Chapter 4
Hailey's POV:
I was going to turn eighteen years old in less than a week and I already had my eighteenth night planned out. Because of my status and story, no one wanted to be my friend in school and outside school. But, I had one true friend, and he was the hottest guy in my high school.
Justin had been my saving angel. Standing up and fighting my battles for me. He made me adore him due to the different treatment he gave me. It was unlike any I have ever gotten. When I first meet him, it was a scenario that I would give anything to get erased from existing. I had bumped into him in the hallway, on my way to the principal's office. As if that wasn't embarrassing enough, bending to gather my things that had scattered in different directions, my pants tore into two.
I wished for the earth to swallow me up, but it just wouldn't do so. Surprisingly, he reached for my things, helped me in gathering them, and accompanied me to my destination. From that day until date, we have become inseparable.
Justin came from a wealthy family, and he got everyone that he could ever desire to be an only child. That doesn't make him spoiled. He still invested his time in his academics and sports. Always the centre of attraction due to how handsome he was, and, our 'weird' friendship as everyone often addressed.
My friendship with Justin gave birth to be becoming friends with talented Lilly Jonas, who was the best photographer in my class. Lilly was an outcast just like me, but, her case was different. Instead of the world deserting her, the opposite was the case. She preferred to stay alone and hated having friends until she met me because she believed that girls in my school were fake. Lilly was a typical tomboy, who loved dressing in oversized polo and jeans with sneakers. She even went as far as giving her hair a low cut. It was regularly rumoured that she was a lesbian but only knew the truth. She had a crush on Jason Gerald, one of the rich popular kids in school.
"Hailey, come on, this is boring," Lilly said as we sat on the bleachers watching the game. Football.
Truthfully, I did not know about it but had to show up at every practice and game just to support Justin. I was able to see him out there on the field every day, and it helped distract me. The hassle was real. Girls kept ogling Justin, and his fan base had a higher denomination of girls than boys. That was what he got out of being the captain and hottest frontline player in the Urban area of Houston, Texas.
"Come on, Lilly, give it time, and you will become a hardcore fan of football." I started my sermon if convincing her about how football was a refreshing activity.
Lilly rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Just go tell him that to torture yourself every day to please him already. You've to let him know how you truly feel one of these days. You can't keep hurting and deceiving yourself by pretending not to have more than the friendship feelings for him. He is a good guy who might give you a chance."
I shrugged. "Justin and I have a wide relationship, and nothing would ever make him consider me in that way. I mean, there are more sophisticated girls; cheerleaders, popular girls and beautiful seductresses, climbing all over him. Besides, he has a unique taste in girls, and I don't fit any of that long list of his."
"Keep preaching to the choir. Don't say that I didn't encourage you to go for what you want, Hailey. You can't just sit here and conclude. Give him a chance to say it himself."
"No, I feel it would be better not to ruin our friendship because of a teenage crush I have on him. Give it time, it will die off. If Justin gets mad at me for even thinking about such nonsense, who do you think would be my friend?"
"I am offended. You don't consider me a friend?"
"I am sorry, didn't mean it that way. But, you know what I am trying to say. Come on." Glancing at Justin once more before shying away, "I know what is happening."
"And what might that be?"
"It is nothing more than lust, and rising hormones. If I can control it, then you will see that nothing real was ever there. So, meanwhile, I prefer to be my friend than a one-night stand unless I come to a conclusion and finally decide to carry out my plan."
The tension between Justin and I was still a mystery for me. I was always so drawn to him differently whenever he was shirts. He affected me greatly.
Even the slightest thing as him walking past wherever I was, I would feel my heartbeat going up than normal. I felt hot and couldn't breathe whenever we were put in the same room. In my fantasy world, he helped me get away from all the pain and chaos back home. I dreamt of him and constantly imagined our first I felt hot and couldn't breathe whenever we were put in the same room. In my fantasy world, he helped me get away from all the pain and chaos back home. I dreamt of him and constantly imagined our first kiss whenever that might happen. I even go as far as wondering if eventually I finalize my decision and decide to have sex with him, how would it feel like? The heat, our bodies rubbing together, his hands gliding in every corner of my body, caressing and fumbling my sensitive units.
Even though I was wild with my imagination, I was still scared. If I was allowed to play it out, I would make a joke of myself. I had no experience with sex. Never even thought about it until Justin came along. Now I was willing to allow him to turn me into a woman. Or, was I just having crazy thoughts which I didn't know any better about. But if there is anyone I wanted to have my first time with, it was definitely Justin. Even if it would come with the aftermath of my heart getting broken, I didn't mind. It was better if I had that sweet, bitter memory with him than any other boy.
"Penny for thought?" Lilly asked, bringing my mind back to the present.
"What?"
"What are you thinking about?"
