Side By Side

12.

I wobbled through the front door, and all piled on to the one couch watching the Scooby Doo movie, were my friends.

"Addi hey!" Marcus called after he heard the door close.

"How'd it go?" Lissa asked sitting up, knocking Lily's off her shoulder. I slowly made my way to the love seat and collapsed on it without a word.

Lily snorted a laugh, "That good, huh?"

I smiled in her direction, "Will someone go and get me two ice packs from the freezer?" I asked. Jake got up without a word and went the the kitchen.

"Man she must've killed you," Marcus said.

"Yeah, are you okay?" Lissa asked tentatively.

"Never been better," I smiled genuinely at Lissa and she looked surprised of first, then she smiled back largely. Jake reentered the room and tossed me the two ice packs one at a time before sitting down next to me.

"What happened?" He asked.

"Just a shock to my body after not dancing a while. Gotta bring down the swelling in my ankles," I told him.

"Ew. Dance is hardcore," Marcus said turning away from my and my swollen ankles.

"It definitely didn't help that I was the only one in this class," I said.

"You're the only one?" Lily asked.

"Yeah. She said that based off of what Jake told her I was more advanced than anybody there,"

"Good going Jake," Lily joked sarcastically. Jake stuck his tongue out at Lily jokingly.

"But seriously, thanks, Jake," I smiled up at him from my slumped position.

"Anytime," he smiled back at me with a lopsided smile.

"If it makes you feel any better," Lissa started, "you look super cute in your little outfit," I threw my head back with a laugh.

"Yeah, like the ballerinas in the jewellery boxes!" Lily shouted.

"That's what I was gonna say!" Marcus remarked.

"I know that's why I said it," Lily gloated.

"Twin telepathy?" Jake whispered. We snickered quietly while the twins had a good natured argument.

At school the next day my whole body hurt. It was a good hurt that reminded me I had worked hard and had been productive. Jake and I were heading to gym class, all changed and ready to go, when I noticed eyes following us down the hall. For a couple of days after I had first arrived, I noticed a few people's eyes stuck on me wherever I went, but not like this. Jake and I exchanged wary eye contact before continuing with our conversation.

As per usual we stretched while the Coach downed a cup of coffee before class. I was sore but stretching felt good, what didn't feel good were everybody's eyes on me while I did.

"So since Halloween is on a Sunday this year, the twins are having their Halloween party the day before Halloween. You're coming, right?" I broke out in a cold sweat before I answered. Crowds and drunk teenagers were not my thing. Crowds of drunk teenagers was even worse.

"Uhh..." I said, "I was sorta just planning on hanging out with Nancy. Watch some Tim Burton movies," To me that sounded like a pretty good night, but it was obvious Jake didn't like this idea.

"You're kidding right you have to come, you're the Scooby in our Scooby Doo gang," Jake argued. A mansion packed with high school students drinking, dancing, and wearing costumes which shows a bit too much skin? To me that sounded like a trip to hell.