Better Together

Chapter nine

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Mei : Hey meet u outside the park c u

Ko : ok

I saw her leaning against the metal school like fence, her hair swaying in the air.

 For a moment I was caught off guard, just staring at her from a distance but then she turned her head and her eyes lit up when she noticed me. 

That gave me enough confidence and I walked over to her, waving with a smile. 

"Ko! Your here!" "Hi, sorry if I'm late."

 "No, no come with me" Mei took my hand and began to walk briskly. 

My no past knowledge of how friendship works convinced me this was just a friendly action but I still could not stop my cheeks from feeling increasingly warm.

 I hope the dark shielded her from this knowledge.

 We arrived at the new years party pretty quickly and Mei let go of my hand. 

I realised that I didn't even know the name of the host but brushed it off, it's unlikely she'll talk to me anyway. 

The two of us made it inside and I could already detect the stench of sweating dancers.

 The party was in a large brick house, this girl who invited us had everything ticked off of what makes a generic mean girl. 

I squeezed myself passed girls who were barely wearing clothes, and guys who were trying too hard to be cool and stumbled across the kitchen. 

It was fairly quiet in here, the bright spotlights helped me see clear.

 There were drinks scattered across counters and a bowl of fruit punch, which in books is destined for tragedy if you take a sip. 

I could see what Mei was wearing now. 

A cherry coloured dress that was slightly poofy and dark patterned tights. 

She looked good, not how the majority of the girls with their peel off, skin tight dresses.

 Mei saw me looking a little too intently and smiled.

 "I like your dress" I said trying to give an excuse for my staring.

 "Thanks, you look pretty too" I saw a faint blush on her face but perhaps it's because it's very warm.

 "Have you been to a party like this before?" I asked.

 I felt that I was becoming for the first time comfortable with a person. 

Mei grinned "I get practically forced to come to these things every year, my mum's hopeless always telling me I'll miss out on my youth."

 I laughed.

 "The kitchen always seems to be the safest place so I guess we'll camp out here for how many hours." 

I agreed with her, I wasn't keen on underaged drinking, being skin tight close to hot and bothered dancers or being caught up in a fight. 

"Do you have any siblings?" I was curious to ask her. 

"I do," Mei made a silly face and I ended up spluttering with laughter again.

 "Two older sisters, one getting older and the other stuck with a just as irritating boyfriend."

 "Im the youngest of my family too." 

I accidentally blurted out before covering my mouth with my hand. 

Why couldn't I of been more careful of what I say, I don't even know if Mei will want to be my friend anymore if she finds out I'm part of a broken family, sent away so I can't be there verbal and physical punching bag. 

"Are you okay?" She look worried. 

I nodded weakly "Yea."

 I sat down in the corner with no counters, Mei followed me and sat close, she still looked worried.

 "Sorry for worrying you, I'm ok my family is just going through some problems right now." 

I managed to tell her.

 She squeezed my hand reassuringly "I know we haven't known each other for long but if you need someone to talk to I'll always be there."

 Our heartfelt conversation was intruded by some incredibly loud high heels.

 I was sat confusingly in front of a pair of bright magenta stilettos. 

Muddled for a moment, I looked up and saw the familiar face of somebody I did not expect to be sitting at their feet.

 That girl.

 "Um why are you sat on my floor?" It was clear she was asking a question but she gave me no time to respond.

 "Anyways I've been looking for you two forever!" Her voice sounded even more high pitched and unnerving than our meet from earlier.

 "What could you possibly need us for" Mei sounded pretty defensive, unlike me she had experience with parties which led me to the conclusion that this wouldn't end well. 

"We wanted you guys to join us for some party games." 

We? Us? It is obvious there is just us three in the kitchen. 

Looking quite ridiculous too.

 A girl in another skinny dress crouched down to talk to two completely unordinary girls sat on the kitchen tiles.

 Mei tried evading her request but we couldn't get out of it.

 I suppose it's her house too. 

I was unaware of what games we would play but I very much doubt it's going to be pass the parcel.