NACOLA & GARRETT | SHORELINE
Going to a party should have been the furthest thing from Nacola's mind, and really it had started out that way. She'd felt the initial excitement when reading Kanye's post, then immediately felt how it plummeted like a skydiver whose parachute hadn't opened. How could she think of going to a party when her life was in such a shambles? She still had no real idea what that power on Halloween had been or how she was supposed to use it, not to mention the stress from it and everything else she had to worry about had effectively ruined her relationship. Nacola honestly knew that it wasn't her stress or even the severe PTSD she was struggling with that had ruined her relationship, however. It was the fact that in times of extreme distress or fear, she always sought out Garrett. Not her boyfriend.
That little fact was another thing that made her heart constrict, and therefore was pushed aside where she could pretend it didn't exist, however.
She'd intended to stay in her room and continue feeling sorry for herself, but friends had managed to convince her that a party was exactly what she needed. Roxy was not someone to be argued with, especially not when she had it in her head to cheer up her best friend, so the angel princess hadn't even bothered with resistance. They all knew it was futile anyway. Reluctantly, though her friend gradually put that excitement back in her mind, Nacola had gotten ready with less trepidation about the whole thing than she'd originally had.
After several drinks and some much needed letting loose, the angel was currently standing in the middle of the dance floor with a smile on her face. It didn't quite reach her brown eyes, mostly because she didn't see Noel anywhere and assumed he was avoiding her, but at least it was there. Nacola hadn't seen Garrett anywhere either, and the idea that he might be avoiding her too made her stomach clench uncomfortably. Shaking it off, she took a gulp from the concoction Roxy had given her, feeling the warm burn of the alcohol do its work numbing those unpleasant emotions. There were half-dressed bodies everywhere, making her wonder if the cutoff shorts and cropped crocheted top she'd chosen to cover her bathing suit with were conservative in comparison, but Nacola felt cuter than she had in several weeks so didn't give it much thought.
As she moved, albeit by herself, she felt the sleeve of her top slip so one delicate shoulder was exposed. Her hair, which she'd braided and crimped, flowed around her and tickled the exposed skin as she moved. Nacola noticed a few boys watching, but didn't give it much thought. She was too busy enjoying the pulsing beats and the cool breeze kissing her skin to really think about much. Of course, the alcohol helped too. At least until the music slowed and became slower, more intimate. Couples began to pair off, pressing close and smiling in that way you did only when someone who loved you looked down at you adoringly. Seeing it made her heart ache, and the guilt returned full force.
Without looking around anymore, she halted and scrambled across the sand. Nacola didn't really know where she was going, she just knew she had to get away. Thinking about how alone she was while surrounded by people who deserved their happiness was not something she was equipped for. She kept moving until she saw the blue glow that indicated she'd reached the lake, figuring it was as good a place as any to feel sorry for herself. Collapsing to the sand, she drew her knees up to her chest and tried not to cry.