One By One (editing)

Chapter Four

 Edited by: EDIT0RR

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"I know." I tried to hide a smile, unsure of whether to laugh or cry that me, Carter Mason just got into a fight at a party.

"Do you want to go home?" Luke asked, shoving his hands in his pockets. "We can leave now if you want."

"No, no," I blurted. "It's ok, we can stay a little longer if you want."

"You sure?" Luke's eyebrows knitted together.

I nodded. "Yeah."

"Just tell me when." Luke started to walk out of the kitchen.

"Wait." I paused as he turned. "Would I be giving Gabe a ride too?"

"I don't know," he shrugged. "I'll see if he needs one."

I nodded and Luke left. I leaned up against the counter, thinking to myself about what just happened and trying to drown out the thumping music from the next room.

"Hey stranger," Mandy smiled.

"It's only been a couple hours. We aren't strangers yet." I gave a soft smile back.

"Yeah I know, I just hate it when we fight." She stayed on the other side of the kitchen, hesitant to come stand by me.

"So do I," I agreed.

"I'm really sorry for blaming you. It was so wrong of me and I hope you'll forgive me." Tears pooled up in her blue eyes, threatening to spill over and smudge her makeup.

"Of course." I pushed myself off the counter and pulled her into a hug. A tear leaked out and wiggled down her flushed cheek.

"I'm really sorry," she choked out over her sobs.

I nodded into her hair and pulled away. "What are you going to do?"

She laughed over the last remnants of her fleeting tears. "I have absolutely no idea, but I gotta say, you punching Lauren made my night."

I snorted. "It hurt so much."

"I'm really sorry again." She wrinkled up her nose and put her hands on her hips.

I rolled my eyes. "Mandy, I know. You've already said that at least fifty times now. I forgive you. But that's just how people like Lauren are, they're manipulative and-"

"No, not that," she laughed, interrupting me. "I'm sorry about your dress. You look like a zombie bride." I glanced down at my once perfect dress now in tatters, folding my lip out so it looked like I was trying to cry.

"Ew gross don't make that face at me. We're not that friendly yet," Mandy teased. I grinned and threw a playful punch at her shoulder.

"So, uh, zombie bride," Mandy deepened her voice. "Would you care to join me for a dance?"

"In this dress? Of course," I giggled and let her lead me out to the dance floor. She pulled me to the center of the pulsing crowd. Hips, elbows, and hands bumped and nudged me from all angles. It took all I had not to shove them out of my way and demand them not to come near my personal space bubble.

"Um, Mandy, actually," I shouted over the vibrating bass, "I don't like people."

"Oh shut up and come on." She flicked her hair and suddenly stopped.

I saw her lips form the words, "Oh crap."

"What?" I yelled in her ear.

"I dropped my scrunchie. Can you get it for me? I would get it but I have heels on."