If You Dare

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

I sighed. Josh, Cleo and I were sitting at a table inside the music rooms trying to work out what to do for Ash and Jesse’s birthday.

“Well I could get a band together, you guys know that right?” Josh asked.

I nodded. “Yeah, but first we need to work out who’s actually coming.”

Cleo laughed and rolled her eyes. “You can tell you don’t come from around here. Everyone just invites everyone to their parties, if people show then cool if not whatever.”

“So you just invite everyone in the year level? Even the really big dorks, ass holes and bitches?” I asked feeling really confused. “Oh wow, you guys are insane. Are there ever any fights?”

Josh shook his head. “If a person is going that you don’t like you just don’t go. You don’t have to go even if you are invited and you should bring your own grog.”

I nodded slowly. The two of them laughed at me.

“I’m sorry but that’s just not how we do it back where I come from.” I told them.

Josh shrugged. “Whatever, we’ll just put invites into peoples lockers.”

I agreed and took a sip of the water bottle I had sitting on the table. “Well where are we going to have it?”

“Not the beach, too many accidents happen when teenagers are drunk.” Josh laughed to himself. “What about the community hall?”

“So not at a house, not at a club at a community hall?” I asked shaking my head.

Cleo shrugged. “No clubs around here and houses are too small for so many people. The community hall is all we have left.”

Josh nodded in agreement. “It’s the closest we’re going to get to a club.”

I sighed and scribbled it down on the piece of paper I had. “Fine, the hall it is. Who’s going to ring up and book it?”

Cleo walked off to call the head office while Josh and I started talking about decorations. By the time she came back with the times and prices we had a list of things we’d need to buy for the party.

“So is that everything?” Cleo asked.

I shook my head. They looked at me blankly and I laughed. “Um a cake, duh.”

Josh laughed. “Of course, I can’t believe we forgot.”

I rolled my eyes and started to laugh just as the bell sounded. “Let’s go shopping tonight straight after school okay? We’ll meet at Josh’s car at the end of the day.”

Josh nodded and packed up the paper and pen as Cleo and I skipped out the room to get our books for our afternoon classes.

I pulled out my phone to text Ash. Hey, everything’s cool with Josh and Cleo. We’re going shopping after school. Meet in the middle of the street at six. I’ll bring the food you bring a blanket.

Then I switched it off and shoved it into my pocket.

After school I walked down to Josh’s car in silence. Usually I had someone at my side while I talked and laughed to them but tonight was different. I didn’t feel like walking with anyone.

I was still mad at Jesse for not apologising and Cleo and Josh were going to meet me at the car. I looked up and squinted from the sun. Cleo was leaning against the car but Josh was nowhere to be seen. I smiled at Cleo and slumped back beside her.

“Hey, where’s Josh?” I asked with a little laugh.

She shrugged and sighed. “No idea. Hey, today Jesse told me that you’re mad at him, he asked me to ask why and he was wondering if you were still going to tutor him.”