Ange (girlxgirl)

Chapter Thirty-five

At breakfast, Katherine cooks us all pancakes for my birthday. We devour them in seconds and Katherine watches us either suspiciously or curiously. After we have gorged on all we can, Dad bring out a small box and kisses me on my forehead.

"Happy Birthday, Ange. Your mum would be so proud."

I quickly wipe a tear away. "Thanks, Dad." I pull the lid off the box and a key to a car lies there. "Oh, God," I hush.

I give Katherine and Dad a big hug and they take me out to the shed where my car sits, brand new. Carol, Emma and I all gasp when we see it.

"Thanks, Dad," I say again.

"I wish you could drive it," Emma says.

"Tuesday, hopefully," I say optimistically, hoping that I pass my licence test.

"Right, Bret, we had better leave," Katherine announces.

"Yes, we should. Ok, see you girls, be good and safe. Ange, the workers will be here at 9, ok?" Dad reminds me.

Their car pulls out and they disappear down the driveway. I throw the keys to Emma.

"Come on, Em. Let's go for a spin." I jump into the passenger and seat and watch as Emma and Carol jump in, Emma in the driver seat and Carol in the back.

Emma turns the key and the engine purrs into life. "Are you sure? It's your car, after all," she says nervously.

"So? You'll be right." And with that we pull out of the shed and are onto the roads.

We drove for ages, burning through fuel and songs. We went on back roads, flooring it and hanging out the sunroof, we ate at a restaurant on the edge of town and I live up being 18. I brought alcohol for myself and disappointingly they did not ask for i.d. By the time we get back home, it is 4 o'clock and we start straight away with our makeup. Melissa and our other friend, Bella arrive to get ready with us and we start our pre-drinks. Julian arrives with pizza at 5:30 which we all eat together and then he goes and sets up this equipment. Dad's employees arrive and smile warmly at me before taking up a post by a barrel fire, waiting for the crowd to roll in and they do, at 9 the backyard is getting rowdy with people. By 9:30, the backyard is swarming, most are dancing on the floorboards even spilling out onto the grass because it is so packed, others are sitting around the fire with friends or at the bathtubs getting a drink. I watch new people arrive and walk into the party from the top of the stairs, looking for the people I actually want here and the ones that have to be here. Everyone is unaware that I'm watching them and with enough alcohol to make me tipsy in system, it makes me feel oddly powerful.

"Hey, Angie." It's Tommy, he comes up behind me and pokes me in the ribs.

"Hey, Tommy." I turn around to see him holding hands with a guy from another town, I didn't invite him, but I have a soft spot for the closeted gays. God knows I could be one.

Tommy smiles shyly and I can tell that is genuinely happy for the first time in a while.

"Sorry, I didn't think you would mind," he says quickly. "This is Jonathan, my boyfriend."

I smile warmly at Jonathan.

"Hello." he says politely, being in the closet doesn't suit him.

"So, why are you up here and not serving some fresh dance moves?" Tommy asks.

"I'm just keeping an eye out for trouble," I say, scanning the crowd.

"What sort of trouble?" Jonathan asks nervously.

"The Southsiders," I reply simply.

Tommy glares at me for making Jonathan look even more nervous.

"Don't worry though, babe," Tommy says quickly. "Ange is in with all the tough and the worse ones, she slept with the leader. It is only a handful that don't like her and they haven't even been to real jail yet, they're completely harmless."

Jonathan looks between us wildly as if checking this wasn't a joke.

"That is about accurate." I acknowledge and start to move down the stairs with Tommy and Jonathan.

"You are in with the tough ones though, right?" Tommy whispers in my ear.

I nod and hook my arm around Jonathan's who looks as scared as hell.

"So, Jonno, what year are you in?" I ask him.

"12," he mumbles, clutching onto Tommy's hand.

"Oh, Tommy, punching above your weight!" I tease.

He laughs and Jonathan relaxes a little.

"Relax! Get loose! It's a party!" I tell Jonathan, tugging at his elbow.

He gives a nervous titter.

We reach the end of the steps and the music becomes louder, I can feel the heat from the fire and the alcohol inside.

"Well, I'm gonna love and leave you, both. Such a cute couple, come dance later," I call as I start to walk away.

Jonathan looks at Tommy for answers.

"She's joking, she is mad," I hear Tommy say, laughing.