This Kiss

Chapter Fourteen

Sandy came along for the ride after school on Friday when Matt drove me home. He still hadn't mentioned the party and neither had I. As we pulled up in front of the house, Matt leaned over to kiss me goodbye

            "I'll see you tonight?" I said wondering if he'd take the bait, telling me where he was really off to tonight

            "Actually I can't tonight, I'm going out with Danny and the guys, but I'll come by tomorrow?" he said, no mention of Courtney, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I knew he was lying to me, the thought went as fast as it came, and I nodded, suddenly conscious that Sandy was sitting in the back seat, looking out the window, trying not to listen to our conversation

            "Yeah, sure, I'll see you then." I said smiling, kissing him again. I got out of the car, and I heard Sandy mumble a "goodbye" and a "Thank you", she hadn't been his biggest fan since our first break, and I knew all she was thinking about was that he hadn't mentioned the party

            "You know that by hanging out with the boys, he meant hanging out with them down at Courtney's?" I shrugged,

            "I mean it's not really a lie," I said trying to convince myself I believed this "he is hanging out with the guys, he doesn't have to tell me every little thing."

            "So you don't care if he goes there tonight?"

            "No I do," I said, unlocking the front door and stepping into the house "That's why we have to go tonight."

            I still don't know what I expected to find at Courtney's house, as we pulled up two houses down in my car. All I knew was I felt guilty for having just lied to my parents, saying Sandy and I were just going to see a movie, and I was completely uncomfortable in the tube top that was barely holding up against my wide chest. But I knew that Sandy wouldn't let me go out looking like an idiot, so although I wasn't exactly as comfortable as I wish I was, I knew I looked beautiful, and as we checked ourselves in the side mirror on my car before walking into the party, Sandy walked over to my side of the car, staring at me as I pulled my hair behind my neck, fastening it in a low ponytail

            "Let's just say, if he chose Courtney over you, he's an idiot." I hugged her, wishing that with all I had, that tonight, things would be different, and I wouldn't lose to Courtney.

            Sandy and I stood in the backyard of the estate Courtney lived on, I didn't want to go inside just yet, and if it was possible, I wanted to avoid it all together, so we just hung out back, watching the party, waiting for the prep boys to show up, and it happened to be a while before they did.

            Finally, we saw Matt, Danny, the two Vinnys, and Chris Lawrence sauntered into the party, and as soon as I saw him my heart sank, we had been out in the yard for a while, occasionally gossiping and talking when we saw someone worth it, and I had pretty much given up hope of Matt even showing up. A pang of guilt had settled in my stomach when I had the thought that he wouldn't show up, thinking that maybe I was the one who couldn't be trusted.

            I saw him grab a beer, and hang by the boys, Courtney was out of sight for just a few minutes, until I saw her tap Matt on the shoulder and point behind her, they both followed in that direction, and I felt my breath getting caught in my chest, Sandy put her hand on my shoulder,

            "Maybe we should go," she said, tentatively, almost in a whisper "You don't want to know if something happens, Faith."

            "Yes, I do. I have to know if he really cares about me."