Keep Your Enemies Close

Chapter Five (part 2) Not So Sweet

As Penny and I thought back to that moment last year, we both let out a breath. The memory seemed funny now, and a little awkward.

I poked her in the ribs. "You were so crushing on Ross." I imitated her talking to him.

"Oh, Ross! You're so awesome!"

She elbowed me. "I did not say that! You were the one who was kissing up to him!"

I let out an exhale. "It was so fun, until you know, the incident."

Penny turned away, and didn't say anything else.

As we passed the gated mansion, a tall blonde girl sped toward us from the yard. She wore a red, sparkly strapless dress and there was a tiara on her head. Macey Pierce.

"You must be the Sweet Sixteen birthday girl," I observed. Macey glimmered in joy, a wide smile appearing on her face, like she was a celebrity being recognized. Penny gave her an emotionless stare.

"Yes! I'm Macey! You guys are my backup dancers, right?" Penny scowled while I gaped at her. It was funny how we recognized her, but she didn't recognize us.

We started to protest but Macey grabbed our hands and pulled us both into her yard, beyond the gates.

Streamers and balloons were everywhere; in the grass, on the porch, the swing set.

We turned into the backyard, the music growing louder. People were dancing on the deck, their heads swinging wildly, like they were already wasted. And it wasn't even five o'clock yet.

The rectangular pool, located in the centre, was crowded with teenagers in bathing-suits drinking beer. I turned to leave, but Penny grabbed my wrist.

"Where are you going?" She whispered angrily, while I looked around in nervousness.

"This isn't my scene, Penny. We should leave, now."

Penny glanced over to Macey, who was talking to a dark skinned girl with long black hair.

"And you think it's my scene? You're the one who wanted to have fun, so let's have fun," she cooed, having a rebellious gleam in her eyes. I crossed my arms, turning my head left to right, hoping no one we knew from school was here.

I was about to mouth something to Penny, but before I could do that, Macey came trotting back to us, her arms swinging.

"Everything's all set. We'll clear the deck and the DJ will play the tune to my original song, which I will be singing, and then you guys will dance to it!" She clapped her hands eagerly. I wanted to tell her that we weren't actually her backup dancers, or even dancers for that matter, but it was her birthday. I wouldn't want to ruin a happy girl's birthday. And what could go wrong? Most of the people here were older than us, so we didn't really know anyone. Everything was going to be fine.

Macey didn't seem to care that we looked doubtful. She pushed us into the back entrance to the hot tub area, and we stepped into the pool room. The blasting music was still audible from inside.

"Your outfits are in the closet, near the changing room. The sparkly ones! See you on stage in about fifteen minutes!" She galloped away.

"Great," I grumbled.

Penny shrugged. "It could be worse. And come on, we're dancing, not drinking alcohol," she said.

"Yeah, thank god for that," I replied sarcastically.

Penny fished out our outfits from the closet, scanning them up and down.