Penny For Your Thoughts? [unedited]

c h a p t e r • t w e n t y f i v e

•••••••••••• chapter twenty four •••••••••••••
       The party was in full swing. Loud music bumped over speakers as people chatted and danced all throughout our dorm. It was a feeling I had missed since high school. Sure, I might not have been as populars as my brothers or sister but I did go to parties. When you're a freshman or a sophomore, there seems to be this magic behind the idea of partying. And if I'm being honest, there was. When I was a sophomore, parties always felt like an escape to me. Well, that and art. You see, when I was at a party dancing my life away, I didn't have to work about my overbearing Dad or my sick Mom or my annoying siblings. All I had to worry about was the sway of my body to the beat of the music.
It's a feeling I truly miss.

I people-watched around the room. Theres a lot you can tell about a person from the way they act at partiers. For example, the girl leaning against the kitchen wall by herself. She must be a freshman. She was probably very conservative in high school, kind of a loner, and this must be her first party that didn't require an Instagram DM invitation and that didn't charge 5$ per head at the door.
Or, take the boy dancing on our dining room table like his life depended on it. He seemed to party like this was his last chance. He's probably under a lot of stress and pressure and just needed a reason to let loose.
My eyes eventually adverted a couple aggressively kissing against the wall, before I quickly looked away.
I'm glad our bedrooms were off limits, otherwise, all my canvases and art supplies would probably be ruined by now.

I sat on the couch, between Parker and Kenna, as the group in front of us played spin the bottle. A guy, whom of which I did not know, spun the bottle. And what are the odds, they landed on Sunny and Chris.
Okay so maybe I might've tipped the guy off on where to make the bottle "land" but hey, I'm just playing matchmaker! There's no harm in a little love.
The crowd whooped and hollered as Sunny looked nervously at Chris. Chris looking lovingly back at her as a small chuckle escaped between his teeth. Before you know it, he'd grabbed her and planted a kiss on her lips. After pulling apart, Sunny quickly turned to me, her face turned three different shades of red.
I winked at her and smiled. I mean, somebody had to push her in the right direction.

The party boomed on as a few more rounds of spin the bottle continued. Eventually, even Parker, Kenna, and I got in. It was against my will, of course, but Kenna can be very persuasive.
As the bottle spun, I watched nervously as it twisted in a circle, inevitably landing on someone sooner or later.
Just my luck, it landed on me.

Then,

...on Parker.

Why, God? Why?

My eyes widened as I looked at Parker. We had a role to play, and if we didn't play it, we were both fucked. Tommy was literally sitting five feet away from us.
I shot Parker a quick nod, and he shot one back. Then, slowly but surely, I grabbed him and reeled him in.
Then we did something we haven't done since the formal.
The kiss was around 5 seconds but it seemed to go on forever. I'd be lying if I said I didn't like it.
It was like the feelings for him I had pushed deep down in myself were beginning to resurface, which I could not let happen.
I tucked loose hair behind my ear before facing the group again as the game went on. I watched and lean back against the edge of the couch cushion. I was shocked to learn that somebody's arm was already there. Parker, being the sly dog and phenomenal actor he was, slickly slithered his arms around my shoulders, further selling the 'we're a couple' act. At least, I hope he was acting.