Ocean Blue & You

paint a picture

When I opened my eyes, everything was blurry and out of focus. I saw Anna, all foggy in my eyes, but close to me, and as I gained better focus, I saw her worried expression. And then Faith's outline. She had now come over and was looking worried too, asking me something I couldn't hear properly. And then a few other people were standing in a circle around me, watching, but most were enjoying the fireworks that were still going off. I finally gained full focus, and Anna and Faith's faces came into view. There were four other people around me. Ben, the boy from my History class, a girl with silvery blonde hair who I recognised as one of Emma's girlfriends, and then another boy and girl I didn't recognise.

"Posy! Are you okay?" Anna asked again, loudly and clearly. Her voice finally became understandable, and I rubbed my eyes as I slowly sat up from the grass.

"Yeah- um, I'm fine," I said slowly, struggling to find words.

"How many fingers am I holding up?" Ben said loudly, holding up six fingers.

"Six," I said.

"It's the alcohol. God, can she not control herself?!" Emma's friend muttered coldly.

"Hey, she's just fainted you BITCH!" Faith retaliated angrily, "shut up and leave if you're here to humiliate her!"

The girl with the silvery blonde hair left, rolling her eyes and moaning in disgust.

"Wait, I fainted?" I repeated.

"Yes, you sort of did," Anna answered, rubbing my back.

"How long was I out?"

"About a minute. It was pretty scary actually. But you were breathing, which was the important thing. We almost thought of calling the police. But Anna had just dialled the number when you woke up. So we left it," Faith said.

"We need to go home," Anna suggested, and I was so relieved she had suggested this. It was the best idea I'd heard anyone say all night. My hair clip had come out, and my hair was a mane of tangles over my shoulders. I felt such a deep longing for sleep that I nodded my head.

"Yes. Definitely," I said. Faith looked reluctant, but agreed, kissing the man she had been making out with earlier on the cheek for a goodbye.

"Who was that?" Anna asked, rolling her eyes.

"Matt Thomas. He's so hot and such a good kisser," Faith replied excitedly, grinning.

"Ugh, well at least one of us found someone," Anna said.

We walked down the rest of the gravel pathway in silence. I willed my feet to carry on stepping, even though all I felt like doing was flopping down on a bench and snoozing there. Faith drove back, much to Anna's nervousness.

"How many did you say you had?" she asked, biting her nails in the front seat, whilst I forced myself to keep my eyes open in the back.

"Two drinks. I assure you Anna. It's fine. Most of what I drank was mock-tails anyway."

When Faith dropped me off at my house after Anna's, she smiled at me before saying,

"I know the punch was good, but maybe have a little less next time." It was a little patronising, and she seemed to get my expression of embarrassment before adding, "but anyone could have done it. It was your first time at a proper party. And that was a pretty wild one. Just get some good rest, and don't worry about it."

I gave her a hug, and thanked her, before heading through the front door of the house and up to my room. Mum and Dad were asleep and the house was as quiet as a grave, and dark. I slipped out of my shoes and dress, briskly put on my pyjamas and silently brushed my teeth, before falling into bed and immediately drifting off into a deep sleep.