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Chapter 5 - The Party

It was now after school, and Scott still questioned about the invitation that Troy gave him while looking at the letter. 

"So an invitation letter huh?" Ashley is walking with Scott. 

"Yeah, I never got an invitation before, even from my old high school, since I had a bad reputation over there." Scott looked at both sides of the letter. 

"Did you get an invitation too?" Scott saw if Ashley was also invited. 

"I didn't." Ashley is showing her hands to Scott. 

It was confusing for him as he assumed that new transfer students would easily have an invitation to welcome their newcomers. 

"Well, it's not like I care. I don't trust that 'King of High School' guy. He seems like much of a narcissist." Ashley did not trust John, who was known for his big ego. 

"But hey, just don't be too crazy over there." Ashley put her hand on Scott's shoulder. 

Since then, Ashley and Scott separated as they were both heading home. Ashley waited for her bus to come while Scott rode his bike back home.

Back at home, Scott was busy doing his homework. At the same time, he was thinking of how quickly he made a friend. Usually, back in Des Moines, many kids his age wouldn't want to be friends with him due to how scared they would be if Scott had an outburst or got constantly angry. But Ashley had a very empathic personality as she prevented Scott's outburst back in school. 

"She seems like a nice person. Maybe I should ask for her contact information." Scott spins around on his desk chair. 

"Get whose contact information?" Mrs. Smith opens Scott's door. 

"Mom jeez knock on the door next time." Scott was shocked to see his mother opening the door.

"Sorry, sweetie. I was going to ask you to help me make dinner tonight, but I guess you're busy with homework and dozing off." Mrs. Smith teased Scott. 

"Anyway, I heard 'her' in that sentence. Are you getting a girlfriend?" Mrs. Smith kept teasing him. 

"W-what, no Mom. I'm not interested in having a girlfriend." Scott started blushing when mentioning romantic relationships. 

"I'm joking sweetheart. The only thing I'm happy about is that you finally made a friend at school. I knew this town gave you a new opportunity." Mrs. Smith was happy for him. 

"Yeah, thanks, Mom." Scott has a faint smile. 

After their small conversation, Scott's mother left him as she knew he needed some alone time. Although happy, Scott still questions the town about why a student his age has more attention than a celebrity, two of the people he hated being in his classes, and the town giving so much attention to a school.

It was now Friday and Scott was glad that the first week of school was coming to an end. From a huge pep rally and parade to two people he despises was a lot for him to handle. All Scott wanted was to try to get Ashley's number, as he was interested in knowing her. Once in the school, Scott went to see Ashley as she was standing at her locker getting her stuff ready for the first period. 

"Hey, Ashley." Scott greeted her. 

"Hey, Scott." Ashley greeted back. 

"I can't believe that it's almost the weekend." Scott was very exhausted. 

"Yeah, I can't wait to go home and play my acoustic guitar." Ashley is almost done packing her stuff. 

"That's cool." Scott is trying to set up his confidence. 

"Yeah." Ashley twirls her hair. 

The scene became quiet as they didn't know what else to socialize about. As Scott had the opportunity, he was ready to ask for her number. Well as friends, not in a romantic way. 

"Hey Ashley, so do you think we're good friends?" Scott scratched his head. 

"Of course, we're both new to the school, why wouldn't we be friends." Ashley smiled knowing Scott's question was ridiculous. 

"So I was wondering if I can have-" Scott was interrupted by a loud bang. 

Scott and Ashley were startled as they didn't know where that came from. Suddenly, Scott saw what was coming. 

"Um Ashley, turn around." Ashley turned around. 

What they both saw was unexpected. There was a walking ensemble. The school band formed a line to fit in the hallways. Besides the band, the mascot, Sunny, was dancing around with his stupid sandals on. But what disturbed Scott most was when Sunny was looking at him while it was passing by. 

"Um, why the hell is that thing looking at me?" Scott trying to avoid eye contact with the mascot.

After the mascot passed by it was the one person that was full of himself. It was the King of High School. 

"Good Morning students of Sunshine High, it is I JOHN DECKER, THE KING OF HIGH SCHOOL! AND TODAY IS MY BACK TO SCHOOL PARTY!" John raised his arms high. 

"IF YOU GOT MY INVITATION, THEN THINK OF YOURSELF AS THE LUCKIEST PERSON BECAUSE YOU WILL MEET THE FOOTBALL TEAM, MY GIRLFRIEND AND HER SQUAD, AND OF COURSE ME THE KING OF HIGH SCHOOL!" John walked past Scott, winking at him.

