Downside Up

Chapter Thirteen (Step - Vampire Weekend)

A few weeks later Tyde's birthday had finally come. He was beyond excited, but he didn't know how much I myself was looking forward to that event. Because Tyde's birthday was the day my two best friends were going to arrive in Perth. And that was surely a reason to be happy.

It was afternoon when his first guests arrived – our grandma had arrived the day before and now there were mostly other close family members and his friends entering our garden. For the "dinner party" as we referred to it everyone had dresses up nicely.

Looking around, I spotted Sage and Oli at the corner of the house. Sage was wearing a short white summer dress and high heels, whilst Oli wear flats and a turquoise dress that went just over her knee. They both looked really good, holding bubbly drinks in their hands.

As I made my way towards them, they seemed to be pretty amused about something, but I wasn't sure about what. When they saw me they welcomed me immediately into the conversation.

„So, Troye", Oli spoke up, with a laugh in her eyes, „how are you?"

I smiled at her gracefully for accepting me that easy, knowing that she was even more introverted than I. „Fine, thanks", I replied formally with a giggle in my voice, „how are you?"

„Fine as well. It's a really beautiful weather today and I do appreciate that I'm able to be part of this birthday celebration." She said this with a completly straight face as if she were a lady from the 19th century.

Amused I looked at Sage and we both bursted out into laughter. Oli was a very quiet girl, but when she spook, she often made as laugh.

„Oh yeah", Sage added giggeling, „indeed."

This time even Oli couldn't resist laughing and eventually we all stood there with a huge smile on our faces.

Around the corner, in the garden, the younger boys had started playing around with a football and just when I was about to tell the girls, the ball flew towards us and hit Oli straight in the back. She stumbled forward, spilling her drink all over her dress with a suprised look on her face. Then she fell down on her knees and I believe that she saw the ball rolling away into the pool, but I wasn't to sure.

„What happend?", she asked confused, when we helped her up.

„Well", I tried to explain, whilst Sage angrily looked around for the boy who hurt Oli in the back, „the boys were playing soccer over there and somehow the ball flew towards us and hit you."

Just then I realized that her whole dress was socking wet and her knees filled with blood. As she looked down herself, the smile in her eyes disappeared and her whole face became very tired. „I guess, I love soccer", she said slowly, „but this is above my tolerance limit. Even know I weren't even participating."

I was suprised of how calm she was. I knew, that I would be freaking out right now, but she wasn't. As I started looking around for Sage, so that she could get Oli some dry clothes, Tyde approached us. His eyes wear stuck to the ground and he seemed really uncomfortable.

Right behind him was Sage and I made sure, that Oli realiced them. As she turned around, I saw Tyde looking up for a second and than down again, with his whole face glooming like a light bulb.

„Um", he said quietly, „I'm really sorry! I was the one who hurt you, but I never wanted to!" He quikly turned around to Sage, before adding: „And I'm also really sorry for what happend to your dress. You looked absolutly gorgeous in it and I didn't want to ruin it!"

Oli looked at him with wide eyes and to say, that she was surprised was an understatement. Before anyone could say anything, Tyde turned around and headed back to the other boys, that already caught the ball out of the water.