chose to ignore it.
She stepped to the side, putting Mason out of her line of sight while her gaze once again fell on me.
With a slow-spreading smile, she held out the glass to me, "Drink."
"Um..." I drawled out and shook my head vehemently, "Let's keep the drinks for people who actually need them. I'm fine."
Her smile faltered, just a little, but then it was back on again. "If you keep refusing, then I'll assume that you're just doing it to be rude.
My eyes darted around the room, noting how everyone's attention was now on us. "I'm not being rude."
"Well, you are." She retorted quickly.
"There's no offense more rude than refusing a drink at a party..." She let her voice trail off, leaving us to fill in the meaning.
Seeing as most people were either drunk or on their third, fourth, and so on glasses, refusing to drink counted as an indirect way of calling them drunks who had nothing better to do than drink.
It also implied that I was better than them, and the way people's faces had begun to change, I could instantly guess that I was now being seen as a stuck-up bitch, which had to be exactly what Vanessa was gunning for.
As expected, there was a slight gleam of self-satisfaction in her eyes.
"I don't want it," I said in a firmer tone, telling myself inwardly that I didn't need to do anything I didn't want to.
I didn't even know most of these people.
'But by tomorrow, they will all know you,' a voice said to me.
Internally, I groaned. It was true.
I wasn't sure, but it was easy to tell that a lot of the people here went to the same school as us, and judging by how quickly news spread amongst students, I had no doubt that I would have a label by daybreak.
And that was something no student wanted. I especially didn't want to be known so widely.
Vanessa stepped closer, then said in a voice that was loud enough for everyone to hear while pretending she wanted it to be just me, "...Or do you think you're too good for the drinks we have here?"
My eyes widened at that, "That's not..."
It was too late. Chuckles had already rang out, and my cheeks warmed up with embarrassment.
"It looks like you don't think so," Vanessa continued, cocking her head. "How about you prove me wrong?"
She pushed the glass in my face again, "Drink."
"Vanessa, don't..." Mason was cut off by a sharp glare from her.
My eyes darted around again, seeking Diana. She was the only one who could get me out of this situation, but alas, Diana was nowhere to be found as well, and my only guess was that she had gone to the restroom or something of the sort.
I had to applaud Vanessa; she had timed it perfectly.
My gaze switched between the reeking glass of whiskey and Vanessa, and I couldn't help wincing.
Rather than saying I wasn't accustomed to alcohol, it was best to say I was a lightweight who got drunk at the top of a bat.
To top it off, I wasn't sure how many glasses Vanessa intended for me to drink. Once I took the first one, I wouldn't be able to refuse another.
I stared at the glass as though it was a ticking bomb thrust to my face, knowing she'd make it worse if I refused.
Slowly, I exhaled.
"Fine."
Her smile returned instantly, then widened when I took the glass from her.
Lowering my head, I stared at the glass with the liquid sloshing inside it.
'Just one drink, Nancy."
"Just one drink and you can get the hell out of here."
Even as I lifted the glass to my lips, I didn't regret coming to this party. It was just my ill luck that I'd earned Vanessa's dislike.
The cold glass touched against my lips, and I tipped my head backwards and downed the liquid in one go.
It burned a path down my throat, stronger than the wine I'd sneaked to my room sometime ago.
As soon as the last drop went down, I slammed the glass back into her hand and glared, "Satisfied?"
Silence fell for a long minute, and then someone whistled.
Vanessa tilted her head, studying me, and then she smiled again, "Oh, we're just getting started."