"You know, life and all that comes with it. Nothing specific."
"Let's go out tonight," Lilly said. "Just us girls. We can go to Sin city or somewhere nice here in Texas to celebrate your birthday."
"My birthday is not for another week," I reminded her, even though I knew she has got the date marked on her calendar and would never forget it.
"So what? We can get a head start. Have fun. Live a little."
I grinned. She was always so having fun at any given opportunity, and if I refused, she would never let the topic slide. "I don't know. You know that we are barely legal and do not have an ID that will give us access to certain places."
"Don't worry, I have it covered. Just agree to it, then IDs wouldn't be a problem. Fear not, for your fairy godmother is here."
Laughing, "what do you have in mind. Something legal, of course, that wouldn't put us behind bars."
"Anything fun. And doesn't have men in them."
"Okay," I said. "Let us get arrested."
*******
Rushing home immediately after school dismissal, I took care of my chores quickly and was able to sneak out to meet Lilly. By the time I got to her place, she was already waiting patiently for me. She was dressed for clubbing—a dark skimpy short chest-cut-out sparkly black gown with sequin that stopped way above her knees, and thigh-high-heeled boots. Her brunette hair was perfectly curled and fell in coils over her protruding breast to her bareback. Forming a kind of cover to it.
In contrast, I was wearing my worn-out sneakers, one of my presentable thick faded sweaters and almost washed out jeans. My blonde hair held all the way back in a ponytail, my face neutral. I dressed this way because it was the best in my wardrobe and to avoid gaining attention since I told my grandmother that I was going for a study group thing with Lilly. "Oh, dear, you look like no offence, shit!" Lilly exclaimed.
"Tell me about it," I mumbled.
Lilly started going through her high-class wardrobe until she finally found what she was looking for. A red strapless gown with a slit by the side. It was so short that one couldn't bend in it. She tossed to me.
"There. Wear that." She said casually.
"You must be joking. This is too short, and I will be uncomfortable in it."
"It will fit your curves perfectly. I have nothing to worry about.
Tonight you are not Hailey Oscar but Sky West, and I am not Lilly Jonas but Kimberly Gerald," she squealed, presenting our new IDs on the table "I can't believe you had to take Jason's surname. Are you that obsessed with him?"
"Maybe," she shrugged.
"Whatever."
I peeled off my clothes and wore the tiny new thing Lilly presented me with. Once done, she applied a natural but elegant make-up that transformed my face. The smoky eyeshadow made my hazel eyes the centre of attraction, as they fit my small face. The mascara helped in elongating my natural lashes, and the fake lashes made me look like I had big barbie eyes. She added a bold red lipstick, which made my lips pouty. She stretched my thick blonde hair until it was sleek, straight hair. I looked amazing. To match my new outfit, she lent me white strappy heels which added feel inches, helping to elevate my short height and making me look taller. With that, I was able to see the beauty of the dress I wore. It fit my slender curves perfectly, and I was starting to get in the groove of that.
I had a white clutch purse which was for more fashion because it held nothing in it. All done, we left for her car.
Lilly put on the radio, and the latest trap songs filled the car. I grinned and started rapping along with the Migos. Lilly joined me, and now we were both screaming out slippery's lyrics. Before I knew it, we arrived at a club. I failed to ask about our destination. We walked in like we owned the place. Lily gave the bouncer a big smile, and we flashed our fake IDs. They let us through, no problem.
This was my first time to have been to a club. This was a club for mature people. We have driven to the downtown part of Texas.
"How did you find this place?" I yelled at Lilly shouting to be heard above the blaring music.
"Jason mentioned it to me once," she yelled back, and I rolled my eyes.
"The guy that you wouldn't accept the fact that you had a lifelong crush on told you about a club, and you decided to check it out? So that you can run into him by chance?"
"Yeah, smart ass. Something like that."
I was a bit disturbed because Jason was one guy that I didn't understand his lifestyle. It acted shadily, and the group of friends he hung around seemed like trouble. Naturally, I got uncomfortable with his recommendation. But whatever. Sure, the area outside was not the best, but the music was good, and the crowd was a nice mix of people. We were here to have fun, and that was exactly what we were going to do until both of us got tired. I couldn't let all the risks I took in coming out go to waste. This place was an open space, what was the worst that could happen?
Lilly began to work her magic. Swaying and twisting her body to the music, and within a short time, a couple of guys were begging to buy our drinks.
Good thinking, Lilly because I had nothing on me. I knew she could cover the bills, I just don't want her to spend on me. She has done enough already. Another first for me. My first time taking alcohol because the boys decided to get shots for us since that was the only thing sold here. I mean, alcohol was the only thing sold here. We wouldn't have more than one drink each. Lilly —because she had to drive us home. And me—because I don't have any experience with alcohol. We had to live to drink another day.