Chapter 27
Ben was wrong. Well, he was right, but he was wrong. Okay, let me explain. There is no dancing. There is loud music, and I”m sure at one time there may have been dancing. However, by the time Ben and I arrive at the party, things are a mess. The party that Kate insisted I come to in an attempt to expand my social circle is in a mansion near the country club. Apparently, some kid’s parents are out of the county, and he decided to celebrate by having the entire junior and senior classes over. Our school is smallish, but the number of people overwhelms the space. Ben and I make it through the door, and regret hits me instantly. Suddenly, my chest is tight, and I feel like I can’t breathe.
Locked hand in hand, Ben navigates us through the crowd in what I assume is the main living space until we reach a door leading to a patio. Outside is better. There’s a huge pool that could be at a resort. The area is littered with teenagers. Some on loungers, others standing along the edges of walls huddled into circles laughing. I take a minute to breathe fresh air. It’s a cool night, but not so much that it’s uncomfortable.
“You okay?” Ben asks. “We don’t have to stay.”
“I’m fine. It’s just a lot.” I’ve never been anxious. At least not the medical definition of it. I have normal anxiety when trying new things, but this is a different kind of anxious. Everything around me is unfamiliar. I try to find recognition on some of the faces but can’t find any. My stomach is in knots.
Ben leads us over to an empty lounger set, and we sit down. “Thoughts?”
“This is a Briarwood party?” I ask, looking around.
“Pretty much. Why? What were you expecting?” He takes one hand in his and then uses his other to draw circles on my knee. It’s soothing.
“I don’t know. Sophisticated music. Virgin sacrifices?” I realize in the moment all of my information about parties has come from movies.
“Nope, just a bunch of kids drinking and trashing someone’s house. Sometimes there’s beer pong.”
“Mmh,” it’s all incredibly dull. I’m not really sure what I thought would happen. “Should I try to find Kate?”
As if she could predict my statement, I hear her. “Amelia Bedelia, you came.” She plops on the same lounger as me and almost falls over.
“I did.” I scan her over. She’s wearing a too-short-for-this-weather long sleeve dress that’s a shade of green I can’t place. Her hair is kind of a mess.
“You came too late” she pouts. “All the fun is done.” Something’s off with her. I mean other than her obvious drunkenness.
“Kate, are you feeling okay?” I have to lean her up a little.
“Oh, I”m great. I have a secret too. It’s a big one, it’s as big the one you know. Wanna hear?” she slurs.
“Secret?” Ben perks up behind me.
“Not now” I chastise. “Kate, I don’t think now is a good time to tell any secrets. Why don’t we see if we can find you some water?”
“There’s water over there.” Kate slings herself around to point to the pool, and then Ben jumps into action, stopping us all from falling over.
“No, Kate, I don’t think you want that water,” he says. “Amelia, we need to get her inside.”
“Obviously,” we both stand and each takes a side of a very giggly Kate.
As we stabilize her, Lisa and Bella come barreling out of the house. They spot us and come over. “Kate is drunk,” Bella says. This is the first time I’ve heard her speak a complete sentence.
“I gathered that,” I say, earning me a glare from Lisa.
“Boooooo! Here comes the party police.” Kate whines in our arms. “I don’t need you guys, Ben and Amelia BEDEEILLIA can keep me company now. You two can go enjoy all your alone time. I know how much you like that.”
I watch as Bella and Lisa bristle, so I break in “Okay Kate. How about we get you out of here.”
“We can’t take her back to our house. Our parents will flip” Bella says. Bella and Kate’s relationship is fascinating. I momentarily wonder what it would be like to have a sibling.
“She can’t come home with me either” Lisa says. “My dad is home and he’s a light sleeper.” Eyes turn to me.
“I can take her. My mom might flip, but at least she’ll be safe” I offer. Ben looks at me like I have three heads. It only takes one visual plea for him to relent.
“Come on. Help me get her to the truck” he groans. He really is the best.
“Yah! Sleep over with my new best friend! See Bella, I have friends. You have Lisa and I have Bediela.” Kate runs her hands through my hair as she talks, and Ben, clearly over it, picks her up and carries her to the door.
We follow suit. It takes me, Lisa, and Bella calming and coaxing to get her in the truck. I get Bella’s number to text her when we are safely home. She apologizes profusely. She assures me Kate never gets drunk, that something set her off. Well, if my wish was to make a new friend, I have succeeded after tonight.
After a very long drive back to Windy Creek, we finally arrive back at Magnolia Manor. It is only after stopping at Taco Bell to prevent Kate from trying to leap out of the truck. I officially never want to go to a party again, and I was barely there. Ben is angry too. I think mostly at Kate but maybe me too. I don’t blame him. We should have had the movie night.
We somehow manage to get Kate up and into my room without disturbing any guests. How I don’t know because when she saw we were at an inn, she began making inappropriate comments about the three of us getting a room. Mom also wasn’t in the apartment. It’s strange because normally she’d be waiting up. I’m home well before I said I would be. She might be out to dinner.
Ben and I manage to get Kate in my bed and tucked in. I think mom will forgive the no Ben in my room rule being broken. The drunk girl will distract her. God, what was I thinking bringing Kate here? I put a trash can by the bed and grab a bottle of water from the fridge. She will need it.
Ben plops down on the couch and puts his hands over his eyes. I approach him carefully.
“Sooooo, fun party.” I attempt at breaking the tension.
“So fun,” he deadpans.
“Ben, I’m really sorry. We shouldn’t have gone. Please don’t be mad.” I sit next to him and he lifts himself up.
“You think I’m mad at you?”
“Kinda? You were quiet on the ride back. It was pretty obvious you were angry.”
“I’m not mad Amelia. I’m upset, and not at you.”
“Upset?”
“Yeah, at myself. I knew that party would be like that. Then when we got there, the look on your face. I shouldn’t have let you go. I should’ve insisted we stayed here or taken you out.” He takes my hand. “Parties are nothing but trouble. Clearly from how Kate is passed out in your bed right now. That is my old life, and I don’t want you around that. It isn’t safe.”
I realize I’m smiling. I realize it’s weird that I’m smiling. “You were upset because you wanted to keep me safe?”
“Yeah silly.” He pokes my forehead, pushing me back on the couch. “I care about you.”
“I care about you too.” My stomach does the little flutter thing it does every time Ben says something Ben-ish.
“Well, I’m glad we have that settled” he leans back next to me on the couch.
“I’m a little disappointed” I say. “I was promised dancing.”
“Oh, I can fix that.” He is on his feet quicker than I can process, pulling his phone from his pocket. The next thing I know, music is playing. I recognize the song from to the wedding playlist.
“May I have this dance?” Ben bows to me.
“Of course,” I giggle. Ben swoops me into his arms. That’s how we spend the night. Slow dancing in my living room with my drunk friend passed out in the room next to us. This is way better than any party.