That Was Then

27-Now

Parties at public school are nothing like parties at boarding school. They are also nothing like movies about high school parties. Boarding school parties consist of small gatherings in someone's dorm or the lucky few upper classmen with cars driving us to some secluded spot in the woods with alcohol we procured through less than legal means.

I've never actually been to a house party before. This particular party is at one of Aiden's houses. According to Eden, his parents have three houses between the two of them. His, hers, and the house Aiden and his sisters grew up in that their parents have yet to come to an agreement on selling. His mom thinks he's with his dad this weekend and his dad thinks he's with his mom.

Unlike parties in movies, there are not hundreds of people packed into every available space and spilling out of the house, there is not a band set up in the living room and nobody throws up in a potted plant or breaks anything. When we arrive there are only about a dozen people there. Allie hugs all three of us and Caleb just hugs me. I ignore Eden and Vivi's knowing looks and half ass the hug, I'm still annoyed with him. Even if he does smell really good.

Music blares from a fancy sound system but nobody dances. A few more people come and we all sit in little groups and talk and drink. Eden and I drink sodas from red solo cups. "You can drink if you want to, I promise I'm good for being a DD," she tells me. It's not that I'm entirely against drinking, I'd just prefer to be in control of myself tonight. Especially when Seth and Kya walk in the door. Marley trails them like an awkward shadow.

"I have too much to do tomorrow, no time to deal with a hangover," by a lot to do I mean homework and binge watching Law & Order SVU on Netflix so hopefully she doesn't ask for the details.

"Same. You should see how much homework I have this weekend," she makes a face and groans. I can't help but grin, I'm continuously surprised at how much I have in common with Eden. And even more so that she would be friends with Kya.

"So how did you all become friends? You and Allie and Tatum and Kya...?"

Eden laughs, "Yeah, we don't really make a lot of sense do we? The nerd and the cheerleaders! Allie and I have been best friends since preschool and Tatum moved next door to me in fifth grade. They've been cheering with Kya and Marley since freshman year. And now," she looks at me and grins, "finally another nerd has joined our pack!" She says it like it's the biggest compliment she could bestow upon someone and, for once, I don't mind the label.

"Edennnn," Kya calls from across the room where she and the other girls are having an iPhone photo shoot. "Come here!" Kya tips back some kind of wine cooler but when they snap a picture they make sure their drinks are not visible.

"C'mon!" Eden pulls me to my feet with her. I hesitate, I know Kya doesn't want me photo bombing. I glance at Vivi who is deep in conversation with Aiden so I let Eden drag me across the room. There is no mistaking the look Kya gives me and I'm pretty sure Eden notices it too. We squeeze in and it's obvious, at least to me, that Kya is intentionally cutting me out of the picture. I imagine laughing with Petra and her sister later, pointing out a random lock of hair or an ear of mine that makes it into a picture on her Facebook or Instagram if she forgets to crop them out.

"You suck at this, Ky!" Tatum laughs and pulls out her own phone, managing to capture all six of us. We keep having to retake the picture because somebody doesn't like their face and when I've reached my limit I head off to find the bathroom. Thankfully I don't actually have to go because I get hijacked on the way. Caleb, Jackson and some of the other football players are on the back deck. Caleb loops an arm around my waist and draws me out into the cool night air. He doesn't let go right away and I don't try to pull away. His breath smells like beer and his hazel eyes are slightly unfocused.

"Have a beer with us," he urges and offers me the half empty one in his hand. I don't think he's drunk yet, but he's clearly well on his way.

"I already have a drink," I hold up my red cup as proof. Caleb releases me and tastes my drink, he quirks an eyebrow at me but doesn't out me for my virgin drink. I can still feel the warmth from where his hand rested on my hip. A guy that I don't know leans against the railing of the deck smoking a cigarette and Jackson watches Caleb and me curiously.

Later, after I finally find the bathroom, Seth corners me in the hallway. "Where's Kya?" I ask, nervously. 

He shrugs, "who knows, who cares?" He reaches for me and his hand lands in the exact spot on my hip where Caleb had rested his earlier. For some reason this really bothers me. I step back out of his reach. Being seen with him in the hallway at school with hundreds of other people swarming around us is one thing, alone at a party is another thing entirely.

"Pretty sure she'll make us both care if she catches us," I try to duck around him but he blocks my way.

"So, we wont let her catch us," he reaches for me but my reflexes are not slowed by alcohol like his and I dodge him. While he's off balance I take the opportunity to slide around him and make my way into the living room where Vivi is laughing at something Aiden said. She pushes him playfully and their knees are touching. I can't help but smile, they've been completely consumed with one another for well over an hour. Then I glance up and see Kya glaring at me. I have a stupid smile on my face and Seth is stumbling down the hallway after me. It looks pretty bad. Kya closes the distance between us and I brace myself, ready for the blowout that I feel has been inevitable since I've been back. Vivi, Aiden and Marley are the only other people in the room. Everyone else has dispersed themselves throughout the rest of the house. Voices carry from the kitchen and the back deck and I wonder if they'll hear Kya lose her shit because she really looks like she is about to. What if she hits me?! Petra and I never covered that scenario.

"Stay away from Seth!" Her teeth are clenched and so are her small fists. But she keeps them down at her sides. I can feel my pulse throbbing in my face, I didn't even know that was possible. 

"Sure, but I'm not so sure he'll stay away from me."