All Around Us

Chapter Eleven

"You're invited to a party?" I scoffed, the invitation slipping from my fingers. It was the first week of school, and I was the most unnoticed figure in the entire school. A party? For me?

But I wasn't ready to face Dad yet. I needed this weekend to clear my mind. I just hoped Christian wouldn't be there. He was the last person I wanted to see.

As I pulled into the driveway of the massive house, I couldn't help but feel out of place. "So this is what a party feels like," I muttered, wandering through the crowd. The music blared, and people were everywhere. It was overwhelming.

Suddenly, a familiar voice cut through the noise. "Attention, attention!" I ignored it at first, but the voice persisted. Finally, I turned to see Christian standing at the front of the room. My heart sank.

I put down my drink and stormed out of the house. I should have known better than to come here. Christian followed me, catching up and grabbing my hand. "Christian, let go!" I yelled, struggling to break free.

"Liss, please," he said softly. "I never meant to hurt you. I just didn't know what to do."

"Didn't know?" I scoffed. "How could you not know how to uncheat? You were my friend's boyfriend!"

Christian looked at me with pleading eyes. "Liss, please... give me a chance. I need to make it up to you."

I sighed and stopped struggling. He let go, and I bolted back to my car, starting it and driving away. I should have never come to this stupid party.

As I pulled out of the driveway, my fuel light started flashing. Before I could do anything, my car died. And then it started raining. There I was, sitting in a fuel-less car, in the pouring rain, with Christian standing right outside my window.

"Let me take you home, Liss," he offered.

"I can do that myself," I replied.

"Do you have any extra fuel? Because I can see from all the way here that you don't even have enough to get out of this driveway."

"Are you a mechanic?" I asked sarcastically.

"No, but you can't tell me you cut off your car just to talk to me, did you?"

"Arg, please..." I muttered.

"I'll take that as a yes," he said.

"No!" I yelled. "Go entertain your guests."

"I'm not going anywhere until you say yes."

"Suit yourself, Aquaman!"

I watched him stand in the rain, shivering. I felt a pang of guilt. Maybe he wasn't so bad after all.

"How are we holding up in there?" I asked, finally breaking the silence.

"We're feeling quite refreshed, thanks for asking," he replied sarcastically.

"Well, alright then," I said, going back to watching my movie. But I couldn't help but notice him shivering.

"I didn't know you could dance like that," I teased.

"Oh, shut up!" he grumbled.

"I kinda feel sorry for you," I said.

"Really?"

"Oh yes," I said. "I wish they could have been hail stones. Then you would have danced better."

"Lisa, I'm catching a fever now, please stop!" he pleaded.

"Ugh, if you're going to take me home, promise to take me home straight," I said.

"Well..."

"Christian!" I insisted.

"Okay, okay," he said.

I told him to take me home, nothing more, nothing less. But of course, being a boy, he had to add his own twist. He took me to the place we used to go when we were kids, and he started talking.

Everything he said was hard to miss, despite the noise of the rain. Eventually, the tension cleared, and we started sharing secrets. Before I knew it, he was leaning in for a kiss. It was my first kiss, and it was unforgettable.

Christian dropped me off at home, and Dad was waiting for me on the porch. I didn't greet him. I just walked past him, ignoring his questions. He followed me inside, looking defeated.

He hated Christian. Just the mention of his name set him off. When he saw that I wasn't offering an explanation, he started asking questions.

I barely remember everything he said that night, but I can still recall him asking about my car and where I had gone with it. When I didn't respond, he threatened me.