Don't You Dare Tell Anyone Mr. Stevens

A Party. Seriously?

I look outside the cafeteria windows and its snowing hard. I sigh. The nice weather is over which means no more lunch under the willow tree. Not like I could eat with Patty we had separate lunch periods. The count down to Christmas was growing closer and now it was only 9 days left. Mom put up the Christmas decorations over the weekend and the house just oozed the holidays. Marcus was quiet and kept to himself most of the time just sitting in the love seat reading his newspaper. Ben enjoyed putting up the ornaments and I untangled the tinsel. A week had gone by and my back was replenished and new rosy skin replaced the damaged skin. I hadn't received any threats lately. Thank God. I've been trying my best to steer away from Riley. But its super hard considering he's just so darn cute. I stifle back a laugh. Wait until I tell Patty that.
I attempt to reach for a bottle of Vitamin Water but can't quite reach it. Instead someone else does. Riley hands it to me and grabs one for himself.
I smile "Thanks" I say and slide my tray further down the aisle.
"Sure" he says and looks out the window
"What?" I ask and he chuckles
"I don't think you want to eat under the willow tree today" he answers and I laugh.
"No I guess not" I say.
I reach into my bag for my wallet. By the time I look up Riley is already getting his credit card handed back. I put my arms up and my jaw drops.
"Riley!" I say and he looks at me.
"What? You were taking forever!" he says and hands me my tray.
I roll my eyes. "If only you'd do my homework the way you payed for my lunch" I mutter and he laughs.
"So where are you sitting?" he asks and I scan the lunch room.
"Hmmm," I say contemplating. Where will I sit?
"Anywhere I guess, I'm not picky" I say. He opens his mouth to speak but there's a shout.
"Hey Guys!" Someone calls out and we look over. Zayn waves a hand and I wave back.
"Come!" he says and everyone else at the table looks up and smiles.
Riley looks at me. "Want to sit with us" he asks and I laugh.
"oh um, no. I don't do big groups" I say and he's already pulling me by the elbow.
"Come on!" he says and I don't object.
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Kate bursts into hysteria and Riley and I laugh at her. She struggles to breathe and eventually she bursts into tears from the laughter.
"Calm down before you choke babe" Zayn says biting into his apple and Kate continues to laugh.
"Oh my god!" she screeches gasping for air.
She looks up "That was a good one Toby" she says and he bows his head.
"All in a days work" he says and Mike rolls his eyes.
"It wasn't that funny!" he says clearly annoyed and Jeanine smiles
"You just didn't get the choke" she teases. Mike with his big grey,green eyes give her the look of death. Clary laughs and her curls bounce.
"Whatever" Mike mutters and puts his soda down. Kate has finally calmed down from Toby's corny yet funny joke and straightens out her hair.
"So" Kate says and takes out her mirror. She puckers her lips then looks at us. "What are you wearing to my party?" she asks and clicks her compact shut. I tilt my head.
"What party?" I ask.
"Mm!" Riley says and I turn to face him. He puts his bottle down and Jeanine chuckles. He looks at us and laughs.
"I forgot I was meaning to ask you that" he says and Clary rolls her eyes.
"You mean you still haven't asked her to go-!" she begins but Kate swings her arm around her and Jeanine clamps her mouth shut. She smiles. "Go on"
"Anyway" Riley says looking at them funny. He turns to face me.
"I was going to ask you if you wanted to go to Kate's Christmas party with me" he says and I look at them. They nod wide eyed frantically.
"A Party? Seriously? On Saturday it will be like 4 days before Christmas" I say and Kate nods.
"I know" she says. "Yup! Mariah Carey and Celine Dion are going to be there!" Toby says. Am I the only one that thinks that's weird. I look around. I guess I am. I begin to think about the current threat wavering over my head at the moment that's threatening my life. But then again-
"Alright" I say and look at Riley. I smile "I'll go with you" I say.