Change of Plans

28|New Years

Saturday, December 31st

"You have to come Harp, it's the biggest event of the year."

"I don't know, I'll think about it." Why do they always try to make me come to these things?

"We haven't had girl time in forever!"

"Okay, fineeeeee, I'll go." I give in. Maybe I can go for an hour then leave, or just stay in one place. You can't have anything bad happen then right?

"Yes, okay, I'm on my way over and we are going to find something for you to wear."

"K, I'll see you soon." I laugh and hang up.

Jenna has been pestering me about going to a New Years party. Since Aidan and I started dating I haven't spent as much time with her and Lily so she wants me to come. On any normal occasion I wouldn't go, but I've had a really good break and maybe a party could be fun.

Both Jenna and Lily show up at my door minutes later with backpacks full of overnight clothes, makeup, and medicine.

About 45 minutes later, I'm wearing a white tank top with black boyfriend ripped jeans and black converse. Classy, yet ready to party I think. My hair has subtle curls at the end and my makeup is limited to mascara and Chapstick.

"Don't you think I'll get cold?" I ask them. This tank top is not very warm.

"We'll be inside almost the whole time, it's fine." Lily waves it off. "I can't believe you actually agreed to come to this party."

"Me neither." I say under my breath.

"We should head out, the party started about an hour and a half ago."

"Ok, let's go." I say. I want to get this over with, I'm nervous about the whole deal. I've never been to a party before and I know that New Years comes with, alcohol, sex, drugs, and then New Years resolutions to stay sober and abstinent that everybody breaks literally seconds after. The first three are what I'm worried about.

Maybe it's not a good idea to make my first party a New Years one. Eh, too late now.

I break out of my thoughts when Jenna tugs on my arm to motion me forward.

Ten minutes later I'm in the same circumstance I was in a while back but this time, I'm actually going into the house.

As usual, teenagers crowd the yard and the house and music plays loudly in the background. I step out of my car and immediately know that I should have brought a jacket. Lily is on my left and Jenna is to my right as we walk to the front door. We pass people who're already dizzy with intoxication and some who look like they could throw up any second. I wipe my sweaty hands on my jeans and take a deep breath before stepping through the door, marking this, as the first party I have ever actually gone to.

"Hey Harper, glad you could make it!" A cheery voice rings through the music. I look in the direction of the voice and see Makayla Lamberton coming to give me a side hug. I remember Aidan telling me that he has only has sex with about three people and I know that she had been one of them, either she was really special to him, or he was extremely drunk. I remember junior year, he and Makayla were dating, but I didn't follow their relationship enough to know how serious it was.

"Hey Makayla, how are you."

"I'm good, I'm happy you came, countdown's in two hours!" She calls as she walks away. I don't know why she addressed me because we've never really been friends. I've had a few classes with her and used to be her Math partner but nothing else really. She's really nice now that I think about it...