Life of the Party // GD

four

Friday night comes way faster than I expected.

As Alexa painstakingly does her makeup and rotates between her three outfit options indecisively, I lay on my bed, my heart in my throat. As much as I hate to admit it I can't stop thinking about Grayson. It's literally the worst possible thing I could be doing right now but he just doesn't seem to want to leave my mind.

"-and then, when we were kissing under the bleachers, he gave me a ring! A promise ring! And I was like oh my god, and he was like oh my god I love you, and I was like I love you more, and then-" She drones on and on about Ryan, obviously already buzzed on a few drinks.

I'm totally listening. Totally.

"Hey girls, I'm bringing you some dinner!" Julia calls up from the kitchen. I'm so grateful for her; she has no idea what she's doing but she's trying her best and it is very much appreciated.

"Aw, oh my god, thank you so much!" Alexa turns to me, and the look of utter admiration of my aunt on her face makes it hard to stifle a giggle. "Isn't she such a sweetheart? Wow. Anyway, so we were kissing and-"

I should feel so bad for tuning her out. I do feel bad. But there's really only room for one person in my mind right now, whether I like it or not.

"Here you go, girls." Julia steps into my bedroom with two plates of steaming macaroni and cheese. Don't be fooled by its cute plating - she can't cook. But, microwave dinners are much better than being stuck back where I was, so I can't complain.

"Thank you, babe! You're so sweet, thank you!" Alexa takes the mac and cheese with great interest. 

"No problem, love," Julia smiles at her before turning to me, a questioning look on her face; Alexa's hiding-her-drunkenness skills are not quite up to par. I shrug my shoulders and she smiles before handing me my dinner and leaving the room.

"And that's why you never have sex under the bleachers at DuVont!" Alexa triumphantly closes her cautionary tale. Please change the subject, Alexa. I really don't want to get caught with my head in the clouds again, and I don't want my past to be drawn into this.

I haven't told her about what's been happening with Grayson yet, and I'm really not planning on it - neither have I told her about the fact that he's the face I seem to see most at this fucking school. She's great but I've barely known the girl for a month, and I can not afford any reputation-shattering stories this soon. Plus, she seems like a total sweetheart but her reputation still precedes her, and as much as I hate judging someone for their reputation, at this point it might just be what keeps me alive.

"So Lucia, do you have any stories? Any great memories from your old school, or-" she squeals, "-any new escapades with some charming DuVont boy that I should know about?"

Yes, actually. After you left the tryouts before me, I was shamelessly flirted with by one of the football players, and I flirted right back! He then offered me sex at his upcoming party and hasn't left me the fuck alone since - not to mention the fact that I can't get him out of my head!

"No, honestly." I say with indifference as she stuffs her face with macaroni. "Nothing worth noting. Nothing like your stories, anyway."

"Well, that's why I wanted to bring you to this party! To get you some memories! Some wild stories for you to tell all your friends back home!" Right.

"I told you, Alexa. The answer's still no, and it's not changing." 

"It was worth a try," Alexa mumbles. "Oh, can you drive Eli and James as well?"