"I WILL SEE YOU ALL TONIGHT AND OF COURSE STAY BRIGHT!" John waved at the students watching the ensemble. 

Once John and his ensemble were gone, everyone went back to their original selves. 

"What was that all about?" Ashley looked towards Scott. 

"Beats me. It felt like the pep rally but compressed into a single file line." Scott gave Ashley a small giggle as she also hated the pep rally. 

"So what were you saying again?" Ashley holding her books. 

"Like I was saying, can I get your number, well not romantically but as friends." Scott is nervous as she might misunderstand. 

"Yeah!" Ashley brought out her phone. 

Scott was scared that she would reject it, but it seemed things were going right for him. Scott also brought out his phone and shared their contact information. 

"Thanks, Ashley, this way we can talk more." Scott blushed a bit. 

"Yeah, I would love to get to know you more. Just friends though" Ashley is also blushing. 

The bell then rang as the parade was about over. Many students went to their classes, including Scott and Ashley as they both were walking to their precalculus class. As the day came to an end, Scott and Ashley met each other outside of the school again. 

"Since we got each other's contacts, do you want me to tell you about the party?" Scott unlocked his bike. 

"Na, I just don't like this 'King of High School' guy's party. It's best that I didn't get invited or else he'll spill his narcissistic ego on me." Ashley watches Scott get on his bike. 

"By the way when you go to the party, just don't act all crazy. I don't trust that guy. He's probably trying to win over to boost his ego."Ashley whispered to Scott. 

"Yeah, I know. I don't think he's the trusting type." Scott agreed with Ashley. 

"Anyway, I'll see you later." Scott rode his bike home. 

Ashley wove at Scott as he left. 

"Scott, please be careful over there," Ashley told herself.

It was now dinner time and Scott was consuming his dinner very early in the evening. 

"Scott, why did you want me to cook dinner early?" Mrs. Smith grabbed the broccoli with the wooden spoon. 

"Sorry, Mom. It's just that I was invited to this party and I'm only there because I wonder what's going on over there." Scott chews his dinner while talking. 

"I understand, sweetheart. Also, can you please stop eating your food while talking? It's very rude." Mrs. Smith is now eating her food and Scott swallowing his. 

Scott apologized as it was bad manners. 

A few minutes later, he finished his dinner and went to clean his dish in the sink. 

"Well Mom, I'm heading to the party." Scott ran outside of the house. 

"Okay sweetie just please be careful and get home before midnight." Mrs. Smith raises her voice for him to hear her message.

 As Scott got on his bike, he got the invitation that Troy gave him and put the address on his phone. Once added, he rode his bike there not expecting too much. 

A few blocks later, Scott made it to the "King of High School's" house. Except it was bigger than an ordinary house. It was a giant bright yellow mansion with big gates, a huge garden, a swimming pool in the back where Scott could see the students in there, and a statue of Sunny, the mascot. As the party was live, the gates were already opened for the invites. 

"Wow, although I don't expect much, this is a really big party." Scott looked towards the mansion. 

As Scott found a place for him to lock his bike, he walked through the gates, already seeing many teenagers partying like crazy. But when he stepped through the door, it was more like havoc. There were only teenagers just not thinking about life. What's crazier is that there isn't any parental supervision. So no matter how much partying these kids did, no one was going to stop them. People were passed out on the floor, some were nude when diving in the pool, and some were devouring the refreshments like monsters. 

Scott was just walking by until he was stopped by someone. 

"Hey, what the hell are you doing here?" A female voice shouting at him. 

But when Scott looked, it was Laura, the Princess of the cheerleading squad. Laura speed walked towards him with anger in her face. 

She grabbed him from the jacket. "What makes you think someone like you is invited to this party?" 

"I was invited. Here's my invitation." Scott reached into his pocket for his invite. 

But when he reached it, it wasn't there. 

"Ah shit, I must've rode too fast that it flew out of my pocket." Scott dropped it while riding his bike here. 

"I don't see an invite. You've got to leave." Laura gripped his jacket even tighter. 

"If you don't leave, I will make you leave. I'm going to count to three," Laura was starting to count to three. 

"One, Two, The-" Laura was interrupted by the King of High School. 

"Babe don't worry, he's with me." John vouching for Scott. 

"How about we, as hosts, show some manners to our new guest and bring him a cup of soda?"

Laura now let go of Scott's Jacket and brought him a cola. 

"Now then, why don't we have a little chat in my room." John wanted Scott to follow him. 

Scott then proceeded to follow John even though he was terrified by him. However, with the opportunity he had, Scott wanted to know John to understand why that figure of himself was behind him. 

