The List

Chapter Six- The Party

Chapter Six

My heart hammered nervously as I prepared myself for Toby’s birthday party.

It was finally Friday evening and I was dressed in a simple, sleeve-less, black, silky dress and sparkly, silver kitten heels. My mother had bought these for me the day I had turned sixteen but I had never worn either before; purely because I hadn’t dared to enter a reckless teenage party.

However, now things had changed and if going to teenage party was going to help me, then so be it.

Besides, Toby seemed to be a relaxed, sensible guy, so I doubted his party was going to be much of a problem. I knew there would be alcohol; but in my daydreams, there never appeared to be much. Everybody was happy to be in each other’s company sober and not many people had actually turned up. In fact, hardly any of the people there I really knew; so no one could judge me before hand or would be able to bring up the Greg thing. I was this shiny, new, person with this big, confident personality.

This was what I kept telling myself; mostly so I wouldn’t freak out. Strangely, it was working.

“Mum!” I called her, when the clock hit nine. “I’m going out to a birthday party now.” I hadn’t wanted to turn up at the time Toby suggested, which was about seven. I knew that parties were the most awkward at the beginning; and people only started having a good time when it was in full swing. I knew I had to be in my best controllable form, and awkward situations were not going to ensure that.

“A birthday party?” Mum appeared at the foot of the stairs. She sounded incredulous. “Since when do you go to birthday parties at nine o’clock at night? I’m assuming this is no tea party?”

I rolled my eyes at her. Even my own mother doubted me.

“I’m just trying to live my life for once, that is okay isn’t it?”

“I suppose it’s fine,” my mother sighed. “I was worried you weren’t getting out enough anyway. Don’t drink too much alcohol and be back by one.”

I didn’t bother pointing out that I wasn’t going to drink. I had never drunk a drop of alcohol my whole life and I hadn’t wanted to; especially since the last four years. And that was for a reason she will never understand.

As I set out in the street; I took out and unfolded the little map that Toby had handed to me in the corridor earlier that day. His house seemingly wasn’t far from mine.

Within fifteen minutes, I had found the right house and I could confirm it; mainly due to the horrendous load music, which was so loud I could feel the vibrations in the soles of my small heels. There were drunken people spilled out everywhere and smokers huddled together outside by some trees.

My heart sank. Now my fantasy had sure blown up in my face. I almost reconsidered running home, but I couldn’t go back now. I had to plough on. I had to face my fears. Even if the house was filled with what I hated most. Drunk people.

I took a deep breath and marched on forward. I made my way up the driveway and approached the two story; smart townhouse-or at least it used to be smart since toilet paper was strewn everywhere and someone had thought it was a good idea to hang a pair of their pants outside one of the top windows.

I didn’t bother knocking; since the door was wide open anyway and I walked quickly to escape the strange stares of some of the other drunken guests; as they wondered who I was and why the heck I was here.

I slunk against the hallway, past some stairs between people who were laughing and shouting. The music was so over-bearing, I couldn’t hear a word of what they said. But none of them looked at me, so at least now I could feel invisible.