Golden Boy

S I X

The week passed by incredibly unremarkable. It was now Friday and Jace had invited me to his party tonight, which meant that Cami was forcing me to go since I owed her three parties this year. She was also ready to keep a steady eye on Jace. 

I wasn't sure how I felt about going to one of his parties now, knowing that there were some magical elements involved in the process. There's no way that he could be in Manhattan and in Ardsley at the same time without some magical help. I wasn't sure if what he could do was even magic. I haven't asked, and he'd likely wouldn't tell me either way. 

I moved within my room, looking for my favorite pair of black jeans to go with my white long sleeve top. I stood in front of the mirror to finish slicking back my thick wavy hair into a low ponytail. I finished off my makeup with some setting spray and a pretty mauve lip. Cami would approve of the fit, which made me feel more confident as I finished getting ready. 

I grabbed my fleece-lined denim jacket and a thick scarf in case it got really cold and walked out the door after telling my parents goodbye. There were surprisingly fine with me going out tonight and all but pushed me out the door. Something about having my parents being okay with me partying almost made the experience not as fun. Parties always hit different when you're not supposed to be there. 

After picking up Cami, we drove over to the really nice side of Ardsley, where the houses were further apart from each other, and each one was heavily gated for privacy. My mouth hung open as I stared up at the house—no, mansion—that Cami had punched into my GPS. It was massive with a long, winding drive-way and black gates as tall as the shortest trees. It was a three-story development with massive reflective windows so that you couldn't see inside. The house was made out of grey stone, giving it a traditional feel rather than modern. The upstairs windows were all dark, but the downstairs ones were lit up in different colors, and I could hear the music from outside. 

I never imagined that Jace came from this much wealth. The house's style indicated that it was old-money, which meant that his wealth likely started generations ago. 

Parked in the driveway were brand new Mercedes, Audis, Range Rovers, and I even saw a couple of Teslas. I looked back at my mom's blue Honda, realizing how out of place it looked. Cami was already accustomed to the mansion's size, so she paid no attention to its grandeur. On the other hand, I couldn't help but stare at every detail of the house, wondering how much of the decor was bought or stolen. From the looks of it, Jace should be able to afford anything he wants, yet he still manages to participate in criminal activity. 

Cami led me straight to the kitchen where the drinks were. I grabbed a can of rosé while Cami mixed some vodka and sprite as her first drink. Music sounded throughout the whole house, the place already packed even though it was only 9 pm. 

Cami bumped to the music as she guided us through the house. She seemed relaxed and comfortable in this environment. I couldn't help but remain tense. Knowing Jace's secret made it really hard for me to see this as a completely innocent party. I knew for a fact that something fishy was going on here tonight, and the only reason I was personally invited was so that Jace could keep me within sight. 

"Elliot Edith at a party? I don't believe my eyes," said Dave as he came in the middle of Cami and me, swinging his arms over our shoulders. I looked up to see his easy smile and bloodshot eyes. He was clearly far under the influence, giving me the urge to try and get on his level. It had been a minute since the last time I went out. The colder months made it harder for me to leave my house for nonessential things and parties rarely made the cut. I preferred spending my fall nights tucked under a couple of blankets with a good movie on the TV. 

"Don't get used to it," I chime back in. I took a long sip of my drink, accepting that I was going to have to let my guard down in order to enjoy this party.