"Maybe I'll ask him about that figure from the summer." Scott talked to himself while walking to John's room.

Once they were together in John's room, they were near a fireplace with a table made out of Italian wood, leather couches, and a picture of John hanging above the fireplace. Scott took a sip of his soda and put it on the table. 

"Comfortable." John is relaxed. 

"Yeah." Scott's voice is quiet. 

"So I heard you're the new kid." John put his hand towards him. 

"How did you-" Scott was interrupted by John. 

"Oh, I know a new student when I see one." John is still putting his hand out. 

"I'm John, but you already knew that since the pep rally. Kinda popular, you know," 

"I'm Scott." Scott gives his handshake to John. 

"Oh, Scott. Like Scott Lang, Scott Cawthan, Scott-" John was also interrupted by Scott. 

"Scott Smith." 

"Well, Scott Smith, I just want to welcome you as you are the new student of this school." John is just smiling at Scott. 

"But what about my friend, she's also-" 

"So Scott, what do you like about this school?" John kept interrupting Scott, not giving him time to finish his sentences. 

"Well, I guess only about making a friend and my classes." Scott gave John a concerned look.

"Really! Oh, then that's great! I'm happy you like this school!" John was now happy while sitting on the couch. 

"So what were you like back in your old boring school. I bet it ain't great like Sunshine High." John is talking down about his old school. 

"Well I used to play varsity baseball and that's it." Scott's voice is getting quieter. 

"VARSITY BASEBALL! I PLAY VARSITY BASEBALL TOO. I'M PART OF THE VARSITY TEAM!" John's excitement became an exciting outburst. 

"I can tell you're an awesome person and I hope we can get to know each other more. "John finally calmed himself. 

"I mean, now that I've gotten to know you well, let's say we become friends. I can show you the ropes around this school, and I bet we can win the big gold for the Varsity baseball team." John puts his hand out again to agree on forming a friendship. 

Scott was concerned as he remembered Ashley to be cautious when talking to a person like John. 

"Thanks, John, but let me think about it." Scott declined John's offer to be friends. 

"I see. But if you change your mind, then see me around. I'll be waiting for your decision." John is acting chill about Scott's decision. 

"Anyway, can you answer my question?" Scott raised his voice to a medium tone. 

"I saw this figure and I was wondering if that was y-" 

"Oh, look at the time. I think you should head home now. You don't want your Mom to get worried." John yet again interrupts Scott, pulling him out of his room to the outside of the party.

"Wait, how did you know that my mom told me that?" Scott questioned John, but didn't have an answer. As they were outside the gate, John let go of Scott, wanting him to head home.

"Scott, it was such a fun night. I hope to see you again in school next week." John waved goodbye to him. 

After what happened Scott was disappointed about not finding the answer about why he was behind him. Scott walked away to get to his bike. When he turned around, John was still waving at him, which was awkward as John should've been back at the party. Scott then walked to his bike and rode away. 

"Ashley was right. Maybe I am dealing with someone with a narcissistic ego." Scott kept pedaling back home.

Meanwhile, back at John's mansion, it started raining. Many people left the party leaving the house very messy. John on the other hand was looking at the fireplace with a solemn glare in his eyes. 

"Scott Smith. Scott Smith." John uses a metal rod to control the fire. 

Troy and Laura came to John's room without a knock on the door. 

"Oh, it's you guys." John kept looking at the fireplace. 

"So John, how was your conversation with Scott?" Troy put his hands together. 

Just as John finished controlling the fireplace's flames, he turned around and went towards Troy. John looked at him. Then punched him in the face. The punch was so hard that it made part of his face red. 

"You are such a dumbass you know that." John is angry at Troy. 

"Go clean the damn house up," John ordered Troy to head downstairs with a broom. 

"Y-Yes, John." Troy left as he was shaking in fear. 

"What's wrong, dear, do you need a kiss?" Laura is trying to comfort John. Instead, John pushed and slapped Laura, knowing what she did to Scott. 

"You bitch, do you know how hard I'm trying to get Scott to be a part of this school!" John gives Laura an angry stare. 

"You try to act like that again, and you are going to have something that I know you've hated!" John had an outburst at her as she tried to kick Scott out of the party. 

"I'm sorry, dear, I won't be like that again." Laura brought up her pitched voice, giggling and walking away from John's room, neglecting the pain.

John then collapsed onto his couch, looking down at the floor. 

"Scott, I swear to you I will make you be the piece that I need and once you become one like us, then I will have the perfect High School." John looked at his portrait. 

"You better watch out, Scott. With all of my power, this will be the school that you'll never forget."

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