The Unknowables

Chapter 4

I push my way through the press of people to get to the kitchen, angrily digging my elbows into the back of a wanna-be Batman to get there. The kitchen is no less crowded but as the DJ spins on a popular disk a dozen of the revelers bail to pour out onto the dance floor. I spot Chelsea calmly sipping a drink watching the success of her party. She smiles at me as I walk up to her.

"So... how was your 'talk' with Alex?"

If I hadn't already known she was responsible for the fiasco on the terrace her tone would have made her a dead give away. By the time I'm done with her she might as well be.

"Chelsea, how could you put him up to that? I thought we were friends! You didn't even warn me."

She puts her hands in the air, as if to ward away my anger.

"Whoa, there. You've had a crush on that boy since you were eight, I would know. I thought it would be  a good gift to set up the domino's to fall into place, and about time to. I've been talking to him all summer and convinced him to come to the party to talk you into finally getting together."

"And you thought this would be a good way to do it?"

I can feel the hurt and anger building behind my eyes. It isn't Chelsea's fault, if I wasn't sick I would be hugging her in elation. Unfortunately this gesture of friendship only reminds me of the things I can't have, may never have. Suddenly a strong shove pushes me from the side sending me to the floor. I land with a huff, the wind temporarily knocked from me, completely taken by surprise.

Chelsea starts yelling curses at my attacker as I turn over to see who it is. To my surprise it's Wendy, a very tipsy Wendy who looks like she's winding up for a screaming match with Chelsea. A match I have no doubt Chelsea would win, she has the lungs of a banshee. I stand, pausing to check my costume wings still cover my back before stepping between them. Wendy's blurry eyes focus on me for a moment before she screams.

"YOU BOY-FRIEND STEALING B%#$@!" She launches herself at me in all her drunken fury.

She seems to forget in her anger and alcohol that I have lessons in defence and fighting. Luckily for her I don't want to ruin the party by kicking her face in, and I have a personal rule of not fighting anyone outside of class. Even in my slightly buzzed state of mind her actions are like slow motion. I side step and catch her arm as she goes by, using her own momentum to guide her into the nearest wall.

She hits with a solid thump and slides down to the floor, stunned. I ignore the hoots and hollers of the crowd looking for some action and walk up to her, I look down at her. Her eye shadow is smeared all over her face and her nurse costume looks worse for wear, she also looks positively ticked off. Man, she is an awfully angry and violent drunk and I really don't feel like being nice right now.

"Wendy if you can't be mature and stop fighting you'll be asked to leave. And I didn't steal Alex, you pushed him away, get over yourself."

I turn to leave her there slumped against the wall, already forgotten, but stop when I come face-to-face with Chelsea's brother, Trevor. He looks cute in his Zorro costume but a little flustered, I assume it's from trying to be the adult at this party. Not really his style but at least he was trying.

"Wren, are you ok? Does she need to be removed from the party?"

I start to reply how I'm fine but then something is slammed down across my back. I feel something tear, it's not the cloth wings I'm wearing but something else, deep in my back. The pain is excruciating, like a bolt of electricity, my eyes roll into the back of my head as I crumple to the floor. I hear shouts and yells over the music, I groan from the pain trying to orient myself with my surroundings. I see Chelsea crouching over me yelling at people to get back and give me some air and beyond her, Wendy being hauled away in a head-lock toward the elevator doors.