Painful Smiles

In her room, Claudia brought out Michael’s letter again. It was now looking funny. She brought out the birthday invitation she received. The party was by 8am she could bring Paul along. To kill the boredom.

She texted Wright asking whether he would be in attendance and he was positive he’d show up.

After having a bath and finishing her chores and assignments, Claudia began doing the only thing that could stop her from attending the party. FINDING WHAT TO WEAR.

She reminded herself to inform her parents of the party so they won’t be surprised to find her not at home. She wasn’t anything like Clara.

“Claudia dear, can I have a word with you?” her mother’s voice asked outside her door.

“Thanks dear. I’ll be brief” her mom smiled. Claudia nodded absentmindedly.

The “brief” meetings between she and her mom had increased exponentially since she turned sixteen. It seemed like she was the only one who needed to turn out a good child. Clara could turn out however she wished.

Amidst her mother’s talks, Claudia showed her Michael’s apology letter.

“I heard you talking to the Principal last night. Forget that French kid. He said he was sorry and everything was an accident” Claudia couldn’t believe she was standing up for Michael but it was the best way to end everything.

Rather than appearing on the news as “the pathetic teenager that was bullied by the French heir”. Her mother scanned through it with her eyes.

She pointed out Michael’s good handwriting and Claudia could only roll her eyes, her mother had a thing for good writings.

“French guys. I crushed on a whole lot when I was your age” her mother chuckled.

Claudia frowned. Was that where the brief meeting of the day was going to?

“I mean, I know people change but I was really into French actors and singers and the likes” her mother continued. Claudia nodded and abruptly chipped in her invitation to a party the next day.

“I know Trevor, he’s a good kid. And it’s a morning party so its party so its okay. You’re permitted” Mrs. Larabee shrugged.

Claudia wasn’t looking for permission. She just wanted her to know cos she would be taking her four year old son along.

Still she said nothing till her mom finished whatever she came to talk about.

“A happy morning to you!” was the morning alarm for her dreaded next day. Paul was atop her when she opened her eyes. She turned to her sides and sent him rolling on the floor.

“Hey, we’ll miss the party?” he whined. She grunted, her mother must have told him he was going on a party with her. Delightful.

She noticed her kegs been dragged by his tiny hands and so forced herself to wake.

“You devil” she sighed as pushed her to the bathroom to get ready. He was almost dressed himself. Clara was already on her way out when Claudia finished from the bathroom.

Her legs were barely on the ground as everywhere felt cold. She just wanted to take her lazy body to bed but with Paul policing her, she just swallowed in her thoughts of warmth and coziness.

“What if the party is boring? They’ll be mostly teenagers. Don’t be too excited” she told him and she tried fixing her hair.

He hopped besides her, ignoring her words. “With teenagers it will be so awesome” he giggled to himself.

The venue of the party was Trevor’s mansion which was very familiar to Claudia. She would have walked as it wasn’t so far but she took a taxi for Paul’s sake.

At the venue, she couldn’t believe the length of some clothes she saw there. She unconsciously tugged on her pink gown to go farther below her knees but it just jumped back up.

“They’re low already compared to Clara’s” Claudia sensed the disgust in Paul’s tone. She patted his head and made an entrance into the main hall outside the house.

A sting of alcohol struck her nose. She looked around and found more men than women in the hall. “Wrong hall?” Paul squeaked from close nose.

One of the men looked at her and signaled for her to come over. She rolled her eyes and continued searching for Clara. Being very positive that the wacky sister of hers must have walked into the den of men.

“Girl on pink. Come over” the man shouted to her. This made some men to turn to her and Claudia nearly vomited when they licked their lips.

They were as old as her dad. Almost. Meaning they didn’t deserve much of her respect. Much.

“Run” Paul pulled her away out of the hall. Her eyes kept on darting about looking for Clara.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“You made it” someone was greeting some of the guests around. Someone else were was shouting or was it moaning.

It was too rowdy and Claudia began regretting bringing Paul along. It was indeed a teenage party whether it was some in the morning or not.

A pat on her bum made her blood pump and she sent a punch to whatever pervert. A six feet man stumbles backwards and bumped into another young girl in a tube dress.

She falls down too and her breasts pop out of the dress as she hits the ground. She covers herself with her hands. And Paul quickly raised his eyes up. “What I see” he mourns to himself.

A crowd got formed.

“What a crazy pervert!” Claudia yelled.

Another man, stupidly, moved closer to touch her neck. He hissed slowly as he came. It was visible they were all drunk.

Some girls rushed to the girl who had fallen and wrapped her with a jacket. The girl sends a hateful look at Claudia. Other girls began raining insults on the drunk men and threatening to call the police.

Soon a group of drunk men began chasing the girls, making growling sounds and extending their hands.

It looked like a wild land with men chasing women for sexual gratification. Paul just kept his head on his sister’s laps.

He was sure going to have a trauma that night. It wasn’t even one third of what he had thought would happen.