twenty seven

The smell of chips and booze drifted through the house. Fortunately for the girls, they knew how to handle a crowd; no one dared to try anything funny, because Ava and her friends would simply ruin them.

"This party's awesome!" a guy Ava recognised from her Biology class shouted over the music.

"I'm glad you think so!" she yelled back with a smile, proceeding to look for Seth.

"Hey babe," Seth kissed her temple as she stepped into the kitchen to greet him.

The music wasn't as loud here, since the doors were closed. There were a few other people chatting away beside them, but Ava didn't mind.

"Hi," she breathed out, wrapping her arms around his neck and leaning into him sturdy frame.

She was tired from all the party planning, that's for sure.

Seth chuckled when he noticed his girlfriend's slumped figure.

Yeah, he said girlfriend.

"Tired already? It's midnight," he asked in a soothing voice.

"Hmm," Ava could only hum in response.

Midnight. That meant there was at least three more hours before the party would come remotely close to ending.

Ava sighed. As much as she loved parties, she didn't know if wanted to wait this one out.

Just then, she heard the front door open. Great, more people.

"What's up party people!" Ava heard a familiar voice call out. She and Seth shared a look of absolute disgust.

Sure enough, when they exited the kitchen and made their way back to the living room, she saw Austin and his friends lounging on the sofa.

"Sweet party, Ave," he complimented her, eyes roaming up and down her full figure. Seth growled and wrapped his hand around his girlfriend's waist securely.

"Don't worry, I ain't gonna steal your girl," Austin laughed at Seth's overprotective behaviour. "I expect her to come to me in her own time, anyway," he smirked.

Ava decided it was best she step in before Seth did something they'd both regret.

"Okay, Dorito boy...what are you doing here?" she asked, arms crossed.

By this time, the music had softened and a crowd had begun to gather around them, everyone trying to see what the commotion was about.

The girls squeezed their way through the sea of people, also curious as to what was happening.

"I knew we should've stayed at the back, this ain't worth it," Mia scoffed when she saw Austin.

"Nice to see you too, Mia,"

Ava snapped her fingers to get Austin's attention. "You still haven't answered my question,"

Austin merely shrugged. "Where there's a party, there's Austin,"

Emma rolled her eyes at her ex-boyfriend's words.

"And how are you doing, my love?" Austin asked the brunette, to which Olivia answered.

"She's doing fine. Better than she ever was with you anyway,"

A bunch of 'ooh's and 'ahh's were heard from the crowd and Olivia smirked.

Be reminded that this was a showdown between the school's most popular girls and guys.

"I want you and your goons out of here," Ava retorted. "I told you, you weren't invited. The un-invitation ring a bell?"

Ally had been quiet all through their interaction. Ava gestured at Emma, who looked over their friend's shoulder. "What are you doing?"

"Calling for backup," the smaller girl replied with a smile. "She'll be here in a bit if Austin and his goons aren't already gone by then,"

"No, actually. I told you, wherever there's a party, I'm there. That includes yours,"

A few snickers were heard from the people around them. It was being made pretty obvious that the girls were more popular than Austin and the rest of his gang.

Ava huffed. "Dorito boy I swear if you don't leave now— so help me god,"

"Somebody call for backup?" a voice called out from the front door.

"There she is," Ally chuckled as she waited for the person to approach.

A girl with striking blue hair and an even better haircut made her way to the centre of the circle, where Austin still sat on the sofa.

"So, I heard you were causing trouble. Wanna tell me why?"

Austin scoffed. "I don't have to tell you anything. Who are you, anyway?"

"Let's just say I'm a friend of the girls. That's all you need to know right now, and you should start praying that you don't find out anything else,"

Ava, Mia and Emma squealed when they realised who had come to their aid. The alcohol was doing wonders in helping them think straight...not. That was probably why it took them so long to notice.

Olivia, on the other hand, had no difficulty recognising the girl. All things considered, she wasn't sure if she wanted to drink tonight, but she starting to be really glad she didn't.

"I'm not scared of you," Austin stood up from his seat, — finally — his friends following suit.

Unfortunately for him, he was a little shorter than the girl before him.

"Maybe you should be," she smirked, hands balled up in a fist.

Everyone around them took a step back as tensions began to rise even more.

"Yeah? Well, I want to be here. You got a problem with that?"

"As a matter of fact, I do. Nobody messes with my girls,"

Olivia smiled. Yup, that was definitely the person she was thinking about. Everything about her hadn't changed since the last time they'd seen each other.

"What are you going to do about it?" Austin challenged.

Bad idea.

"Yeah...this has gone on long enough. I'm starting to get bored...let's get things moving already,"

She raised her fist and punched Austin square in the nose.

"What the fuck—" he said, holding his nose in pain. "Well, what are you guys waiting for? Get her," he groaned.

Although they were greatly outnumbered and definitely much smaller than most of Austin's friends, the girls had no trouble kicking butt.

"I guess I know why you wanted us to take up that self-defence course now," Mia laughed.

"Never know when it may come in handy, right?" Ally laughed as she kicked one of them in the knee.

"Well, this sure was messy," Olivia looked at the group of guys around them, some slumped over one another, but all groaning in pain nonetheless.

"At least I got to see you kick ass," Emma smirked. "That was hot,"

By now, the chants had died down and everyone was either laughing or talking amongst themselves.

"Some of you better help us clear this mess up," Ava shouted over the music that was blasting once more.

Immediately, a few people stepped forward to escort the injured guys out of the house.

"Off the porch and front yard too, alright guys?" Ava yelled after them. One of them gave her a thumbs up and she smiled in approval.

"That was awesome," Seth panted, massaging his bruised knuckles. "Who are you?" he asked, looking at the mysterious girl curiously.

"A friend," she replied, lowering her hoodie so Seth could get a better look at her face.

"Valerie, but you can call me Val," she held out her hand for him to shake.

Graciously, he took it. "Seth. Thanks for your help back there,"

"Not a problem at all. Anything for my friends," she smiled.

Speak of the devils; Ava, Mia, Emma and Ally ran up and engulfed her in a hug.

"We've missed you!" Mia squealed in delight. "How'd you know to come here?"

Valerie gestured towards Ally, who simply waved in acknowledgement. "You guys have Ally to thank for that,"

"Well, thank you Ally. For getting Val to help us...but more importantly, having her finally come visit! Where you been, girlie?"

"Ava! I told you not to call me that!"

As the bickering went back and forth between the two, Olivia couldn't help but stay behind Emma, picking at her fingernails nervously. Valerie hadn't seen her yet.

But, as if on cue, Emma decided it was time she introduced Olivia to Valerie. Perfect timing, they say.

"Oh! Val, meet Olivia. She's my girlfriend," Emma stepped aside to reveal Olivia.

Valerie's eyes went wide. "Olivia Jauregui? That really you?"

"Hey Val. It's been a while," the green-eyed girl waved.

"You guys know each other?"