Mocked: A Marcel Fanfic

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen


"No! No no no no no no no no! NO!" I shake my head vigorously and repeat the one word that makes sense in a situation like this. "Absolutely not! I will not show up to that party!"

Veronica crosses her arms stubbornly. "Yes you will."

"Veronica, I cannot go! There are people there!"

"People?! What the hell do I look like to you? An alien? Come on, Harry. Please? It's just one night. One night of just letting go!" She grabs my arm suddenly, turning me to look at her. Her brown eyes widen with a silent plea. "Please Harry, just come for an hour. I promise I won't let anyone hurt you."

I shut my eyes and turn away from her. If I continue to stare at her I know I'll cave in to her demands. I don't look back at her but I start driving again, silence encasing the car. I fight with myself as I drive her to Aiden's house. I know there's no way I can come out of that house alive, but the way Veronica promised she won't let anyone hurt me makes me want to stay. She makes me want to be a different Harry.

So when I'm driving down the street and I see the people around the one house, I look at Veronica and ask myself why I shouldn't go in with her. She's got her head against the glass, her eyes only gazing absentmindedly at the party house belonging to her boyfriend.

I park the car across the street and watch kids from our high school gather together. Cups and cans of beers in their hands. Liquor just spilling everywhere. Everyone's dressed the same way. Girls in skimpy clothes and guys in shirts and jeans.

I wouldn't fit in if I tried.

"You don't have to do anything you don't want to do," Veronica suddenly says, not turning her face away from the window.

And it's those simple words strung together that make me brave. I've never had a choice in my life. Mother made decisions for me. Everyone in school made decisions for me. I didn't choose to be beat up or the laughing stock of the school. Nothing was my choice.

But here is a choice presented to me by a girl who couldn't possibly understand how much it means to me.

"I'll do it," I say.

Veronica turns slowly, her eyes meeting mine with such shock that it just makes me more determined to do it. "You'll what?" She whispers.

"I'll do it. Let's go in there." I try to say the words convincingly but even my confident self has issues with a shaky voice.

"Okay!" A smile shoots across her face and she giggles. "I knew you would come through sometime! I just knew it!" Her confidence in me surprises me more than anything. "Alright, wait here!" She throws the door open and I stare at her confused.

"Wait! Where are you going?! I thought you wanted me to go in there with you." Am I just being an idiot?

Veronica closes the door and gestures for me to lower her window. I do and she leans in, her arms on the sill. "Of course you're going in. Just not dressed in those clothes. If you do it'll just be a disaster," she explains. "Just wait here for one minute. I'll be right back!"

I don't even get to say another word before she turns and sprints towards the house across the street. A couple people greet her but she just waves them down before entering the house. I tap my fingers against the steering wheel to stop from fidgeting. I ignore the urge to start my car again and drive off, knowing that it would ruin any chance I have with Veronica.

Chance? A chance at what?

A tap on my window has me jumping in shock. Veronica opens my door and I notice the handful of clothes in her arms. She throws them on my lap, a wide grin across her face.

"There," she announces.

"What? What are these? Whose are these?!" I exclaim, looking at the dark clothing in my lap. There's even a pair of black converse. I haven't owned a pair of converse ever. Mother believes they're poor quality.

"Those are clothes, Harry. And their Aiden's but he has tons. He won't even realize they're his. Trust me, I've taken clothes before," Veronica tells me confidently. "Well? Put them on!"

"Here?! I can't change in a car!"

"Then come outside and change!" Veronica rolls her eyes like it's that simple. I feel astonished.

"Out in the open? I can't do that. That's indecent. Someone could see me!"

Veronica groans and glares at me, grabbing my wrist suddenly and pulling me out of the car. I clutch the clothes to my chest and she shoves me onto the sidewalk. She points at the side of the house I parked in front of.

"Go change back there."

"But-"

"No buts, or I'll fucking make you strip out here." My eyes widen at her threat and I run to the place she pointed. I push away the thought of her stripping my clothes off.

I go to the furthest part of the side yard and drape the "borrowed" clothes on the fence. I quickly strip off my own clothing and replace them with the new ones. The jeans are tight on my legs and the fabric feels foreign. I have half the mind to take them off and put back on my own pants. I've never worn denim jeans. Well at least I don't remember wearing any. I pull on the shirt and immediately feel uncomfortable. It's just a plain black t-shirt that surprisingly fits well. The converse on my feet make me walk weird as I head back towards Veronica, my own clothes in my hand.

She's facing the party when I come back. I let out a small cough to let her know I'm done changing. She turns and immediately drops her jaw.

"Holy. Shit," she mutters in awe. "Now that's what I call an improvement."