Cursed

❀ Chapter Four ❀

   Aurora

"You have to go Rory, it's the last time you'll see your school friends before everyone leaves for college!"

Even though I don't want to upset my mom, the thought of socializing with my graduating class sounds repulsive. I do have a select few close friends. However I know that many of them have already left to get their pre-college credits or have applied to summer programs to get a headstart on college. Normally I would be diving deep into that world with them but my parents agreed that I should take a break before the grueling routine of college life.

I want to argue with her. I mean none of the kids at this graduation party even know my full name. But my mothers determination to make me feel like I'm part of something bigger, is much stronger than my own will. She notices that I'm backing down and comes over to lovingly kiss my forehead.

"Aurora, if you won't go for your own enjoyment, then please go for me. It would make me so happy."

She's using the eyes she gives my father when she wants to buy something really expensive. Which seems silly considering it's just a high school graduation party, but it's working on me just like it does on him. She shrugs her shoulders, giving me the full pout, which is guilting me even further into agreeing to socialize. At least it will be the last time I ever have to see these people again.

"Ok mom, I'll go."

A few hours later I'm dressed and ready to go. I went through five different pairs of jeans only to go back and pull on the very first ones I tried on. I decided on a flowey purple top that showed a little bit of cleavage but none of the new growth of fat around my abdomen. I have been more focused on my studies than exercising the past year that I couldn't help but feel that regret as I got dressed for the party. Mentally chastising myself that all I did was the bare minimum of thirty minutes in PE every day. Somehow my physical health was always last on my ever growing to-do list. But the munchies that came with smoking weed definitely weren't working in my favor.

The address on the graduation party invitation is located at the king of all the jock's house, aka Chris Bennet. Chris wouldn't be caught dead socializing with me in public but I know his parents forced him to invite everyone who he graduated with. His parents were always out of town, giving Chris lots of time to throw raging parties during which a plethora of underage drinking happened. I only know this because after one of Chris's weekend ragers the girls in the locker room gush about the details of each party as if they're reporters for Newsweek magazine. This will be the first time I've ever actually been to one. I can feel my dinner start to move around as nerves fill my stomach as my mom pulls up in front of Chris's suburbia style house.

My mom sees the hesitation on my face and before I can open the door she's already unbuckled my seatbelt for me and kisses my cheek goodbye.

"Aurora this is the end of an era, you will regret it if you don't at least try and have a good time. Call me when you need a ride home."

I roll my eyes at her but nod my head in agreement. I get out of the car and slowly make my way up the sidewalk to the house. I can already hear rap music blasting through the windows. The front yard is littered with red solo cups and cans of white Monster energy drinks. A couple of girls are huddled together on the front porch smoking a joint.

"Hey Rory, what's up?"

One of the girls, Jackie from third period biology, waves to me. I smile and sit down next to her, my jeans suddenly feeling extra tight as I glance across at the group of girls bare midriffs. Their abs have a reflective sheen on them, a mixture of glitter and sweat. I look down at my own body and pull my purple shirt as far down on my hips as it will go. It's not hard to feel self conscious when the majority of the girls at my high school can get away with wearing half-shirts all year round. There's no universe that exists where I could have a body that would look good in one of those tops. One of the girls on the other side of Jackie heaves a sigh and passes a lit joint to me. The little voice in my head that has zero self esteem fades into the background as I inhale, so grateful for the soothing marijuana smoke than she could ever know.