Be My Forever

xvii | this day goes from bad to worse.

I feel nervous as we leave behind the Prestons' house. Ethan is nice, definitely, but I don't know him that well.

I'm starting to think that maybe I rushed into this whole thing. I had just been so angry with Warren for trying to tell me what to do.

"So," Ethan says as we turn out of the driveway, "Cas, the dance doesn't start for another hour and a half. There's a few of us getting together at Dakota's, you up for it?"

At Dakota Krissen's house? He's joking right? I know for a fact I won't know anyone there. Sure I know all the guys on the swim team, but I don't know anyone personally. Besides Warren but I don't count him.

"Uh, sure." I have no idea why I agree when in my head I'm screaming no.

Ethan grins, "You'll love it, I promise."

Since Dakota Krissen is in the same tax bracket as Warren, his house is only a few blocks away. Immediately, I know that this isn't a good idea.

There are at least a dozen cars parked in the driveway and I can see people hanging out on the porch, drinking from red cups with music I can hear in Ethan's car. He parks and I have no choice but to follow him as we head towards the house. It's also decorated for Halloween, with pumpkins and skeletons and lights all on display. Every single house in the neighborhood is decked out in a pretty similar way, I've noticed. The rich folk take their holidays seriously around here.

All the guys are from sport teams. Swim, soccer, baseball, football. I recognize all of them, if not their names, from classes or home room. Their dates are recognizable too, girls I can only dream of actually being close to. They wear tight, short dresses with tall heels and travel in packs almost. Those not in packs are in their dates' laps.

There has to be at least twenty five people here. More of a party than some friends hanging out. I start to slow down.

"Cas? What's the matter?" He turns back as I slow to a stop.

I nervously brush the hair on my shoulder off, "Ethan... I don't know about this. I don't know anyone here."

He closes the distance and puts an arm around my waist, effectively trapping me and making me uncomfortable, "Oh c'mon, sure you do! That's Destin from the football team and Rachel and Shana from home room. You know plenty of people. C'mon!"

Sure, I know of those people, but I am not friends with them. I don't think Ethan truly understands how much of a nobody I really am. Maybe he's delusional.

For one wild second, part of me wishes Warren is here. Then I immediately swat away that thought.

We're mad at Warren right now, remember!?!

I spend the next hour and a half feeling miserable and awkward. Ethan pretty much just dumps me in a corner of the porch to hang out with a few guys from the swim team. No one really makes an effort to try and talk to me, so I end up bored and lonely. Dakota's parents don't seem to be home, which is pretty much the trend in this part of town. Rich parents are too busy to pay attention to their kids, so the kids get to do whatever they want.

Ethan comes to find me after a while. It takes me a moment to realize why he seems different, a bit red in the face and louder. He's been drinking.

"Time to go, Cas." He says to me, once again putting an arm around my waist.

At this time, little red flags start to wave around my brain.

I try to pull away a bit, "Listen, Ethan, I'm not sure... should you even be driving?" I don't think he's drunk yet, but I'm sure he's feeling a little buzzed.