To Fall So Deep

Nina rubbed her hands in nervousness as they turned into the gated community off of the infamous 17-mile drive. She grew silent, as oppose to Joleen who was singing at the top of her lungs with the music. Joleen noticed this. Repeatedly pressing the volume button that was conveniently placed on the steering wheel, the loud music became quieter.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Joleen asked, "don't tell me you're getting cold feet!"

"I don't know," Nina answered. She sighed, looked down on her lap, and continued, "I've never snuck out before and---"

"You're not going to get caught," Joleen interrupted.

"It's not that. It's just, I feel bad for going behind my mom's back. And before that I… I…" Nina stuttered. She couldn't bring herself to say it out loud. She was too ashamed.

"Well, spit it out Nina. No one likes a stutterer," Joleen said, matter-of-factly.

"Nothing, nevermind," Nina responded.

"Stop being a little bitch, and woman up! If it makes you feel better, I think it's hot the way you snuck out tonight. Disobeying your mom, and even your clothes… damn," Joleen said, very pleased.

"Thanks," Nina smiled. Her attention turned from Joleen to the house they were approaching, and the jaws of both girls dropped in amazement.

The house before them was in no doubt huge. A roundabout driveway, with a fountain in the center, and a well-kept lawn were just a few of the key pieces that made the house special.

Joleen parked against the curb behind a line of other expensive cars. Joleen turned on a light, and pulled down the visor, flipping the mirror open. She did one last makeup check, and reapplied a bright red lipstick. Nina glanced at her beautiful friend, and for a moment wondered how it was possible for that much beauty to be packed into one single body.

"Ready?" Joleen smirked. Nina nodded. "Let's go!"

The duo stepped out of the car, and with their arms linked at the elbow, walked towards the music. They walked up a set of brick stairs to the front door, and pushed it open. The amount of blaring music, shouting, and chaos that ensued from the moment the girls stepped into the house was amazing. Their classmates were lined against the walls drinking from red plastic cups, while a girl from Nina's P.E. class sat at the top of the stairs crying. They received looks from their peers, and while it made Nina feel uncomfortable, Joleen loved the attention.

The host of the party, Melanie Dilaurentiis, was in the kitchen talking to a group of friends who were laughing at something apparently funny. She turned her head, and a smile formed on her face.

"Joleen, you made it," Melanie said.

"Of course. You say party, and I'm there," Joleen smirked. She grabbed Nina's wrist and pulled her forward; Nina was used to hiding in the shadow of Joleen that it came very natural to her. "I brought Nina too."

"Hi," Nina shyly said.

"Nina…" Melanie started, trying to recollect some kind of memory of the girl who stood before her. "Oh, you're in my Art class."

"Yea," Nina nodded, "you've got a nice house."

"Thanks! You guys should grab a drink and head to the back. Gabe and his friends started a bonfire… you know, private beach and all," Melanie suggested. Joleen's eyes lit up, and so did Nina's at the sound of Gabe's name.

"Sounds like a good idea," Joleen grinned, and winked at Nina.

Grabbing Nina's arm, Joleen pulled her through the crowd and towards the back yard. Melanie wasn't joking about the private beach, because only 10 feet away was soft white sand, and the cool crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean. And right there, in all his handsome glory was Gabe. In a simple pair of jeans, a jacket, and snapback, Gabe sipped on a can of beer with his friends around a huge bonfire.

"There he is," Joleen whispered, "go talk to him."

"I-I-I'm scared," Nina revealed. Joleen groaned. She looked around, and her eyes stopped on a table, and on top of that table were bottles of heavy alcohol-- obviously stolen from the Dilaurentiis liquor cabinet.

Joleen went to the table and began pouring two cups of Vodka mixed with juice. Nina approached, "alcohol?"

"Liquid courage," Joleen corrected, handing a cup to Nina, "trust me."

Nina hesitated, but caught a glimpse of Gabe at the side of her eye, and took the cup. Joleen drank her's with ease, Nina however, cringed at the burning sensation. Even with the mixture of juice, it was obvious that Joleen added a little extra courage to Nina's cup.

After about 30 minutes of drinking, and stalling, it seemed like Nina was ready to talk to Gabe. She stumbled forward, her heart racing at a 100 miles per hour, and her mind spinning in different directions. With every step, she was closer and closer to Gabe, which made her anxiety of talking to him heighten. Then suddenly, she felt a dropping sensation in her stomach; an ugly feeling that made her come to a sudden stop.

Uh-oh.

Too much liquid courage, and quickly, Nina spun on her toe and ran inside. She dodged several of her classmates, accidentally knocking drinking out of a few people's hands. Nina ran up the grand staircase, and ran to her right. She opened all the doors down the hallway till she found the bathroom at the very end. Locking the door behind her, she launched herself to the porcelain throne and gagged her dinner, and every ounce of alcohol in her system.

Nina sat on the floor with her back against the wall. She breathed heavily, and tried to calm herself down. All the throwing up took a lot of energy out of her. Why people chose to drink was beyond her, because Nina was miserable. She didn't even want to speak to Gabe anymore. Not with barf breath, and a killer headache-- she was ready to go home.

Nina stood up and flushed the toilet. She looked at herself in the mirror. Mascara smears streaked her face, and her eyes were red and brimming with tears. She washed her face with warm water, gargled, and left the bathroom. Dizzy, and with a throbbing head, Nina went back downstairs to the party to look for Joleen.

"Hey Nina!" a voice called after her. She turned. It was Melanie, in the kitchen holding a bottle of vodka, "come take a shot with me!"

Nina opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She just shook her head, and continued towards the backyard where she last saw Joleen. Outside, the cool beach air hit her face, sending her nausea down to a minimum. Nina moved her head from side to side, searching for her friend. Suddenly, she heard a familiar laugh.

"Gabe, you're just too cute," Joleen giggled.

Nina spotted Joleen at the bonfire pit talking to Gabe. She stepped forward, and proceeded to call out Joleen's name. But then she stopped. Her stomach dropped. And her heart shattered into a billion tiny pieces, because what she witnessed at that moment produced enough pain and anger to move mountains.

Nina ran. Out of the backyard, through the house, out the door, and down the street. She ran as fast as she could, and as far as she could, till the thumping music at Melanie's house dwindled into nothingness. The cold air turned her ears red, and burned her face with a prickling sharpness, but did not compare to the coldness she felt in her heart.

Betrayed. Betrayed. That's all Nina could think of.

The kiss.

She was near pebble beach by the time Nina collapsed onto the sand. She punched the sand, cried, and yelled into the dark, open sky.

What seemed like hours that Nina sat by herself, freezing in the night, a pair of bright headlights caught her attention. She turned her head, and behind her was a silver Mercedes Benz. Nina stood up, and Joleen's head was out her window.

"Nina! Where the fuck did you go? I was calling you! Texting you! Why'd you leave the party?" Joleen asked. Nina walked towards the car, her fists clenched. She was so hurt, and so angry, for the first time in her life she wanted nothing more than to slap Joleen across the face. But she didn't.

"I-I-I-uh…" Nina began.

"What did I say about stuttering. Spit it the fuck out," Joleen demanded, an eyebrow arched with attitude.

"S-Sorry. I just needed some air. Too much alcohol," Nina softly said.

"Well, it's fucking freezing. Get in the car, I'll take you home," Joleen said. Nina nodded and entered the car.

Notes

I hope you all are enjoying so far! Sorry, that there's backstory chapters. Fair warning, the boys don't make an appearance till the end of chapter 5. Don't forget to comment, rate, and subscribe!

Thanks,

-Erica Jaine <3