Falling For Sadie

Chapter Four

“Willie-Boo, you made it!” Stephanie LaBontaire squealed running up to Will, grabbing his face and holding it where his chin was in the slot between her thumb and index finger. Sadie noted that she had a heavy French accent.  She was tall, blond, and tan—and as Sadie was finding out, so was every important girl in Brandy. But, for some reason, Stephanie seemed more plastic and fake than the rest of the “uber-important” Brandy girls. It was either the too much lip gloss or the Nicki Minaj body shape, but Sadie didn’t feel like finding out.

“Yeah, wouldn’t miss any of Steph and Bri’s parties.” He smiled. William Connor Smith was obviously very skilled with the ladies.

“Ahnd, who is thes?” She inquired raising her head to Sadie, her eyes roaming the girl’s navy-blue belted, white terry-cloth romper. She tilted her head to the right. “Cute outfit.”

“This is my cousin, Sadie. She needed some time out of the house so I brought her with me.” He gestured to Sadie as she looked around at the crowd that was swelling in the house and spilling onto the side, front, and back yards. When they had pulled up, Sadie had stared open-mouthed at the average sized brick house. It wasn’t that someone with the last name that sounded as prestigious as LaBontaire owned a typical, average house like the one they were in front of; it was the sheer size of the party. She’d seen parties before, been to a couple back in good ol’ New Port, but she had never, never, seen one of this size. The road two blocks away had been thrumming to the bass, but up closer the car was pulling one of those hopping things that you see in movies or shows where all the “hoodlems” have the top down on a convertible muscle car and it’s hopping up and down on its suspension, or being lifted by some fancy lift kit, she wasn’t sure how they got their car to do that but it looked a lot like that. There had to be around one hundred and fifty people standing in the front yards, and through the windows, it looked like there was three times that inside. On each floor.

“They know how to throw a sick party, don’t they?” Will had asked while parking. Sadie hadn’t said anything but in her mind she had been screaming:  What the hell?

“You’re cute, you can stay. Next time though William give me a heads-up so I can turn up the tunes another notch.” Stephanie winked and stepped precariously away in her six inch heels.

“Will! Oh, my gosh, you’re here!” A Stephanie clone ran tipsily up seconds later and planted a big, sloppy, wet kiss on Will’s cheek. “I didn’t think you were coming.” Her tone was accusatory now. She pouted, though unnecessary from her amount of lip gloss.

“Sorry, Bri, I didn’t think I was, but plans change and now here I am. How much have you drunk already?” He explained prying the wine cooler from the clench of her $600 salmon-colored with silver palm trees daggers.

“Just a lil’ bit.” She slurred, giggling. “Come dance wiff me.” And like that Sadie was alone in the crush of people whom she went to school with but had no clue of their name and would never be able to pick out in a crowd.

***

“Loggie, are you sure this party is exclusive? It looks like our whole freaking school is here.” Again Audrey was complaining that he hadn’t taken them to her favorite sushi place in Tanner, not that she ever ate the food they ordered. Again she was complaining that all the parties they ever went to were full of sweaty people grinding, too loud music, and warm flat beer. Again she was complaining that they never went to exclusive-black-tie-only galas. Again she was complaining that he never took her anywhere “sophisticated.” Like I care. Logan thought walking towards 496 west Alpone Lane without her. She’d brought the triplets with her and together they’d be the Dynamic Disastrous Four this fine evening. They probably wouldn’t notice Logan with a different girl on his arm, but then again, Audrey did seem to always track him down.