Matilda 'Dixie' Green, who gets dragged into the unfathomable events at Starcourt Mall by her hopeless crush on Billy Hargrove and new-found middle-schooler friends. She struggles to cope with the trauma, which gradually costs her, her popular cheer...
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ꔘThe Party𐮙
Matilda's POV༒༒31st December, 1984
I told myself 'never again', but then the next time I saw Billy at the pep rally and basketball practice he invited me to another party, flashing that charming smirk, giving me the attention I so longed for. I decided I'd go to more of these parties because they were the only time I ever saw Billy outside of school and also to maintain my status of 'little miss Green the keg queen.'
Rebecca came alongside me to these parties, to Tina's birthday, Heather's birthday, Christmas. Billy would give me all his attention - we'd keg together, dance, he'd offer to get me drinks and even outside of these parties he'd flash me a smile in the hallway or touch my shoulder in the cafeteria, he cheered me on at the pep rally before his game and Rebecca continued to hate him, but kept silent about it - still, I assumed it being jealousy because her boyfriend was a flight away.
Me and Billy hadn't done anything, hadn't kissed - we weren't dating, but I was so convinced that something was there and that feeling got stronger each school day, each party or pep rally practice.
Alex, after Rebecca had rejected his invitation to visit him, decided that he'd fly over to Hawkins to spend Christmas break with us. I could see that it was what Rebecca really needed and arguably also something that our mom needed - a dose of how 'perfect' it had been a year ago for her and Rebecca.
I'd been dressing myself up the entire afternoon for another one of Tina's parties. I'd been stood in front of my closet, sat at my vanity desk just dreaming of what could happen tonight because Billy had called the telephone earlier to tell me he was taking me to the party - he was coming here in ten minutes.
I squealed to myself and clenched my fists as I silently celebrated. Then I swayed in front of my full body mirror, hugging myself in the dress I'd picked out especially for tonight. It was a skintight baby pink dress that didn't expose much that Rebecca had bought and approved on a day we spent at Starcourt Mall recently with Heather.
Imagining Billy and me dancing, maybe even a kiss - my first kiss ever, it sent butterflies all through me, I couldn't stop smiling at myself in the mirror. Since Rebecca had told me that her and Alex would be coming to this party because they wanted to kiss at midnight, I'd gotten that exact idea into my head... kissing Billy at midnight... it'd be the most romantic thing I'd ever experience, I squeezed myself even tighter and laughed.
I heard the doorbell ring and the sound alone sent a warm feeling through me, I squealed again and jumped on the spot... celebrating because this was real, I didn't even need to rush to the door before mom could get to it because I knew she'd love Billy, she'd love me going to the party with Billy.
