A Good Year to Win a Contest

Chapter Three

The party ended up being at the Pizzeria. My mom and Morg had been planning it all week long and I was completely surprised by it.

Everyone I knew was here, crammed into the small building so that if there was just one more person I liked who showed up, we'd have to call the fire department. A lot of my neighbors had provided decorations; most of them One Direction themed.

It was incredibly strange to think that the town of Craig was getting so excited about me leaving. I never really thought that I meant a lot to anyone outside of my mom and Morg. I guess when I brought a group of delicious-looking young pop stars to their backyard my popularity increased ten-fold.

A lot of my high school teachers had shown up (weird) and lots of the kids who had tormented me were here too. They kept giving me pats on the back and asking if I was excited or not. It seemed like no one could have an original thought. No one wanted to ask if I was scared shitless, which I am. No one seemed to care thag I was beyond unprepared, also very true.

In fact, the only person there who was not driving me insane was Morg. We made our rounds through the group a few times,  laughing when the same people said the same things to me whenever I walked past. My mom was enjoying this party more than I was. I spotted her in the corner talking to her sister, Morg's mom, about her "poor little baby leaving the nest." I even think she cried for sympathy at one point.

We stayed for hours. I wish I could go home without anyone noticing. I really needed to go to sleep. I would be picked up at eight o'clock on the dot tomorrow morning, although I wasn't concerned about waking uo late. Mornings are my natural habitat. I just wanted to make sure I had everything I needed. As if I actually got to bring a lot of things with me anyways.

I made my way outside and leaned against the metal railing that was twisted into a beautiful display around the front patio of the restaurant. Bright, twinkling lights hung down from the roof, giving the place a romantic glow. No one seemed to care that I, the reason for this entire party, had left. I sighed loudly, shivering inside my jacket from the cold.

"Someone doesn't seem too happy," a deep voice from behind me muttered out. I turned around quickly to see David smiling widely at me with that adorable little dimple. Ugh, why did he have to hurt me?

"Hey David," I ignored his comment.

"Did you come out here to avoid me?" he joked.

I smiled and turned my back on him, wishing with all my might that he would come to stand next to me by the rails. I got lucky. He was so close to me that I could feel the body heat radiating off of him. "I walked around that place four times. I didn't see you once," I told him slyly. Do boys like it when girls are sly? Was I really being sly? I'm such an idiot; I have no idea how to be sly with boys!

"I was hiding from my boss. He wanted to make me work the joint tonight. You can certainly bring in the crowd," he laughed, nudging me. Oh my God, I just felt his arm muscles. Sort of. Either way, it was perfect.

"Blame my mother. She really knows how to throw together a good party." It was quiet between us for a second and I didn't know how to breach it. David seemed to be fine with just soaking in the silence though, so I decided to let him be the one to talk first. Eventually I was rewarded with that insanely seductive voice of his.

"So, are you scared shitless?"

"Was Harry Potter nervous to play in his first Quidditch game?" I said without thinking. Oh my God, no. Thay did not just happen. Did I seriously just bring up wizards in front of a hot boy?

David laughed; the first time I'd ever heard it sound so genuine. It was loud and bellowed straight from his stomach. His shoulders were shaking and I think I might have just killed him because he wasn't breathing right.