~The Next Day~
“Stephanie, please pass me the butter.” Sarah quickly placed the washed chicken laps in a bowl with her right hand and stretched her left hand to Stephanie. Stephanie picked up the butter that was in a small bowl and passed it to Sarah. “Thank you,” Sarah said, and cut some of it into the heating pan.
“Can I beat the eggs now?” Stephanie asked, and before Sarah responded, Mary walked into the kitchen looking very beautiful. She braided the sides of her brown hair and applied some makeup. “Hmm… Where are you going looking so beautiful?” Sarah twitched her eyes brows, and Mary giggled.
“Stephanie, you are still in the kitchen?! I told you, you would be following me to my friend’s birthday party!” Her eyes popped open when she saw Stephanie was yet to prepare. “Oh my, I’m so sorry, Mary. You didn’t remind me again. I totally forgot. Is it time now?” Stephanie asked sadly, and Mary shook her head. “You have less hours to prepare though. I’m done with my makeup, all I have to do is wear my outfit, and I’m ready.” She raised her hands in the air, and Sarah narrowed her gaze at Stephanie.
“And who is this friend you are talking about? Am I not supposed to know about this party of yours?” Sarah asked, and Mary sighed. “Mom, it’s just a birthday party. Moreover, I won’t be going alone. I’ll be going with Stephanie, so you have nothing to worry about,” Mary responded and turned to leave.
“Hey, not so fast, kiddo. You need to help in the kitchen too. We are busy making your dinner, you should help out,” Sarah said, and Stephanie smiled. “It’s fine, Mom. She has makeup on already. I am here already. She should prepare.” Stephanie defended Mary, and Mary blew her a kiss. “Thank you, Stephanie. I love you!” She excitedly hopped out of the kitchen.
Sarah looked at Stephanie, and Stephanie pouted her mouth. “Let her be, Mom. She is a teenager. Let her enjoy it,” Stephanie said and started beating the egg with a whisk. “Did she tell you who the friend is? She rarely talks about things like that to your father and I.” Sarah said as she turned the frying chicken with a stainless steel kitchen tong. “I didn’t ask who the friend was, because she can be friends with anyone. She isn’t a kid anymore, and she knows what is good for her.” Stephanie dropped the whisk in the bowl of eggs and carried it.
She gave it to Sarah, and Sarah began to apply some more ingredients like ground black paper, onion, garlic powder and milk into the frying pan. After a few minutes, she poured the egg in it. “I think I can prepare now too, right? Do you have anything else you want me to do?” Stephanie inquired, and Sarah shook her head. “That is all. You can prepare now,” She responded, and Stephanie hurriedly washed her hands with soap and water. As she headed to the kitchen door, Sarah held her hand, and she stopped walking.
“What is it, mom?” She asked, looking at Sarah’s face. “Please keep an eye on Mary at the party. I don’t want her to drink. She is too young for that. And, I don’t want guys around her.” Stephanie giggled immediately when she heard her mother’s last statement. She saw the conversation heading there. “I can promise to keep an eye on her, but to keep her away from boys? I don’t think that is possible. I’ll tell her to be careful, and I’ll keep an eye on her. Don’t worry, mother. She will be just fine. It’s the first time she will be going to a party, let us let her have fun.”
Sarah reluctantly let go of Stephanie’s hand and bounced her head. Stephanie also nodded and walked out of the kitchen. She headed to her room and proceeded to the bathroom to freshen up.
*
Mary entered Stephanie’s room looking very hot. She wore a back crop top and flared Jean pants. She wore a beautiful black sandal and carried a beautiful cross-bag. “Wow,” Stephanie said after checking her outfit out. “How do I look?” Mary made a quick turn, and Stephanie kissed her fingers. “You look absolutely beautiful, Mary. Wow, I haven’t seen you dress so hot like this. Who is this friend of yours?” Stephanie teased, and Mary lowered her head shyly.
“Ermmm, he is a boy, and we kinda like each other. Though he had been after me for months, I told him I’ll give him my answer today. I want to make sure I look beautiful enough,” Mary said, and Stephanie chuckled happily. “You don’t have to say any words to him. Your dressing already screams YES!” They both laughed, and Mary looked at Stephanie’s outfit. “Aren’t you done?” She asked, and Stephanie stood up. “I’m done. I don’t have to dress like you, do I? I wasn’t invited, so a casual blue gown should do,” She said, and Mary nodded.
