Ditched Cheating Alpha, I Led My Daughter to Life's Peak novel Chapter 35

I can't take this. I hop up and march towards my door. He's gonna get it today. My phone starts buzzing in my pocket.

Suzie: I'm outside :)

I check the clock again. It's only like, 6. I thought it started at 7-8ish?

Me: Isn't it a little early?

Suzie: No. We're lateeee. Hurry up slowpoke ^^

Then she sends me a picture of the pokemon, slowpoke. I almost choke her through the phone. I grab a cardigan because it's more than a little chilly outside, hug my Mom, Charlie, and Megan goodbye even though Megan does her little ew thing that she adopted this year, and then I rush out. I only text Michael that I'm leaving, still not willing to risk a face to face encounter. If he wanted to say bye, he would've come out of his room.

Suzie and, you guessed it, that redhead wave at me from the front seats. "Hop in," Suzie points to the back.

Two other girls are back there so we kind of have to squish. I didn't realize Suzie was so... popular. The girls look at me and mutter a few hellos. I'm not entirely sure if I waste my time fake-responding. I want to scream, "Stop the car! I've made a grave mistake. I hate all of you." But it's too late, we're already off.

They talk amongst themselves about topics they're only hinting at so I can't make sense of. It's that awkward situation when you hop into a conversation and no one bothers to catch you up. My phone buzzes in my pocket. The girls around me wince, covering their ears. One of them even rubs the chill off her arms.

"Is there any other setting?" redhead asks.

"I'll put it on whatever setting I want, whatever your name is." I don't regret saying it for a second, even though I don't want to be left on the side of the road at a time like this. But I'm at peace either way. It was too good of an opportunity to waste.

All of the heads snap towards me, besides Suzie who gasps. "Mia."

I just pull my phone out and grumble under my breath. They go back to what they were doing after a few omgs and tsks.

Michael: What is the address of the place you mean, mean terrible sister? Hopefully they don't murder you

I shake my head and text back, 'None ya.'

Michael: >:(((

I send him a screenshot of the address. 'Can I do anything else for you, your majesty?'

Michael: No, I think I'm AWESOME

He ends that text with a picture of some old royal English guy with a white wig and a crown emoji.

I send him a link to an article about the Steve Harvey incident. Poor Miss Colombia.

They all hop out of the car. I follow. It's like walking into the perfume department of a store, and I don't mean the smell. I just mean the feeling of being overwhelmed. There are so many people everywhere. Everywhere. Some of them definitely aren't in high school. Glances come our way.

Suzie walks by my side, a little too excited. "What do you want to do first?"

I shrug again. "I don't know. What is there to do?"

"Anything," she laughs. "We could go... see what's going on inside? Who's in there?"

"Okay." I follow her towards the front door. There are even more people in here. Some are dancing to music that surprisingly isn't that loud. Some are standing in circles, discussing topics very passionately. Others are just drinking and drinking and drinking.

There are games and a movie that nobody could possibly hear. There are a few people around the insanely large couch, sitting on top of each other. One couple is staring into each other's eyes like the other put the stars and the moon and the sun and the clouds and the whole damn solar system in the sky for them. There's an aura around them that's intoxicating. They just demand that you look at them.

I scan the room and there are more couples like them that I had overlooked. Some in passionate debates, others playing games, others drinking their weight in beer.

"What is it?" Suzie asks.

I shake my head. "Nothing. There are just a lot of cute couples."