Shadows In Durango

*****Sofia's POV*****

Rolling up to Emma's house, I observe the surrounding street filled with cute cottages with well kept gardens full of flowers and trees. This was nice...

"Vincents place is only five minutes from here." Daryl explains, as I nod and look out of the window in search of my friend.

Beeping the horn, we wait for Emma, giving her a couple of minutes before watching her emerge from her house with who I'm assuming is her Mom and Dad coming out at her back too.

Her Dad holds an umbrella over her head like a true gentleman as she blushes and approaches the car, her glasses no where to be seen and her hair and makeup done. She wore black leather trousers and a red crop top with black sneakers. She looks nice!

Daryl suddenly opens his car door and I decide to do the same, not wanting to be rude.

"Hello Daryl... and you must be Sofia? Emma has told us all about you dear!" Her Mom waves, as I smile and greet them both.

"Emma will be staying back at your place tonight is that right Sofia? She said you both have the same curfew?" Her father questions, catching me off guard as I glance to Emma who gives me a tight nod to which I understand immediately. "Yes that's right!" I smile brightly, as they both seem satisfied with my answer.

"Take care of them son!" Her father shakes Daryl's hand next, as Daryl chuckles and promises he will.

They tell us to have fun, and with that we climb back into the car and get ready to head to the party.

"Sorry Sofia, they would have made me be back for ten if I didn't say I was staying at your place!" Emma breathes out, as Daryl chuckles which causes for her cheeks to redden.

She wasn't totally comfortable with him yet, and so I hoped after tonight she would be.

"Don't worry about it! I understand! You look amazing by the way, I love your hair!" I compliment her, as she smiles and thanks me - reaching up to touch her curly styled up do.

"You look great too! I figured I best make an effort since it's the first party!" Emma giggles from the back as I nod and smile.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

The only problem was... Emma can't possibly come back to my place for a sleepover... because there is quite literally nowhere for her to sleep!

She would be horrified to find nothing in my apartment other than blankets and creaky floor boards.

I'll see how the night goes, and I'll have to come up with a plan to avoid the whole sleepover scenario...

"Ready?" Daryl announces, as I turn my attention back to the window, approaching a large black gate as the car slows to a stop.

I can't see any house here? What is this place?

Daryl rolls his window down as we reach a small post, before he presses a buzzer and waits a moment as I turn back to eye Emma who pulls a 'I don't know' face sharing my confusion. Seconds later, the gates begin to open for us, allowing us entry on to the new road as Daryl proceeds forward up the gravel path.

Within minutes, luxurious mansion style houses line the street, there being around eight in total all evenly spaced from each other.

We continue on, before reaching the end one, as my eyes nearly roll out of my head when Daryl pulls up to park - the thumping of music faintly heard from inside.

No way is this where Vincent Walker lives!

"This can't be it... I've never seen anything like it in my life!" I gawk out the window as Daryl laughs and shakes his head.

"Insides even better trust me! You can only imagine my face when I turned up to his first birthday party held at home when we were eight!" He comments, motioning for us to get out of the car as we follow his lead.

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Stepping out into the rain, we rush towards the front door, as Daryl steps forward to open it for us both.

"Here give me your jackets." He gestures as soon as we are in, as I glance around at the extravagant grand entrance. I slowly shrug the jacket off from my shoulders, in a trance like state as I stare around at the true size of the place. A grand staircase faced us: having two flights of steps leading up to the second floor which consisted of a balcony connecting the two to overlook us.

Woah!

The interior was mostly beige and gold, the floors a dark wood which gave a more homey feel to the open space.

It wasn't too crowded, but there was definitely a decent number of people here - all with cups in hand and seeming drunk already.

"Let's go get you two a drink first!" Daryl states, as my eyes widen at the thought.

Are we drinking... alcohol?!

I know it's normal for people this age to throw house parties and to get drunk but I didn't really get to experience anything like it since leaving home so it was still really daunting.

This was coming from the same girl who quite recently just accepted a job in a bar? How ironic! But somehow, it sounded worse drinking the liquids as opposed to pouring them in my mind!

We enter into a large living space, with the world's largest TV mounted on the wall along with a guy I recognised from school on a DJ deck playing tracks beneath it.

People danced and laughed, a couple of the cheerleaders catching our eye as we entered the room which only made me instantly feel on edge.

Daryl won't let anything happen to us... I reminded myself, knowing that he invited us to be genuine.

We proceeded into the next room, a massive kitchen with a large marble island in the centre of the room stocked with more alcohol than what you can even imagine.

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"What will it be?" Daryl asks, as I look to Emma who looks just as taken aback and bewildered as me.

At least I wasn't experiencing this place alone...

"I... I've never had a drink... I don't know?" I admit shyly, as Daryl nods and turns to look at the stock.

"The sober bartender I see? I'll make you up something you might like." He offers, before turning to Emma who shrugs too.

"Ok, I'll sort you two something nice don't stress! Take a seat and I'll be over in two!" Daryl smiles, as we move together towards a dining table in the far end of the kitchen to wait.

Glad to have a moment alone with Emma, I turn to her and pull a face which causes her to laugh out loudly.

"This has to be a dream?!" Emma states, as I agree.

It can't possibly be a real home... there's no way!

"We've not even seen a quarter of this place yet!" I laugh back, as Emma shakes her head and looks around another time.

I think on it, deciding that we should just make the most of it and be normal teenagers for one night, as I turn to Emma with a mischievous smile.

"What are you up to?" Emma raises a brow, as I giggle and chew my lip at the thought.

"I say, for one night only, we go crazy and do everything we haven't done before! Who knows when we will ever be invited to another party right? So let's go wild!" I laugh as Emma begins to join me, rolling her eyes playfully before giggling too.

"Fine I'm convinced! Let's just have fun! No more feeling uncomfortable for us!" Emma agrees, which makes me feel a little excited for the night ahead.

Between her and Daryl, we could just have some carefree fun... try alcohol, dance to the music and maybe socialise a little too.

Here's to a normal night for the first time in a long time...