The Older We Get

Chapter 4

               "Sage! Over here!" Josh yelled across the room, his presence doing little to distract me from Chandler ignoring my existence even though we're less than 8 inches apart near the front door, a few teens sitting down while the rest lean against the walls, drinking beer and laughing while I force a smile on my face.

               Chandler's not paying Josh any mind this time either. When I'm embraced by my boyfriends arms, his cologne that I've gotten so used to and that differs greatly from Chandlers lifts over me and I'm not sure why I'm still worrying about my old friend.

               If he wants to be like that, I'll let him. He knows I'm here for him. It's not like I've changed that much. Him on the other hand. He's gone from sleeping on my bed, touching my bound breasts and telling me to fvck off all in a matter of hours that I'm nearly bugged by him even deciding to tag along.

               Not like I can help it anyway given I'm being dragged off towards the center of the room, Reen's eyes widening like Chris Tucker's large sockets as soon as I'm in view before she hurries and greets me with a smile and hug like usual.

               "Late. You are late."

               "I know. Traffic was murder."

               "There's no traffic in Vernon." She cringes while turning to take a sip of what looks like lemonade. "Josh!" Her hand smacks his tight chest. "Why didn't you drive her over? She's missing important time with these blondes."

               "I would've but she brought a guest." Josh shrugs, throwing his arm out, nearly hitting me by accident, to point to Chandler laughing and talking to...3 girls, one of them offering him a drink that I'm fearful is beer.

               Did he tell them he's 3 years younger than them?

               "Who's that pipsqueak? He's so short." Reen purses her lips, but I'm walking away before I know it, mentally wishing I could plant my feet next to my boyfriend and keep my as$ there, but I'm crossing my arms and monitoring Chandler being flirted up by some stereotypical sluts from school, they're attitudes towards me in general indifferent and labeling me as an outcast since I've only recently decided to blossom into a butterfly.

               "Oh, heya Andrews." Danielle, a random short legged girl, even shorter than Chandler, who now come to think of it is about 2 inches shorter than I am, addresses me by my last name and I smile in response while the brunette I've been confused by ever since I got home smirks and looks away, placing his hand over another chicks shoulders. "Can we, help you with something?" Her yellow teeth show and I lick mine, thankful the ex-orthodontist I used to go to provided me with a gel to keep my own chompers white instead of an old milk colored shade.

               Blegh.

               "No. I'm just in charge of Chandler and I wanted him to stick next to me for tonight. He's new in town."

               "I gathered." Danielle scoffs, pressing up against him, and the responsible part of me sees my little friend from 3 years ago getting molested that I quickly think of a way to detach those two without going overboard. "Where are you from?"

               "Las Vegas. And Sage is lying." Chandler laughs. "I've lived here before. 3 years ago. Just moved back."

               And I think that's starting to seem unfortunate.

               "Cool. I've been to Las Vegas. It's like, totally great compared to this place." Danielle lifts her red cup towards her insanely over-glossed lips and I suddenly start to feel moronic just sitting in on this conversation that shouldn't be bugging me.