Tricky Heart (Wattys 2024)(English)

Chapter 8 - The Kickoff Party

The street is deserted and streetlights illuminate the sidewalks of houses. I never pass this way; Jasmine must be rich enough to afford to live here.

I ride my bicycle, the air is fresh and I enjoy this ride in complete silence. There is only the sound of the wheel friction on the asphalt.

Fortunately, Jasmine is a half hour from my house and having taken the bike was a good idea.

There is one house that is lit up more than any other, music invades the street and brings me back to reality.
Today is the Day of the Party.

I have been thinking about this party since the day of the cigarette in the bathroom. Everyone popular in the school will be there, and especially Paul will be there. Today, however, he was a little vague.
Why did he say we couldn't go together?
He didn't explain either what he had to do or if he was coming later.

I keep riding. I used to ride the bike with my phone in my hand to see the route, but now that I have put this mount on the handlebars it is easier. The navigator says Jasmine's house is right in front of me.

The out-of-tune singing of a few boys gives me the impression that the party for someone is off to a great start; from the downstairs windows, two girls are laughing with glasses in their hands; in the courtyard, three boys are high-fiving each other as they climb the stairs, and enter the front door.

I take a deep breath. Okay, now it's my turn.

I place the bike by the fence and put the chain on. If Paul or Lucas wanted to steal it, they would take a second. The memory of Paul opening the principal's office with hairpin and paperclip comes before my eyes. The memory of the kiss on the roof does the same. I smile.

My hands are damp, drying them on my jeans. But... Wait a minute. This car in the driveway is Lucas's. Did he bring Paul along, too?

I slip the phone out of my pocket: no new messages. Better to go inside.

I climb the steps and knock on the door. I wait, but I think the music is too loud. I knock louder. Now, someone should be able to hear me. No movement.

I lean out to see to the window, but the girls with glasses can't even see that I exist.
How did those three guys get in?

I knock really hard with both fists. A few seconds pass and the music stops. What?

Silence falls, the silhouettes of the girls at the window are gone. But what the hell has happened?

Someone clears his throat beyond the door, opens it. It is David.

He lets out a sigh of relief and turns to someone in the distance. "False alarm! You can put the music back on!"

I still don't understand and the chaos begins again.

"Martha, right?"

"Yes. And you are David."

"That's me."

"Can you explain what happened a moment ago?"

"You can tell it's your first year coming." He smiles. "You can't knock in the middle of the party."

"Why?"

"Because no one here knocks on the door, people just come in. It's always been done this way. When you knocked, we thought it was the police."

A boy passes me from behind and enters. "Hello, David." They high-five each other. "Hi, Bob."

What a bad impression, what a shame. "I'm sorry."

"You gave us a scare." With his hand he invites me inside. "Don't worry, you were just ruining the most important party of the year. Just relax now, though, and give the phone to him."