"NO!!! Do NOT put the food table right by the ocean! That is worse that putting it actually IN the ocean!"
Just in case you are wondering, which you probably are, yes I am completely aware that I am screaming at a poor human being who should probably start praying for his life right about now. I can get really scary. Anyway, before you wet your pants because of how scary I am, let me explain why I am currently screaming at poor human beings and acting like I know exactly what I am doing. Which I don't. I have absolutely no idea whatsoever how to organise a party. Because Lilly Jones (that's me by the way) never throws parties.
And to answer that burning question that I know is just eating up the inside of your head right now, no I am not the kind of person who never goes to parties and then randomly decides to throw a party, but... I am probably the most un-organised person to ever walk on the face of the earth.
The reason behind all of this party throwing business is that I am attempting (stress on the word attempting) to throw a birthday party for my best friend, Jasper. And don't even try it, because I know what you're probably thinking, 'how can a girl be friends with a boy? Unless... One of them is gay!' No. Jasper is defiantly not gay, and neither am I. A girl and a boy can be friends without any disgusting gooey stuff, also known as romance.
Anyway, so this party is not going to be any old birthday party, because it is on the beach! As you should already know from before. And it is a bonfire party! To all those who are thinking that it is practically impossible to have a bonfire on a beach unless you have private beach or something, go away please because this is exactly what I'm doing. Having a bonfire on a beach, not going away, by the way. But I do kind of have a private beach. It's not mine though, it's Jasper's. Because he is sort of super rich. Well, his dad is but that's not the point. And anyway, I kind of borrowed the money for the bonfire and food and everything. But he won't mind, because it's the thought that counts! And this is a very big thought!
----
I'm almost 18 and I only just got house keys. To my living area. I refuse to call the crappy group home that I happen to live in home. Because it is not. A home is a place where you feel safe and you are with the people you love. First of all, I don't love that many people, only my older brother, Matt and Jasper. Secondly, I don't really have a family unless you count my brother who I am currently very pissed at because he won't let me live with him, or even maybe Jasper who is basically my brother. Oh, and my shitty dad who I never want to see again. But to me, he will never be part of my family.
I unlock the door, step inside and slam it as loud as I can behind me.
"LILLY! STOP SLAMMING THAT DOOR OR GOD HELP YOU I WILL TAKE AWAY YOUR FREEDOM!" And that is the over-dramatic Kelli. She is the boss. Well she thinks she is but I just ignore her most of the time. We share a mutual hatred for each other but I am pretty sure I hate her more.
I stomp up the stairs. I need to grab my stuff for the party and then I am going to Jazz's. I managed to persuade Kelli to extend my curfew to midnight. It involved a lot of bribing her with my good behaviour. And I promised to cook dinner for the next month...
I tiptoe silently past the devil's lair, also known as Veronica's bedroom. Veronica is the bitchiest, most annoying person on this planet. My sole duty in life is to avoid her. At all costs.
Oops
I forgot about the creak on the third stair on the landing...
"Lilly!!!! I have been waiting forever for you to get back! School finished two hours ago!"
"I know little Ron-Ron! I was vewy vewy busy doing some grown up stuff!" This is how I talk to Veronica. It pisses her off so much and makes me so happy! But this time I don't feel so happy because I know what's about to happen...
"I overheard Kelli talking to your social worker on the phone and she said you were throwing a party for Jasper, but I wasn't invited!" Uh oh, "So I told Kelli that you didn't invite me and she said that you had to or you weren't allowed to have it!" Of course...
"I... Don't... Want... You... To... Come" I say slowly as if she can't understand me.
"But why??!!" She is so whiney! Ugh!
"Because... I... Don't... Like... You!" That should get it into her head!
"I'm still coming! Kelli said so!" That little-
"LILLY! DOWNSTAIRS NOW! YOU HAVE CALL!" Jesus! The woman has no shame!
"Coming Kelli!" I reply like a good girl. In a sarcastic sickly sweet voice. I bound down the stairs two at a time. I already know who it is on the phone. It's Matt. He calls once a week at the least; every Thursday.
"Lil?" Matt speaks into the phone.
"Matty! Why are you calling?" I fake a gasp, "are you going to finally get me out of here? I knew this day would come! You're the best Matty! Can you get a place near here? I want to be near Jasper. Ok fine, I also want to be near Veronica so that I can rub it in her face that you finally collected me. I've been telling her for ages that you would take me but she keeps saying that you are a terrible brother and that no one would want me! But she was so wrong! I can't wait to tell her-"
"LILLY!" Now he's angry. But I don't care. I do this every time he calls. It's my own way of guilt-tripping him for leaving me here. Ok, so he didn't really leave me here, but Dad did, and I'm not being ungrateful, I was glad to get away from him. But not Matty, I miss Matty. He is 25 and old enough to care for me but he won't. He says it's because mum saved up most of his college money already and would want him to go, but I think it's because he's scared. Scared of Dad, scared of looking after me and scared of responsibility.
"Yeah?" I reply to him.
"Will you please stop trying to guilt trip me! I already feel bad as it is." Weird. He usually just pretends not to notice and let's me down gently. Maybe he actually is coming!
"Before you get too excited, no I'm not collecting you. Yet."
Wait, what
"I talked to one of my professors, and told him about you. Before you get angry, I just told him I had a younger sister in a group home and I wanted to take care of her." Yay! It's gonna happen!
"So you are going to take me!" My voice was filled with hope and I wish it wasn't.
"Well, I talked to him about bringing you here and buying an apartment for us. I would still be going to college and you would go to school near, but you would have to spend a lot of time on your own. And I get my degree at the end of this year so it wouldn't be for too long. What do you think?" Wow.
