The Popularity Project » l.h.

6. Beer Pong 101

S T E L L A

"Does these shoes make my feet look fat?"

"Actually they do-"

"Shut up, Mikey. I wasn't asking you."

I sat anxiously on the corner of my bed, picking under my nails as I listen to the Gracie and Michael argue. Ashton sat beside me, leaning forward to get a better look at my face. His calm eyes and gentle smile made me ease up a bit as he draped one arm around my shoulder and placed his free hand on my bouncing knee.

"You okay, Stel?" Ashton's voice was quiet and sweet, raising a concerned brow.

I nod. "Just dandy."

"You look like the CIA found your real identity." He joked, making me crack a smile as I let out a muted laugh.

The reason why we were all gathered in my room was because Gracie insisted we all go to Tyler's party tonight. I refused multiple times but she would continuously shush me until it was nine at night and the party was already started. Michael and Ashton thought it was a really good idea since they were supposedly friends with Luke and Tyler. It seemed as though I was the biggest loser out of all of my friends and I only figured it out now. I assumed they were as closed off as me but I was pretty dead wrong.  

I reluctantly smiled at Ashton, waving off his concerns. "I'm fine, I promise."

That was obviously a lie since all I could hear was the blood pumping loudly through my head the longer I thought about all the things that could go wrong.

Someone might spill a drink on me.
I'll be left alone the whole time.
I could be publicly humiliated on so many levels.
I could get arrested, possibly.
Or not remember any of it.

Yeah, the last one sounds the worst.

"I think I'll be designated driver tonight, yeah?" I piped up my voice as we all assemble into Ashton's car.

"It's okay, Stel. I got that shift covered." Ashton turns his head just enough to see me before putting on his seatbelt. "It's your first real party, you're supposed to drink."

I roll my eyes, wishing everyone could let go of the fact that this is my first party and the fact that I haven't drank before. 

"I'm pretty sure the chess club partied before Stella." Michael turned around in the passenger seat as Ashton pulled out of my driveway.

"Quit it, Mikey. Stop being an ass." Gracie defended me, reaching forward to slap Michael's forehead. 

"Geez, sorry." Michael lifted his arms up in defense before turning back around to face the road.

"You're gonna be fine, Stella." Gracie whispered as I watch her lift her pinky finger up in the dimly lit car. "I swear it."

I desperately latch my little finger to her own as I squeeze her finger slightly from my pent up fear. I just had a bad feeling about the night to come and I think everyone underestimates me when I say I am a complete loser, even my own friends.

It didn't take long until we arrived to the noisy house. We didn't even have to open the door of the car before hearing the loud music thumping through the neighborhood, nearly as loud as the pressure built up in my head. I just wanted to hop back in the car and go home, maybe watch some Netflix and sleep but instead, I was trapped at a hormonal palooza. 

A few of Ashton and Michael's friends greet them as we walk up to the porch. There was people everywhere. The yard, the porch, the fence line, behind bushes. I saw over thirty unfamiliar faces before stepping foot into the house.

"You guys made it!" We hear a loud holler as we walk into the spacious home. Our heads turn to a smiling Tyler with a classic red cup in his hand. 

"You know we wouldn't miss it." Ashton nudges Tyler's side before shaking his hand like how all the high school boys do. You know, the one where they do that weird, manly, half hug? Yeah, that one.

Tyler's attention turns to me, his smile still stuck on his face. "You even brought Stella. Now it's a party!" 

I laughed light heartedly, shaking my head. "You bet."

In reality, I wanted to roll my eyes and shrug but it's not Tyler's fault that I suck at this stuff. There's no need to purposely be a buzzkill at my first party and I needed to expand my horizons. It's going just fine so far so I shouldn't be rude.

"Alright," Tyler grins before looking to the others as he raises his cup in the air, "drinks in the kitchen, bathroom is upstairs, second door to the left, and beer pong out back. See you guys later."

We all gives smiles in return before Gracie is pulling me through the living room, groaning as we squeeze through the random groups of people in our way. She's quick to lead me toward the kitchen so we can get drinks.

"Oh Stella. Stop worrying, this is the best part." Gracie's smile is soft and sweet, popping a cap off of a hard soda. "I'm starting you off easy so you don't pass out within the next thirty minutes. You'd need to drink a lot of these babies before feeling even a bit buzzed."

I wince at how calm and collected she seemed, as I've never witnessed this side of my own best friend. It just goes to show how much I stay in on Friday nights.

"Sip sip till you tip tip." Gracie holds out the bottle toward me as I take it in my hands slowly. "I'm going to mix something for myself real quick."

I nod, letting out a sigh I didn't know I was holding in. I look down at the bottle as little bubbles rose up to the top of the orange tinged liquid, bringing the clear glass to my lips as I take a small sip. It wasn't bad at all, compared to the thought of heavy liquor, it actually tasted good with warmth settling in the back of my throat. I take a longer sip, letting myself ease up to the idea of tainted soda.

"Wow, what a party animal." I hear a low chuckle beside me, making me groan internally.

I look up to the source, finding myself locking eyes with Luke. He smirks as he looks at the drink in my hand before letting out another soft chuckle. My stomach was practically flipping inside of me as I try to contain my reaction to how good he looked. His hair looked more casual than usual, a few stands covering his tired looking eyes that were probably caused by alcohol. His plain, black t-shirt fitted him well as I could see every tense muscle of his torso. 

"Go hard or go home." I raise my bottle sarcastically, tilting my head to the side with a sheepish grin on my face.

I wish I could go home.

"Cheers to that." Luke laughed, clinking his empty red cup to the bottle. He shuffled beside me to gain access to the counter top, pouring a concoction together with coke and rum. 

"Did you go outside, yet?" Luke asked, pointing to the glass patio door the showed off a table with a beer pong set up. "It's our championship game."

"You're kidding." I scoff, looking at the smirk on his face. 

"Tell that to the competitors, they'd get a kick out of you for making fun of their game." He nudged my shoulder with his elbow before walking out the kitchen. 

I was reluctant to follow, as I wasn't sure Luke intended for me to go with him but sure enough, he turned back toward me with a reassuring look that gave me butterflies. He held a hand out, grabbing my wrist before guiding me outside before I could object.

"C'mon, Stella. I'm going to show you Beer Pong 101." 

_

there will be a part 2 to beer pong 101 of course, i'm not cutting off a good scene like this ;)))

xo