Perks of Being Indian [On Hold]

Lesson 10 - Don't Talk to Strangers

I looked in the mirror before exiting my room to make sure that I looked ok. I ended up wearing a red and white stripey jumper, some skinny jeans, a red beanie and a pair of nerd glasses so I looked something like 'Where's Wanda' because I'm so creative (note the sarcasm). I left my hair in a side-braid and skipped down the steps and into the hallway. Shay was leaning against the door which lead into the porch with a calm expression.

"What the hell are you meant to be?" I asked, noticing that he was just wearing a grey hoodie, some jeans and a grey beanie. "Oh yeah, I forgot you don't need to dress up, you're pretty scary just going as yourself."

"Shanaya, you really need to work on your insults." He said, moving away from the door so I could put my shoes on.

"Whatever."

We walked outside and the cold air bit at me as Shay locked the door. It was already dark and my jumper wasn't really keeping me warm so I started walking in the direction of our school in hopes that it would warm me up.

"Where are you going?"

"Um, where do you think?" I said.

"Get in the car, you idiot. I'm not walking to school when it's this cold."

"Wait what?" Did he just say car?

"I said get in the f*cking car." He said slowly as though I couldn't understand English.

"Alright, no need to swear. But isn't that your Mum's car? And do you even have a liscence?"

"Yeah, but my Mum takes the bus and I have got my liscence becuase I'm seventeen and I took a test, genuis."

I got into the passenger seat and wondered when I would be able to drive a car. My birthday was in a few months so I would be able to take a driving test but I doubt my Dad would let me drive his car. And I obviously couldn't afford to buy one so...

"You know, you didn't have to come." I said after we hit the road.

"It's not like I'm coming because of you."

"But you said-" I remembered how he said it wasn't safe to go alone before I was interrupted.

"I was joking, idiot. I don't give a shit about what happens to you." He said.

Ouch! I know it shouldn't but that really hurt. It wasn't like I was asking him to treat me like a queen but for the sake of humanity, you would at least care. I knew that it was Shay and I knew that this is what he was like so it really shouldn't matter but it stung so bad that I couldn't speak for the rest of the journey.

And by the rest of the journey, I mean five minutes. As soon as the car was parked, I left it and Shay behind as I made my way into the reception of the school. I have to the admit, the decoration was on point. The music was so loud that the floor was literally vibrating and I could see people dancing inside the hall. I could imagine what my parents would say if they found me here, but they were on a plane, luckily. I still felt rebellious and like I was doing the wrong thing for some reason.

I walked into the hall where the party was being held and looked around for Aaron, Ash or Teagan. Jay was probably home reading a dictionary or something. Now note that I found this particularly hard on an average school day so right now was practically impossible. However, I managed to find Aaron standing in a corner, looking at his phone.

"Hey." I kind of yelled as I approached him after walking through a crowd of dancing students. I swear, the music was going to make my ears bleed.

"Hey, Shanaya. I was just about to message you. Ash has wandered off to 'pull' some girls and Teagan...she went with Cyan and I haven't seen her since." He shouted over the noise.