“You still look very beautiful in it. It is their loss, Stephanie, not yours.” The smile on Stephanie’s face faded away slowly after hearing Mary’s words. She picked up her casual black bag and said, “Shall we?” Mary nodded with a smile, and they both headed out of the room. “Mom! We are heading out now! We would be back by midnight. Please reserve our dinner. I don’t trust, Princess. She could eat all of the food when she returns home with Dad!” Mary yelled and didn’t wait for her Sarah to respond before shutting the door.
As they walked out of the compound, they sighted a black BMW car parked in front of their house. “Do you know who owns the car?” Stephanie asked. She looked at Mary and saw she had a bright smile on. She furrowed her brows and looked at the car again. This time, a young and handsome looking young man stepped out of the car and approached them. He wore a red vintage shirt and Jean pants.
“Hi, West,” Mary said. She could barely look at him in the face. Stephanie immediately knew he was the one Mary talked about. “Hi, Mary,” He looked at Stephanie and also greeted her. “Hi, Stephanie.” Stephanie smiled and responded, “Hi.” She looked at Mary and saw she couldn’t still look up. “Shall we go now?” He asked, looking at Mary, and she slowly nodded. He stretched his hand to Mary, and she shyly took it. Stephanie giggled as she saw how shy Mary was. ‘Is this the first time they are seeing each other?’ She wondered.
***
West pulled up in front of a huge mansion, and Stephanie stared out of the window in awe. ‘So he is one of those rich children.” Deep down, she began to worry about her sister. She didn’t want the same thing that happened to her, happen to her sister too. ‘She needs to know him well. I won’t let her make the same mistake I made.’
West opened the door and hurried to the other side where Mary sat. He opened the door and stretched his hand to her. “Thank you,” Mary said, blushing very hard. She climbed down, and Stephanie helped herself out. Watching West and Mary made her remember Sebastian. How he would quickly rush to the other side of the car to open the door for her. “Let’s go, Stephanie.” Mary’s voice jolted Stephanie out of her thoughts, and she divulged a little smile.
They approached the mansion which was lit up by different colorful bulbs. As they moved closer to the open door, they could hear the loud jazz music that penetrated the door. The inside of the mansion was blue mixed with purple and some touch of red. But there were no bright colors. West walked into the mansion with Mary, and immediately they stepped in, the people inside the mansion gave a shout. West smiled and looked at Mary who wasn’t very comfortable with the crowd.
“Are you okay?” West said in her ear. Mary bounced her head and beamed. “I’m okay. Nice party,” She responded, and he chuckled. “Let’s have some drinks.” He wanted to take her with him, when Stephanie stopped him. “She won’t be drinking alcohol, West. Juice will be fine,” Stephanie said, and Mary nodded in agreement. “I am aware, Stephanie. She already told me she doesn’t drink. I just want her to take some juice,” He replied, and Stephanie smiled. “Good.”
She moved closer to Mary and whispered in her ears, “If you notice anything strange, don’t hesitate to call my phone. I’ll be here.” Mary nodded in consent to her sister’s instruction and planted a soft kiss on her cheek. “Have fun, Stephanie. Drink and dance those memories away,” Mary said and turned to leave with West. She watched them leave, and after they were in the corridor, she turned and started looking around the large living room.
She sighted the bartender from where she stood and headed to where he was. She walked past those that were dancing, kissing, and all sorts of things teenagers would do. She got to the bartender and hit the table. “One shot of tequila, please,” She said, and the bartender responded with a nod. “You are looking very beautiful.” He complimented Stephanie, and she smiled. “Thank you so much.”
She removed her bag from her shoulder and searched inside it for her cellphone when she heard a familiar masculine voice next to her. “I’ll have a whiskey, please.” The familiar voice said. She lifted her head from the bag she searched and turned her head to the right to look at who was talking.
Her eyes widened immediately she saw who had spoken next to her. “Owen?” Her heart stopped walking, and the phone in her hand slipped out of her hand.