Ordinary

*CHAPTER 6*

My heart dropped through the floor and my blood boiled with anger.

I walked up and slapped Jessica across the face. I didn't actually but I wanted to so bad. Instead, what I did was turn on my heels and race out of the room. I was heading towards the front door, but when I saw Will standing in my path, talking to someone, I decided instead to race up the stairs to my left to the second floor. The first empty room looked to be a spare room.

I slammed the door behind me and slid down the wall beside it. Tears brimmed in my eyes but I tried to choke them back down. Honestly, how could I be so stupid, I thought to myself. I genuinely thought someone like him could be into someone like me. I raked my finger through my hair, frustrated with myself. But then I thought back to the conversations we'd had, how genuine he was with me, the way he smiled at me.

I stood up and flopped face down onto the bed. I let the tears I had been holding back pour out. Crying over a boy is so stupid. But I finally had something going for me and Jessica ripped it away in one swift motion. I knew the tears had an underlying motive as well. Everything I had been bottling up came rolling out. My frustrations towards my mother, my frustrations towards school, my frustrations towards my friends for making me think I had a chance at some happiness for once.

My frustrated sobs were interrupted by the bedroom door opening and closing. I sat up on the bed to see none other than Will standing by the door.

"Oh, no is everything okay Josie."

Great, this was exactly what I needed at the moment. "Yeah, I'm fine." I quickly wiped my face.

"It doesn't look like you're fine", Will said as he walked over and took a seat next to me.

"Listen, I don't want to talk about it. Especially not with you", I added bitterly.

"Well, maybe we could do something to take your mind off of it." He placed a hand on my thigh.

"Oh my god!" I stood up and moved quickly toward the door. He grabbed my hand off the handle and held my wrist tight.

"Wait I'm sorry!" He didn't loosen his grip. He was so close now, I could smell the alcohol on his breath, and he swayed, a bit unsteady.

"Let me go!" I tried to pull my wrist away but he countered that by shoving me up against the wall next to the door.

His face was now inches from mine and he anchored me to the wall. "Why do you have to be such a bitch, Josie!" He yelled. "If you weren't such a prude, I would... I would..."

You would what? I wanted to ask, but I wasn't sure I actually wanted the answer.

Before I could even contemplate, he had his mouth mashed against mine. I kneed him hard in the nuts and pushed him back onto the floor. "GET OFF!"

The bedroom door opened and Casper stood in the door frame scanning the room. When he realized what was going on he grabbed Will by the shirt and threw him out into the hallway. They broke into a fight. They tumbled down the stairs, a mess of arms and limbs. The party stopped around them. Excited to see the drama unfold, the party formed a circle around them.

I used this as an opportunity to escape out the front door. I don't know where I planned on going. Maybe I could walk home, or wait in Meg's car.

"Jo", Casper spoke from the front step. I kept walking. "Josie!" He jogged up next to me and put a hand on my shoulder to spin me around. "Are you okay?"

I pushed his hand off. "God! Just leave me alone!"

The party began spilling out the door to see what was going to happen.

"I'm sorry. I was just trying to help." He stepped back.

"Well, I don't need your help. I don't need you to rescue me!" Hot tears threatened to run down my face. "Stop acting like you're some sort of night in shining armor. I don't need you! I can handle myself."

"Jo, did I do something wrong?" His face was covered with genuine concern.

"Why don't you ask her?" I pointed at Jessica who was now standing at the front of the crowd.

Realizing what I was talking about, Casper shook his head.

"Oh my god Jo, that was not what it looked like." He furrowed his brow deep. "Do you really think I'm that kind of person?" He looked hurt.

"I don't know what I think of you." I shook my head. "I hardly even know you."

Noah and Meg had broken through the crowd and moved towards me.

"Is everything okay?" Noah asked.

"Can we just leave. Please." I begged.

Meg nodded and we started toward her car.

"Josie!", Casper called.

"Dude, just leave her alone," Noah warned before following behind us.

We got in and Meg drove me home in silence. I knew she would call later so we could talk, but now I just wanted to be alone.