Let Me Love Him

XV.

She knew everyone comes to parties.

Mandy claps her hands — her hands are so burning, it only gets easier in the cold outside — and laughs. Loudly and sarcastically.

Everyone looks at her. Mandy crosses her arms on her chest and smiles darkly. Christy would try to cool her down somehow (she always tries to smooth things over, but she's not around). Mandy hasn't even told them anything yet!

She wears her blue shirt and wants to claw sharp nails. Mood falls down in a straight line.

Kirby stumbles and falls into the bushes after the beer can.

"Yeah!" Mandy leans on the railing with one hand and rolls her eyes. "And these are the best athletes of Bullworth Academy."

Ted gives her the middle finger. Which is expected.

"You better keep your mouth shut."

"You shut your mouth or you're gonna throw up."

Zoe Taylor would be proud of her if they were as good friends as they were a few years ago. But they're not best friends anymore. One redheaded girl always gets replaced by another.

"Okay, honey," Christy grabs Mandy's hand and gets away from the raging football team. "I suggest stop talking to him."

"Great idea!" Mandy opens the door, wincing slightly at the sight of a couple of nerds. Why did Christy even invite them at all? That's so not cool. "Except we're all at the same party, if you haven't forgotten. Why are they here?"

"You ask me?" Christy wonders. The fun doesn't go away or fade. "You're the one who wanted to invite Ted so we could get revenge properly..."

"Oh Christy..."

Mandy almost cunningly laughs and hugs her friend tightly. Christy smiles softly and sees some sort of peace on her friend's face. And she hugs Mandy back — there's always this thread between them. It's especially visible in moments of emotion. Like now, for example.

"Think your Johnny will come?"

"Big parties aren't his style," for some reason Mandy blushes. Her heart strikes her throat and knocks out the rest of her words. He is unlikely to come. "And he hates Ted anyway. They shouldn't see each other at all," she concludes.

"I'm going to ask Ricky anyway!" Christy says stubbornly.

"Don't!" she grabs her friend's shoulder and looks into her eyes. "Don't ask Ricky!"

"Don't ask Ricky what?" Ricky stands on the doorstep, leaning against the doorjamb. Christy takes a step back and covers her mouth with her hand. Her cheeks are burning red, and Ricky's not responding at all. He only raises his eyebrows.

Johnny might come, Mandy thinks. His friends are here.

Last time he was there too. Although, well, he came to the party. So what? Norton, Ricky and the others came too — there's nothing special about it.

There's nothing special for Johnny too. Yeah, the party.

Mandy rolls her eyes.

"We didn't want to ask Ricky anything," she says. Christy snorts and lets her get away from this guy.

Christy even gets a little upset at first, but comes to her senses because Angie comes round the corner.

"Hey, girls," she stops them both and looks a little worried. "Have you seen Pinky? She had to come by seven."

"It's weird," Mandy winces. "I think she has been with us the whole time."

Christy takes the smile off her face and purses her lips.