It was evening time and I was really tired but mum said that there's an event she want to watch live on TV that her colleagues were gushing about.
Now am sat on the couch in front the tv flipping through channels with the remote to pass time.
"Ash dear, please put on the NC news", I heard my mum call out from the kitchen she was making her favorite smoothie.
Puting on the local channel for NorthCrest, I watched as they got ready for an event, it kinda looked like a movie premiere. After a few minutes of the host try to crack a joke, guest started arriving.
"Mum", I whined, "it's so boring", I said groaning. Resting my head on the throw pillow on the couch I began to drift off.
"You better not sleep", mum yelled, I gave her a thumbs with my eyes already closed and ready to drift off to sleep.
Immediately I heard an oh so familiar voice in the room "urgh Ace can't you see a girl...wait a minute....I locked the door"
Sitting upright I saw that the voice was actually coming from the tv. Staring at the tv I saw what my eyes could not comprehend in my entire lifetime, so yes I did do the most logical thing you could think of.
I screamed. Yep I freaking screamed ontop of my lungs cause what the....Also am sorry to our neighbors.
"What...what", my mum said frantically as she rushed out from the kitchen with a spatula in hand just to see her daughter staring at the tv with horror in her face .
Sighing she asked "what's wrong"
"The Collens are on TV"
"And"
"Why didn't anyone tell me"
Picking up on my question she replied with raised eyebrows "Wasn't it obvious"
"How", I screamed again.
Ok so the thing Ace freaking Collen is my tv screen and I know am being dramatic.
"Sooo Mr Collen who is your date tonight", the interviewer asked. I scoffed at that.
By his side was a tall slim brunette lady, she seemed to be a model since she had the figure of one.
"This is Layla", Ace replied.
"Hi", said Layla with a sweet smile.
"What are your expectations for the movie"
"Er nothing cause anything the Collen family in is always awesome", she said making them laugh.
Scoffing again at her answer I muttered to myself "such a sycophant"
"Ok then..I hope you enjoy the movie premiere"
"Thank you"
"Collen...actors you got to be kidding me", I said flopping down on the sofa.
~~~~~~
It was 1:18pm on a Saturday and Riley looked at me skeptically in the middle of the living room.
"Your house is huge and beautiful", Riley commented but I just glared at her with folded arms. I was still mad and yes I know am being overdramatic.
"Come on don't tell your also not an afternoon person", Riley whined sitting down.
"Why didn't you tell me?", I asked joining her.
"What are we talking about now"
"Ace Collen"
"Oooh do you have a crush on him", Riley squeeled happily
"What...no....am talking about him being on the NC news"
"Oh...oh..I thought you knew"
"How would I have known that Ace is a celebrity"
"Um the paparazzi"
"I thought they were just obsessed people who take pictures of pretty people",
Riley stared at me like I've gone crazy
"It's possible you know" , I said justifying myself.
"So you do admit Ace is hot", she said wiggling her brows.
"I never used that word", I warned.
"You know I thought you were going to ask about the tabloids for today"
"What about them"
"Your on it"
"WHAT", I yelled standing up abruptly.
"What is it again", mum asked from the kitchen.
"Nothing", I reassured.
"How and why am I on the tabloids"
"It's very simple... people think you and Ace are dating", Riley said making my jaw drop.
"Again WHAT"
"Simply because Ace picked you up and your kinda the first girl he has ever done that"
"So they think we're dating", I said and Riley nodded at that.
"Wow I always knew the media was crazy but damn"
"That's just the life of a celebrity, you can hold hands with your male cousin and they will think your dating without even knowing your related."
"So yea the media is a very toxic environment....most of them sneakily take pictures of celebrities to get money"
We were quiet for moments before Riley stood up to tug on my arm.
"Come on lets go to the mall you will enjoy it there", she suggested.
"Hmmm not bad...mum am going out with Riley", I said making my mum coming out of the kitchen with flour on her hands and apron with a pout on her face.
"But cookies are not ready yet", my mum already took a liking with Riley before I even came downstairs.
"We will come back for it.....promise", I said and left with Riley.
~~~~~~~~
I stared out the taxi window in awe at the huge building in front of me. The mall was huge like really huge and it was a thirty minute drive frim my house.
"It's so huge", I said.
"Probably because is the only mall in NorthCrest", Riley said
We paid the driver and stepped out of the taxi and into the mall.
Riley handed me a pamflet to read
"Where do you want to explore first"
Scanning through the pamflet I couldn't pick one so I replied, "I dunno surprise me"
"Ok then..how about we start with the courtyard first, am actually famished", she said rubbing her tummy. We both laughed at the sound it made and made our way to the courtyard.
Seated at the right side of the courtyard each with a mega size ham burger and smoothie, mine was strawberry flavored while Riley's was banana.
"So tell me about yourself"
"Huh", Riley said surprised by the question.
"You know your likes and dislikes, hobbies, even funny embrassing memories and I will tell you mine", I said.
"Ok then", she said and clapped her hands happily.
