To Kiss Kate

6. the argument

Katiya Carpenter:

I focused on the wind messing up my hair as we drove. I needed to stay focused on something as simple as that, because I knew when I walked through the doors of Jerrad's house with Jack fucking Michaels, all hell would probably break loose. I was nervous. This was a horrible, horrible, decision. I didn't know why I had said yes, but I could resist him. Unfortunately, the drive wasn't long enough for me to feel any better, and before I knew it, Jack's white BMW was pulling into Jerrad's driveway.

"You okay?" He asked as we pulled in.

"No. I'm fucking terrified. Jason is going to be so pissed." I blurted, not really sure why. For some reason I felt comfortable with him. Calm.

"I'm not scared of Jason. Besides, it's not like we're getting married, we're friends. Everything's gonna be fine." He tried to encourage as he put the car in park in a spot next to what I recognized as Landon's mustang. I wasn't convinced.

"You don't know Jason.. this was a bad idea. We should go." I said, re-buckling my seat belt and turning to him expectantly. He reached for my hand, trying to prevent me from clicking the buckle.

"Breathe, Katiya. This isn't a big deal. We're all friends here, nothing more." He said. It seemed to pain him a little to say it, and it pained me too. More than I would've liked to admit. He started talking again, "but if you want to go, we can gladly do something else." I let out a long sigh and thought of my options. First, have Jack drive me home and avoid my problems, get about 10 points higher on my final tomorrow. Second, have Jack drive to anywhere and hang out, just us. As good as it sounded, I wasn't mentally prepared for that. Third option, go into the party, drink my problems away, and have an enjoyable night.

"It's fine. You're right. We're friends. Being drunk will help, anyways." I let the seat belt go back into the seat on its own. He seemed a little surprised by my answer, but he smiled and opened his door. I took a few more long, deep breaths before walking towards the house.

The door was halfway open, and I leaned against it to open it all the way as we entered. Fuck, it was loud. I was glad, because nobody noticed us when we walked in. I scanned the area for my friends, and found Hendricks and Genny talking to a girl I didn't completely recognize. I tapped Jack with my hand and pointed, trying to give him heads on my location. He gave me a thumbs up and pointed towards the beer, following by pointing at myself and then at me. I smiled and we went our separate ways. I could feel my shoulders relaxing as nobody made a big deal. Everything would be fine.

"Hey, Kate." Genny said, smiling at me. "I thought you weren't coming?" I let her break me down with her eyes.

"Jack convinced me." The smile on her face grew to take up the whole thing.

"Yayayayayayayayy!! Is he here?" She seemed to dance around a little as she spoke. Hendricks smiled, but seemed unenthused. Hmm. I nodded in response.

"Jason's gonna be pissed." Hendricks muttered, looking around the room, for who I assumed to be Jason.

"Why? I'm allowed to have friends." Now Hendricks straight up rolled his eyes at me.

"Oh, Kate. Don't pretend like you and Jack haven't been giving each other googly eyes ever since he got here. Jason was feeling threatened as is, then you dump him because he wants to come to the party that you show up at with the other dude? Jason is going to kill someone." Genny bit her lip nervously, seemingly agreeing with what Hendricks said. Fuck. Dammit. Fuck. I had to talk to Jason. I turned on my heel, looking to find him. I scanned the living room, the white couches were covered with bedsheets, classy. I didn't see him.