See you next Saturday

Joy

"Are you ready for the party tonight?" Jaz asks as the four of us are sitting in Eve's room getting ready. 

"Nervous but yes." We'd gotten through the rest of the school week and thankfully it was uneventful. 

"Well you look great, I'm seriously in love with your outfit." Eve chimes in.

I'm glad, I changed my outfit about 10 times. I ended up in an off the shoulder top with a black mini skirt and my signature pearl necklace. My mom often told me I was always too overdressed but I always needed to dress up.

It was the one thing about my appearance I could control. When I was in middle school I thought if I dressed nicer guys would finally pay attention to me but when I found out it was useless I had already made a habit out of it. 

Now I did it for me though, I liked feeling put together, I liked having that control, even if it was just something small.

"Thanks you do too, you all do!" It was true, all of them had their own unique sense of style that just made sense.

"Do you think Jai will show up?" Stockton chimes in.

I had quickly learned that Stockton had a giant crush on one of the guys in out history class. And between the shared glances between the two I'd guess the feelings he had were reciprocated.

"No, he probably has a small animal to kill. Kidding, seriously though Stockton I don't know what you see in that guy, he's always glaring." Eve comes over to sit next to me and Jaz on her bed.

"He just looks a little intimidating, he's nice though I know it."

"How long have you liked him?" I ask.

"Too long. He hasn't shut up about him since elementary school." Eve interrupts.

"5th grade. My mom was late picking me up from school and he waited with me on the playground till she came. I've been a goner ever since. Sadly that's the longest amount of time we've spent together. Every time I try to talk to him I freeze up, on our first day I was gonna ask him how his summer was but I freaked out and asked him for a pencil."

"Don't you carry like 17 pencils with you at all times?" Jaz raises her eyebrow.

"Yeah but I panicked. Our hands brushed though so I count it as a win."

It surprised me that he was too nervous to talk to Jai. I'd learned Stockton was a major extrovert.

"You guys would be cute together." I share.

Stockton just smiles wide at me as he finishes putting his shoes on.

"Okay girls lets head out, we have an action packed night ahead of us." Stockton walks over and grabs my hands pulling me up off the bed. 

"Let's get this party started then." I quip as we head out the door.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I thought parties like these only existed in movies. 

Music was blaring, kids were jumping off the roof into the pool, and drunk kids were running around the house half naked. 

The house was huge, it was obvious that this Kurt kid was loaded. It bordered on being a mansion. We had to take a private road to get here and when we arrived I thought it might be a resort. At least five stories, ivy crawling up the sides of the White House, a fountain in the middle of the driveway, and a huge staircase leading to the front doors, yes doors as in multiple.

"It looks intimidating but it really isn't that bad." Eve can sense my anxiety.

I just give her a smile and nod. 

As we walk into the house I'm hit with the overwhelming scent of alcohol. 

Stockton starts to drag me into the next room saying something about some of his comp sci friends he wants to introduce us too but I can barely hear him over all of the music. 

Stockton introduces me to a girl with a pixie cut and a super tall guy with a buzzcut but I couldn't hear their names over all the noise.

"Oh my gosh you're the girl who got shit spilled all over her the other day!" Mr. Buzzcut says.

"That's me, next time I plan on going straight to the lunch ladies to see if they can just put me out of my misery and throw hot grease on me." Why the fuck would I say that.

I can tell that's what buzz lightyear and tinker bell are thinking too because they just stare at me not knowing what to say. 

"Well um, I really like your skirt." Tinker bell says with an uncomfortable smile.

"Oh thanks, I made it." I wink.

"Really?!" 

"oh, no I was just kidding." And now I wish I hadn't.

"Funny. Well we should probably get going to our other friends but it was nice to meet you." Yes please leave before I dig myself a deeper grave.

I smile and say goodbye before turning to Stockton who's talking to to one of his other friends.

"Hey, I'm gonna go look for a restroom."

"Buddy system? I can tag along."

"Nah, I'll be okay, Keep talking to your friends."

I turn and start walking away before he can reply and head up the stairs. Halfway there, someone bumps into me and I start to fall down barely catching myself.

"Watch it." They mumble obviously drunk. 

High school parties. Just like the movies. Not.

I should just go home, but I came here with the other three and I don't wanna make them leave. It really wouldn't be that bad if I could just tone down the sarcasm and act like a normal person. 

When I come back to reality I realize I've walked up to what must be the fourth floor of this gigantic house and it's the first time since I've arrived that loud speakers aren't vibrating my entire body. 

I take a deep breath. If I can find somewhere to hideout up here maybe I can just wait it out until the others text saying they're ready to go. 

I walk down a hallway with multiple doors going all the way down to the end of the way. I walk into a random room halfway down the hall and walk inside slamming the door shut behind me. 

It's pitch black but I can sort of makeup that it's a bedroom. I lock the door and lean against it.

"God, why do you have to be so fucking awkward?" 

"I don't know, but that's usually something people say about me after I've met them." A deep voice says from across the room.

"Fuck" Don't scare me like that! Who are you? Where are you? Jesus why am I yelling at you, you were obviously here first. I promise I wasn't talking about you, I was talking to myself. Not that I talk to myself a lot. Or at least not more than the average person. And I bet you are a lovely person, not awkward at all." I say but realize my voice is still raised. I take a deep breath. "I'm sorry, I'll find somewhere else to sulk."

I turn to leave but stop when the voice calls out.