~~~~~~~~
We were sitted at the courtyard for almost an hour now and laughing our heads off.
I learnt that she had two brothers one was in sophomore year and the other one was in middle school. She's the only girl, she loves photography and she's allergic to pineapple. She's also into pop music but her favorite kpop group is Txt.
"I can't believe you actually did that", Riley said in between laughs.
"What!, desperate times comes for desperate measures", I said with a chuckle.
"But still though why"
We were currently laughing at a memory from my sophomore year. I had a boy as my chemistry partner in class and he started develop feelings and he kept on flirting with me repeatedly making me uncomfortable. He asked me out no matter how much I turned him down.
So I devise a plan to make him loose interest cause I mean is not like his in love with me just some silly childish crush, so yeah the feelings is just a phase.
So it happened on a beautiful Tuesday morning, I came to school wearing mismatched socks and shoes, a stained white blouse when I mean stain I mean stain, my jeans was covered in splatters of paint as if I just finished on a canvas that morning. My hair was in a bed nest and face bare like I just woke up from sleep and was tired last to get dressed.
Every single person in the hallway stared at me, laughed and took pictures . The principal even called me in to ask how everything was at home.
I had no idea what came over me to make such bold decisions but I did, did the boy loose interest...Obviously, was I a meme..... definitely.
It didn't matter to me at that moment since it was the last day of finals and mum was already being relocated to another place.
Did I feel embarrassed the next day or two yes
"I thought you had this how to survive high school thing going on"
"Like I said desperate times comes for desperate measures"
"That's too extreme"
"He was to persistent ok.....plus there are times rules in the book got to be broken", I said with a shrug
"Your such an act ash", Riley said with a chuckle.
"Why thank you", I said giving her a mock bow.
"Urgh this brats are here", I said noticing Charlotte and her cliques
As if on cue they noticed her and Riley and walked over to them.
"Hey girls I didn't see you there", Charlotte said with a smirk.
"You know you shouldn't hang out with a loser like her come hang with us", Mia said.
Rolling my eyes at their suggestion "someone's obsessed"
"What", she said with a laugh pretending like she didn't hear me.
"That your obsessed", I repeated "your were so insecureed with Riley being around, you decided to take her out of the picture and now that's she's gone your not happy she's made a new friend"
Looking up at her I asked the obvious "you want her alone don't you"
"Yes duh isn't that the point", Charlotte said flinging her hair.
"So you admits you low lives"
"What did you just call us"
"Low lives or should I spell it out for you", I said with a shrug.
Charlotte was seething now "listen up new girl, my father owns NorthCrest TV s.....
"Does it look like I care of what your father does or not....low lives doesn't have to be based on status as a person your pretty shallow"
Charlotte looked like she was about to explode any moment now but was held back by Mia.
"Char let's go", Mia said tugging on Charlotte and giving us nasty looks as they left.
"Am so sorry", Emma said muttered hurriedly and ran to catch up with her friends.
"If course there's always a sane person in a group", I said to myself and looked at Riley who stared at her unfinished food.
"Seems like you've lost appetite", I mused but she didn't answer.
"For the last time Riley, you shouldn't let people trample on you, the more you keep quiet the more that they take you as weak", I said.
"It's so weird cause anytime I see them I remember fun memories had but when I analyzed that memory I realize they never really liked me in the first place, she said and looked up at me with tears pooling in her eyes
"How did I not see that....why was I so blind", she said with a sniffled.
"Because your too pure for this world", I said patting her hand.
"I use to have nasty thoughts Ash", Riley said with all seriousness.
Smacking her shoulders I said "can you not ruin the moment"
"Sorry", she said and burst out laughing after a second. Shaking my head at her ridiculousness, I leaned forward and whispered "About our plan"
Leaning forward also she whispers "you make it sound like we're doing a bad thing"
"I never said we won't participate in any bad thing"
"Oohhhhh", she said with surprise.
"What do you have in mind"
"Were going to conduct an investigation by holding a party"
"And how are you going to that", she said giving me one over. "You don't seem like it"
"Ok ..rude"
"Sorry but seriously...how?"
"Ace Collen", Riley laughed at that.
"What"
"
"
"Ace", I said simply sipping on my smoothie.
Riley looked at me then started to wiggle her eyebrows suggestively.
"Not in that way", I groaned.
"I know am just messing with you, but seriously Ace as in", she asked quizzically.
Rule11: if you ever want to host a highschool party and you want it to be like you know an actual successful highschool party.....am sure your getting what I mean yeah. Either be popular or invite someone popular, let said person talk about it on their socials and also invite their friends.
"Cause his popular and if I want to host a party with lots of attendance then yep Ace, the rest of the popular kids is not an option", I said but Riley still stared at me like am crazy. Maybe I am.
"Ah don't worry I always have my ways", I said with a devilish smirk.
"The look on your face scares me"
"Oh my gawd Riley am not going to do anything bad....yet", I said muttering the last part.
"You still scare me though"