Senior Year

4

It was finally party time. Everyone was at the Baxter household partying like no tomorrow. Some were a bit surprised when Naomi of all people showed up but they were too busy having the time of their lives to pay too much attention to that.

"Okay, so we're going to go school everyone at beer pong. See you guys later." Phoebe said dragging Samar with her towards the beer pong table.

"I'm gonna go look around." Zoe said before leaving and winking at Aliyah who was now alone with Zac.

"What's with the wink?" Zac asked a bit confused.

"Don't worry about it. Let's just go get something to drink." Aliyah said pulling the boy with her to the kitchen where drinks were on the table.

"I'll get a soda. I'll drive everyone back home. You can get whatever you want." Zac told the girl.

"I think I'll just have a ginger beer for now. Last time I had more than that my mom almost killed me."

"I know. I'm the one who dropped you off remember?" Zac chuckled and Aliyah blushed in embarrassment.

"That was the most humiliating day of my life. The worst part is I don't remember most of it." Aliyah hid her face in her hands making Zac chuckle.

"How was I when I was drunk? Please tell me I didn't say anything stupid."

"You didn't. You're actually cute when you're drunk. I don't know how that's possible since everyone I know looks weird when they're drunk." Zac shrugged grabbing a soda and giving Aliyah her ginger beer.

"Thanks." Aliyah took the cup without looking away from the boy who was now looking over to the snack table.

Phoebe and Samar were winning at beer pong and everyone was cheering for them. They were on a roll and it seemed like no one could beat them.

"This is so easy." Samar told Phoebe as one of their opponents gulped down another cup of beer.

"I know but at this rate we won't get drunk at all. Maybe we should play another game." Phoebe suggested.

"Wanna go do some shots?" Samar suggested.

"Heck yeah!" Phoebe yelled before dragging the boy to another table for some vodka.

"Okay guys the first two to finish 10 shots of vodka win!" Emmit yelled and everyone cheered.

It was Samar and Phoebe against Martha and her friend Toby.

"You're going down Martha!" Samar yelled.

"Keep dreaming Reynolds!" Martha yelled back.

"Ready. Set. Drink!" Emmit yelled and everyone cheered.

It was a close call but Martha ended up winning it for her and Toby leaving Phoebe and Samar disappointed.

"Nice game Phebs." Martha said giving the girl a high five. "You only lost cause you had him on your team." Martha pointed at Samar.

"Hey! I'm not that bad!"

"Whatever you say Reynolds." Martha gave him a gentle punch on the shoulder before walking off in the opposite direction.

"I think I'm in love." Samar said still looking at Martha.

"Well this is gonna be one heck of a senior year." Phoebe said as she laughed at her friend.

Martha was known for her intensity, stubbornness and unwillingness to change her likes and dislikes for her boyfriends to feel like she's not challenging their dominance.

"Dude, you've got to help me get her to like me." Samar said holding both of Phoebe's arms.

"Seriously? Am I the only one who's not trying to find a senior year romance?"

"What?" Samar raised a brow.

"Nothing. I'll help you but not now. Maybe Monday, for now I wanna party."

Samar smiled and nodded. They went back to the table to watch people as they took some shots.

Aliyah and Zac were outside watching people jumping into the pool. They were talking about mostly nothing. Their conversation made absolutely no sense whatsoever but they both seemed invested in it.

"Hey! I'm gonna jump into the pool from the roof!" Markus Johnson the school's star basketball player and casanova yelled from the roof of the house.

"Twenty bucks says he chickens out." Zac told Aliyah.

"You're on. Markus never chickens out of anything." Aliyah challenged looking up at the roof.

Everyone ran out the house towards the back yard just to see if Markus was actually going to jump.

"Count me off!" Markus yelled and everyone started counting down from 10.

"10..9..8..7..6..5..4..3...2.....1!"

Markus jumped off as soon as they got to 1. He successfully landed in the pool with no injuries or scratches.

"Yes! Pay up player!" Aliyah extended her hand towards the boy.

"Damn it!" Zac yelled giving the short girl her money.

"Let this be a lesson to thee young Zachary McGregor, never make a bet with Aliyah Hernandez." Aliyah said with a deep voice trying to sound like a wise wizard and stroking her chin as if she had a beard.

"You're so weird." Zac chuckled shaking his head.

"Thanks." Aliyah smiled fondly at the boy.

"Hey, you wanna go dance?" Zac and asked and Aliyah excitedly nodded her head. Zac took her hand and they went to dance.

Aliyah's favorite song was playing and Zac thought it would be fun if they danced.

"I'm gonna go get us some water." Aliyah told the boy after dancing to five songs.

"Okay." Zac nodded and Aliyah walked off. When she got to the kitchen she was told all the water bottles were outside so she had to maneuver her way through a house full of drunk teens.

When she finally got the water bottles she made her way back to where she left Zac. When she was almost there she saw Zac drinking some water from Chloe's bottle. He then offered her a dance and she agreed.

While they were dancing Zac saw Aliyah and gave her a thumbs up which she returned with a forced smile. She sighed in disappointment and went to sit down on the couch.

"Hey can I have one of those water bottles?" Aliyah looked up and saw Markus smiling at her. She smiled back and gave him one of the bottles.

"Thanks. You wanna dance?" Markus pointed at the dance floor. Aliyah thought for a second before nodding.

"I would love to." He took her hand and led her to the dance floor.

After another hour of partying people started leaving. Zac had just said goodnight to Chloe and was now waiting for everyone at his car.

Phoebe and Samar were the first to show up looking a bit out of it. They both got into the back and waited patiently.

Next to arrive was Zoe who looked happier than ever. Zac raised an eyebrow at her and she just shrugged. She took her seat next to Phoebe in the car.

Last to arrive was Aliyah who was walking out the house laughing with Markus right next to her.

"See you Monday." Aliyah told the boy before giving him a hug and running to the passenger seat of Zac's car.

Zac looked at her for a few seconds before starting the car and driving everyone home.