___________________________________ โโโโโโโโโโ โ๐ธ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ None โโโโโโโโโโ โโโโโโโโโโ โ๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐๐โโโโโ ๐พ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฒ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ทome Partyโโ โโโโโโโโโโ ___________________________________ | โโโโโโโโโโ Wesley Adler leaned back in his chair, glancing for what felt like the hundredth time at the clock mounted above the whiteboard. The second hand seemed to crawl with painful deliberation as it ticked closer to the end of the school day. His history teacher was in the middle of a lecture on the Industrial Revolution, but Wesley's attention was far from the 18th-century factories and social upheavals. All he could think about was what lay ahead that night. Kassandra Arvanitis, the most popular girl, and Student Council President at Oceanus High, was hosting a party at her home in Naples. For the past week, it had been the only thing anyone could talk about. Kassandraโs family did well for themselves. Her father was some sort of Doctor while her mother had passed away but all in all the Arvanitis place was large enough to host a sizable party. Wesley had never been to one of Kassandraโs parties before. In fact, this would be the first time that Wesley would ever be invited to a party by regular kids. He had of course the various โsetโ parties when he or his friends would have birthdays but even those were quick affairs depending on the Directors. Needless to say, he was expecting to be overwhelmed. It had been surreal, really. He wasnโt sure why Kassandra had included him, or whether it was some sort of mistake. He wasnโt part of her inner circle and didnโt hang with the kids who lived with the Rumancek clan. He wasnโt a star athlete or a student body president type. He was justโฆ Wesley. Quiet, smart, good at staying out of trouble, but also good at staying invisible. And yet, here he was, invited to one of the most exclusive gatherings as a Junior. The only thing he could think of was that Kass was paying him back for the red carpet event he had given her tickets to as his plus one. The thought both thrilled and terrified him. The bell finally rang, and the classroom erupted into a flurry of activity. Backpacks were zipped, notebooks slammed shut, and students poured out of the door, eager to leave school behind. Wesley moved a little slower, casually packing up his things, trying not to show how eager he was to get out of there. His nerves hummed under the surface, but he kept his expression neutral. As he made his way through the crowded hallways, the constant hum of teenage chatter surrounded him. Everyone seemed to be talking about Kassandraโs partyโwho was going, what they were going to wear, who might show up. Wesleyโs phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out to see a text from his best friend, Markโa fitting coincidence since his dad shared the same name. "Dude, you ready for tonight?" Markโs text read. Wesley grinned as he typed back, stepping outside into the warm Los Angeles afternoon. "Yeah, just gotta head home and change. You?" "Already ready. Donโt chicken out on me. This is gonna be huge." Wesley smiled, his fingers tapping rapidly as he responded. "No way, man. Iโm in. See you there." Mark was just as excitedโif not more soโabout the party. For as long as Wesley could remember, the two of them had always talked about wanting to break into the regular people crowd at a High School. It wasnโt that they were outcasts or unpopular, but they were just slightly socially awkward around kids who didnโt also grow up on movie sets. But tonight, they had a foot in the door. Wesley walked across the school parking lot to his car, glancing around at the shiny luxury vehicles that filled the rows. BMWs, Audis, Teslasโsome of these kids had cars that cost more than his dadโs entire annual salary. Wesleyโs ride was a Nissan GT-R, his pride and joy. He slid into the driverโs seat and tossed his backpack into the passenger side before starting the engine. The familiar hum of the car eased his nerves a bit as he pulled out of the lot and started the drive home. Venice was a nice part of L.A., but it wasnโt the kind of place that turned heads. The houses were well-maintained but modest, the kind of suburban homes youโd see on a postcard advertising a comfortable but unremarkable life. Wesley had lived there his whole life, aside from when he was filming or traveling abroad, Wes showed that just because you came from a neighborhood of one type didnโt mean thatโs how it always ended up. Tonight was his chance to glimpse something normal though. A bit of a look at what couldโve happened had Wes just been part of that comfortable unremarkable day-to-day life. He turned onto his street, a quiet, tree-lined road where families had lived for generations. Kids played in their front yards, and parents walked dogs or chatted over fences. It was a far cry from what Wesley had seen from some of the places he had stayed. The manse in Italy came to mind where you had to wave to the security guards at the gate to be let in. Wesley pulled into his driveway and killed the engine, sitting in the car for a moment, collecting his thoughts. His dadโs car was parked in the garage, which meant Mark was home already. Wesley figured his father would either be working in his home office or cooking dinner, the latter of which was more likely. Mark Adler had always been a hands-on dad, especially since Wesleyโs mom had left them. Wesley loved his mother, but he knew his dad had worked hard to make sure he never wanted for anything and Wes couldnโt help but sometimes feel pissed off at the woman who lived across the United States. Mark had blatantly refused to use Wesleyโs own money to make payments, and they were comfortable. Mark was the kind of man who found pride in working hard, paying the bills on time, and making sure his son had a roof over his head and food on the table. Wesley pushed open the car door and made his way inside. The scent of something cooking wafted from the kitchen as soon as he walked in. His dad always made sure to have dinner ready, even if Wesley wasnโt always around to eat it. โHey, Wes,โ his dad called from the kitchen. โHow was school?โ Wesley dropped his backpack by the front door and made his way down the hallway. โSame as the first four days,โ he replied, stepping into the kitchen where his dad was standing at the stove, stirring something in a pan. Mark was a tall, broad-shouldered man with graying hair and a face that showed the lines of years of hard work and quiet determination. He wasnโt one to talk much about emotions or feelings, but his actions always spoke volumes. โGot any plans tonight?