Throughout the course of the week, I bumped into Jackson a couple of times, had a few flirtatious conversations and exchanged glances but other than that it was nothing different from usual. What was unusual was that I had been receiving these anonymous texts, nothing threatening, I assumed it was the wrong number. Well, that was until Friday. Friday came around quickly and my friendship with Cassie and Mia was really beginning to grow.
"You have to wear this!" Cassie exclaims as she scurries through Mia's closet. She insisted I wear something of hers. Cassie held out a royal blue satin dress with spaghetti straps. It was so pretty.
"Okay let me try it on." I begin unchanging, not really bothering if the girls see, like I said our friendship had really blossomed in the past week. As I slipped the dress over my head and pulled it down and around my body, it was much shorter and tight than expected.
"Yes, yes, yes. Oh did I mention? YES!" Mia exclaims as she comes behind me in the mirror, admiring my appearance. I stare back at the girl in the mirror, wondering when I lost the 13 year old scared child, frightened of her own shadow. I'd come such a long way since then, grown into the strong person I am today and although the past haunts me in ways I can't even describe, it has shaped and moulded me to tackle anything else life wants to throw my way.
"I love it. Are you sure you don't mind me borrowing it Mia?" She smacks my arm playfully in response.
"Don't be silly. This is what girls do. The blue goes so nicely with your brown hair and if you don't curl it I will have to do it for you. With or without your say so." She points her finger authoritatively as I laugh at her fake demanding tone.
We all stand in the mirror, applying the last finishing touches to our makeup as we take turns in drowning each other in perfume to finish off our looks. I look at my curled hair and small amount of makeup and feel satisfied with my appearance for once, not missing my red lip, I feel ready to attend my first social gathering at Southcrest High. Just as I reached to grab my bag, I heard a buzz. I picked up my phone and looked at the screen-
Unknown: We need to talk bumblebee, call me?
My throat felt like it had closed up. There was only one man on this earth who called me that, one man who I never would want to hear off. I shake away the sinking feeling, not wanting it to ruin the rest of my night, a problem for another day.
"Now, before we go, April, what's the game plan again?" Mia asks as we begin to make our way downstairs.
My mind races over the points Cassie and Mia made earlier and I begin to recite them-
"When we get there, don't even look for him. 'Mingle' with the other basketball players and try to get Jackson's attention on me with other boys and answer his witty remarks with even witter remarks. Oh and whatever I do, do not seem too interested." I smile, happy knowing I remembered everything they told me.
"You got this." Cassie winks at me as we approach Mia's mother in the hallway.
"Girls! You look fabulous, let me get my phone!" Rachel, Mia's mom grabs her phone and forces us to huddle together and to pose. Mia rolls her eyes and begs her to take one more. In a motherly fashion, she continues to take at least twenty more.
"Don't be back too late girls!" Rachel agreed to let me and Cassie stay the night.
We arrived at the party a little late, due to Mia's meltdown earlier, screaming she isn't going anymore because she couldn't find the right shade of foundation. When we walked inside, I remembered rule 1: to not look for him. I kept my head down to avoid accidentally making eye contact with him and found my way into the kitchen. I spotted Finley leaning against the counter with a drink in his hand and I remembered what Mia said about him being quiet. I don't want to make him feel uncomfortable talking to me but I want him to have at least one person he can talk to other than Jackson.
"Hey Finley, can I have a drink?" He looks up from his cup and rakes my body with his shy eyes. He looks around to see if I was definitely talking to him and proceeds to pour me a cup. Awh he's kind of cute.
"Are you enjoying yourself?" I ask him, attempting to make small talk.
"Yeah I guess so. Yo- you look nice, April." I blush at his sweetness. Why can't all guys be this adorable?
"Thank you Finley, you look handsome yourself.'' It's true he does. He smiles and begins to open his mouth as if he was about to say something when he is interrupted by the irritating sound of Chad. Chad is a basketballer but he is the kind you want to punch in the groin. I've only had the pleasure of his company around twice and both times I've had to leave due to too much dickhead consumption in one sitting. He keeps trying to hit on me and I don't know how to tell him, not today sunshine, you know?
"Awe Finley, trying to take a shot at April are we? I wouldn't bother. She's not as easy as you would think. Despite how she's dressed."
Do you see what I mean?
"Awe Chad really you shouldn't be so kind, maybe I would give you a shot if your mouth was sewed shut." I roll my eyes at his comment about the way I'm dressed. If I want to dress in a short, tight dress it doesn't mean I'm easy, boys have one brain cell.
Chad snakes his arm around my waist and pulls me towards his chest.
"Awh, come on baby don't be like that. We both know you're playing hard to get, when are you going to drop the act so I can show you what a real man can do?"
Bile rises in my throat at the mere touch of his hand around my waist. I'm transported back to that place. Hidden in the corner of my room, guarding myself from my father's evil. In response, I knee him in the stomach as Finley simultaneously gets off the counter and presses Chad up against the wall. The sheer sight of this scene began to draw the attention of the whole party.
Not much to my surprise, Jackson barged into the kitchen and stared at the scene, trying to take in on what just happened. It didn't take a genius to see that I was in hysterics whilst Finley, the quietest, sweetest boy in the school had one of his team mates pressed up against a wall. The minute he released Chad, Mia and Cassie ran over to me and took me to the bathroom.
YOU ARE READING
Passion is a Game
Romance" Stage 1 is working on you. That's what he wants, just for you to think about him maybe once maybe even twice. Just whatever you do, don't let him know that he's been on your mind. He thinks these little stages work, if you show him they don't work...
