Chapter Two:
Welcome Back Parties and Invasive Jocks
"Don't worry, you look gorgeous, Tara!" Sadie assures.
This is the third time she's paid me a compliment in the last five minutes, so I'm almost positive there's something up. We're in my Jeep Wrangler, and driving out to James's welcome back party. Noah ended up going with Jenny and Steph, just so he could hang out with his girlfriend for the ten minutes it took to drive to the Braxton house.
"Okay, what's wrong with you?" I ask, turning onto Allen Ave. The house is at the end of the street, but I can already hear the pumping of the bass, and vibrations coursing through the air.
"Nothing!" Sadie says a bit too quickly. I quirk my eyebrow, and she hides her red face behind her hands, "Okay! Uhm, Noah might want to talk to you about something later tonight..."
"Talk about what?" I ask as I pull over into the only available spot, squished between a minivan and beat-up rented car.
She fumbles with her fingers slightly while I turn off the Jeep. We both hop out, and I lock it, tucking my keys safely underneath the bottom of my car using a magnet clip.
Sadie doesn't answer, and I whip around, only to find my best friend missing. "Shoot," I sigh, running my fingers through my hair stressfully. I tugged at the edge of the floral romper Sadie let me borrow, and wonder where she could be hiding. Deciding checking the house first would be my best option, I get off the road, just in time to avoid a speeding truck full of high kids.
The music is much louder now that I'm up close. The front door is wide open, and everyone's milling about happily. I can tell it's still early in the party, seeing as no one is throwing up in the bushes in the front yard.
I slip through the door and into the living room. Some pop song is playing, and there are random people dancing against me as I force myself into the kitchen. I keep telling myself they don't recognize me. They're probably drunk enough to think I'm Kara or something. She's well known for being the life of the party.
Speaking of life of the party.
"Hey Tara!" Bethany slurs as she stumbles over to me. Bethany Kelsey is the right-hand-girl to Mickey Everett.
"Hi, Beth!" I greet as sweetly as possible, hoping to pry some information out of her, "how are you liking the party?"
"Oh it's just great!" She exclaims, giddily. She flips her maroon hair, and it gets caught in some guy's earring as he passes by. Bethany quickly turns her attention to the guy, and tries to untangle her hair whilst flirting with him.
Sighing, I realize I won't get any info about Sadie's whereabouts, nor anything about James Braxton.
Like if he's single.
Wait—where'd that come from? I bit my lip, frustrated. I didn't like James, I hardly knew him! I just found him slightly attractive. And a lot of guys were attractive! So just because he is attractive doesn't mean I like him!
"Hey, Tara, glad you could make it!" Bailey Braxton addresses me. I quickly turn my attention to the dark haired girl in front of me.
I smile genuinely. Though Bailey is a bit ecstatic, she still is a sweet girl. I know she, Steph, and Jenny have been great friends for quite a few years and she's been to my house more than once.
"Thanks, Bailey!" I say, "Um, quick question: Have you seen Sadie around?"
Her facial features crinkle up into her signature thinking face. She doesn't reply for a moment, but when she does I'm disappointed, "Sorry, I don't think I have. Did you try calling her?"
YOU ARE READING
wanderlust (edited)
Teen Fiction"You need to know," James says while he pulls on his hoodie, "that I'm not interested in a relationship." He swallows, staring at the wall as if there's something hidden inside of it. He turns back to me, "I just want a friend." Tara Williams wants...
