Melody

Crashing A Party

"Hey, Isabella!"

I looked to see who it was, expecting one of my friends. To my surprise, it was Vanessa, the 'popular' girl who had dragged me over to her table on my first day. It was Friday, and I was in the library, finishing off some homework before school started. Or at least, that's what it looked like I was doing. Really, I was writing down my song, figuring out the notes, trying to write the music for different instruments. It was more challenging than I would have thought.

"Yes?" I asked cautiously. I didn't particularly like Vanessa, who kept trying to convince me to ditch my friends and hang out with her and her group, but I didn't want to be enemies either. 

Vanessa handed me an envelope with my name on it. "It's my birthday this weekend, and I'm throwing a party. I've already sent most people their invitations, including Allie, but I wanted to give this to you personally, because we're such good friends." She smiled at me, but it looked more possessive than friendly.

"Uh... Thanks?"

"No problem." Vanessa breezed past me to the door. "All the important info is on the invitation, of course... Just one thing."

"What?" 

Vanessa looked excited in a way that made me nervous. "We need music. I've heard you're a pretty good singer. Some of my friends are playing at my party, and I thought maybe you could join them."

I thought for a moment. I didn't really want to go to Vanessa's party, but Allie would be there. I did not want to sing with her friends, but maybe...

"If I do it, you have to invite my friends." I said. 

Vanessa looked hurt. "I invited Allie. Besides, my parents will only let me invite a certain number of people, and I don't have any invitations left."

I really didn't know how high school hierarchy worked, but I had heard Vanessa talking to some other girls, saying "Oh, yeah, you can totally come. My parents did say I could invite as many people from school as I wanted, after all." I suspected Vanessa just didn't want my friends at her party.

"So," Vanessa interrupted my thoughts. "You'll do it?"

"I-"

"Great, I'll put the music in your locker. See you there!" With that, she flicked her hair and sashayed out the door.

The bell went, and I stuffed my music sheet in my pocket and hurried to class.

At recess, I told my friends what had happened. Allie frowned. "I can't believe Vanessa would invite us and not you guys."

Wren huddled further into her baggy woolen jumper. "No-one ever invites me to anything... Unless it's a prank."

"Yeah, well, that's still no excuse." said Rose. I saw the glint in her eyes and was both excited and worried. I knew she had an idea, but Rose's ideas were often what got her in trouble. Freya voiced my concerns.

"Rose, I know what that look means. Promise you're not going to do anything that might get us in trouble with anyone."

Rose smirked. "Not if I do it right. Besides, Izzy and Allie are going, and Vanessa has a big guest list..."

That Saturday night, my friends came over to my house. Kaylie was having dinner with some people from her work to celebrate a colleague's birthday, and Sam was home that night. He got to the door before I did. When he saw Allie on the doormat, his scowl changed to a more neutral expression.

"Hi," said Allie, gasping for air. "I'm here to see Izzy."

Sam glanced at me, standing in the kitchen with five hot chocolates on a tray, and said, "Isabella did mention she was having some friends over for a sleepover tonight. I believe you are all going to be working on some sort of school project?"