Side By Side

17.

We decided to skip school the Friday, understandably, I was sort of all haunted house-d out. Most of the day we helped the Smiths decorate for their house— no, not house— their mansion, for their Halloween party the next day.

The Smith's house was the type of house that screamed "we're a rich, all American family!" But in a sort of classy way. It was a lot to decorate, so we divided and concord. Marcus and Lissa insisted they would do the spider webs upstairs— who could've guessed— which left Lily, Jake, and I to do the down stairs, where the main party would be happening.

It was a relatively easy task, except stretching my left arm over my head hurt from the bruising on my stomach. Nancy was ready to form an angry mob— pitch forks and all— and go after Tiffany herself. Jolene calmed her down after the principal told Nancy that there was nothing he could do because it hadn't happened on school grounds. Lily and Jake made me sit on a stool so I wouldn't hurt myself.

"Jake, you're such a slow poke, I'm going to get started on the other room. Addi, sit," I frowned but nodded to Lily and she left the room.

I sighed, "Why does Tiffany Hitch have to hate me? I didn't realize how exhausting it is to be hated,"

Jake laughed and hung up some dancing skeletons, "hey don't worry. We all know why why she hates you anyways,"

I almost had a heart attack. Jake knew? When did he find out? Did Marcus tell him or did Lissa? Did that mean Lily knew too?

"Really?" I asked hesitantly.

"Well for one you're associated with Marcus which right off the bat, bad. But you're also smart, coaches knew favourite, pretty, and crazy teenage girls don't really have a rhyme or reason," he tacked on the last part quickly and it hadn't escaped my notice. I looked away so maybe he wouldn't notice me blush.

"Either way," I said moving on quickly, "I'd rather not end up bruised every second week,"

"We'll find a way eventuality, don't worry," he told me. I tapped my feet on the floor. I didn't think he was right, but I gave him a smile regardless.

The next day I didn't bother even putting on other clothes, I went straight for my Scooby costume, minus the dog ears, and blue croaker necklace I borrowed from Lily, which I would put on just before the party started. Lissa, Jake, and I all went down to the Smith's early to do some final touches and have their parents take pictures of us before the mayhem began.

"No drinking, no drugs, and no sex," Mrs. Smith wagged her finger at each mention of the word 'no'.

"Wouldn't dream of it Ma. Now go to your movie, have fun," Marcus ushered both his parents out the door and closed it behind them.

"Nervous?" Lily asked me.

"I've never really been to a party. I mean, I went to a few magazine event things with my parents, but that was more business casual, not revealing costume," I explained.

"Pfft, you're a catch Addi, you'll be fine," Marcus reassured me. Still, there was a pit growing in my stomach as the time for guests to arrive got closer and closer. My leg bounced as I sat in anticipation. There was several bowls of several different kinds of candy which kept me mildly occupied.

The doorbell rang.  Thirty rowdy football players and their guests stumbled in, a few already drunk because they knew there would be no booze as per Mr and Mrs smith's request. I had been pretty sure that Marcus and lily were cleaver enough to hide any alcohol consumption on anyone's part, but they said there would be other weekends to drink without the wrath of their parents. While the guests began to fill the space, I saw a flash of orange skin and hair, and that's when the nightmare began.