The lady

I was unable to stop my poor mind from wondering where the hell Jess got this crowd from. I felt like a pop star for once in my entire life, I mean everyone of them scrambled to wish me a happy birthday it was almost as if someone was paying them to do so. The only thing missing here were the paparazzi.

My jawbones began to quiver and I couldn't feel my weapon of mastication any longer. Did they fall out without me noticing? The last thing I wanted to do was to let my fingers go flying between my lips. 

Help.

Jess was no where to be found, as usual I get to be the one to face the wild dogs. 

After what seemed like an eternity of exercising my mandibles to the procession of unrecognizable faces which appeared to me, I felt someone nudge me and before taking much time trying to scan the face, like I did the previous faces , I got my lips curve upward in preparation of what I prayed to be the last mouth exercise.  Finally, she shows up again after disappearing into thin air to God knows where.

“Who are all these people?” I questioned Jess almost in a loud voice hoping it was audible enough for just her ears to capture, since the ear piercing music didn't make things any  easier. 

“ Just friends.” she said flatly sipping at what should probably be vodka from its pungent smell which was very familiar, my dad consumed that once in awhile or during special occasions but sometimes he abused of it which led to several strokes. Luckily enough for mum who tried her possible best to control his alcohol intake if not he would've been perishing six feet deep by now. The sad mask appeared on my face at thought of my parents. “ Here.” she handed me a red cup containing a pungent liquid. I stared at it for a bit and then back to her sophisticated made up face. I didn't want to remind her of what she already knew but maybe my action will help her understand, before lifting up my palms to her in denial she dashed the cup into my hands.“ Tonight's yours sweetheart, live a little.” with those words she lifted both hands and began to walk away dancing to the rhythm of the song currently playing.

There was a vast difference between my social life and Jess's. She's more of the hotheaded ‘I don't take shit from anybody’ kind of person. Her exquisite features could sweep any guy off their feet. Our friendship prohibited her closeness to the bitchy girls association in college, thanks to that and her jovial nature, that explained the population presently at my party. In summary my best friends' got the bitchy look but doesn't act like one.

Pff! I practically suck when it comes to social activities, well that's if being book conscious, visiting the library every thursdays and helping aunt Kathy clean up every Fridays is considered a social activity. 

Well, She was right— she always is. Tonight's my night and I had to live a little and for that to happen, I had to get out of my cocoon and face the realities of life. I stared at the already drunk Jess on the small dancefloor which she formed by shifting all the sofas to the far end of the living room, jumping up and down amidst the jaw dropping hot guys and back to my red cup. 

Come on Aud. You not going to die taking just a sip of it.

I lifted the cup to my lip and flinched at its taste, I almost choked on it when the burning sensation of the awful liquid made its way down my gullet.

How the fuck do they get to gulp it down their gullets like its a glass of fresh milk or something.

Coward!

Hell no! Whatever said it didn't just say that. I expunged the unpleasant voice or whatever it calls it's self from my mind and stared at Jess one more time, who presently had her right hand around someone's neck. Not just....someone, this person's face was quite familiar — yeah Jake, her gorgeous boyfriend, well at least I got to recognize someone in a gathering of over a hundred unknowns. 

Basically, she's my source of courage. I recited my last prayers in case my next move led to some sort of insane act or perhaps death.

My head began to spin instantly after gulping the awful liquid. It actually had all rights to do so — I mean, I got rid of it in a single gulp. I absolutely needed an award for this. 

The heavens opened giving way to a concrete narrow path. Angels at either sides of the path all dressed in immaculate white dresses. They lifted their huge trumpets to the sky probably waiting for me to make my triumphant entry to........

“Hey! You mind having a dance with me?” A pair of solid hands got me to reality leading me to the dancefloor.

PFF! The dancefloor.... To the dancefloor! 

If this was the impact alcohol had on people, then I'm definitely in for it, no looking back. On my way to the dancefloor with my unknown dancing partner, there was something odd about him and not just him but everyone else. Seems like God decided to bless every couple with a monozygotic twin. 

“Hold on, who I'm I dancing with? You or him?” I pointed at the identical copy of him. He looked at the direction I pointed my index finger, when he saw no one by his side, he smiled at me. 

“I don't know what you're talking about but, It's just me babe.” 

I shrugged and began dancing, my eyes were shut as I danced to the rhythm of ‘Do it again’. I felt like I was ontop of the world nothing to worry about, not even myself. All my problems were underneath my feet, they were just a stepping stone to a better life. 

I took a sip of alcohol from the cup I seized from an unknown lady who already had the ‘What the fuck’ look on her face when it got off her grip. My eyes opened when I felt my dancing partner's hand slip around my waist and to my surprise, the first thing it captured was an exquisite  translucent lady probably in her late twenties standing at the far end of the room, doned a silky ankle level white dress, Her ginger red hair was into a neatly made French braid, her hazel eyes locked mine. She corked her head slightly to the right and shot me a warm but ominous smile.

“Help.” She mouthed.

I squinted just to see the lady walk through the wall. I shook my head and blinked a couple of times,  Probably the alcohol must have exceeded its limits to make start seeing ghosts. Curiosity getting the best of me, I broke free from my dancing partner's hand and handed him the cup. I wobbled past the crowd till I successfully made it to the porch, the translucent lady kept walking to God knows where without looking back.

“Excuse me.” My voice came out as a whisper but audible enough for the lady to hear, reason why she stopped and stared at me for a while, smiled and kept on walking. “ Hey wait.” I followed but she didn't bother stopping this time. There was something odd about this lady. Her eyes were the mirror images of pains and sorrow. I knew nothing about her or about ghosts in general but one sure thing is she was trying to show me something and following her was the only option.

“Audrina.” 

Someone called but I was too focused on this lady that I gave little or no attention to the person. Within the  twinkle of an eye I felt the persons firm grip on my arm. 

“Let go off me.” I cried.

“What the hell do you think you're doing? ” 

“playing hide and seek.” I said sarcastically. 

“Ha-ha very funny. Were you still looking for a hiding place or you intended doing that right here.”

My eyes detached from his ice blue eyes to scrutinize my surrounding, that's when I realized I was in the middle of the road. I looked around to find the lady I was following but to my greatest dismay she was no where to be found.

“Where's she? ” I asked.

“Where's who?” 

My head began to ache, my legs felt like jelly and my eyelids right now were having a session of weight lifting. 

“The lady who asked for help.”

“Come, I'll walk you home.”

I broke free of his grip and staggered to where the lady must have headed to. Unfortunately my legs weren't as steady as it was supposed to be. Fuck that alcohol!!!! The next second I was swept off my feet before I made the next move which no doubt could make me trip. I snuggled closer to him and looked at the Greek god who was seriously focused on the path ahead of him rather than the drunk in his arms. I could see his jaws clench and his brows furrowed. 

“Believe me Alex, She was there.” I muttered before my eyes shut.

“I will always do.”