Following Ashley, I planted myself in beside a crowd of good-looking guys. Hmm… I loved the scent of the guy with dark brown hair, his blue eyes glowed with admiration when he caught me ordering a drink. “Vanilla vodka for two please.” My voice came out smooth and pleasing. The guy leaned closer and I could smell that perfume. So sweet and yet there was a tinge of saltiness and wine in it. “Hey there. You look pretty. Mind if I treat you?” I chewed on my lip when he spoke with a little but of French accent. Then, I caught Ashley gesturing at me; she was waving her arms and nodding furiously. What was she trying to say? Then, the same bartender placed the translucent drinks on the counter and winked at me. I tried to put on my best smile. “Here,” He handed out an American Express platinum card. Then I realized I hadn’t answered his question. Oh well. “Thanks for the treat.” I brushed my fingertips down from his temples to his jaw. He flinched but caught my hand as I pulled it back. “Hope to see you again, pretty.” He kissed my long fingers before I went back to Ashley. “You were great!” Ashley grinned as I handed her the glass. I rolled my eyes. Didn’t she notice I flirted like an idiot, compared to her? This time I finished the entire vanilla vodka in two mouthfuls, just like Ashley. The distinct vanilla scent was sweet but the fiery vodka rolled down my throat. Again, she pushed away the glasses and walked towards the bar to try her luck again. After sipping some cherry brandy, it was my turn. The game went on and on until my head spun and there was a ringing in my ear. I was definitely drunk. Ashley seemed to be no better, her face all flustered, her movements all jerky as we made our way back to the booth. Blake was there, his arms wrapped around Audrey and laughing his head off. Obviously, he was drunk too. We stayed there for a while more, playing drinking games until it was some time past twelve. “Bloody hell.” Blake cursed as he led me out of the pub. I didn’t even have a chance to say goodbye to Ashley.

We got the hell from Sam when we reached home at one. “Blake!” His voice thundered. “How could you set such a bad example by bringing Layla to a pub! A freaking damn pub! And only to come back so late!” His eyes stared right into the clock. “But Dad-” Blake was cut off by his reprimand. “And you,” He growled, shaking his finger at me. “You’d actually let your brother bring you to such indecent places…” He droned on and on. In the end, I went to bed in the white dress; too tired to change out, at two plus.

I woke up to the bright sunlight from the windows. I felt disorientated. My head was spinning and my eyes were blurry. I groaned as I made my way to the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face. I shuddered a little but at least it woke me up. Looking into the mirror, I traced my features. The mascara was all smudged, the eye shadow had faded but my face was still blushing. I rubbed all the make-up off and examined myself closely. I wasn’t one bit beautiful without all the makeup. My lightly tanned skin looked dull, my lashes all curling in every single direction and dark eye rings under my puffy eyes. I sighed and stepped into the bathtub. The warm water massaged my stiff and sore muscles. It felt so good. After that, I changed into my normal wear – a dark blue tee and skinny jeans. I dumped my sundress into the damn washer before skipping down for breakfast. So called breakfast. It was already twelve, I noticed when I stared into the Katherine’s gleaming pink watch. “Sickening girl.” I muttered under my breath as I walked into the kitchen. “What?” Katherine looked up from the television. “You told on us.” I accused as I whipped out some cornflakes from the cupboard. “You weren’t back by eleven. Dad got suspicious.” “And you told on us!” It was the same cold, rude voice. “I had to tell the truth…” She retorted. “Blake didn’t pay you twenty bucks for telling the truth!” I slammed the milk onto the dining table. “I’ll give you back the money, if you want…” “Do you think I can use the bloody twenty bucks to save me from grounding?” My voice was raised my octaves as I shoved the cereal into my mouth. “I was also grounded… One entire week, you know?” “I’m grounded for one entire freaking month, Katherine!” “Sorry…” She gave up arguing and flashed an apologetic look at me. I didn’t want to get mad at her but I really wanted to spend time with Emily. And probably, Ashley? I laughed at my foolishness.

