Chapter 24
Twenty-Four
Instagram caption by @briellewilliamsplus.
“Callie,” Suzy hisses. “What were you thinking?”
She pulls me aside from the group standing on the pier.
Waves from the bay splash and lap through the boards underneath our feet, and I can already hear a song with a strong beat pounding from the yacht to my right.
Someone aboard laughs loudly, and someone else sings along off-key to the pop song playing.
The orange evening light is darkening into night, and overhead some of the stars are peeking through clouds.
I told Emma and her friends to meet us here so we could attend Brielle’s party. I honestly don’t know if Brielle and her crowd would let them on if they weren’t with me.
A slight chill in the air wafts from the water. I’m glad to be wearing a black peacoat over my red dress. When the breeze hits, I catch a whiff of my perfume of choice today—a lovely peony scent, for good luck. My nails, freshly painted as of this morning, are scarlet to match my dress and heels.
Suzy whispers so they don’t hear, and Emma is talking with Tina, so I think we’re safe. Taylor stares out over the water. Zeke opted out today, saying that he had to catch up on his content creation, so he’s home playing video games. I try not to be too disappointed.
“What’s going on?” Suzy asks. “I mean, it’s fine, we all need to be more inclusive anyway, but this is a big change for you.”
She’s right. This is huge. I fluff the waves of my hair to give me some time to think.
“It’s not just about votes anymore,” I say, surprising even myself.
“Yes, hopefully this will help me reach the nerd crowd and get more votes. But it’s more than that, Suze.
” I pause and glance at the yacht. The bass pumps, and party-goers put their hands in the air and cheer.
“There’s something wrong with our school.
Why do we have these lines that divide us? I want to change that.”
Suzy sighs. “You’re right, of course. I just hope you know what you’re doing.” We turn to rejoin the group.
I wish I knew what I was doing, too. I’m not sure of anything anymore.
But I’m never going to win that crown or make a change if I don’t take a few risks.
This party could go great. I could show Emma and her friends that I genuinely care, that labels don’t matter to me, and win their votes along with others they associate with.
Or things could go horribly, horribly wrong and I could lose the votes and momentum I have, plus the trust of Emma and her friends.
I take a deep breath and turn toward the gangway that will get us onto the yacht. “Who’s ready to party?”
Our group steps onto the enormous deck of the yacht lined with tables of food and disco lighting sparkling from a smaller deck up higher.
Hordes of students are on board, chatting by the food tables or jumping and screaming with the music.
The deck sways gently up and down with the lapping waves in the harbor.
People see us and freeze, staring. I smile and wave, pretending that nothing’s out of the ordinary. Pretending that there’s nothing strange about the group standing behind me.
Annabelle Frayser from the cheer squad stares and points. She turns to her friend to whisper something in her ear, and they both laugh. Suzy links her arm through mine like she can protect me from the stares. “Just smile and pretend like everything’s normal,” I say.
I step forward, and my unique group follows.
When I glance behind me, I see Emma surveying the yacht like she owns it, arms crossed and mouth working on a piece of gum.
Her ripped black dress looks like something out of a Tim Burton movie.
Taylor stares at his feet, rocking back and forth slightly, wearing a denim jacket and jeans that are just a tad too short.
Tina chews her nails and doesn’t take her eyes off of her red tennis shoes.
I spot Dana, Troy, Kayla, and Arjun in the crush of bodies in the center of the deck, dancing.
Dana throws her head back in laughter and pure joy.
“Callie, can I take a picture with you?” Vanessa Franklin from my English class steps in for a selfie before I can say anything. I smile quickly.
“See you later!” She taps away on her phone, already posting the pic to social media.
Ashli Sato, a girl with dark hair and ears pierced about ten times, hands me a cup of punch. “I think it’s so nice of you to include them, Callie,” she says quietly. “They’ve probably never been to a party like this before.” She smiles and looks at Emma. “Have any of you even seen a yacht?”
Emma raises an eyebrow and grabs a strawberry soda.
“Thanks?” I say, taking a sip. Bleh. It’s sickeningly sweet. Tina grabs a cup and takes a huge gulp.
Luckily I don’t see Brielle anywhere, not yet anyway. I don’t know what she’d do if she knew who I invited to her party.
“Do you guys want some food?” I ask the group, setting my cup of punch off to the side.
“I would have gone with you to the end, into the very fires of Mordor,” Taylor says, putting a hand on his heart.
“That means yes,” Emma says.
We head to the food tables and grab appetizers served on tiny plates—smoked salmon dip and almond crackers, mini-charcuterie boards with salami, gouda cheese, and fig jam, and meatball skewers.
