See Me Differently

Chapter Two

Billy

That's it. Bebe is a shapeshifter.

I remember Bebe as the bossy Asian girl who I argued religiously with, thick black hair that was knotted at all times.

I don't know what to make of her now.

And I'm just as clueless about the feelings rushing through my head. Like wine, altering the color of my mind. Was Bebe as 'head-over-heels' as me? Oh stop shittin, Billy. You were a complete dick to her, why would she like you now?

Clearly I don't listen to my common sense. I can't believe I invited her to the party. I can't believe I made up a fucking party for her. And that necklace! It was supposed to be for Zoë...but let's not go there.

I rummage through my backpack for a pack of cigarettes and light one. I bring one to much lips and smoke fills the patio, all the decorations are up and the food is prepared but I'm way too stressed to stop myself from smoking. I checked my Apple Watch, white numbers glare back at me, 07:30.

The doorbell rings loudly and ever so suddenly. I check the time again, 7:40. Who is here so early? The party doesn't officially start till 0:8:005. I rush over, with the cigarette hanging from the side of my mouth. I swing the door open, to see a girl with thick black hair, brown soulful eyes and wearing 'BTS' T- shirt with ripped jeans. Then I notice the silver bracelet with charms on her wrist. She... actually decided to wear it. I probably stood there with my jaw hanging for about 3 seconds before I realised and closed it up.
"Bebe? What are you here so early? The party starts in 20 minutes," I ask. She walks into the room with me. I close the door after her.
"I needed to ask you... why did you buy me such an expensive bracelet?" She asks me. Shit! I forgot that she would ask about that. I think quickly.
"Um... what do you mean? I just—I got everyone expensive gifts!" I say, chuckling nervously.
"Oh... in that case... sorry for making a huge deal about it, heh... you know, you shouldn't smoke-" Zack cuts her off quickly as he barges through the door.
"Hey dude! What's up-! Oh... am I interrupting something...?" He chuckles and nudges me. I see Bebe give him the look of pure death.
"Bro, it's nothing, she's just asking me a question," I reply defensively.
"Haha, yeah right," Zack laughs and then struts up the stairs to who-knows-where.
"Sorry about that... anyway, what were you saying?" I ask Bebe.
"Yeah... you know you shouldn't smoke, right?" She says. I almost spit the cigarette out because she told me not to but instead-
"Fuck that." I take a long drag. "'C'mon, the patio's all set up."

Bebe

I can't believe I thought I was that special. Barging in here, demanding why he got me an expensive gift when I should have been thanking him. I'm such a fucking idiot. I follow Billy numbly up the stairs Zack had disappeared through and hope for the best, I was never the party type of girl. Don't know what compelled me to come to this one.

The patio(literally who the fuck is that rich?)has concrete floors and fairy lights hung up on the sides. About five tables are set up, with snacks and punch(I hope). Zack already looks kinda drunk if that's even possible. After a few minutes of sitting alone in a corner with a cup of 'punch', a few more people scatter in—making it a whole lot less awkward. After about twenty people are gathered on the roof, Billy cranks the music up to some EDM song that isn't that bad. The small crowd starts jumping up and down. A girl with long blonde hair and a dress that practically clung to her skin walks over to me in three inch heels. I expect her to say something so I put my best smile on(which I don't do too often). Instead, she stares blankly at the bracelet on my wrist and struts away, her ass waving about. I see her walk over to Billy and say something I can't make out. Billy throws his hands in the air in frustrations and says something that looks equally furious. They argue for a few minutes, with me as their audience. But somehow, I catch Billy's eye. The conversation seems private so I look away, how obvious it may be. I wonder what they're arguing about, at Billy's own party.

After a few minutes of sitting alone, I get up to go home. Before I can leave, this guy called Norman yells, "Spin The Bottle X Seven Minutes in Heaven!"

A few people whoop but beneath that I hear the blonde girl say, "Are you serious? What is this, 5th grade?" She says this in the poshest accent possible.

"C'mon!" Maya, who has been dancing with Bethany for an hour, pulls me into the circle being formed in the middle of the patio floor.

"No—Maya. I—can't, I—" I try to break free but Maya is strong for a small girl.

"Sit." Bethany demands. I start arguing but Norman's voice booms into the air again.

"All right! Rules are: you spin the bottle, whoever it lands on..." He paused for effect. "Gets seven minutes in heaven with you." A few whistles sound in the small crowd. "Who's up?"

"Peter!!" I hear someone yell in the crowd, a few more yells protrude after that. All I remembered about Peter was that everyone used to tease him about liking Jessie. But she was in the bathroom. After a few whistles and whoops, Peter settles down with the bottle and spins it. Hard.

The bottle turns at least five-hundred times before landing on...

Me.

Gulp.

The party erupts, people laughing, whooping, and even booing. All eyes are on me, including Billy's

"Are you a wuss, Bebe?" He smirks. Oh, that little skunk. I won't give him the satisfaction.

"C'mon." I say and take Peter's hand. He still looks kinda half shocked. As we walk into the shed, seemingly used as the closet in this situation, the crowd goes silent.

Oh shit.

The shed is dimly lit, a light bulb above us. Garden tools stacked at the sides. The awkwardness is extremely uncomfortable. Peter is so tall, his head nearly reaches the light bulb.

"So...uh—" I twiddle my thumbs.

"I'm gay." Peter spits out, so quiet, I barely heard it.

"Oh!" I say. He winces as I realize how loud I'm being. "Oh." I whisper instead.

"Yeah," he mutters.

"So you aren't out of the closet?" I ask. He shakes his head.

"I feel like a lot of people won't think I'm...the same person as before. But...I am." He says. "There aren't a lot of gay couples in Icedale."

"Yeah." I nod, "Hey! How bout the cutest couple ever?" He looks at me curiously. "Maya and Bethany, duh!"

His eyes widen. "They're a couple? I just thought they were really good friends, like really really really—okay, never mind, I see it now." We both laugh.

"Do you...like anybody?" I ask, "Sorry, is that private?"

"Um."

"Ignore that."

"Norman." He whispers.

I smile so wide. "That's adorable! Does he like you back? Sorry, that's private."

"No, no. He does." Peter grins. "Likes me back, I mean. But we're not ready yet."

I check the time, seven minutes go by so fast. I take Peter's arm and we run out laughing. Almost everyone's mouths are hanging open. Except Billy's. He has the bottle. He taps on it ever so slightly and it lands on...the girl. She raises her eyebrows, tips her head back and laughs.

"C'mon, Zoë!" People yell. Zoë. That's her name.

As the unlikely couple stride past us, Billy(and Zoë)gives me a look. A look I just can't decipher.