Chapter 6
Lilla
“Come on, Lills, it’s the first party of our second year in high school, don’t you wanna come?” Haley smiles widely, begging me with her big smile and doe eyes. “Pleeeeaassseee, don’t make me go to another party alone.” Her plea is working because I’m caving.
“Fiiiinneee. Only because you begged me all first year, and I said, no.” The first year wasn’t my best year.
Academically, I was doing great; socially, I was doing better than in grade school.
Those years were terrible; if it wasn’t Ava picking on me, it was my parents.
My dad still worked constantly on the road, and my mom still found no happiness in her life or in me.
Something I grew used to.
Haley pulls into my driveway. “Be ready by eight, I mean it.”
Her auburn hair sits in a high ponytail atop her head, swaying with her sass, as she demands my readiness: “Got it, be ready by nine.” I roll my eyes, she slaps my arm gently, and scoffs.
“I mean it, or so help me, Lilla, I will drag you out of that bed in your PJs.” Her deep brown eyes shoot daggers at me.
“I don’t doubt it; don’t be late.” I watch her smile grow. Stepping out of the car, Haley smiles from ear to ear. “See ya soon.” Slamming the door shut, she speeds away, more than likely flying home to try on a million different outfits.
The truth is, school has become my favorite place because of all the people around me.
The second year is a step up from the first. Ava and her mean girlfriends are still bitches, and yes, they pick on me daily.
Only I no longer cower at her harsh words; I let them roll.
I pass her with my shoulders up and head high, because as Haley says, ‘Fuck that bitch, we don’t let assholes win.
’ Haley has shifted my focus, proving everyone wrong.
With that, I dove into studies, hoping to graduate as valedictorian, or at least with honors, and now I’m diving into my first party—the things I do for my best friend.
It’s 7:30, and I’m currently lying in bed wrapped in the towel from the shower I took two hours ago.
What does one wear to a party? Going over to my closet, I look at all the choices, and there are a lot of them.
Instead of being loved, I was thrown money for being an inconvenience.
Money was supposed to be the job my parents didn’t want, and it was never enough.
Designer this, top-of-the-line that, best clothes and shoes money can buy, because my parents have all the money, and no love.
I decided to go with my low-rise jean skirt and graphic tee, paired with wedges.
My blonde hair is curled thanks to my Aussie Gel.
The curl is holding perfectly, spiraling down to my collarbone.
Quickly, I straighten my side-swept bangs, throw on some blue eye shadow and mascara, and I’m done just in time.
At 7:59, my landline rings. I quickly grab the phone off the wall and tell her I’m on my way down.
Haley pulls onto a dead-end road, already lined with cars.
“Sooo whose house is this, and how did we get invited?” Haley pulls down her visor, puckers her lips, and applies her cherry red lip gloss.
Her painted-on jean shorts sit high on her thigh; a large, chunky white belt rests on her hips, paired with a pink V-neck tank top.
Her hair is pin-straight, meeting the middle of her back.
She pops her lips together, rubbing in the new color, then runs her fingers through her hair, before turning to me with the biggest grin.
“It’s Sam’s house; he invited me yesterday. He said, ‘I’d be the life and soul of the party.’ I am going to show him just how fun I can be.” I roll my eyes, laughing because I know she is going to do just that.
Entering the house, Haley drags me through the sea of people.
The living room has a fold-out table, and a crazy game of beer pong is underway.
We find our way to the kitchen, where the island is full of drinks.
Haley grabs two beers out of the cooler, tossing me one.
She smiles, “Bottoms up.” Looking around, we see damn near everyone from school all partaking in all kinds of extracurricular activities.
Opening my beer, I follow Haley through the glass doors leading to the patio.
There’s so much going on out here, I don’t know where to look first. A long, stretched-out table holds endless red Solo cups to my right; a line of people chugging them enthusiastically, before trying to flip them.
That looks interesting. Haley leads us around the pool, filled with half-dressed people all splashing and groping at each other.
We make our way to the back corner of the garden, where a group of guys is sitting in a big circle.
“Hey, you made it!” The guy I assume to be Sam stands up.
He’s shirtless, wearing low-rise swim trunks, and his hat is on backward.
