All I Want

Because I Like You

Paris had been walking around her party, not really interested in being there. It was the same boring people from her school; she knew at least half of them didn't even like her. It was really just enough to make her want to scream. 

Finally, deciding to seek solace outside. She had walked over to the pool area and taken off her shoes to put her feet in the water, and that was when she'd seen him. 

He wasn't someone familiar to her. He definitely didn't go to Chilton. So that made him a party crasher. He was leaning up against the cabana and drinking a beer. And now he was staring at her. 

"Can I help you?" She said in that usual Paris way. Bold and Unapolegetic. 

The boy got up from the cabana's wall and walked to Paris. "You really shouldn't put your feet in someone else's pool without their permission," he said, rolling up the pants legs on his jeans before sitting down next to her and removing his well-worn boots and socks. "People might think you're a rebel," he finished as he stuck his feet into the water, took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag before blowing out the smoke slowly.

"And you really should mind your own business," Paris said, not even close to being in the mood to have to deal with this boy's over-inflated ego.

"I could have you kicked out, you know. I have friends in high places." Paris had just about enough now. Who did this upstart think he was? She was just about to tell him he could leave the party since it was hers when Rory walked outside and saw them, but it wasn't Paris that she addressed. 

"There you are, Jess. We've been looking for you. I see you found Paris," Rory said, looking at the two of them and how closely they were sitting together. 

"Paris? Birthday girl?" Jess questioned, now looking at Paris for the answer. 

"Yeah, that's me, the girl you were going to get kicked out of the party," Paris retorted. 

"Busted," Jess said, giving her a lopsided smile. It was his go-to when he was trying to charm a girl, and for some reason, this one intrigued him. 

Tristan walked out now to join the small party of four that had congregated by the pool. 

Seeing Rory, he walked over to her and put his arm around her. "Finally, someone not unappealing to hang with," he said as he gave her a quick smile, and she blushed. 

"Once again, Paris, you are throwing the rager of the year; congrats," Tristan said, addressing her now. 

Paris gave him a half-hearted smile. Not one person out here now had acknowledged yet that it was her birthday, and Rory and Tristan were probably who she considered herself closest to this school year. It was a bit of a letdown. 

Suddenly, a loud crash happened without warning, loud enough to be heard out at the pool. 

Paris jumped up and ran in the direction of it, with Jess, Tristan, and Rory following behind her. 

Once inside the house, Paris couldn't believe her eyes. Anders was standing in the middle of a table, and he was screaming something she couldn't quite hear. Oh my God, Paris realized it was her name. He was screaming her name. 

"Pariiiis, birthday girl... where are you?" Anders said, teetering close to falling off the edge of the coffee table. 

Paris, fuming, walked toward him. 

"Is that her boyfriend?" Jess leaned into Rory and asked. 

"No, more like her enemy," Rory answered, transfixed on what was about to go down. 

"Sure...," Jess said, less than convinced that those two wouldn't be a thing someday. There was way too much animosity between them. 

"Get off the table!" Paris screamed loudly at Anders to be heard over the music that suddenly seemed way too loud.