Chapter 3 Ontop Of The World

Around fifteen minutes later, Josh pulled up infront of Natalie's house. I grinned from ear to ear, finally feeling the excitement. "It's time to show her who's boss."

I fixed my posture and leaned back in my seat, waiting for Josh to make his move. When he remained seated, I turned to him and glared.

"What?" He asked, chewing on the matchstick he had in his mouth.

"Get out of the damn car and open the freaking door!" I reached over and plucked the matchstick from his mouth before opening the door on his side and shoving him out. I stationed myself back in my seat, my eyes shifting to the rear view mirror for a last minute look at myself. I brushed a strand of hair aside and leaned forward so I could see myself better.

I'll totally slay this damn party!

Josh finally opened the door to my side and gestured for me to step out. I instantly plastered my best smile on my face before stepping out foot by foot and daintily flipping my hair.

As an uninvited guest, I was going for the unbothered look so I didn't bother looking around, but I'm sure as hell that every single person paused just to stare at me. I didn't need to look to know that.

Seeing the stares people were giving me, Josh stepped to the side to give them a better view, his own eyes starting to scan my form thoroughly. I smiled. "I forgot to ask...how do I look?"

"You look..." His gaze left my body and roamed over the persons standing outside then moved back toward me, "...overdressed," he finished, a loud laugh escaping him when my jaws slackened and a dumbfounded look formed on my face.

He covered his mouth with both hands as he tried to sober up from his needless laughter. "I'm serious...Compared to everyone else here you seem like an uninvited prostitute. That's probably why everyone keeps staring a--"

I pressed my heel against the tip of his shoe...hard. "Do me a favour and stop talking." I gritted my teeth, my eyes boring holes into him as he winced, "One more word from you and I'll slap--"

"Haley?"

I stiffened. Ah...that must be the wench....splendid!

I quickly lifted my heel off Josh's shoe and straightened up, my hands reaching over to attempt at straightening out the wrinkles in his shirt as I looked up at him with a broad smile that was obviously only there for show.

"You must have gotten tired of running away." I fixed a smug smirk on my lips and linked my arm with Josh's as I spun around.

But disappointment filled me when I saw who exactly was standing behind me. "Nathalie..." I grumbled bitterly, my eyes scornfully roaming up and down her old fashioned dress. Rolling my eyes, I wriggled my arm out of Josh's since I found no need in trying to impress someone like her. She was and still is Layla's best friend, so she's probably here to pester me in her place.

"How nice of you to throw a party without inviting me." I said sarcastically.

She smiled crookedly. "It's not that I didn't want to invite you...I just didn't want you to make a fool of yourself, but it seems to me like that's what you're aiming for."

This scoundrel!

"Hey! You ca-" Josh started to say but I jutted him in the side, silently telling him to shut up.

I can deal with her on my own.

Holding back my growing anger, I laughed humourlessly. "We've known each other for years, Nathalie... When have you ever seen me make a fool of myself?"

"Fair enough...then I'll let you think of this as me gladly giving you a chance to do so now."

I scoffed. "I see the two years you've been married have made you a tad bit delusional..." I drew my lips close to her ear. "Haley Mighty never makes a fool of herself." I leaned back a bit to look her up and down again. "Apparently you're the one who's doing that... You should try wearing something better the next time you try to size up to me."

Smiling deviously at her now tongue tied form, I straightened up and tilted my head back a little to look at Josh. "Let's go. We've got people to greet."

I waltzed toward the front door, purposefully bumping her shoulder as I passed. The crowd that had bundled up at the door parted to make way. Seeing me as a threat, the girls glared at me and clutched their boyfriends closer while the men openly stared as I gracefully walked by them. I bet they've never seen such unfathomable beauty before.

I flashed some a smile and threw others a wink but other than that, I showed no interest. Frankly, I'm not interested in dating...well atleast not these rascals...what I am interested in though, is bringing Layla Crawford to her knees. I'll definitely make her pay, one way or another.

The inside was just as boring as the outside. Nobody dancing, nobody drinking and to make matters worse, there's a stupid opera song on replay! What kind of party is this?!

I grabbed a wine glass as the waiter passed and took a sip, scrunching up my nose at the taste. Apple juice? Seriously?!

"Haley!" Hearing my name being called, I looked to the side and saw Elliot, another one of my ex-friends...Here comes the party pooper.

"Oh Eliot! It's so nice to see you alive and well." I smiled, but it disappeared as quickly as it came.

Elliot chuckled as he stopped infront of me. "We both know you'd prefer to see me lying in a coffin rather than standing before you."

"You know it." I laughed it off as a joke but I'm sure he was bright enough to know that I wasn't kidding.

"You came alone?" He asked, reminding me of the dimwit that followed me in and disappeared the second I took my eyes off him.

"No. I came with my boyfriend." I lied, smiling broadly.

"Well aren't you going to introduce me?"

"Uh...yeah." I looked around until my eyes zoomed in on Josh. He was gathering handfuls of the baked treats that a female waiter was carrying around. I nearly facepalmed. Trying my best to hold my smile, I looked back at Eliot sadly. "He's around here somewhere but I can't seem to find him."

He nodded, seeming a little disappointed. "Ah well that's a shame...but let me introduce you to my wife." He smiled innocently but I already knew from the sly glint in his eyes that he was only trying to boast about getting married.

"Sure." I reluctantly nodded and followed after him as he began to lead the way.

"She's standing by the couch over there." My eyes followed his line of vision and indeed, I spotted three women standing by the couch, but the one who caught my attention was the one to the left...Layla Crawford.