Taylor fills up a plate to the brim with meatballs, smiling. “Looks like meat’s back on the menu, boys.”
Emma shakes her head and smiles.
We stand off to the side and eat, and I notice that Taylor is getting more and more agitated. He drops his food, smearing marinara on his shirt, and his hand flapping gets more quick and irritated. He brings his hands by his eyes and shakes them back and forth.
“Is he okay?” I ask Emma. Suzy engages Tina in a conversation, complimenting her shirt. Tina’s face turns tomato red.
Emma sets down her plate and hurries over to Taylor. “I should’ve known it was a bad idea to bring him.”
“No,” I say. “It wasn’t. The cliques we have in high school are stupid. Taylor deserves to be here just as much as anyone.”
Emma takes Taylor’s upper arms and squeezes hard. He seems to settle, his agitated motions ceasing. “Thanks, Callie.” Emma’s smile is genuine, her voice warm. I smile back.
Nick Faust, a running back on the football team, points at Taylor and laughs. “What’s wrong, bro? Can’t handle the bass?” The cup of punch he’s carrying sloshes over when he mimics Taylor’s hand flapping, and his friends laugh.
“Stop it!” Emma says.
“We should get out of here,” Suzy says.
“Yeah,” I say. “I think you’re right.”
People pull out their phones and start filming, and a jolt of fear goes through me.
“This was a bad idea,” I say.
“No,” Emma says, meeting my eyes.
Taylor seems calmer now, and he lowers his hands. Suzy pauses from where she’s already making her way to the gangway and looks back. Her mermaid-style lavender dress sparkles in the disco lighting.
“You’re right, Callie,” Emma says, passion in her voice. “Cliques are stupid, and we’re not leaving just because some bullies made fun of us. We’ll leave on our own terms.”
“Ohhhh,” Tina holds her stomach and doubles over, her skinny white legs shining in the moonlight. “I don’t feel good.”
Emma’s eyes go enormous. “Where’s the bathroom? Where?”
“We’ll find it.” I scan the boat, trying to remember the layout. “That way, I think?”
I follow Tina and Emma around the bar and down the stairs that lead into the interior of the yacht. We hurry down a hallway filled with abstract art and tiny round windows that look out into the water, Suzy’s heels clicking close behind us.
“Here it is.” I sigh in relief while Tina dashes inside the bathroom, holding her stomach.
We’ve come to an open area filled with expensive looking gray and tan couch sets and polished coffee tables.
A couple make out on one of the couches and don’t even pause when we enter.
Another group of girls hold plates of food and chat in the corner.
The music is muted down here, and I can finally think.
Emma sighs and leans against the wall. I plop down on a couch, feeling exhausted. Suzy stands beside Emma, tapping on her phone. Tina’s groans can be heard from inside the bathroom.
“She has IBS,” Emma says. “I should’ve stopped her from eating so much rich food.”
“And drinking so much of that sugar bomb punch,” Suzy adds without looking up.
We hear Tina’s moans through the door, and I wince.
“It’s not your fault,” I say, crossing my legs and smoothing my dress. I stare at Emma for a beat. “You really look out for them, don’t you?”
Emma looks back at me with sharp green eyes. “If I don’t, no one else will.”
Suzy lifts her phone. “Selfie?”
“By the bathroom?” I ask.
Suzy smiles. “It’s still a bathroom on a yacht.”
I stand and Suzy holds up the phone. I reach out my arm, gesturing for Emma to join us in the pic. Suzy snaps the photo, and my smile is genuine.
Shannon Moore saunters down the hallway in purple heels, her red hair pulled into a high bun. “Is this the only bathroom?”
“Umm . . . I’m not sure. You could ask Brielle?” I say.
“This one’s being used.” Emma crosses her arms over her chest.
Shannon knocks on the door. “You done in there?”
“One minute.” Tina’s voice is small. I’m about to say something when she comes out of the bathroom.
“Feel any better?” Emma asks.
Shannon pushes past her, making a face. “Ugh,” she gags. “It smells horrible.” She closes the door, and Tina lowers her eyes.
“Don’t listen to her,” Emma says. “It’s not your fault.”
Tina holds her stomach. “I think I should stay here. Plus, I don’t think I flushed the toilet right . . .”
Shannon screams.
Tina glances down and to the side. Her voice is a tiny squeak. “The toilets aren’t normal on a yacht.”
I run a hand down my face. “No, they’re not.”
Tina holds her stomach. “I think I’m going to be sick again.”
Luckily, Shannon exits the bathroom, waving a hand in front of her face, and Tina heads back in.