Oh, Heather

Chapter Twenty

Heather was the first of the four to walk into the already crowded party. Her black heels clacking against the wood of the living room floor. She nervously glanced around the area, hoping to find someone to stand by as she waited for her friends.

“Heather!” Ryder called.
“Hey Ryder.” She replied, keeping her back facing him.
“Vance and Leo aren’t here yet?” He asked.

There was a hint of something in his voice. But it wasn’t clear what.

“Uhm no. I don’t think they’ll be here for another 15 minutes or so.”
“What about Miley? That’s her name, right?”
“Yes. Vance is bringing her too.” 
“Oh okay.” He said. “Enjoy the party.” A forced smile pressed across his lips.

As Heather wandered through the party, she bumped into Taylen. She was in a short, emerald green dress with long, mesh sleeves.

“I’m so sorry!“ Heather said, a look of panic washed across her face.
“Oh, it’s okay!” She smiled. “Heather, right?”
“Uhm, yes?”
“I love your dress! It’s such a pretty color.” Taylen said.
“Oh, thank you. I really like your dress too.”
“I bet you’ll have a lot of guys wanting to kiss you tonight.” She said, stumbling off.
“I hope not.” 

She made her way back to the entrance, waiting for her friends. She waited by the door for a few more minutes, when finally, her friends walked in.

“You guys look great.” Heather said.
“So do you. Like you're so pretty and like gorgeous and stuff.” Miley slurred.
“Thank you?” She laughed.
“I’m gonna get a drink.”
“I think you’ve had enough already.” 
“Yeah me too. But I don’t care.” She smiled, walking off toward the kitchen.

Heather laughed, looking at Vance and Leo with a look of worry.

“What did you guys give her?”
“She was like that when we picked her up.” Vance said.
“Her moms probably gave her apple juice and told her it was wine.” Leo said. “Or they gave her wine and told her it was apple juice.”
“Wouldn’t it be best to not leave her alone?” Heather said.
“Definitely.” 

Vance nervously grabbed Leo’s hand as the three of them pushed through a crowd of people. The crowd seemed to get larger as they continued to try and push through them. A group of girls, presumably the cheerleaders, walked in front of Heather, separating her from the other two. As the girl passed, she noticed the crowd didn’t seem to be getting any smaller. She exhaled a few small breaths and turned around, running the opposite way through the crowd. She found her way to a small, empty room and sat on the ground. She pulled her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around her knees. She tugged at the skin between her fingers, tapping her head against the tile of the wall. The door opened loudly. Expecting to see one of her friends, she turned around. But, it wasn’t one of her friends. It was Jada. She was dressed in a partially unbuttoned, white dress shirt covered by a black blazer and a pair of black dress pants that complimented her height perfectly. Her black hair was put up in space buns, with her bangs laying in the front of her face.

“Uhm hi. I didn’t think anyone was in here.” She said, laughing nervously.
“Hi.” Heather replied.
“Can I sit?” She asked.
“I- I don’t tell you what to do.” She said. “But you can if you want.”
“Do you want me to?” Jada asked.

She did want her to. 

“It doesn’t matter to me.”

It mattered a lot.

“Okay.” 

She sat down. Heather looked away, trying to hide the heat she could feel across her face. She picked at her nails, not sure what to do. 

“Are you okay?”
“Huh?”
“You’re picking at your nails. You said you only do that when you're nervous.”
“Well, I mean-”
“Do I make you nervous, Heather?”

Jada saying her name was like an arrow to the heart. One of cupid’s arrows.

“I- I wouldn’t say that.” She stuttered.

She looked back at her, trying to convince herself it was true more than she was Jada. She couldn’t keep eye contact. Her eyes were drawn to her lips. The warm pink of her lips was glazed in a pink gloss that brought out the color of her cheeks. Heather couldn’t focus on anything else.

“Kiss me.” She breathed.

Before she had a chance to realize what she said, Jada leaned in. She pressed her lips against hers, running her hand through her curled hair. Heather let down her knees, putting her arms around Jada’s neck. She deepened the kiss, the taste of her honey chapstick rubbed off on her lips. Jada moved her hand to cup her face, lifting her chin. Heather loved the feeling of her soft hands against her face. Jada parted their lips, moving her hand from her chin. The few blissful seconds were now over, only then had Heather realized what happened. She dropped her arms from Jada’s neck, a worried expression on her face.

“I’m sorry.” She whispered, walking quickly out of the room.

Heather sat in shock, the event replaying in her mind. She shook her head and took a deep breath. That was only a one time thing. It wouldn’t happen again. It shouldn’t happen again. Heather knew that, but she couldn’t help but want it again. She heard the loud sound of someone’s heels clacking against the wooden floor of the hallway and the loud echoing sound of every door opening. The door to the room she was in opened, and her friends stood in the doorway. 

“There you are!” Miley said, stumbling through the room. “Jada told us you were here.”
“What?” 
“Yeah she said something like Heather is in a room in the hallway. Or like, I don’t know.” She mumbled.
“I think we should probably get home.” Heather laughed nervously.

She would tell her friends about what happened, but not today. Not when she wasn’t even sure what had happened.
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Finally, am I right?