Jenny

“I can’t believe that I let you talk me into this. What the hell was I thinking?”

“Stop being so moody,” Lo ranted back. “You can’t still be upset that he didn’t tell you that he wasn’t coming to tutoring today.”

“He left me standing there like an idiot.” My face growled back at me in the mirror as I brushed my unruly hair. It was no use trying to get it to do anything. My straight blonde hair was bland and boring.

I knew it was silly being upset the he’d ditched me, but I couldn’t help it. I was doing the guy a favor. The least he could do was show up, or at least have the courtesy to tell me that he wasn’t coming. 

But no.

Draven only ever thought about himself. I don’t know why I expected that to change.

Lo stared at me through the reflection of the mirror as she applied her mascara. She was gorgeous with her wavy auburn locks, and her sparkly green eyes. 

“It’s Draven we’re talking about, and it’s Friday. You should’ve known that he wouldn’t want to study on the weekend.”

I glared at her over my shoulder. “I know.” I hated that she was right, but she usually was. She had the instinct of a lion, and freaking lashes for days. 

“Come on,” she squeezed my shoulder, having me stand up from my vanity chair. “Are you sure that’s what you want to wear?”

My reflection in the mirror was exactly as it should’ve been. I looked no different than I did any other day. My favorite light colored jeans with the hole in the knee, and my hoodie that said NYU in big gold letters. New York University was going to be home soon, and I couldn’t wait. My plan was all mapped out. First NYU, and then Columbia for grad school. Nothing was going to stand in my way. 

Nothing and no one…

“I’m comfortable.” I shrugged. “Now let’s go before I change my mind.”

Despite my better judgment, I still decided to go. Trusting your instincts was one thing, but doing the complete opposite… Well, that was probably a stupid decision. 

Before I could convince myself otherwise, we got into Lo’s car and headed towards Exit Street. Good thing she was driving. I was feeling anxious, and even a little nervous. I was seventeen years old, and had never been to a high school party before. The expectations of it were non-existent since I had nothing to compare it to, other than a movie. 

Would there be drinking? Fighting? Would Draven be there? A list of questions ran on and on in my mind. There were people at my school that I didn’t like, and ones who made high school seem so cliché. I never belonged. The few friends I did have were like me, and wanted nothing more than to be left alone. So the fact that Lo wanted to go to this stupid thing surprised me.  

“Whoa,” Lo’s voice was shocking. “There are a lot of people here. I didn’t even think there were that many people in this town.”

“Great,” I mumbled under my breath. 

“Hey,” she reached for and grabbed my hand. “Just think. With this many people, we are sure to go unnoticed.”

A small smile played on my lips. “True.”

“And who knows,” she said, waggling her brows suggestively. “Maybe we’ll actually have some fun.”

I tucked my hands deep in the front pocket of my hoodie as we made our way through the array of cars parked around the house. The main door was open as we walked up the front steps and followed the line of people inside. 

The music grew louder the farther we walked in. People were everywhere, even some that I didn’t recognize. 

Lo stayed glued to my side as we shuffled through the crowd, and scoped out the place. It was by far the nicest place in town, and much bigger than I expected. The tall, vaulted ceilings made me feel a lot less trapped than I imagined I would. 

Following Lo’s lead, we walked through the living room and into adjoining kitchen. Several people circled the island that was covered from one end to the other with drinks. Some I recognized, but most I didn’t. I glanced over at Lo, who was noticing the same thing that I was. A couple stood against the pantry in a full on make-out-session. They were one button away from conceiving a child. The two of us had the same idea as we made our way out the kitchen doors to the backyard. It was a quick escape. 

“Well that was hot,” Lo proclaimed. 

I nudged her shoulder, and she smiled at me.

There had to be at least three bedrooms in that house that would’ve made a better lovemaking spot then in front of the food. Thank goodness the bread didn’t have eyes. 

“This is crazy. There has to be close to two hundred people here.” My eyes did a quick scan through the crowds of people. 

“Right! And I’m pretty sure I only recognized like three people.” Lo replied. “There,” she said pointing to an open picnic table in the backyard.

The place was lit up like the Vegas strip. Avani had hanging lanterns and torches and fire pits. There wasn’t an inch of the backyard that wasn’t occupied. Her parents probably hosted great parties there. 

We both took a seat at the picnic table facing outward towards the crowd. It was the perfect spot for people watching, which Lo and I loved to do. 

“I really can’t believe we’re here,” I whispered in her direction. “When I told my Mom where we were going I swear she looked excited.”

Lo snorted. “So did mine.”

“Do they think we’re hermits or something? It’s not like we live under a rock.”

“My Mom said that a little socializing would do me some good.”

It was my turn to laugh. “Oh geez,” I shook my head. “We do have friends, and even if we didn’t, what would it matter? We’re going to be out of this place soon enough, and we’ll have plenty of time for socializing then. I swear, when you’ve spent your entire life surrounded by the same people, you don’t exactly want to hang out with them.”

“True. But she had a good point when she told me that you don’t actually know someone if you’ve never spoken to them.” 

I never saw my lack of a social life as a bad thing, and I didn’t understand why other people thought it was. So what I’d rather keep to myself? At least I wasn’t in constant trouble like some people. 

“I get that,” I shrugged. “But when the town is barely big enough to make a U-turn in, you’re going to know everything about everyone. You don’t have to speak to someone to know them. Like…” I pointed across the yard. “Cody Taylor. He’s been on the basketball team since he was old enough to play. He’s a jock. He’s an only child with a stay at home mother who spends most of her time at the nail salon.”

