Paige

2

Is the heater on? Is Paige's car always this hot? The answer to both of these was no. It was just me minorly freaking out about this party. I'm not afraid to admit I have a lot of social anxiety, and this party wasn't helping at all.

God damn Paige for being popular but also my friend. Otherwise I would have been 2 hours deep into a movie marathon at home.

She pulled the car down a long road until I realized it wasn't a road, but a driveway. "Does he live in a Manson?" I asked in awe. She laughed at me.

"No! He lives in a house that used to be a farm so they have a good acre of land In the front and back."

"You would think they would use that space for more houses." I said thinking about all the open land.

"Yeah I suppose, here we are!" I gulped looking at the big country style house. It was beautiful but intimidating at the same time somehow.

"Don't sweat it too much Eve, you'll be fine and I'm right here with you." She pulled around to the back of the house to reveal what looked like hundreds of cars parked on the grass. She found a spot and parked the car.

"Oh man.." I said with a shaky voice. Paige noticed how nervous I truly was and put her arm around me as she directed me to a big red barn a couple hundred feet away.

We were walking too fast. Way too fast. I can't do this, is this my normal walking pace? I'm not ready.  But despite my internal fear Paige hauled open the door to reveal the party and she smiled.

Inside there was Christmas lights strung around all the walls, and surprisingly it was kinda furnished. It had a mini kitchen turned bar, and stairs to a second level that I could only assume was bedrooms. The rest was a huge open room scattered with beer cans and red solo cups.

"Let's go get a drink!" I heard Paige tell over the loud music. She grabbed my hand and pulled me through the hot bodies to the kitchen.

"It's like our entire school, and 3 more are here." I said.

"I know it's great! And this is only the beginning many more people will probably show up!" I groan. We could already barely get to the kitchen but with more people it will be impossible to walk. Paige handed me a cup.

"What's this?"

"Shh just drink it, let loose for one night!" She said before downing hers and pouring more into her cup. I glanced at the bottle. Vodka.

I thought about what she said and realized she was right. What was stopping me from having fun like she is? I look into the cup before downing it like her. She looked at me and cheered.

"That's the Eve I knew was hiding somewhere! She said before pouring me more, and I did it again. If I was going to have to stand this party then god damn it I was going to get drunk.

-----

4 shots later I was feeling good. I don't think being a light weight and never having drank before was helping me stay sober either.

Paige and I had moved to a quieter corner and we're talking with beers when a guy came up behind her and put his hands on her waist.

"When I invited you I didn't expect you to look so god damn sexy." Lucas said to her while she swayed her hips to the song. "You look good too Emily." He said nodding his head in my direction.