A Few Pictures With You

Ch.11: Birthday

August 27th. My birthday. Every year of high school I have had some type of party with the girls, but this time I'm nervous. I haven't heard from Ella still, I hope she doesn't hate me.

It's almost 3pm, I don't get any calls or texts from Ella. However Sarah, Ryan, and Kayla have texted and called me wishing me a happy birthday. Then I get a call from Sarah.

Sarah: "JESSSSICAAA!!! This totally isn't a surprise party that I'm telling you to come to at 6pm sharp aaaatttttt the beach house! So TOTALLY DONT show up! And wearing something pink you cutie! BYEEEE!"

The only word that could come out of my mouth was a hello from that phone call. Looks like they didn't forget about me after all.

6Pm - Sarah's Beach House

I'm walking up the stairs to the house, I can hear music coming from inside. For once i'm nervous, i've never been on bad terms with Ella during my birthday, or for this long. The last fight or issue we had was in sophomore year when I stole her favorite shirt and didn't tell her until I accidentally stained it.

I'm on the porch and think about knocking but I don't. I feel anxious, something's off. The only thing I can think about is Elliot. I take out my phone and have his contact on my screen. I contemplate about calling him but give in. Not even two rings in, I hang up, and end up knocking on the door. No one answers.

I knock a few times, still no answer. Then I finally try the door knob, it's been unlocked this whole time. As soon as I walk in, all the girls jump out.
A bunch of screaming, "Surpirse!" and "Happy Birthday!"s are all mixed together. I'm surprised all right, but even more surprised to see Ella in a good mood, especially about my birthday.

"My birthday girllllll how are you!!!?!?" Sarah says as she wraps her arms around me, her drink in her hand almost spills on me. I respond fixing the glass in her hand, "I'm great!" Kayla brings me a drink, I don't plan on getting drunk but I hold onto it anyways. The best part about the girls drinking is that Sarah's beach house is off the coast, about a mile walk away from other houses. So if we party, there's not much of a chance we will get complaints.

About two hours go by, Sarah's wasted, Kayla, Ryan, and Ella are sitting around with me on the couch. Ella hasn't spoken to me directly yet. I'm thinking the worst. "Can we play truth or dare or dare and truth? or dare and truth?" Sarah starts to talk as she lays on her back on top of Ryan. We all giggle. "We'll play but you can watch missy", Ryan says to Sarah already too drunk to think straight.

"I won't move.. from this spot. but I want to hear dirty secrets!!" Sarah says with a scary grin as she points at me. My heart drops. But then her finger moves to point at everyone else in the group. I'm slightly relieved. "Fine!" Ryan says. We all get closer together to start the game.

We play for about 15 minutes, daring each other stupid stuff like prank calling people we graduated with, screaming at the top of our lungs, taking a shot. And asking truths about what teacher we would hook up with if we could or who's our least favorite girl out of our graduated class, and then continue to call her as a dare to tell her.

Then the worst possible thing happens.

"Jessica. Truth or Dare?" Ella asks me. This is the first time she's said anything to me the entire night, more so since the day on the ATV.

I think about it for a second. I don't say truth because what if she asks about Elliot. "Dare." I'm panicking but I know she won't put me in danger.