Overthinking It || j. m. (UNDER CONSTRUCTION)

3.

Chapter 3

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"You aren't going to leave me all alone are you? Because I know how you are at parties and I can't imagine you staying with me tonight." I said to Taylor as I stood in front of the floor length mirror in her room while curling my hair.

Taylor gave me one of her dresses that she outgrew since I was so much shorter than her. It was a solid black, thick strapped skater dress that went to mid-thigh. The dress had a sweetheart neckline and a slim white belt going around my waist- a simple, yet beautiful design. I styled it with a pair of lace black tights and white and black flats that would keep me comfortable while still looking the part.

My makeup was done flawlessly- a meticulously done winged eyeliner look with a smoky eye and layers of mascara. Taylor's makeup was similar, but had small accents of blue in it to go with her tight-fitting navy dress she had changed into. The thought of her going to yet another party baffled me, but she said she was used to it. She stood next to me putting a headband braid in her hair. "Of course I'm going to stick with you the whole time! I'd never leave you the first time you went to a high school party, Zo. I'm not that insincere."

Well apparently, Taylor was that insincere because not even thirty minutes after arriving at the party, I was sitting alone in the corner with a coke can in my hands. The last time I saw her she was dancing with the many other hormonal teenagers with drinks in their hands jumping to the beat of the live band's music. James' house was so huge and so extravagant that there was room enough for a mini-stage to hold a band consisting of some students from school. They were amazing and I really wanted to be right up there listening, but I wouldn't dare get close to the crowd in front of the stage.

All the populars were up there, already dancing tipsily from their drinks. I had to hold in the bile rising in my throat as I saw the way some of the people were acting and dancing on each other. I never really understood some of the things Taylor described to me about the parties she went to, but now I got it. I continued to sit by myself, clicking away at my phone and listening to the rock inspired music being played. Occasionally I'd look up from my phone to scan the immense crowd in the dark house for Taylor or James, but all I saw were the faces of the very people that taunt me the most at school. I got a few death stares from those around me, but I shook them off like they didn't even matter. I had as much right as they did to be at this party, even if I was the outcast.

After nearly a half hour of sitting in the same position, I decided that it wouldn't hurt to try and get a closer look at the band. They were killing it and i really wanted to be there to see it first hand. I got up from my chair and left my empty coke can behind and tried my best to sneak through the dancing teens without getting any booze spilled on me. As I made my way through James' house I couldn't help but gawk at the wealth apparent in the house's details. No wonder James was so popular- not only was he incredibly attractive but he had the money to back it up. If anything mattered in this town, it was how much money you had.

The stage was now right in front of me as stood to the side of it, away from all the crazy 'dancing' happening to my left. I recognized the majority of the band as people that went to my school, but only one didn't look familiar. He was the one playing the bass that was dressed in a plain band tee and skinny jeans. His dirty blonde hair was tousled on top of his head in a crazy mess and it was bouncing around with every bang of his head.

I was so engrossed in the music they were playing that I didn't notice that behind me, three girls were standing with hands on their hips and scowls on their faces. I only noticed when one of them tapped my shoulder and I turned around to face them. In the middle was Mia or as I like to her- the school whore. Everyone knows her for sleeping with a different guy every week and it didn't help me that she was in James' group of friends. I didn't even want to think of the possibility of her and James together. On her sides were her two Barbie sidekicks that everyone knew the faces of but never really bothered to learn their names.