Cherrywood's Lies

CHAPTER ONE

Zachs soft lips pressed against Carmens, the taste of vodka dancing on their tongues. She kissed him back, harder, deeper. His hands slid up her back and over her arms. She gasped for a breath and went back in for more, kissing each other like crazy, like their lives depended on it. Their veins throbbing, their hearts exploding, their bodies caving into one another. Carmen pushed Zach down onto the couch, making out in front of all their friends.

Her fingers grasped his hair, pulling him closer and she whispered "Now. I want it now." Carmen took Zach by the hand and disappeared into the crowd of people, Imagine Dragons blaring in the background.

-

"Jonah stop," Ivy cursed jumping out of her seat and sprinting towards the sea of people. She weaved her way through the crowd, bumping into one person after the other. Their drinks spilled because of it and they gave her dirty stares. "Sorry!" She yelled, running away from Jonah, but she didn't really mean it.

"Babe come back," he crossed his arms, trying to look serious, but he couldn't help letting out a smile.

"Stop trying to tickle me then," She said ending up in the kitchen, Jonah on the other side of the marble counter, staring deeply into her static brown eyes. They played in their own little world, untouched by everything around them.

"Okay, fine, I'll stop," he pouted, setting down his beer.

"You always say that, but you never mean it," she giggled hysterically, trying to keep a straight face.

"Babe, come here," he opened his arms and gave her 'the look'. The kind that she can't say no to.

"Fine," she let out of huff, and she walked right into his arms. He towered right over her, like a skyscraper.

"Hey cutie," she looked up and he smirked at her. Then, he began to tickle her sides ferociously. She let out a shy scream and began to run around the house again.

-

"Yo Corbyn," Corbyn perked his head up, half wasted. Jack sat down next to him handing him a beer. "Have you seen Cassidy? I'm pretty sure she ditched again." Jack rolled his eyes, taking a long sip.

"Yeah, probably for some creepy 30 year old dude." He paused, staring at the ground. "It's whatever though. You can't tell me you weren't expecting it."

"I knew it, but Ivy will be heartbroken, she never learns."

"Honest," Jack looked Corbyn in the eyes, "this whole town would be a whole lot better without Cassidy in it."

Corbyn smiled, agreeing with Jacks comment. "God," he wiped his eyes, "but honestly can one of us just grow a pair and tell her off?"

"Shh..." Ivy walked over, waving her hands, clearly pissed. "We all owe a lot to Cassidy, don't forget that."

"You're right, all hail Cassidy. But she's still a bitch, right?" Corbyn laughed sarcastically.

Ivy laughed, ruffling up Jack's hair. But he slapped her hand away and fixed his hair from the reflection of his phone. Then she got serious, "why do you think she didn't come? I was counting on her."

Corbyn lifted up Ivy's face with his finger, "you don't need her to make this party cool Ives."

Ivy scanned around the room, beer bottles and red solo cups lined the floors. Ed Sheeran blasting in the background, wasted people passed out on the ground, weed all over the coffee table. It did seem like a really cool party, but Ivy felt like it would never be cool enough without Cassidy here.

-

Cilla stood in corner of the room, her right arm on her hip, jutting her entire body to one side. She wiped the sweat that drenched her palms onto her painted american eagle jeans. She curled her hand into a fist, nails digging into her skin. She hated parties, dreaded them. She only came to this one because her sister had begged her to, but she didn't even bother to show up.

Cilla scanned the room, her heart thumping. She was the only one who wasn't wasted or high. She checked her watch for the hundredth time. Her sister had convinced her to go to this lame party and of course she ditched her.

Cilla fumbled her way into the kitchen, uncharacteristically looking for something strong. She blindly took a red bottle from the stash labeled: SMIRNOFF VODKA. Then, she twisted the cap off and forced the vodka down her throat, not bothering to pour herself a cup. She went for a second gulp, squeezing her eyes shut.

"Damn, stressful night?"

Cilla turned around fixing her glasses. The young-man leaned on the cabinet clearly amused. His mouth twitched, fighting a smile and his blue-green eyes pierced through Cilla like knives. His bleached hair hung over his forehead and his pants hung low on his sides.

"Corbyn," she crossed her arms.

"Cilla," he mocked grabbing the vodka from her hands and taking a sip himself. "You're obviously stressed out with your campaign, worried you're going to lose? To me?"

"No. Gosh Corbyn," she waved her hands, "I don't have time for this." She curled her fingers over the vodka bottle Corbyn had taken from her. He watched her and smiled as she turned to leave, sipping the vodka once more.

She walked into the bathroom and stared at her reflection. Dark brown eyes stared back at her behind blue rimmed glasses. Her chocolate brown hair was at the top of her head in a ponytail, exposing her stud earrings. She patted down the faded prince t-shirt she had borrowed from her sister and she straightened her posture. Presentable she thought. But then she looked back down at the bottle of vodka hanging loosely in her hand. One night, one night only, one last summer night and that's it she repeated the words in her head, that's all I need.

Her head cocked, and she analyzed herself. She let down her hair and a chocolate brown waterfall splashed over her shoulders. She tied up her t-shirt completely exposing her stomach and threw away her glasses.

She busted open the bathroom door, taking a swig of vodka, "summer's not over yet bitches," she screamed. The crowd wooed back, holding up their red solo cups in agreement.

-

Joy perked her head up from the cup pong table, was that Cilla? Joy turned her head and watched in amazement as Cilla started to dance with some boy. She inched forward, trying to get a closer look, but then she froze and returned to watching cup pong.

Joy frantically scratched her arm, and then again. She couldn't help but think about Carmen and Zach. She scratched her arm more. She tried to hold it in, but her feelings encircled her.

When she saw Zach, her skin tingled, her heart beated erratically, and there were butterflies in her stomach. But when she saw Carmen her fists clenched, her teeth gritted, and she felt an animosity so deep that it was like acid - burning, slicing, potent. Her face got red, suppressed with anger. And the two always seemed to be together.

Someone whispered in the midst of the roaring music and hazy chatter, "You look like you could kill someone."

Joy whipped around searching for the voice, but who ever it was was long gone.

-

That's them, the ones to be jealous of, at least in the town of Cherrywood New Jersey. But even they have secrets the desperate wouldn't be jealous of.