The Hudson Boys

Chapter twelve

When I get back from rehearsal, the boys are already getting ready for the party. Mark and Parker went to the store to get food and drinks for the night while David and Vince took care of all the decorations. Dylan was in charge of spreading the news about the party. Jason decided to stay over a friend's house, not really feeling like going to a party.

Around eight o'clock, my bedroom door is thrown open and Peyton charges in with a bunch of different outfits in her hands.

"Which one should I wear?" she asks, holding up two different outfits. I tell her she should wear the outfit in her right hand, an off the shoulder shirt and some lacey shorts.

"What are you going to wear? Please tell me you're changing" Peyton replies, staring at my running shorts and high school t-shirt.

"I wasn't planning on going" I admit. I don't really feel like going to a party with a bunch of drunk people that I don't even know. Call me crazy, but that's just not really my scene.

"WHAT?" she gasps. "No, no, no. I'm not going to let you sit in her all alone on a Friday night, no way. I'm going to look in your closet and find something for you to wear while you go take a shower" Peyton declares as she pushes me into the bathroom. "Don't take too long!"

As I wash my hair and body, Peyton comes into the bathroom and asks "would you rather wear a dress or shorts?"

"Peyton!" I exclaim. "I'm showering! You can't just walk in here.

"Oh please," she says, probably rolling her eyes. "We have all the same parts." She pauses for a moment. "So?"

"I guess shorts" I sigh.

Satisfied with my answer, Peyton leaves the bathroom. Stepping out of the shower, I notice that Peyton left the clothes and a pair of sandals for me to wear. Slipping them on, I look at myself in the mirror. Peyton chose a black crop top and a pair of blue aztec-print shorts.

Peyton knocks on the bathroom door, peeking her head in. "Good, you're done changing. Here, I'll do your makeup!" I sit down on the toilet seat as Peyton hovers over me to put makeup on my face. Multiple times, she has to swat my hands away from my face, telling me that I'm going to ruin all of her hard work.

When she finally finishes, she lets me look in the mirror and at first I don't recognize myself. My once dull blue eyes look brighter and more intense. She also added a dark lipstick to my lips, making them stand out.

I add some leave in conditioner to my hair, Peyton telling me to keep my hair in it's natural waves.

Slipping on my sandals Peyton and I both look at each other.

"Man, we look hot" Peyton wolf whistles. She pulls out her phone to take a selfie of us, but then starts to complain that you can't fully see our outfits. Next thing I know, Peyton turns off my lights and starts dragging me out of my room and down the hall. She then stops in front of one of the boys rooms and knocks on the door. A couple seconds later, Parker appears in the doorway.

"Can I help you?" he asks, the irritation in his voice evident.

"Take our picture!" Peyton squeal, practically throwing her phone at Parker.

Parker grunts in response and takes a few pictures of us.

Peyton looks over the picture. Once she finds one she likes she thanks Parker and pulls me down the hallway. I look over my shoulder to see Parker starring at us with a strange look in his eyes. As we make our way downstairs, Vince walks out of one of the rooms, holding a stereo system over his shoulder. He compliments us on our appearances. The three of us walk through the house to get to the backyard.

Peyton turns to me and squeezes my hand in reassurance once we approach the door.

Vince smiles at us and then opens the door, letting the noise of the people outside fill the house. "Who's ready to party?!"

A couple hours go by and I no longer see anyone I recognize in the sea of drunk teenagers that are dispersed throughout the Hudson's backyard.

Peyton and I spent the beginning of the party together. She introduced me to some of the people at the party and would tell me small pieces of information and gossip about them.

Later on, a guy comes up to us and wraps his arms around Peyton and starts to intensely kiss her. I felt really uncomfortable and just kind of stood there. After their heated makeout session, Peyton tells me that he's her boyfriend, Trevor.

Feeling a little too much like a third wheel, I excuse myself and make my way over to the drinks when Eric comes up to me and starts a conversation. Pretty soon, we're both laughing. Eric's laughing because he's drunk. I'm also laughing because Eric's drunk.

Every now and then I see David and Dylan run by. They both would wave to me and then carry on with whatever probably irresponsible and careless thing they were doing.

As the night goes by, I talk and dance with a few guys, nothing too serious.

When that became boring I join Vince and the twins for some beer pong. Vince and I make a pretty good team, sinking the ping pong ball in the red solo cup practically every turn.

David and Dylan eventually walk away, tired of losing to us.

I make my way over to the drinks and am about to grab a soda when I feel a tap on my shoulder, turning around to see Parker standing behind me, a cup clutched in his hands.

"Having a good time?" Parker slurs.

"Yes?" It comes out as more of a question, but I couldn't help it, I'm very confused as to why Parker is willingly talking to me.

"It seemed like it" Parker replies, taking another sip of his drink. "You and Vince crushed the twins in beer bong. They were pissed."

I'm about to reply to Parker's statement when he attempts to take a step forward, but begins to wobble.

"Parker, you're drunk."

"Way to state the obvious, Jess" Parker retorts.

Parker cuts me off before I can reply by starting to stumble. I catch him before he falls. Glancing at my watch I see that it's two in the morning.

"Parker, maybe you should go upstairs and call it a night" I suggest.

"I don't wanna go alone" Parker whines, stomping his foot like a little child. I can't stop the laugh that passes through my lips as Parker begins to jump up and down, making himself look even cuter.

What? Even cuter? No, Jess. You can't think of Parker like that! He doesn't even like you.

Parker stops jumping and stares at me with more of a serious look on his face.

"Can you bring me upstairs?"

I'm pretty sure my eyes just bulged out of my head. Parker Hudson, the guy who has wanted nothing to do with me since I've gotten here wants me to take him upstairs?

"Um, sure" I stutter. We start to make our way inside, Parker putting most of his bodyweight on me while I struggl to keep him upright.

"I like it when you stutter, it's cute."

I freeze in my spot. Parker Hudson used the word cute in a sentence. And he was talking to me.

"Come on slow poke, let's go" Parker slurs, starting to walk again.

We finally make it to his room and I walk Parker in. I start to leave when Parker calls my name.

"Yes" I respond, turning around to see Parker lying in bed.

"Can you tuck me in?"

For the second time tonight, I'm completely shocked. Not being able to form any words, I simply nod my head and walk towards his bed. Parker looks at me with a small smile on his face as I pull the covers over his body.

Once I finish, I walk towards the door only to hear Parker call my name again. I turn around and see him lying in bed staring at me with a sleepy look on his face.

"Goodnight."