"Cal, you have to go to this party with me, it's the best, come on. You can't refuse this time and even Ralph will be there."

I was busy noticing the cluster of students gathered around the notice board. A girl pushed me as she made her way towards the board. I stumbled forwards but steadied myself. Maybe standing in the middle of school corridors during lunch break is a bad idea. Ivy nudged my shoulder and I finally paid attention to her.

"It's the flyer for the party."
She replied answering my unspoken question.

"On the school noticeboard? People these days sure do have guts."

"Hey did you listen to me? You have to come to the party. Besides you owe me remember?"

Dang it! Last week while having lunch at our usual table at the cafeteria, I was given a dare to stand on our table, in front of my whole class and ask out janitor Jack on a date. It was a stupid dare. And I would give anything to get out of it.

But because of the social protocol I have to participate in these mundane games. I don't want be labelled as a loner.

As I was racking my brain with a possible solution, but then a miracle happened. I must've looked awfully nervous at the time, or like Ivy told me later that the color was entirely drained from my face, I looked like I had seen a ghost. So, naturally she decided to take pity on me and negated the dare without any consequences.

I looked at my best friend and studied her for a second. She is popular, beautiful, tall, and has a great athletic built body. She also has beautiful bronze skin, which always seems to be glowing. The bitch is literally the epitome of perfection, and to top it up she is the school's throwball captain.

She bursts the myth that every hot girl in high school is supposedly like Regina George in Mean girls. I mean really, she can have one of the qualities, but all of them, now that's just unfair. All the football jocks have a thing for her, so obviously all the other girls listened to her.

We belong in two completely different worlds, I am always negative and she is a bundle of joy, even when my sarcastic remarks hurt her she still never ditches me. I hate a lot of people, and she always loves everyone.

I love her but honestly she can do so much better than me. And here we are with me owing her a favor.

I rolled my eyes. "My parents will not allow me."

"Oh, stop it, that's the best excuse you got, your parents allow it if you have completed your studies for the day, you just don't wanna go weirdo."

"You of all people Ivy know I don't drink booze. I hate small talks with random people, the walls of the club are sweaty and gross, the music volume is way too high. And besides don't you wanna spend time with Derek?"

"Wow only you could make a celebration of happiness look so bad. What's wrong with you girl?, Relax a little this is our last year in high school, we're seniors now. Also Derek is out of town with his parents."

"Oh so, that's the real reason that you've been insisting on me coming so much."

"Hey no fair! I love my boyfriend but he has stuff to do, I can't always go and poke my nose in his business, and is it so bad for me wanting to hangout with my BFF a little more?" She made her iconic puppy eyes.

"Hmm, I don't know but I'll consider your case."

"Also I don't have a thing for Ralph okay, he is just someone I admire and respect. It doesn't mean anything."

Ivy giggles "Oooooh the robotics team captain and the class valedictorian, you guys are a match made in high school heaven." I cringe.

She starts singing, "Calista has a crush. A big, big crush."

"Very mature." I scoffed.

Few minutes passed, and we kept walking in the corridor. It doesn't seem quite deserted today.

"Fine, but only because of the dare." I say with the utmost reluctance.

"Yes, mission accomplished. Also please wear something cute." Ivy squeaks.

"Fine but I will wear sneakers, no heels."

"You and your bizarre fashion sense."

"Ivy, I am putting on a dress and makeup, don't push it".

"You are never gonna get laid, Cal."

"Heard that before and I get it. I have a resting bitch face and a bad attitude. But no man's worth the aggravation so I don't really care."

"Jeez, calm down Cal, I was just kidding. I'll see you later, I have a feeling that something big is going to happen at this party."

I rolled my eyes and sighed. This girl has been seeing way too much Gossip girl for her own good. Not all parties end in drama and chaos.

The bell rand loudly once again and my mom honked loudly. I sighed and waved goodbye to Ivy. Asher had already been seated inside. He made some small talk with me about my day as mom drove us home.

Sometime later, I completed all my homework. I laid down on my bed whilst scrolling through some messages on my phone. My eyes started feeling drooping and sometime later my vision blackened.

The air turned all black around me. My hair stood on end, a shiver raced down my spine and a lump came to my throat.

"Where am I, what is this place?"

I can't believe my eyes, am I drunk, no wait that's impossible.

Is this another hallucination?

Whatever the explanation, this place is so bizarre. I was standing on a cold, steel floor. There were machines everywhere, as far as the eye can see, so exorbitantly complex.

I can't even begin to describe it's construction. It felt like I was trapped in a colossal box.

Curious, I started examining my surroundings closely, searching for a way to escape, but there seemed to be no doors or windows.

It was pretty grim, I couldn't make out certain shapes from afar because of the low lighting, it was a relief that I wasn't claustrophobic.

Was I drugged and taken hostage? I wondered.

But there seemed to be no one other than myself. There were several unfinished models of machinery, I was studying a robot closest to me, it was blue and white.

I saw the red eyes of the robot, looking at me intently, studying me, mocking me, I could hear whirring, and then a clang. It moved. It's coming for me, this is how it all ends. I screamed, my knees gave away and I fell on the floor. I hoped that atleast someone will hear me and come to my aid. But nothing happened.

Tears formed in the corner of my eyes, I tried to ignored them. Maybe one of the robots could be my means of escape. I could program it to help me, after momentarily observing my location I realized the robot hadn't done anything; it lay in its position steadfast and sincere. Okay maybe I exaggerated my emotions towards the robot, but in my defense I was quite alarmed.

Then it caught my eye, the most advanced robot ever made, the CP37. I had heard about it but seeing it was a completely different feeling, I held my breath, and willed everything in myself to focus solely on the robot. It wasn't fully constructed it seems but it was still astounding.

It's left arm seemed to be the only incomplete part, there were several torn twisted wires and bolts suspended out from it's elbow. I wanted to repair it so badly. Slowly I mustered the courage to stand up, my hands trembling, drops of precipitation formed behind my back and on my forehead, adrenaline pumping into my heart.

"Calista, Calista Armstrong get your lazy bum down this instance! Help me set up the table."

"Ugh, coming mom." I mumbled. Her mood must've soured after her fight with dad today. Not that they don't fight everyday because they definitely do. At least they should think about Asher he's still so young.

Groaning I dragged myself out of my bed when my phone buzzed.

I picked it up to see Ivy's text.

It read: See you at 9 sis.

Great! I'm so not looking forward to this party.