A day and a half later, the party was planned. The four of us got ready and packed inside Michael's car. Sam and I sat on the backseat. Daniel sat in the front and Michael drove the car. This can't be happening. It's unbelieveable that I'm breaking the rules. More specifically rule no.1 No talking with guys, especially strangers; rule no.6 - no going out after the 6pm; rule no.15 - no parties, and infinite others which I don't even remember. What's the point anyway if you get treated the same, whether you follow it or not?

The car halted in front of a gate. Michael peeped out of his window and shouted, "Rick open the gate!" A stout guy in light blue uniform came running. He pressed a button inside his cabin and the gate opened in slow motion. He saluted as we drove passed him.

Bright red rose bushes lined either side of the long driveway.The car halted in front of the large white house. We got off the car and walked to the huge wooden door. Michael opened it. Loud music blasted from it. The beats pulsated through my body and synced with my heartbeat. People crowded the huge place. I didn't sign up for this. I clung onto Sam and closed my eyes.

We pushed our way through the dancing crowd in the dimly lit living room. Every now and then, the people glanced at Michael and came running to hug him. Finally we crossed the pool of people and reached the corner of the room.

"Wait here, I'll be back," said Michael.

The three of us stood with awkward silence.

"Since when do you know him?" Sam asked Daniel.

"Who?"

"Who else? Mike"

"Since the first time I met him." Daniel smirked.

"And that would be?"

"After you know him." He turned away.

"You think you're funny?" Sam narrowed her eyes.

"Nope. I'm dead serious."

"I thought we could startover since we'll have to spend a lot of time together, considering the fact that you'll be staying at my home. But looks like we'll be better off this way." She dragged me to the other corner near a counter. I glared at her.

"Look, I tried to be nice but I can't go all the way if he behaves this way."

"I didn't say anything." I shrugged.

The rotten smell of alcohol hit my nose. We stood next to a mini bar. The cabinet contained different colours of bottle. I gripped Sam's hand tighter. The girl standing behind the counter smiled at us.

"What would you like to have?"

"Sam, please let's get out of here." I whispered and leaned on her shoulder. Michael grasped my hand. "You can't escape now, can you?"

"You lied to me!" I pulled my hand away.

"What?" He blinked.

"Is this what you call a small get together?"

"Yeah." He chuckled. "Wait till my birthday comes, then I'll show you what a real party is."If this was small, I don't even want to think of the big one.

A short girl wearing a navy blue dress and black heels walked up beside him. He smiled at her and turned to us. "Girls, this is Ruby. Ruby this is my best friend Samantha and her friend Catherine."

She smiled at us.

"Is that your girlfriend?" Sam asked.

"Uhh" Michael scratched his neck- "We're just dating."

"Ooh... You never told me you were dating someone."

"Can we talk alone for a minute?" Michael pulled Sam away into the crowd.

"Is she one of his ex-girlfriends?" Ruby sat on the stool by the counter.

"No, just his best friend."

"Two shots please!" She shouted to the bartender and motioned me to sit on the stool next to her. "What about you?"

I declined the offer. "No, I don't drink."

"Clearly." She smirked. "I meant to ask if you are his..." I cut her off, "No! Why do you keep asking that?"

"It's difficult to find a girl who would want to be 'just' his friend." She quoted with her fingers.

"Trust me, I don't even want to be friends with him." I looked away, trying to get a glimpse of where the two of them went.

The bartender placed the drinks on the counter and she gulped it down within a few seconds. She ordered some more and drank it as well.

"You know what?" She giggled. "You're definitely no... not... his hype." She hiccuped.

"I don't get you."

"Type!" She got off the seat and stumbled on me.

"And that's what cares... Scares me."

I steadied her and pulled my face away from her alcoholic breathe. Daniel walked towards us.

"What are you doing here, Catherine? Do you drink?" His eyes widened.

"No." I shook my head.

"But I do." Ruby interrupted. " Want to buy me one, Danny boy?" She leaned onto him.

"You look like you've had more than enough already."

"Then dance with me."

"No," said Daniel.

"Dance! Dance! Dance" She pulled his jacket and jumped.

"Fine!" He let out a heavy breathe. The two disappeared into the dancing crowd. My heartbeat increased with every second. The only three familiar faces I knew in the entire country vanished, leaving me alone in the last place I would ever want to be. This can't get any worse.

"Hey, have we met before? You look so familiar." A voice called beside me. A tall white guy leaned against the bar next to me.

"No," I said and bit my nails.

"Then now would be the time to get familiar with each other. Wanna join me for a drink?" He smiled.

"No thank you." I moved away a little.

"You can't be serious!" He raised his eyebrows. "Are you rejecting me? A lot of girls would kill to be in your place." He smirked. I started to walk away.

"Not so fast." He blocked my way.

"Please move, I need to go!"

He pushed me against the counter. "Are you not aware of what you're about to miss?" Sweat dripped all over my body and my face became pale.

"Leave me alone!" My luck made me shout just as the song finished. Half of the people in the room turned in our direction and he moved back. I ran away to the next nearest room. It was the kitchen, furnished with equipments and marble slab. I drank a cup of water and breathed in heavily to calm myself. I heard voices outside. I opened the back door and walked out to the backyard.

A gang of guys laughed and chatted by the swimming pool where a few girls swam. Michael stood amongst them but Sam was'nt there. I walked upto him. "Where's Sam?"

"Ooh look who is here!" He stumbled and giggled.

"Are you alright?"

"Yep." He took a long sip from the green bottle he had in his hand. "Now what brings the pirin... Princess over here?" He chuckled.

"Where's Sam?"

He pulled a guy forward. "This is Sam." He smiled. "But what do you have to talk to him that you won't talk with me."

I turned back and walked. I can't talk with him when he is sober, let alone when he is drunk. He ran forward and blocked my way. "Sorry, I was just messing with you." He didn't seem so drunk. "She is in the second room on the first floor. Do you want me to come with you?"

"No." I stomped past him.

"Are you sure about it? Don't be sorry afterwards," he shouted teasingly.

I entered the house and climbed up the stairs in the middle of the living room. The central staircase split in two directions from the middle. I took the left stairs. Daniel leaned against the wall with Ruby lying over him.

"What happened?" I asked.

"I think she is going to pass out. Do you know where Mike is?"

"He is in the backyard."

He nodded and tried to pull her down the stairs but she didn't seem to move from her place. I walked past them to the second room. The room was big but nobody was inside. It had tall shelves filled with books on one side and a long table with many chairs on the other side. I moved towards a door in the far end of the room which seemed like a bathroom and knocked on it. "Sam, are you there?"

The room door closed behind me and the lights went out. A tiny ray of yellow light sweeped in from under the door gap."Hello?! Is anybody there?" My heartbeat and the distant chatter of people were the only sound that could be heard.

"No," came a whisper and than a slight grin. It was almost inaudible.

I moved forward to the door in small steps with the guidance of the chairs. "Who is it? Please stop playing." My voice broke. I stopped when I felt a warm breathe over the back of my shoulder. "The game hasn't begun yet," he whispered in my ears, sending a shiver down my spine.

My heart palpitated and heat blazed my face. The lights came again but my vision blurred. I turned around to see who it was. The room started spinning and I couldn't breathe. I need to get out of here. I tried walking to the door but the floor moved up and down. My legs trembled and I fell down. A silhouette of a guy came in front of me. I shrinked my eyes to try and have a glimpse of who it was. The familiar face of Michael came into view. With that, my eyes shut down and everything went blank.

------------------------------------------------Hey guys, I hope you like the story. So what do you think of this chapter? Please feel free to comment. Thank you for reading!