设定:Anastazia Woch est une adolescente d'origine modeste, studieuse et en bon rapport avec sa famille. Le jour de son entrée au collège, elle découvre que les codes sociaux sont totalement différents de son ancienne école. Elle se fascine alors pour Alice, la coqueluche du collège, qui se révèle être très particulière et cherche à ce que cette dernière la remarque. Elle devient alors sa nouvelle protégée et meilleure amie. S'ensuit une véritable dérive alliant drogues, alcool, sexe, Anna (surnom d’Anastazia) avait besoin de changer car elle ne se sentait pas à sa place. Sa famille et amies ne tarde pas à vouloir l'arrêter...
Anastazia Woch est une adolescente d'origine modeste, studieuse et en bon rapport avec sa famille. Le jour de son entrée au collège, elle découvre que les codes sociaux sont totalement différents de son ancienne école. Elle se fascine alors pour Alice, la coqueluche du collège, qui se révèle être très particulière et cherche à ce que cette dernière la remarque. Elle devient alors sa nouvelle protégée et meilleure amie. S'ensuit une véritable dérive alliant drogues, alcool, sexe, Anna (surnom d’Anastazia) avait besoin de changer car elle ne se sentait pas à sa place. Sa famille et amies ne tarde pas à vouloir l'arrêter...
I was the new girl.
I was the quiet girl.
I was the nobody.
I was the girl who sat in the back of the class and didn’t say a word.
I was the girl who never got invited to parties.
I was the girl who never had a boyfriend.
I was the girl who was invisible.
I was the girl who no one knew anything about, and I liked it that way.
It was my senior year at a new school, and I’d already been there for two months, but no one seemed to notice me.
No one except him.
He sat in front of me in English class, and every day he would turn around in his seat and look at me with those piercing blue eyes, and I would feel my cheeks flush red.
I was the girl who never knew how to respond to those eyes.
But today, it wasn’t him I was focused on.
Today, my eyes were glued to Alice.
Alice, with her golden hair cascading down her shoulders and her laugh that seemed to light up the entire room.
Alice, who everyone wanted to be around.
Alice, who glanced my way for just a second, and my heart nearly stopped.
I sank lower in my seat, hoping no one noticed the flush creeping up my neck.
The bell rang, and I gathered my books quickly, trying to blend into the crowd as we filed out of the classroom.
Lunch was always the hardest part of the day.
I usually found a quiet corner in the library or sat under a tree outside, away from prying eyes.
But today, something was different.
Today, I felt a surge of courage I couldn’t quite explain.
I spotted Alice at her usual table, surrounded by friends, laughter bubbling around them like champagne.
Taking a deep breath, I walked over, my heart pounding in my chest.
"Hi," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Alice looked up, her eyes meeting mine with a curious tilt of her head.
"Hey," she replied, a smile playing on her lips. "You’re... Anna, right?"
I nodded, feeling my cheeks heat up again.
"Yeah. Um... I just wanted to say hi."
Her smile widened. "Well, hi then! Why don’t you sit with us?"
My legs felt like jelly as I slid into an empty seat next to her.
Her friends continued their conversation, but Alice turned her full attention to me.
"So, Anna," she said. "What do you do for fun?"
I fumbled for words. "Uh... I read a lot. And write sometimes."
"That’s cool," she said genuinely. "What kind of stuff do you write?"
"Mostly stories," I replied. "Fantasy and stuff."
She leaned in closer. "You’ll have to let me read something sometime."
I couldn’t believe it. Alice was interested in me. Me!
As lunch went on, I found myself relaxing more and more.
Alice had this way of making you feel like you were the only person in the room.
When the bell rang again, signaling the end of lunch, she turned to me with a grin.
"Hey, there’s a party at Jake’s place tonight. You should come."
My stomach did a flip. A party? Me?
"I... I don’t know," I stammered.
"Come on," she urged. "It’ll be fun. And you can hang out with me."
Her smile was infectious. Before I knew it, I was nodding.
"Okay. Sure."
At home that afternoon, I paced my room nervously.
How was I going to explain this to Mom?
She’d never let me go to a party.
I took a deep breath and walked downstairs where she was cooking dinner.
"Mom?" I began tentatively.
She looked up from chopping vegetables. "Yes?"
"I’m going over to a friend’s house tonight to study," I lied smoothly.
She raised an eyebrow but didn’t question it further. "Alright. Just be back by ten."
Relief washed over me as I hurried back upstairs to get ready.
As night fell, excitement and fear churned inside me like a storm.
This could be the start of something new.
Something different.
I arrived at Jake’s house just as the party was getting into full swing.
Music blared from inside and laughter echoed through the night air.
Taking another deep breath for courage, I stepped through the door and scanned the room for Alice.
The living room was packed with people, the air thick with the smell of sweat and perfume.
Colored lights flashed in time with the pounding music, casting strange shadows on the walls.
I spotted Alice near the kitchen, surrounded by a group of friends.
Her laughter rang out above the noise, a beacon in the chaos.
I made my way through the crowd, dodging couples dancing and people chatting loudly.
When I reached Alice, she didn't notice me.
She was engrossed in conversation, her golden hair shimmering under the lights.
