"You don't need makeup," Ethan says.
"Um, wrong. I'm gross without it," I cringe. "Um, wrong," he mocks me.
Vibrate
I look at the top of my phone and see a text from Violet. I pick up my phone and click on the text.
"Who texted you?"
"How do you know someone texted me?"
"You're on paused."
"Oh, right. Um... Violet," I hesitate.
"About what?"
Violet: Hey chloe. I know we haven't been talking, but i really miss you. My life is a mess right now. I need you more than ever. I can't tell you how hard this is. I miss you and I just need my best friend. I'm gonna party tonight and I want you to come. It'll be my 'last party being a regular teenager.' Nobody knows I'm pregnant, except for you, Ethan, and my family. I'm telling people in a few weeks. For now, I just wanna party.
"She invited me to a party tonight," I say. "You're not gonna go, are you?"
"Well, I mean... I don't see why I shouldn't."
He sighs and stays silent. "E, you don't have to worry. Why do you care anyways?"
He stays silent for a few seconds. "I don't know," he mutters.
"Do you think you could drive me?"
———
"You really need to get your license," he says. "I know, I know. My parents can't afford to get me a car right now, and I don't even think I'll be getting one anytime soon since I pissed them off."
"Well, I don't mind driving you so it's all good," he shrugs. "Aw, you're sweet."
He pulls into her driveway and parks. "Let me know when you're ready, and please make good choices."
"I will, don't worry," I open the car door and step out.
"You're like a dad," I say. "It's my specialty," he smirks.
———
When I go around the house, to the backyard, I instantly spot Violet standing with a group of her friends.
She looks over at me and her eyes light up. She's never looked so happy to see me.
We walk towards each other and hug as if it's been years since we've seen each other.
"Thank you so much for coming," she says. No knowing how to respond, I just grin and say "yeah, of course."
"Hey, girls! This is Chloe," she calls out to her friends. "Hey!" They all smile and wave.
"Oh my god, you didn't have to introduce me," I blush in embarrassment.
"I'm not introducing you, I'm showing off my best friend," she says.
Everything felt normal, or at least how it was before she got pregnant. I wish it could always be normal.
"It looks like everyone's here, so we can probably go now," she says. "Go where?"
"Oh, I didn't tell you? We're going on a party bus and it's taking us to a club."
"Well, shit. Let's go," I chuckle.
———
There were about ten people and they were all party-people. Some girls were pole dancing, the others snapchatting the whole thing, and others were rapping the lyrics to songs.
