That Kiss (Revised)

Chapter Two - The Party

                The party seemed to be in full swing when Savannah parked her Ford Focus next to a big black SUV. Cars were jammed pack in the long dirt driveway. Parking was like one big game of Tetris. She shut the car off and slipped her keys in her pocket before Michael turned her chin towards him.

                “I promise you’ll have fun, as long as you let yourself.” He leaned in an pressed his lips against hers. “Just let me know if you want to leave, but remember our deal.” He winked.

                Approaching the house, Michael grabbed her hand and squeezed it reassuringly. He really was a good boyfriend. Things just had never been the same with them since Donnie pasted. Michael really was like her support system, rather than someone she was madly in love with.

                A few stragglers were hanging by their cars on their phones, smoking something probably illegal, or just stumbling around aimlessly. Savannah could feel the vibrations in her chest from the music pulsing through the cooling fall air. It didn’t take long before she saw the old traditional white house wedged between enormous oak trees. She took special note of house colossal the trees were. She remembered reading once in class that counting all the bark pieces could give you the age of the tree. In this case, they’d be hundreds of years old! In a nearby one she noticed a carving illuminated by the moonlight slicing through some of the branches above. It read: S + J encircled by a heart. She felt herself smiling. Who were they? How long had that carving been there? Did they live happily ever after?

                Michael’s strong hand tugged against hers. She refocused on the party and willed herself to have a good time. And figure out what real fun was, of course.

                The doorbell wasn’t your average ding-dong sound. Of course not. This is Joey Buck’s house. A long, elegant chime sounded, hardly audible over the music. What Savannah could hear was Michael laughing at her.

                “What’s so funny?”

                “You don’t ring the doorbell at a party, babe. No one can hear that.” He chuckled again before turning the doorknob and pushing it open.

                None other than Joey was standing there, laughing too. Michael smiled brightly at him, like they hadn’t spent all day together at school and then football practice. Savannah stood their awkwardly as they exchanged that handshake that guys do. Finally, Joey acknowledged her. “Savannah Nelson has finally attended one of my parties. My life is officially complete.”

                Snapping into the sassy Savannah everyone at school knows her to be she snapped back, “I was finally able to pencil you in.”

                He laughed, “Well, you look lovely as always.” Joey closed the door behind him before looking back at Savannah. Cue the awkward stare.

                “Thanks,”

                “Well, everyone is pretty much here now. You know the drill, Mike.” He winked.

                Michael led, dragging Savannah close behind. Before they fully passed Joey, he bumped his hand what seemed to Savannah as purposely. Their eyes met and Savannah was now intrigued by the intensity of his stare. What was with this guy? She quickly decided it was better to ignore it and scurried behind Michael.

                The party was unlike any Savannah had ever been to. She knew it was going to be crazy after all the rumors she’d heard, but this was truly unreal. People were clustered into tiny groups packed everywhere. The furniture looked extremely expensive making Savannah wonder why in the world Joey would ever throw a party full of drunk teenagers who probably were either going to pee, spill, or vomit on them. If this was her house, she’d be freaking out about something stupid like people not using coasters on her glass coffee table.