A pang of disappointment hit me, and I stood there awkwardly, unsure of what to do next.
The music seemed louder now, each beat echoing in my chest.
Laughter and shouts filled the room, making me feel even more isolated.
I contemplated leaving but decided to stay, hoping for a chance to connect with Alice.
I leaned against the wall, trying to blend into the background.
From my vantage point, I could see the entire chaotic scene unfold around me.
People danced wildly in the living room, their movements erratic and carefree.
In the corner, a group played beer pong, cheering loudly with each successful throw.
The kitchen was a hub of activity.
Someone was mixing drinks at the counter while others rummaged through the fridge for snacks.
Alice stood at the center of it all, her presence commanding attention without effort.
Feeling both fascinated and overwhelmed by the unfamiliar environment, I watched as someone handed Alice a drink.
She accepted it with a smile and took a sip, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Hey! You made it!" A voice shouted over the music.
I turned to see Jake grinning at me from across the room.
He pushed his way through the crowd until he stood beside me.
"Yeah," I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "It's... quite a party."
Jake laughed. "It always is. Come on, let me introduce you to some people."
Before I could protest, he grabbed my hand and led me towards a group near the back door.
"Everyone, this is Anna," Jake announced loudly. "She's new here."
A few heads turned, offering nods or smiles of acknowledgment.
"Hi," I said meekly, feeling my cheeks heat up again.
Jake introduced me to each person in turn, their names quickly blurring together in my mind.
As we talked, I kept glancing towards Alice.
She was still surrounded by friends but seemed more relaxed now, her laughter less frequent but just as bright.
"Do you want something to drink?" Jake asked suddenly.
I hesitated. "Sure. Just something light."
He nodded and disappeared into the crowd.
Left alone again, I scanned the room once more.
The energy was infectious but also exhausting.
I wondered how long I'd have to stay before it would be acceptable to leave without seeming rude.
Jake returned with a cup in hand. "Here you go," he said cheerfully.
"Thanks," I replied, taking a cautious sip. It was sweet and fizzy, not too strong.
"So," Jake began. "What do you think of our little town so far?"
"It's... different," I admitted. "But not in a bad way."
He chuckled. "Yeah, it takes some getting used to."
We chatted for a while longer before someone called Jake away.
Left alone once more, I found myself drifting back towards the kitchen where Alice still held court.
Just as I reached her group again, she looked up and our eyes met.
Her face lit up with recognition. "Anna! There you are!"
"Nice outfit," she said, her tone dripping with irony. "You going to a family dinner or something?"
I glanced down at my conservative dress, suddenly feeling out of place amidst the sea of crop tops and tight jeans.
I forced a laugh, trying to brush off the embarrassment. "Yeah, I guess I didn't get the memo."
Alice's friends snickered, but she waved them off. "Don't worry about it. Here, have a cigarette."
She pulled out a pack from her purse and offered one to me.
I hesitated. I'd never smoked before, but I didn't want to seem uncool.
"Sure," I said, taking the cigarette from her hand.
Alice lit it for me, her eyes never leaving mine.
I took a drag, immediately feeling the harsh burn in my throat.
I coughed slightly but tried to play it off as if it was no big deal.
"First time?" Alice asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah," I admitted, my voice raspy. "But it's not bad."
She laughed and handed me a cup filled with some kind of alcohol. "Here, this will help."
I stared at the cup for a moment, the liquid inside sloshing around as I contemplated whether or not to drink it.
But Alice's expectant gaze made the decision for me.
I took a sip, the alcohol burning its way down my throat.
The room seemed to spin slightly as I swallowed, but I forced myself to smile.
"See? Not so bad," Alice said, taking a sip from her own cup.
"Yeah," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "Not bad at all."
We stood there for a moment, the noise of the party swirling around us.
Alice leaned in closer. "So, Anna," she said softly. "What do you really think of this place?"
"It's... different," I repeated what I'd told Jake earlier. "But I'm starting to like it."
She nodded thoughtfully. "Good. Because we could use someone like you around here."
Before I could ask what she meant by that, someone called her name from across the room.
Alice turned and waved them over. "Come on," she said to me. "Let's go join them."
I followed her through the crowded room, still clutching my drink like a lifeline.
The music pounded in my ears, each beat making my head throb slightly.
We reached another group of people who greeted Alice warmly.
She introduced me to everyone with a flourish. "This is Anna," she said proudly. "She's new here."
"Hi," I said again, feeling like a broken record but managing a genuine smile this time.
They welcomed me into their circle easily enough, and soon we were all chatting and laughing together.
As the night went on, I found myself relaxing more and more.
The alcohol helped dull my nerves, and Alice's easygoing nature made it easier to fit in.
At one point, she leaned over and whispered in my ear. "You're doing great."
I smiled back at her gratefully. "Thanks."
Just then, someone bumped into me hard enough to make me spill my drink all over myself.
"Oh no!" Alice exclaimed, grabbing some napkins from a nearby table and handing them to me.
"I'm so sorry," the person who bumped into me apologized profusely.
"It's okay," I said quickly, dabbing at the stain on my dress with the napkins.
Alice's eyes sparkled with amusement as she watched me struggle to clean up the mess.
"Looks like you really are dressed for dinner now," she teased lightly.