Sick Little Games (Zack Merrick)

• Ten Minutes And I'm Out •

{ s e v e n t e e n }

"Damn," I said roaming through my closet as the night passed on. I only have like an hour and a half to get ready now. This week went by uneventful, Mariah and Oli haven't been speaking from what I've seen, Jack and I bonded over various cakes because he took me to a cake shop, Zack and I still meet up at lunch time and Mariah has only been mean to two other girls this week; which I'm obviously not happy about but everybody seems used to her mean nature.

"Just wear the dress I picked out for you!" Jack moaned, sitting on my bed and crinkling my bedding. I'll have to fix that again before we leave.

"Mom would never let me leave wearing that Jack." I expressed, pulling out my high wasted shorts. I scanned them up and down before throwing them at Jack.

My brother (we skip the 'step' thing now) is actually coming to this party because the guy throwing it, Matt, is a good friend of his. He's actually ready though, clad in ripped skinny jeans and a plain black tshirt, whereas I'm just wearing shorts that I wear to bed and a tank top.

"That!" He pointed to the top that my fingers brushed over, "wear that with a shirt over it." I pulled out the crop top with red flower detailing on the left shoulder and my red checked shirt. That's a nice outfit for a party.

"Okay, this is it, get out." He laughed before going out of my room, pulling the closed closed behind him. I can do this; I have just enough time.

*

"Looking good, Justice!" Mariah greeted me, "we're going to meet up at the beach again tomorrow. You up for it?" She winked and I nodded. We walked through the house together until we got to the kitchen and she stalled in front of a grinning guy.

"Hey Mariah," she scoffed. "I'm Matt." He smiled and brought his arm forward for a hug that she quickly pushed away from her and walked to the drink side of the kitchen. This 'Matt' looked wary of me but who can blame him with what just happened.

"I'm justice," I told him, smiling back as his grin widened. "It's nice to meet you." We talked for a few minutes and I found out that Matt is actually Matthew; the host of this party. He spotted someone in the living room and we parted on a few words as he ran in there and I joined Mariah.

"You don't need to talk to people like that while you hang around with me, you know?" She laughed, pouring herself a drink. She then poured me one along with hers and handed it to me, leaning against the counter.

"What'd you mean?" I asked her, genuinely confused.

"Losers," she stated, making my mouth drop open. She just laughed seeing my expression, "we're popular Justice, don't associate yourself with anyone like that. It'll ruin you." She laughed again, taking a sip of her drink.

"I thought he was nice." I said to her quietly, referring to Matt.

She shook her head at me seeming amused. "It doesn't matter if they're nice Justice, we're just...better, nicer, prettier. Popularity is the finest. Anyway, Zacks been a wallflower since he got here, go and dance with him or something." It got to me, of course it did. But like always, I said nothing, just turning to the living room to see Zack staring at the people grinding on the dance floor. Mariah turned to pour another drink and I walked away, holding my cup and gulping it all down before I got to the living room.

The music was too loud to even try to talk, so I just wondered over to him, listening to the unfamiliar song and tapping my hand against my thigh to the beat.

When I got to him I saw his blank look as he watched the others dancing. He can have fun, I know it. I grabbed his hand, making his jump and pull away from me completely, but I just grabbed it again, pulling him to the middle of the cramped room. He followed me reluctantly.

I didn't want to grind or whatever, so I just swayed, using his hand to make him sway insync with me too. I could see him laugh freely as we got squished in with everyone else. He shook his head though, pulling out of the crowded place and heading to the front door. I followed him.

"What's up?" I asked once we go outside, the cold fresh air feeling amazing on my face. I've barely been in there ten minutes and I already feel horrible.

"I'm not a dancer," I pouted at him and he laughed again. "Let's do something more fun than a stupid high school party, okay? I hate these things."

"Then what do you suggest, oh great wise one?" I replied wittily.

"It'll be fun, I promise. Come on." He grabbed my hand and pulled me away from the full house and loud music and out into the night.