A Broken Life

Chapter 2

It's 6:30, we're almost out of pizza, I ate all of the nutella, and Netflix literally just shut down on us.

"Well shit." Jackson mumbles under his breath as he stares at the red and grey box on the T.V. screen. I look at Jackson as he runs his fingers through his brown hair. His green eyes are filled with angst, and awkward expression masks his face, and I finally realize it. This night wasn't just to celebrate my birthday, it was to distract me.

This celebration of my birth is also the anniversary of the night my parents left me. He was trying to get me to forget. To make sure I wouldn't think about how my parents practically left me on the doorstep of my aunt's house like an unwanted baby. Except I wasn't a baby, I was a 15 year old girl.

I'm so pathetic, my parents tricked me into believing they were just going to go grab my cake, and I let them. They never came back to me, although they did leave a small present at my aunt's door. It was just a simple birthday card signed, Sorry - Mom and Dad. Pretty stupid huh?

"Elle? Elle?" I snap out of my thoughts and look at Jackson's worried expression. "You okay?"

I force a smile, "Yeah, totally. I was - I was just thinking about a text I got today. Tommie's having a party like right now, we should - we should go."

"A party? I thought you said parties were a waste of time, and just an excuse to get drunk." HIs tone is dubious, as his eyes search for the lie that settles in me.

They are. "Psssshhhh yeah, but I mean I'm 17 and the closest I've gotten to a "party" is when we got on a crazy sugar rush that one year on halloween."

Jackson smiles recalling that crazy stupid night. He looks at me as if he's trying to figure me out. Come on, before I change my mind.

"Alright, sure. Why not?" I sigh in relief and grab the keys to Jackson's shiny blue truck.

* * * *

Once we got there it was past seven, and the music could be heard miles away. If it weren't for the extremely loud music, and the crazy amount of cars in the driveway, you never would've guessed there was a party going on inside. The large house is elegant but lonely, even when it's filled with hundreds of drunk teenagers.

We enter the house and I immediately remember why I've hated the idea of going to one of Tommie's parties. Everywhere you turn people were touching each other like their lives depended on it.

I hold onto Jackson's arm as he passes through the giant crowd. "Hey Jackson! You came after all!"

"Yeah, Elle chose to finally come to one of your parties." I look ahead to see Tommie with a couple of his friends.

"Ellie bear, you came!" No, don't call me that... ever. He goes for a hug, and the smell of his cologne, and the aroma of alcohol hit me, making me scrunch up my nose. "So, wanna dance?"

"Now Tommie, why on earth would I dance with you? Ya know, with that hideous blue stripe in your hair 'n all." I lace my tone with kindness and sarcasm, trying to blend in with the surrounding herd of people.

He fakes a hurt expression and gasps, "This stripe is my style, it's my signature look. One of a kind ya know? Come on Elle," he bends down and whispers in my ear, "you know you want me." My breath catches and I quickly push that comment aside.

I back up and smirk, "I think I'll need a couple of those," I point to the red, plastic cup in his hand, "before that thought even crosses my mind Tommie."

He smirks and hands me a cup, "Well then I guess you better drink up."

I smirk back at him, and take a sip of the strong liquid. I chugged that down, and more drinks came my way. As I grabbed another cup, the party finally began.