A blank Slate

The Life of the Party

To say that I was uncomfortable would be an extreme understatement. As Carrie and I passed by trucks teeming with people drinking and dancing to various music genres, I found myself trying to hide behind my bangs like I usually did to no avail. They were braided back over my head and my usually pin straight hair hung down in loose curls.

The blonde’s arm was threaded through mine and she pulled me along mercilessly, occasionally stopping to talk to a few people she knew. I took to shying away and placing myself in her shadow, ignoring most of the conversation.

I managed to free my arm and stuffed my hands deep into the front pocket of my hoodie, tugging the hood up to shroud my face. I felt like a completely different person and wasn’t in the least bit comfortable with my current surroundings. The music was loud, which was expected, and the people were even louder. Drunken teenagers flitted around the different groups like moths to streetlights.  Shouts echoed from one place to another, conversations intermingling and floating over the pounding music.

We ended up by a large, red Ford which seemed to be the life of the party. White fold up tables balanced lines of kegs and cups while the coolers in front seemed to have been raided far earlier with the ice strewn about the grass.  A large boom box blasted music from bands like Rob Zombie and Avenged Sevenfold. A tall boy with a shock of red hair hopped down from the truck bed where a pong table had been set up and made his way over to us. I shied away once again only to fell Carrie’s hand land on my back, preventing movement.

“Carrie? No way! You showed!” the young man quickened his gait and trotted over. I couldn’t seem to get the image of a show pony out of my mind as he approached. Carrie pulled away for a moment to be gathered into a hug. He pulled her at arm’s length, green eyes twinkling. I rolled mine. The ginger released her and she stepped back, arm pressing against mine despite there being plenty of room.

She twirled a finger through one of her curls, giggling. “Well yeah! Like I would miss the greatest party of the year?” She slung her arm about my shoulder and pulled me closer. “Did I ever introduce you to my friend?”

White teeth glinted when he smiled and he shook his head, sticking out his hand. “No, I don’t think we’ve met. Kyle.” I looked at his hand a moment before taking it, saying nothing. Carrie frowned.

“Sorry about that… she’s a little shy. This is Blake, but most people call her Ashton.” The boy, Kyle, chuckled before calling over his shoulder.

“Hey Craige! Grab a couple drinks for the ladies!” I scowled at his cocky attitude, but he didn’t seem to notice. That or he didn’t care. Moments later, a sandy haired boy handed me a red cup, sloshing some of it onto my shoes. He flashed a wide grin before giving one to Carrie who immediately took a swig. I simply looked at my cup before pouring a bit onto the ground. Mine had been filled to the brim.

Carrie and Kyle began chatting about school and I tuned them out, listening intently to the music trying to pick out a song I liked. As the minutes wore on, I dumped more and more out of my cup discretely. I finally recognized a Journey song that I knew and let my head bob to the music. Carrie’s arm tightened around my neck and my heart flipped as her side pressed into me fully.

I leaned close to her ear. “I’m going to go see if there is anything else to drink around here.” I pitched my voice in such a way that it cleared all the background noise without having to shout, a talent I’d learned from my mother through her work at the garage. She pouted a bit but relinquished her hold on my allowing me to breathe easily for the first time that night.

I slipped through the crowd, being sure not to touch anyone and making my way towards the cabin where there seemed to be fewer people; but the closer I got to the cabin, the more couples I was beginning to see. A few stumbled into me at one point, not even pausing and I felt my face scrunch into a scowl.  I shook my head and trudged on, allowing my shoulders to slump. What am I doing here?

“You lost?” I was broken out of my thoughts by the same sandy-haired boy who had handed me a drink earlier. I recalled that his name was Craige. When I didn’t answer he stepped closer. “Oh you were the one with Carrie. Blake, right?” I nodded inching away from him slightly, but he only stepped closer putting a hand on my shoulder. “Hey, can I get you another drink?” I shook my head, shrugging him off.

I turned to continue my way to the cabin when he gripped my arm. “Dance with me!” He called over the music. I pulled his hand off my arm getting annoyed.

“Don’t touch me.” I growled slightly. He chuckled coming closer again. I felt his hand land on my backside and I snapped. “That tears it!” I don’t know that he even saw it coming when my fist slammed into his cheek, his head snapping back. I stomped on his foot for good measure before storming off. I felt a bit guilty considering that he had seemed intoxicated, but I’d dealt with enough guys like him to know that he most certainly was not going to take the hint and I was not in the mood to play games.

I reached the pourch of the cabin and sunk down onto the swing facing the dock. Lanterns lined the edge of the lake and illuminated the silhouettes of kids diving off the pier and swimming out to join their friends. I pushed a hand to my chest trying to slow my rapidly beating heart.

The sun had set some time ago and the moon took over, shining out across the water in a silvery glow. I leaned back and propped my feet up on the railing, content to listen to the music playing in my head and wishing for the millionth time that night that I’d brought my headphones. Evanescence’s song “Missing” filled my mind. I fished my phone out of my pocket, checking my texts. There were already ten from my mom checking up on me even though she knew I was going to the party. I shrugged and sent a message back telling her that I was fine.

A hand landed on my shoulder and Carrie slid onto the seat next to me. “Thought I might find you here.” Her arm made its way around my shoulder again and she leaned into me, relaxing.

“You didn’t have to come looking for me. You were having a good time.” Guilt settled in my chest. I was taking her away from her friends.

“Oh puh-lease! I came with you, did I not? And besides, I saw what happened to Craige. I figured I should check on you. You okay?” I dropped my head in my hands groaning.

“Is he okay?” She let out a bark of laughter.

“Oh he’s fine, maybe a bit butt hurt that you turned him down, but he’ll live.” I shrugged and leaned back again, letting my head fall over her arm. “How long have I known you now?” I frowned at the random question and flopped my head to look at her.

“I dunno almost a month, why?” She closed her eyes, not answering. “Hey.” I said a bit louder. “Don’t you dare fall asleep on me! You shouldn’t have drank so much, ya know?  I can’t drive us home.” Her breath puffed out in what almost sounded like a soft snore. “Are you even listening to me?” With silence as an answer, I groaned.

I had an internal debate with myself for a moment before sighing and peeling her arm from around me and making my way inside. Surprisingly enough, the place was vacant except for the occasional party-goer looking for the bathroom. There was a hammock in one of the back rooms that looked comfortable enough so I went back outside and pulled Carrie to her feet. “Come on Blondie. You and me are goin’ for a little walk.” A groan was my only reply.

I half carried, half dragged the inebriated blond from the porch to the hammock and slung her onto the rope bed in an undignified heap before falling to the floor beside it huffing erratically. She was heavier than she looked.  A hand fell on my face and nimble fingers tugged at my nose. I snorted and sputter, sitting up. “Dude!” I exclaimed in disbelief. “You just stuck your fingers up my nose!” She giggled, suddenly more awake, but ignored my statement.

“You can’t sleep on the floor.” I raised an eyebrow at her as strong arms wrapped about my waist and pulled my down onto the hammock. Carrie nuzzled her face into my chest and I fought down a blush, but was too exhausted to do anything but lay there. Not long after I slipped easily into the land of dreams, an insufferable prep clinging to my side.