Finding Mollie.

Chapter 18:Prince Charming Loses At Beer Pong.

"I hate you," I say as I examine myself in the mirror for the fourteenth time this afternoon. It's a little after eight, and Matt says the party won't really get going until about nine.

"Oh come on, you look hot," Alley says, her nose stuck in the latest Cosmo. I'm debating whether she's looking at how to have better sex or how to get rid of blackheads. I'm thinking it's sex, but that's just my opinion.

I examine myself once again. Alley's right, I do look hot. But I've never looked hot before, so this is a whole different ballgame. Alley picked out a mid-thigh length, tight, blue, one-shoulder dress. She said it would give me the ass I don't have. I huff and start out the door, Alley right behind me.

We descend the staircase, prom style, and catch the boys' attention below. They look great. Matt in khaki's and his McLovin' t-shirt. Weston is managing to pull off some jeans and a polo. Matt stares at me in awe.

"Take a picture it'll last longer," I say as I step off the last step. He walks over to meet me. Matt takes me in his arms.

"You are gorgeous, beautiful, and most of all, hot," he grins at me.

"Now, see, when you do that i don't know if you're being serious or not," I pout.

"Oh trust me, I'm being serious," he abruptly picks me up bridal style and throws me on the couch. He gets on top of me with full intent of making out, but Alley stops him. She grabs his collar and yanks him off.

"Don't mess up the outfit just yet. Also, people are starting to get here, so be a good little host and let them in," Alley says. Matt sighs, and gives me a kiss on the cheek and heads to the door.

Alley grabs my wrist and drags me into the kitchen. She heads over to the keg and fills up two cups. She walks back over, and I extend my hand to receive one, but she just stares at me.

"I'm not your servant. These are mine and Weston's. Get your own," she says as she sits at the island.

I walk over and grab my own cup. I stand, leaning against the counter adjacent Alley.

"So, have you started your essay yet. Because you know it's due soon," Alley asks, taking a sip of her beer.

"Surprisingly, I haven't started on it," I say. Alley almost chokes on her beer.

"You haven't started on it. Mollie Adams, the girl who does a two week project in one night like it's no big deal, hasn't started on the essay that determines if she graduates or not. Something's up." Alley gets up and walks over to me. She puts her hand on my forehead, checking for a fever.

"I'm not sick," I say, shoving her hand off my forehead.

"If you're not sick, then what's up with you. I heard you skipped class Thursday because your dad is in town, but he's obviously not here because you'd be spending time with him and not throwing a party," Alley looks at me, searching for an answer. And in all reality, I don't have an answer for her. At least not a good one, or one Alley will believe. Alley has a bullshit detector that is unbelievably accurate.

"I guess I've been so wrapped up with Matt that I've kind of just put it by the wayside." There, that's a believable answer.

Once I say that she just sits there with a smirk on her face. She starts shaking her head which prompts me to ask her, "What? Did I dribble?" I look down at my dress looking for a wet spot.

"He's changing you," Alley says. I just look at her, trying to digest what she just said.

"He's not changing me," I say matter-of-factly.

Alley laughs and says, "Mollie, dear, you're clueless."

"Am not!" I say defensively.

"Mollie you've gone on more dates in the past couple weeks than you have in the 18 years of your life. You've gone completely out of your comfort zone with him. You called Nick Schultz and threw a vase of water at him. You've gone to parties that you would've passed on two months ago. You're throwing a party with beer and all the fixings. You skipped class the other day. I see you making out with Matt in your car and in the halls. Two months ago you were the quiet, yet over-achieving girl that never went to parties and stayed home and studied for a test two weeks away. Mollie, Matt is changing you and don't even realize it."