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[indent][indent]It was not hard to notice the distinct difference between the city kids and the rich kids. Almost all of the kids on one side of the house were strangers dressed in black - some of them smoking, and all of them glaring. The other side of the house, though, Summer noticed, was full of people she recognised, and she instinctively snaked an arm around Nate’s waist as she felt the gazes of fellow students fall upon her. 

[b]“Lay off, Summer. Jesus. We’ve hardly been here five minutes.”[/b] She was brushed off like a fly, watching as Nate left her to go greet his jock friends. She recalled a time when he once wouldn’t leave her side, showing her off to anyone he caught stealing a glance. That clearly was not the case anymore. The party had barely started and she already wanted to leave. Feeling practically everyone's eyes on her, however, stopped her from betraying the dismay she was feeling, and replaced her frown with a flick of the hair and a chin titled  upwards, so that she was looking down on everyone, as per usual. 

Stopping with Alice in the centre of what Summer assumed was the lounge, her gaze returned to her friend, whose features clearly told her she was concerned. Raising a brow at her, Summer offered Alice a small smile and opened her mouth to speak, intending on reassuring her friend she she was just fine, before she was interrupted.

[center][b]"Hey guys!"[/b][/center]

Summer's lips were already curling upwards in contempt as she turned to face whatever random person had butt into their conversation. Her eyes landed on a face of fake tan and highlighted hair, and she huffed in annoyance. One of the losers of Goldcrest, of course. In fact, she reckoned this girl was not one of the complete losers and had some degree of popularity from the confidence she seemed to have talking to both Alice and Summer; but was she popular enough? Certainly not.

[color=F08080][b]"Can we help you?"[/b][/color] Summer's voice was cold and scathing. Not bothering to watch the girl's hope die in her eyes, she grabbed hold of Alice's arm, who was no doubt sending the girl apologetic glances, and dragged her away towards the drinks table. [color=F08080][b]"If this is going to be as awful as I think it is, I need a drink."[/b][/color] 

By 'a drink', Summer clearly meant more than one, since as they reached the drinks table, she was already downing shots. She managed four before grabbing the fullest cup that was closest to her and went on he move again, expecting, as always, for Alice to follow. At least that handled the nerves in her stomach, which were now melting away into a warm, bubbly feeling. Hers eyes couldn't help but wander, however, over to the crowd of strangers, her mind wondering who it was that she had been talking to for the best part of two months to. Truth be told, she had spilled her heart to this stranger, and she was regretting it now. It had never occurred to her that she might meet her pen pal one day, so her reputation was never at risk. But now, she would seem weak to anyone that recognised her. Thank God they didn't know her name.[/indent][/indent]


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[indent][indent]Alice had seen this routine of Summer's before. She would be worrying about something - usually her boyfriend, or her father - and would try to make it go away with a drink, or seven. It was always Alice's job to get Summer home, make sure no one saw her like this and, above all, not drink herself on nights like this. Once upon a time, this routine would've made her angry. But now that she knew Summer as well as herself, she knew that her best friend needed this. She was a control freak that needed to let loose and, as frustrating as it was for Alice to handle it, this was how she did it. 

So, usually, Alice would just sit back and watch Summer get smashed and make sure no harm came to her. She was not, however, about to let Summer do that tonight. Not with the Eastcrest vultures circling. Offering her friend a knowing smile, her hand closed around the one Summer was using to hold her cup, which was already half empty. Prying the redhead's fingers from the plastic, Alice gently took to the cup off of her and quickly thrust it into a passing stranger's hands, grateful when the stranger took out without so much as a questioning glance.

[color=6ecff6][b]"And how are you meant to show them who's Queen Bee absolutely smashed? Come on, Summer, you have a rep to protect."[/b][/color] 

Luckily, these words of wisdom seemed to reach the slightly-swaying Summer, and she nodded her head gratefully. Alice couldn't help but notice her friend biting her lip and glancing anxiously at the crowing crowd of strangers, and grabbed the girl's hand in a similar way to which Summer had just done to her. She knew for a fact that Summer dancing was enough to make any of these idiots gape in awe, so she dragged the unsteady girl into the centre of the room and pushed her gently.

[center][color=6ecff6][b]"Right, ginge. Lets see you dance."[/b][/color] [/center]
[color=F08080][b]"I hate you, Alice Cameron."[/b][/color] Summer laughed as she began to dance with her best friend, not tripping once in her heels.[color=F08080][b] "H - A - T - E." [/b][/color] 

And the pair of them danced like that for a good twenty minutes, people joining in but keeping their distance from the ice queen and her carefree companion. It was only when Alice opened her eyes after laughing that she suddenly stopped dancing, smile gone and lips pale. Summer was shaking her arm as she kept on dancing, but she could barely feel it as her eyes were locked onto a face that was dreadfully, dreadfully familiar.

[color=F08080][b]"Alice? You stopped dancing, you bitch!"[/b][/color] Even Summer's laughing words couldn't divert her attention away from the boy standing in the hallway. [color=F08080][b]"Hellooooo? You're making me look stupid. You seen a ghost or something?" [/b][/color] 

[center]Alice shook her head.

[color=6ecff6][b]"Carson's here."[/b][/color] 

God, now she needed that drink.[/center][/indent][/indent]