Getting a Clue | ✓

Chapter 7

About a week and a half later I was in the school library during lunch break, in the middle of a particularly steamy sex scene in the slash fanfic I was reading, when I was interrupted by a text from Jethro.

Do you want to go to Janie's birthday party with me? It's next weekend.

Janie was one of Jethro's friends. He talked about her sometimes.

That might be weird for her since she doesn't know me, I sent back.

It was her idea.

Then it might be weird for me since I didn't know her. But I didn't send that.

Did I want to go to a stranger's birthday party? Not particularly. Sounded awkward and bad. Did I want an excuse to spend more time with Jethro? Fuck yes I did.

OK, sounds fun.

And so commenced a week and a half in which I attempted to pry Jethro for all the information my anxious brain demanded while pretending to be, like, totally chill about this whole going to a strangers party thing.

What should I wear to the party? I asked him while staring helplessly into my wardrobe.

Whatever you want. It's just a casual thing.

Yeah, sure, buddy, and what's your definition of casual? The guy wore eyeliner to school on a regular basis.

Like, jeans casual?

Yup, jeans are fine.

But were they, though? Were they? Ugh.

And then there was another issue...

What should I get Janie for her birthday?

Don't worry about it. She won't expect you to get her anything.

Yeah, but what if she did. Or she didn't but like, everyone else got her something and it was really awkward.

I want to get her something anyway. What does she like?

Chocolate, cute decorative items, just about anything you buy at the front counter of a junk shop, etc.

So I took to eBay and I found the best gift. The lettuce dog. It was a cute little porcelain dog that reminded me of Pippi, only it was... lettuce leaves. A lettuce dog.

And then there was the tactical question of how I would actually get to the party. Jethro said my dad could drop me at his place and then we'd go together, so that one was covered.

The rest of my worries were less easily put into reasonable questions. What did people our age even do at parties? Drink alcohol, maybe? Or was this another fairy bread situation? Maybe the two weren't mutually exclusive.

So by the day of the party I was super prepared in every way I could be prepared and underprepared in general because, hey, I'm a mess. I managed to avoid my dad following me in and being awkward when he dropped me off at Jethro's, so we were already off to a good start.

Jethro was waiting for me outside and I could tell immediately that he wasn't dressed for the party yet. With the way this guy dressed on a daily basis, there was no way he was wearing cargo shorts to a party.

But I was dressed for the party. I was wearing my good jeans again and a black skull and crossbones T-shirt that fit a bit nicer than most of my other shirts. And, of course, the necklace Jethro had given me.

"Is what I'm wearing okay?" I asked as he led the way up to his room.

"Yeah, you look great." He gave me another look over once we reached the top of the stairs, turning his head to the side. "Maybe a different necklace, though. It's a bit of an odd match."