Before We Say Goodbye

Chapter Eight: Hey, who Invited the Alien?

Chapter Eight - Damon

Who’d have thought she’d say yes?

Not me, that’s for sure. But here she is, standing in the doorway, chatting to Mum politely.

I step out of the shadows, glancing at her –

Wow. She’s looks…well, really pretty. Her hair falls past her shoulders in soft, blonde, natural ringlets, slightly windswept. She isn’t wearing any makeup, but her cheeks are flushed, probably because she walked here. She’s wearing a lovely green sleeveless dress with black converse – an odd mix, but it looks good on her. A denim jacket is spread across her shoulders.

Dammit! Don’t think about her like that, Damon!

I won’t be one of those guys who likes a girl ‘cause of how she looks. I decided I didn’t like her, I won’t change it because of a pretty dress and a nice hair do.

“Well, take care, Sophie,” Mum smiles at her warmly.

I scowl at her. “Let’s just go,” I mutter, grabbing her wrist roughly and yanking her after me, slamming the door in Mum’s face.

“Oi!” Sophie snaps. “You could at least be nice! I mean, it’s you who invited me, and not the other way round!”

I hmph irritably. Yeah, sure. You practically invited yourself.

She breathes out slowly. “You’re so annoying.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

We walk along the street in silence.

I think about the upcoming party at Ricky’s place. I wasn’t going to go at first, but Paul really wanted me to come. He said it would help me break out of my shell – ha. But he got Maddie to do puppy dog eyes on me, which always works. Mum was well pleased that I was going. Normally, she hates us going to parties, but she’s just so happy I’m doing stuff normal teenagers do.

So I asked the only person who might just come.

“Is this it?” Sophie asks, looking up at the big house in front of us.

Music booms, making the world vibrate. Terrible music, too – Kesha, or something like that.

I nod. “Let’s go.”

I pull her after me up to the door, and thud on it.

A guy appears, opening it. He’s holding a plastic cup of beer in one hand and a hot blonde chick in the other.

“Hey, who invited the alien?” the girl giggles.

“Oi, shut up,” Ricky laughs. “Hey, dude, ‘sup? This your bitch?” he adds, yelling over the music.

He nods at Sophie.

I feel anger surge up inside me, although I don’t know why.

“Nah, mate, just a friend.”

“Well, Damon my man, come on in!”

As soon as we get inside, a guy offers us some beer. I grab a cup, but when Sophie goes in for some, I stop her.

“No way,” I yell.

“What?” she shouts back. “Why not? You’re having some!”

“I’m a guy. I’m not taking care of an underage drinker. You’re the first girl my mum likes.”

Hang on. The way I said that made her sound like my girlfriend! No, no, no. No way.

She pouts. “I hate you,” she says sulkily.