โ Mark asked, glancing over his shoulder as Wesley hovered near the counter. โYeah, actually. Iโm going to hang out with some friends later,โ Wesley said casually, not wanting to go into too much detail about the party. His dad wasnโt a big fan of large social events, especially when they involved people partying, and even more especially if those people were minors. Mark was practical to a fault, and he probably wouldnโt understand why Wesley felt like this party was such a big deal, not to mention being a Police Lieutenant meant that he would quite literally arrest him. Mark nodded, seemingly satisfied with that answer. โJust be smart, okay? And donโt stay out too late. Weโve got errands to run tomorrow.โ Wesley smiled. His dadโs way of giving permission was always laced with a reminder of responsibility. โYeah, Iโll be back before midnight,โ Wesley promised. Mark returned to his cooking, and Wesley took that as his cue to head upstairs. His room was small but comfortable, with walls lined with posters of bands and movies, a neat desk with a stack of textbooks, a flat-screen TV with some gaming consoles underneath, and a perfectly made bed. Wesley had never really been big on fashion or appearances until he went into the spotlight but he figured red carpet attire would be laughed at for such a party as he was attending tonight. He opened his closet, staring at the limited options. Most of his wardrobe consisted of elaborate designer clothing. After a few minutes of deliberation, he settled on a dark blue button-up shirt and his best pair of jeans. It wasnโt flashy, but it was clean and simple, and he was proud that he could come up with something that didnโt scream that he was some sort of jerk. After changing, Wesley stood in front of the small mirror on his dresser, running a hand through his hair. His hair was always a bit unruly, but tonight it seemed to be cooperating. He sprayed on a little cologne, then stepped back to take in the full picture. Not bad, he thought. He wasnโt going to be the best-dressed guy there, but he looked decent enough. His phone buzzed again, and he checked it to see a text from Mark. "Iโll be there early. You better show up." Wesley smirked, shaking his head. He and Mark had been best friends since sixth grade, their first movie together, and if anyone understood the pressure he was feeling, it was him. They had both spent years on the fringes of high school life, always dreaming of what it would be like to just hang out and relax like every other kid, instead of working sometimes into the night weekly. Tonight was their shot, and neither of them wanted to miss it. Wesley grabbed his wallet, keys, and jacket, and headed downstairs. His dad was still in the kitchen, now sitting at the small table with a laptop open, probably checking emails for work. Wesley hesitated for a moment by the front door, considering telling his dad more about the party, but he decided against it. Mark had always trusted him, and Wesley didnโt want to push that trust by giving too many details. โSee you later, Dad,โ Wesley called out as he slipped on his sneakers. โBe smart, Wes,โ Mark replied without looking up, his usual parting advice. Wesley stepped outside, greeted by the cooling evening air of Los Angeles. The sun had started to dip below the horizon, casting the sky in deep shades of orange and purple. The palm trees that lined the streets swayed gently in the breeze, and the city seemed to buzz with the promise of a Friday night. He climbed into his Nissan, the carโs engine rumbling to life as he pulled out of the driveway and onto the street. The drive to Naples felt surreal. Wesleyโs route took him through the heart of Los Angeles, passing bustling downtown streets, bright neon signs, and the towering glass buildings of corporate L.A. As he approached the little island, the scenery began to change. The narrow roads transformed into larger more well-maintained roads, and the houses began to grow larger as the wealth of Naples began to be displayed the farther he got in. It was a gorgeous area, and Wesley could easily imagine how people could be happy with living in a place like this. Wesley felt a nervous flutter in his stomach as he drove further into the Island, knowing that Kassandraโs home would be even more impressive than most of these. He thought back to what Mark had told him earlier in the week. โImagine being able to host the entire Senior class at a party, and also their plus ones?! Itโs insane, I donโt even think I could do that.โ Finally, after navigating the maze of winding roads, Wesley arrived at the address. Kassandraโs house sat perched in a perfect spot in Naples, illuminated by soft lighting that made it look even more majestic against the backdrop of the night sky and the canals. The driveway and roads were lined with various cars, some opulent and some rather regular looking. Wesley swallowed hard as he parked his Nissan at the far end of the driveway, feeling a little out of place again and feeling his anxiety grow just like it always did during first-day shoots. As he stepped out of the car and made his way toward the front entrance, Wesley could hear the faint thrum of music from inside the house, mixing with the laughter and chatter of guests. His heart raced in his chest. This was itโthe moment he had been both dreading and looking forward to all day. He knew he didnโt belong in this world, not really. But tonight, for a few hours, he was going to step into it and see what it was like. Just as he reached the front door, it swung open, revealing Mark standing there with a wide grin on his face. His friend was already in full party mode, dressed sharply in a leather jacket and jeans, his hair perfectly styled. โWes! You made it!โ Mark exclaimed, giving him a friendly shove on the shoulder. โI told you this was gonna be epic.โ Wesley laughed nervously, glancing over Markโs shoulder at the party raging inside. Through the open door, he could see crowds of people already filling the enormous living room, holding drinks, laughing, and mingling beneath crystal chandeliers. The music was louder now, pulsating through the walls, and the smell of expensive perfume and cologne hung heavy in the air. โYeah, I made it,โ Wesley replied, trying to keep his voice steady. โLetโs do this.โ Mark led him inside, and the door closed behind them with a soft click, sealing Wesley in a world that, for tonight at least, felt far larger and more glamorous than the one heโd left behind. |