I'm Here

Misunderstanding

I look over what I'm wearing to this party that Arin invited me to in the mirror: A red flannel, my Starbomb t-shirt(talk about self-promotion), ripped jeans, and sneakers. Not the fanciest, but this isn't the fanciest party. It's the beer-in-a-solo-cup type of party, so why not dress in casual. My self-conscious side takes over and I can't help but feeling I look like shit. My hair's messy, my face is unshaven, all my jeans are ripped. Ross is right, I do dress and look like I'm homeless. Mark wouldn't say yes to this...

"You ready to go?"

Arin opens the door to my room slightly. Barry must've let him in.

"Yeah." I take a slow and deep breath, "Let's do this."

I follow Arin out to his car where Suzy is texting away on her phone, the glow from the screen illuminating her facial features. I opened up the passenger seat door and climbed in while Arin climbed into the driver's seat and turned his keys in the ignition. It didn't take long to get to Mark's house. When we arrived in his driveway, Arin turned around to me, "Hey, how about you go get him?" "W-why me?" I stuttered. He shrugged with a smirk, and I obeyed his whim.

I sighed as I opened the car door and walked up to the doorstep. I hesitated a bit before ringing the doorbell, and in an instant, the door swung open and Mark was there. He smiled, "Hey Danny!" Play it cool. "Hey, man! Ready to go?" He nodded while still smiling, it sent shivers down my spine. He then held out his arm, waiting for mine to link to it like a chain. While we walked down towards the car, arms intertwined with each other, I'm surprised he couldn't hear how loud and hard my heart was pounding. We both sat down in the back seat and Arin drove in the direction of the house the party was being held at.

As we drove, I looked over at Mark. He was wearing a black t-shirt with something I couldn't make out on it, with some jeans and sneakers. He held up his head as he looked out the window at the street lights we passed. His eyes sparkled and his blue hair fell over his eye in such an elegant way. Mark was a handsome man, and I hope he knows it.

We soon arrived at the house and a pang of fear impacted my body as I thought of why I was here. I was here to finally confess to Mark how I really feel. But was he going to accept me? Or was he going to reject me, then never talk to me again? Every new scenario I thought of made me want to exit the car less and less.

But, I did anyway as to not look suspicious. Arin said hello to the apparent host while Suzy stood beside him. He turned and introduced Mark and I to him and he smiled at us politely. "Hey, while they catch up, wanna come inside with me?" Mark asked. "Sure." He took me by the hand and led me inside where the music was quieter than I expected, but still loud enough to where I had to speak up in order to even hear myself. There was a large crowd around what I think is the living room. It looked more like a frat party than anything.

"Hey, let's go get something to drink!" Mark yelled.

I look behind me for Arin for a second, but when I turn back he was gone. I yelled Mark's name, but that didn't help. I was engulfed in the wave of people, and had lost track of my friend. I started to panic a little when I looked around and didn't recognize anyone. I tried to move through them assuming that Mark would be where the drinks are. When I finally got to the kitchen, there were a few people in there socializing, but what I saw made my heart break. I found Mark, but his lips were connected to someone else's; a girl with a very bad dye job and a white tank top. I couldn't make out any other details through my tears.

I ran into the bathroom and curled up on the floor, my knees up to my chest and my head buried into them so my sobs were muffled. A small part of me knew it. Mark wouldn't be like me. He was straight and liked girls. He didn't go both ways. He wouldn't accept me, a frizzy haired Muppet who dresses like a homeless person.