Following Ashley, I planted myself in beside a crowd of good-looking guys. Hmm… I loved the scent of the guy with dark brown hair, his blue eyes glowed with admiration when he caught me ordering a drink. “Vanilla vodka for two please.” My voice came out smooth and pleasing. The guy leaned closer and I could smell that perfume. So sweet and yet there was a tinge of saltiness and wine in it. “Hey there. You look pretty. Mind if I treat you?” I chewed on my lip when he spoke with a little but of French accent. Then, I caught Ashley gesturing at me; she was waving her arms and nodding furiously. What was she trying to say? Then, the same bartender placed the translucent drinks on the counter and winked at me. I tried to put on my best smile. “Here,” He handed out an American Express platinum card. Then I realized I hadn’t answered his question. Oh well. “Thanks for the treat.” I brushed my fingertips down from his temples to his jaw. He flinched but caught my hand as I pulled it back. “Hope to see you again, pretty.” He kissed my long fingers before I went back to Ashley. “You were great!” Ashley grinned as I handed her the glass. I rolled my eyes. Didn’t she notice I flirted like an idiot, compared to her? This time I finished the entire vanilla vodka in two mouthfuls, just like Ashley. The distinct vanilla scent was sweet but the fiery vodka rolled down my throat. Again, she pushed away the glasses and walked towards the bar to try her luck again. After sipping some cherry brandy, it was my turn. The game went on and on until my head spun and there was a ringing in my ear. I was definitely drunk. Ashley seemed to be no better, her face all flustered, her movements all jerky as we made our way back to the booth. Blake was there, his arms wrapped around Audrey and laughing his head off. Obviously, he was drunk too. We stayed there for a while more, playing drinking games until it was some time past twelve. “Bloody hell.” Blake cursed as he led me out of the pub. I didn’t even have a chance to say goodbye to Ashley.

We got the hell from Sam when we reached home at one. “Blake!” His voice thundered. “How could you set such a bad example by bringing Layla to a pub! A freaking damn pub! And only to come back so late!” His eyes stared right into the clock. “But Dad-” Blake was cut off by his reprimand. “And you,” He growled, shaking his finger at me. “You’d actually let your brother bring you to such indecent places…” He droned on and on. In the end, I went to bed in the white dress; too tired to change out, at two plus.

I woke up to the bright sunlight from the windows. I felt disorientated. My head was spinning and my eyes were blurry. I groaned as I made my way to the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face. I shuddered a little but at least it woke me up. Looking into the mirror, I traced my features. The mascara was all smudged, the eye shadow had faded but my face was still blushing. I rubbed all the make-up off and examined myself closely. I wasn’t one bit beautiful without all the makeup. My lightly tanned skin looked dull, my lashes all curling in every single direction and dark eye rings under my puffy eyes. I sighed and stepped into the bathtub. The warm water massaged my stiff and sore muscles. It felt so good. After that, I changed into my normal wear – a dark blue tee and skinny jeans. I dumped my sundress into the damn washer before skipping down for breakfast. So called breakfast. It was already twelve, I noticed when I stared into the Katherine’s gleaming pink watch. “Sickening girl.” I muttered under my breath as I walked into the kitchen. “What?” Katherine looked up from the television. “You told on us.” I accused as I whipped out some cornflakes from the cupboard. “You weren’t back by eleven. Dad got suspicious.” “And you told on us!” It was the same cold, rude voice. “I had to tell the truth…” She retorted. “Blake didn’t pay you twenty bucks for telling the truth!” I slammed the milk onto the dining table. “I’ll give you back the money, if you want…” “Do you think I can use the bloody twenty bucks to save me from grounding?” My voice was raised my octaves as I shoved the cereal into my mouth. “I was also grounded… One entire week, you know?” “I’m grounded for one entire freaking month, Katherine!” “Sorry…” She gave up arguing and flashed an apologetic look at me. I didn’t want to get mad at her but I really wanted to spend time with Emily. And probably, Ashley? I laughed at my foolishness.