Across the Net

Interruption?

If you go out looking for friends, you're going to find they are very scarce.  If you go out to be a friend, you'll find them everywhere. -Zig Ziglar 

~~~

"Hey, we're there."

I opened my eyes, embarrassment flooding my cheeks with color. I had dozed off.

"Where are we?" I asked croakily. I squinted through the red rays of sunlight sieved by the trees and saw nothing but another clump of greenery.

"Come on."

I let Andy take my hand and guide me towards the thicket.  

Then my phone rang, spoiling the whole moment, if there ever was one.  I fished it out of my pocket, fingers fumbling, and found it lodged between the flap at the brim of my jeans pocket.

"Sorry," I mumbled as Andy released my hand.

"Hello?" I said quickly into the phone.  "I'm not-"

"ALEX!  ARE YOU COMING OR NOT?"  

"Lana?"  I asked uncertainly, massaging my ear as loud music pounded through the speaker.  I had been too embarrassed and forgot to check who was calling.

"YES OF COURSE IT'S ME!"

"I'm not-"

"YOU CAN'T MISS OUT ON THE VICTORY PARTY AT MY PLACE!"

"Lana, I'm not free right now-"

"WILLIAM AND SOFIA ARE HERE TOO!" she yelled into the phone.  "I PRACTICALLY INVITED EVERYONE.  ANDY SHOULD BE HERE ANY TIME SOON.  IF YOU DON'T SHOW UP, I WILL ASSUME YOU DON'T WANT TO BE FRIENDS ANYMORE."

And she hung up.  Just like that.

"Andy-" I turned to my supposed date, and felt redness clogging my neck.

"I know.  I heard everything," Andy smiled sadly, opening the car doors.  "We'll have to go then."

"I'm so sorry," I closed my eyes for a moment and opened them again, smoothing the hair that had flown into my line of vision back to the top of my head.

"That's okay," he opened the passenger side door for me, my gaze still lingering at the bush, guilt riding my back.

"I'm sorry that happened," I repeated my apology, ducking my head as I went into the car.  Andy smiled in acknowledgement as I climbed in.

We drove in silence, with the occasional bumping of  tires on cement coloring it with sound like polka dots to a dress.  The countryside slowly gave in to the city streets, making jolts of recognition flip my stomach as we pulled into the lawn of Lana's house.  It was a fancy place, the walls pearly white against the night, and the trees that lined the walk were so green that they seemed surreal.  I got out of the car, my tank top and jeans very out of place from the other girls, and headed into the house with Andy trailing close behind.  A strange sinking feeling had slithered into place when my feet tapped against the hard ground, eyes cast upward.  Lights were pulsing at the window, bringing my heart along.

"I knew you'd come."

Lana had her arms spread wide, arrogance smeared like peanut butter all over her face.  Jacob, her obedient hound, had took her hand, but his eyes, without his girlfriend knowing, was latched on a girl with a dress so revealing, her undies were flashing the crowd every time she so much as turned.

"Hey Lana," Andy waved awkwardly as he appeared from under the door.

Lana's eyes traveled from me to him, her eyes narrowed playfully.

"So you two..." she jerked her hands dramatically as they passed over Andy and then me.

I rolled my eyes as  she pulled me into the dancing crowd, past the drinks stand.

"Your parents let you do this?" I asked, eyeing the alcohol stand which wasn't there the last time I came.

"They're out of town today," she shrugged as we passed a couple that were doing things that made me avert my eyes.  And as turned turned over to another pair of people, I stopped.  William and Sofia were talking animatedly, relaxed grins pulling at their cheeks.  William turned at that moment and our eyes crossed paths.  He raised his hand and I couldn't resist grinning back, raising mine as I caught sight of Sofia's squinted eyes, them tinged with the green of jealousy.

"I invited the nerds, but I don't think we should interact," Lana, flung her sea of blonde behind her, eyes cast disdainfully at William.

I bowed my head, breaking eye contact, and followed Lana to the middle of the makeshift dance floor where Georgina and the others were breaking their hips dancing in those tight little dresses.  I turned around, expecting Andy to be standing behind me, but, to my surprise and a little hurt, he was no where to be seen.

"This is our song!" Lana squealed me back to my senses as a song I had never listened to blasted out of the speakers.

"It is?" I asked, moving a little to the music to fit in.

"Oh my god!" Celia screamed along.  "It is our song."

Georgina nodded along to Allison who seemed comprehending of Lana's words.  Oh.  So they had established an 'our song' without me knowing.

I shrugged, pretending lip sync to the lyrics like the others, curving my knees to the beat. 

Sometimes, I just felt like my heart was stuck in the middle of of goo, with it struggling to get out of the slime when I tried to fit into the group.  My friends were very nice to spend time with, but made me a little hurt at times like these.

"Next line Alex!" yelled Lana, slanting her hips at a passing guy.  Jacob was cheating, and Lana wasn't too good either.

"Huh?"

"Sing the next line of the friggin song!  We're taking turns!" 

Oh they were taking turns singing lines of the song I didn't even know.  I stood there, eyes wide, humiliation frowning my face.  

To my relief, the next song came up and I knew the lyrics this time.

"Oh I'm a mess right now...?" 

Lana shook her head, disappointed, and continued dancing.  I turned my flushed cheeks to hide them and found William's eyes trained on me.  He had watched me embarrassing myself.  Crap.  I hoped he didn't hear me sing over the loud music.  Oh god.  I really hoped he didn't.  

Sofia was tugging at his sleeves to catch his attention but he was in no rush in breaking our eye contact.  I sucked in a breath, reminding who I was and what position I was in.  I turned my face away immediately.  

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Heyyyyy!  I saw the 'last updated' status of Across the Net and it read ONE MONTH.  I should've updated more and this time I decided to;)  Hoped you liked this  chapter.  I did writing it. 

By the way, fun fact, almost all of the quotes in this story came from the posters in mah wall;p

BYEEEEEEEEEE