“So true,” she agreed. “My turn. Talon Webb.” She nudged her head to the far right side of the yard by the fence. “His father owns the electronic shop in town, and his mother volunteers for everything. He dates Lacey and plans to someday marry her and take over his father’s business. He does well in school, but has been known to use the guy’s locker room for more than just changing. Lacey has been spotted coming out the locker room looking mighty felt up.”

I was cracking up. “That was perfect.”

“Oh wait. There must be a locker room nearby, because it looks like his fly is down right now. Maybe we will all get a glimpse of Tiny Talon”

“Oh shit!” An ungraceful snort burst out and I quickly slapped a hand over my mouth and nose. 

“I’ll be here all night,” she joked. “I think I’ll go grab us a couple of bottles of water. You want to come with me?”

I shook my head no. “I’ll stay here and save our spots.” Not that they were going anywhere.

When she walked away, I turned around and faced the fence, tucking my legs under the table. With all the chaos going on, I hoped Lo wouldn’t get sucked away in the house. I probably should’ve gone with her. 

Dammit!

As I moved to the edge of my seat, someone’s shadow towered over me. Looking up, I found an unfamiliar face. I mean, I knew who he was, but chances are he didn’t know me. 

“Mind if I sit down?” He asked. His voice was a little gruffly but not too deep. 

“Umm…” I hesitated. “No, go ahead.”

Tyler James was sitting in front of me.

Weird.

“I’m Tyler.” 

“Yeah.” 

Duh dude, everyone knows you.

“Jenny right?”

I guess he did know me. It shouldn’t surprise me, since everyone knew everybody. “That’s me.” My tone was a bit sarcastic. Conversation wasn’t my strong point. No wonder I was single. I probably scared most guys away and didn’t mean to.

“I’ve seen you around school, but I believe this is the first time I’ve ever seen you at a party.” He shook his shaggy blonde hair away from his face, and I realized just how attractive Tyler James was. 

A smug, popular, trust fund baby is how I’d describe him. But I’d add cute to that list. He had light blue eyes, a bit of a crooked nose, and the most beautiful set of teeth. Yeah, he was definitely cute. 

“I guess it was time to see what all the fuss is about. Parties aren’t really my thing,” I admitted.

Gosh Jenny. I cringed. What a dorky thing to say. 

He smiled. “As a guy who has been to a few I’ll tell you that they are all the same.” His eyes twinkled as he spoke and my stomach did a surprising little flip. 

“Then why come?” I asked. My head tilted a bit to the side as I was trying to get a full glimpse of his face. His hair had swooped back over one of his eyes, and I could barely see it. 

His shoulders dropped a little. “I don’t know. I guess I just come to hang out with my friends. There’s not a lot to do here on the weekends, you know? Small towns suck sometimes.”

I agreed with a smile. It didn’t feel so bad having a conversation with a person I’d never spoken to before.  

“You know maybe sometime we could…” He paused.

Well crap. Scratch that. This conversation just took a left turn into awkward town. Was he about to ask me out? 

We said hello, you’ve been here all of two seconds, and now you ask the big question!!

My thoughts were screaming at me. The guy was cute yes, but sheesh. Maybe he had a few too many beers. 

Although with that smile, I probably would’ve said yes. 

“I’m back,” Lo called out as she climbed into the seat next to me. 

I let out a sigh of relief that I didn’t even realized I’d been holding in. Silently I thanked her for swooping in at the exact right time, before his smile hypnotized me into saying things I shouldn’t have.

“Hey,” I smiled, before glancing back at Tyler. 

“It was nice seeing you, Jenny,” he told me as he stood up from the table. “Maybe I’ll see you later tonight.”

“Yeah, maybe.” I nodded my head. Lo and I watched his backside as he strolled away. It was just as intoxicating as the front. 

“What the hell just happened?” She asked, before handing me an unopened beer. “That’s all they had. Now spill it.”

I twisted the cap off, and took a quick drink. It was as nasty as it smelled. “I think Tyler James was just about to ask me out.”

“SHUT UP!”

“I know, right?” I swallowed down another drink of that disgusting beer, pretending it was something else. I suddenly felt the need to be out of the backyard for a moment. I had this urge to take off my hoodie, and air-out my sweaty pits. There wasn’t enough deodorant to save me from Tyler James. “I’m going to go see if I can find the bathroom.” I said, scooting my beer next to hers. 

“Do you want me to go with you?” She asked. Her face scrunched up from the aftertaste of her sip of beer. 

“That’s okay. I’m good. Besides, if you stay here you might suddenly get asked out. The picnic table seems to be the happening place to be.” I winked before stalking off. 

After asking three different people where the bathroom was, I finally just went on a hunt. No one seemed to know, or they just found it hilarious not to tell me. Searching vigorously, I managed to find a pantry, an office, and a room with a locked door.

Wasn’t there supposed to be a line indicating that the bathroom was nearby? Again, I only had movie references to compare it too.

A couple more doors, and an awkward –I’m sorry, and I finally found it. Locking myself inside the bathroom, I slid my arms out of my hoodie leaving it resting around my neck. I raised both arms high above my head, and started to swing them back and forth, airing myself out. Maybe a sweatshirt wasn’t the best idea.

When I glanced up into the wide mirror, I couldn’t stop myself from laughing. I swear it was the funniest sight ever, me, standing in front of some random mirror, airing out my armpits. I was suddenly a member of the armpit-capades, with my synchronized hands waving back and forth over my head. Lo was going to die when I told her what I was doing. 

Lo, Shit! 

I had to get back out there, before something crazy happened. 

It was a party after all. 

Anything could happen.