CHAPTER ONE #5
Maria flashed an exaggerated smile as more students turned their attention toward her.
"I have an announcement to make!"
A couple of cheerleaders clapped enthusiastically. One football player let out an exaggerated whistle. Maria soaked in the attention as though she'd just won an Academy Award.
"I'm throwing a party tonight!"
A wave of cheers erupted throughout the cafeteria.
"My parents will be out of town," Maria continued proudly.
"Which means you're all invited to my glorious mansion!"
Amanda leaned toward Melissa.
"She says mansion like it's her accomplishment."
Melissa snorted.
"It's not exactly difficult being born rich."
Amanda nodded in agreement. Maria pointed dramatically toward one side of the cafeteria.
"...Except for those two losers!" Every head seemed to swivel in Amanda and Melissa's direction. Amanda looked down at her tray.
"Wonderful."
Melissa didn't even flinch. She simply reached for another fry. "I think she's obsessed with us."
Amanda glanced sideways.
"You think?"
"Seriously."
Melissa shrugged.
"We're basically celebrities at this point."
Amanda laughed under her breath.
"I'd prefer to be less famous."
Across the room, Maria gave one final theatrical wave before hopping down from the table. Within seconds, she was surrounded by classmates asking questions about the party. Amanda watched the crowd gather around her.
"I don't get it."
Melissa looked over.
"What?"
"Why does everyone like her?"
Melissa considered the question.
"They don't." Amanda frowned.
"It just looks that way."
Melissa nodded toward the growing crowd.
"They like her house."
Amanda blinked.
"...Fair."
"And the free food."
"Also fair."
"And her parents have enough money to throw parties every other weekend."
Amanda sighed.
"I wish someone liked me because of free pizza."
Melissa laughed.
"You'd honestly probably cry."
"I absolutely would."
Amanda smiled.
"Imagine someone saying, 'Amanda, we invited you because we value your presence.'"
Melissa raised an eyebrow.
"You'd cry before they finished the sentence."
"I know." The girls laughed together. Melissa picked up another fry.
"So..."
Amanda narrowed her eyes.
"...No."
"You don't even know what I was going to say." "I have a feeling."
Melissa smiled innocently.
"What if..."
Amanda sighed dramatically.
"...Melissa."
"...we crashed Maria's party?"
Amanda nearly choked on her drink.
"You cannot be serious."
Melissa grinned wider.
"Think about it."
"I'm trying not to."
"We show up."
"No."
"We look amazing."
"No."
"We ignore Maria." "No."
"And we accidentally become the coolest people there."
Amanda stared at her.
"You skipped several very important steps."
Melissa waved dismissively. "Details."
Amanda leaned back in her chair.
"We weren't invited."
Melissa pointed toward Maria across the cafeteria.
"Actually... she specifically uninvited us."
"Exactly."
Melissa smiled triumphantly.
"Which means she'd never expect us."
Amanda blinked.
"...That somehow makes less sense."
Melissa lowered her voice conspiratorially.
"Amanda."
"No."
"What if this is our chance?"
"Our chance for what?" Melissa glanced toward the football players gathered around another table. Michael was laughing with his teammates. John sat beside him, casually scrolling through his phone before joining the conversation.
"Our chance..."
Melissa whispered.
"...to actually talk to them."
Amanda followed her gaze. Her expression softened for just a moment. Then reality returned.
"We'd be crashing a party full of people who hate us."
Melissa nodded.
"Correct."
"Maria would kill us."
"Probably."
"We'd be humiliated."
"...Possibly."
Amanda folded her arms.
"So why exactly should I agree to this?"
Melissa smiled.
"Because..."
She leaned across the table.
"...We’re tired of settling for almost." Amanda froze. Those were Melissa’s own words. Words that Amanda had agreed with. Melissa wasn't teasing her. She was reminding her. Reminding her that this morning she'd admitted she was tired of watching life happen from the sidelines.
Melissa reached across the table.
"What if... just this once..."
"...we stopped watching?"
Amanda looked toward Maria. Then toward John. Then back at Melissa. Her heart raced. Every logical part of her brain screamed no. Every anxious thought listed a hundred reasons this would end terribly. But there was another voice. A quieter one. The same voice that had whispered that morning...
I'm tired of settling for almost.
Amanda let out a slow breath.
"I hate that you're making sense."
Melissa's eyes lit up.
"So that's not a no?
Amanda pointed a finger at her.
"I didn't say yes."
Melissa smiled even wider.
"But you also didn't say no."
Amanda groaned.
"I already regret this conversation."
Melissa laughed. "Oh..."
She reached across the table and grabbed Amanda's hand dramatically.
"You are going to thank me someday."
Amanda shook her head, unable to hide the smile creeping onto her face.
"No..."
She said with a laugh.
"I have a feeling I'm going to blame you for whatever happens tonight."
Melissa winked. "That's what best friends are for."