I don’t judge because I’ve been judged all my life; however, if I did, I’d say he looks like a douchebag.
The guys surrounding him look up at Haley and me, each saying their hellos and letting their eyes roam our bodies freely, before continuing their puff, puff, pass exchange.
I quickly look at the guys indulging in getting high and sharing germs when I notice.
It’s him. The new guy sits in the back corner.
Shirtless. I swallow hard, wondering how a guy his age can look that good.
It should be a crime, and Ava being the one to kiss him should be illegal.
When his eyes meet mine, I quickly look away, back to Sam, who now has his hand resting on the lowest part of Haley’s back, grazing the top of her ass.
“Let’s go do a game of Flippy Cup.” Haley pulls on my hand, following Sam over to the table I spotted on the patio.
As I take my position, Haley tells me the rules of the game.
Standing next to me in a line are three girls and one guy.
“Go!” Sam yells, excitement bursting through him, and rippling down the line of players.
Only my anxiety is now on high alert, and I do my best to chug this disgustingly warm, what I assume pee would taste like, beer, and try to flip the cup.
After three attempts, the cup is now finally upside down, and I move to the next one.
With each cup, the beer gets warmer, but the flipping gets easier.
I’m suddenly neck and neck with a girl I recognize from school; she downs her beer like the professional I believe her to be, and flips the cup on the first try.
Damn it. Haley’s side of the table made it all the way through before I even got to the last cup.
Haley claps while laughing, with her now flushed cheeks.
“That was a horrible game.” I laugh before moving my cups into the plastic graveyard in the middle of the table.
Sam pulls Haley against his bare chest, stealing her attention; this is my chance to run, before I get roped into another horrendous game.
Making my way back to the kitchen, I find it less crowded than the patio.
There are so many options spread around the island to choose from—bottles and bottles of choices.
“Based on that game, and the face you made after every drink, I’d say you are not a beer girl.
” I can’t help but laugh because I’d fuckin’ say so.
He moves around the island with his hood up, hiding his face.
“Want me to help you find something you’ll like?
” His dark hair hides under his hood, but his voice registers, and I know exactly who this guy is.
Ava’s grand prize. The closer he gets, the more I see the haze in his eyes; he is feeling just as good as everyone else.
“Mmmm, based on who your girlfriend is, no thanks, I wouldn’t want you to poison it.” I reach over, grabbing a new cup. He rounds the island quickly with a sexy smirk spreading across his face.
“Beer seems to cloud your judgment if you think she can make me do something.” His biceps flex as he reaches for the vodka sitting on the island.
“Vodka, lemonade, can’t go wrong.” He places the bottle and the lemonade in front of me.
“Watch closely; wouldn’t want to miss the poison being added.
” He smirks as he pours vodka up to the first line, then fills it with lemonade to the brim.
“Now, we just need to stir it.” He takes his finger, sticks it into my freshly made drink, and stirs.
“Wow, instead of poisoning it, you contaminate it. I know where your fingers have been.” He lifts the cup to me.
His grey eyes bore into mine, making me swallow at his closeness. His woodsy cologne fills the space, making my heart race. “I can bet money right now you have no idea where my fingers want to be.”
Without giving me time to respond, he walks straight to Ava, who is murdering him with her eyes. Oh, this is great. I quickly make my way to the back door, escaping certain death. Haley bumps into me, hand in hand with Sam. She leans in, kisses my cheek, whispering, “Be back soon, going upstairs.”
Stepping back onto the patio, the music still beats through the speakers, and the people who once filled the pool are now inside. Taking in the pool's stillness, I slide off my wedges and sit down, sliding my feet into the brisk water.
Taking the last sip of my strong vodka lemonade, a guy from the corner stands up, making his way towards me. “Hello, sweet thing. Wanna get out of here?” The smell of beer and weed swims off him as he squats down. Not particularly.
“I’m good, thanks though.” Looking back down at the water, I kick my foot back and forth, hoping he leaves.
“Come on, let me show you a good time? Don’t break my heart.” The people-pleasing side of me begs me to cave in, to do what is asked of me, to figure it out, like I always do. I kick the urge to the curb, but just as I go to deny him once more, a dark figure comes up behind him.