Chapter 7

The night was progressing very slowly, and I couldn’t be any happier about that fact. So far, it was the most perfect night of my life. I had finally found out that Craig feels the same way about me as I feel about him.

Better yet, Roxy hadn’t made an appearance all night. But I was not going to focus on that.

All my friends were having a great time, dancing to the rhythm of the music, and enjoying the party food.

“Emery!” My head snapped up as I looked around to find where my mother was calling my name from. She was over at a table and yet again trying to get everyone to collect at it.

I weaved my way through the crowd and came to a stop at the head of the plastic table.

“Yeah, mom?” She clapped once and the lights dimmed all around us, the music turned down until it was simply backround noise.

“How did you do that?” I asked her. “I gotta admit that was cool.”

She smiled and opened the door that was behind her. My father came bursting in the room with a very large cake. It was beautifully decorated. The whole thing was white with red stripes, and the perimeter of the cake was lined by black roses made out of icing. In the middle written in nice calligraphy were the words Happy 16th, Emery!

As he placed the cake on the table, he began to sing happy birthday. Once the guests caught on to what was happening, they joined in.

“Happy birthday, dear Emery, happy birthday to you!” they shouted.

I closed my eyes and blew out the candles while applause broke out behind me.

“Who wants cake?!” I screamed so everyone could hear.

People began gathering around the table, taking the pieces of cake as fast as I could produce them. I heard satisfied murmurs from around the room. I suppose the cake is good, then.

I turned back to the table to get myself a piece when something suddenly smashed into my face. It was gooey and tasted sickly sweet. I wiped off my face to look up and saw a laughing Craig, with the remains of mashed up cake in his hand.

“Craig!” I shouted angrily. I brushed the crumbs off of my dress and wondered how stupid I looked. I grabbed a chunk of icing from the cake, and hurled it at him as hard as I could. He stopped laughing and ducked, narrowly avoiding the icing.

“Oh, sorry. Just not fast enough!” he teased. “Don’t worry, you can try again when I’m not expecting it!”

I heard an angry scream come from behind Craig, and all talking became a hushed whisper.

I looked around him to see Lacey, tears welled up in her eyes. The black ball of icing that was meant for Craig, had hit Lacey square in the chest, and ruined her perfectly white dress. It was definitely stained, and she knew that.

The tears spilled over as she scurried away and out the door, running home.

“Oh no. Lacey wait!”

She was already out of sight.
I looked at my parents but they just shrugged.

“Emery, I’m-I’m sorry. I hadn’t-” Craig began.

I cut him off. “Its not your fault, I was being careless. Come on, lets just eat this cake the right way and get back to the party. I’ll call her in the morning.” I did feel bad, but I wasn’t about to leave, that’s for sure.

“Okay, if you insist.”

We headed over to a table with some friends, and sat down. All of us talked and ate for awhile. I looked at the clock on the wall.

11:00.

Only one more hour of partying left. I had to make it last. I grabbed Craig’s hand and pulled him onto the dance floor. We jumped in with a bunch of friends, and danced while the song pulsed, it’s beat reverberating off the walls.

***Lacey’s Point of View

I sat on my bed and cried, clad in sweats and an old t shirt. My dress lay on the floor, crumpled and ruined. Emery is my best friend, how could she of done this? It was an accident of course, but none the less. My whole mood had been wrecked.

What does it matter? I thought to myself. She doesn’t care about me! For Christ sake, she handed me off to a cute guy simply because she felt sorry for me. Yes, I was happy that I had met Anthony, but at the same time, I was sick and tired of being pitied by everyone.

I don’t honestly believe that Emery cares for me. She has other friends, apparently they are better than me. Now that I think about it, Emery hasn’t acted the same since I’ve been experiencing these blackouts. Or that’s what I think they are anyway.

But tonight, things change.

And then Lacey blacked out, and Roxy took over once more.

“Now, lets get ready for the party. Emery will be so…happy to see me.”

She smiled a wicked, evil grin, and began to get dressed.

Back at The Party

I was tired and out of breath. “Okay, I can’t dance anymore.” I wheezed. “I’m just gonna sit over here and take a break.”

I landed in the nearest chair to try and catch my breath. I looked around at the guests, pleased with the way things were going.

A black shadow at the entrance to the building caught my eye. I turned around, but found nothing, other than an open door.

I closed that door once everyone was in, didn’t I? I jogged over to it, and slammed it shut. Maybe it was just one of my parents going to get something. But a quick glance around the room dismissed that theory because my parents were still sitting in their seats at the back of the room.

Why was I getting so worked up? It’s probably nothing anyhow.

I took my seat back at the table, lost in thought.

Eventually, I walked back to the dance floor, and rejoined the friends I had been with moments ago. It took me a minute to realize someone was missing.

“Hey, have you guys seen Craig?”

Everyone in the group gave the same answer.

“Some girl walked by and took him with her. We haven’t seen him since.”