When Good Girls Drink

Chapter 11|Isn't It Obvious?

"'Very bright lights should be avoided. Your mom tells me you're fond of reading with a flashlight in the middle of the night, is that true?' 'She doesn't let me read past my bedtime and it helps me fall asleep so I have to. Flashlight are easier to turn off when I hear her footsteps on the stairs.' 'Well, no more bright lights for you.'"

Optometrist Avery Daniel & Sienna Hart.

Sienna Hart's POV

Weekends are resting days.

After long working days of activity, we were blessed with Saturdays and Sundays to just pause and take a breathe.

I've been looking forward to this for a while actually.

Currently, I was with a book in my hand, an untouched plate of carrots beside me on my bed and on my bedside table stood a tall glass of blueberry fool.

It's homemade by the way.

Friday and Saturday went by in a flash.

On Friday, after Mg left for college, I spent the day at school telling Liz about what had happened.

Then I proceeded to spend the lunch period at the library, getting some homework done and also avoiding Jason at all cost.

Yes, I was friends with the guy but he was just around me so much that people had started to notice me.

Some girl walked up to me in the hall and asked if I was hooking up with him.

I replied with something just off the top of my head.

"Who's Jason?"

And she looked at me like I had just sprouted a second head.

I get why she did that.

That is, the looking at me weirdly thing.

I mean, it's the Jason Macaulay.

That guy literally has a pronoun in front of his meant name so of course everyone knew of his existence and tried to keep up with it.

Except, I'm not one of those people so that's why I spent most of my time at school that Friday in the library.

Saturday being yesterday was hectic.

I spent the morning hours at Lizzie's, helping her add finishing touches to her costume all while munching on the sample cookies her mom was giving out today being Halloween.

After that, I drove to the store and helped put up more decorations.

Not like I really did anything really productive though.

I was more like the person they told,"Hey, hand me this" or "could you pass that" or "Do you know where the screw's at?"

Then I took a few bags of candy home for the trick n' treaters and well for myself.

I personally preferred the sugar coated gummy candies.

Those seemed to melt in your mouth and stay put at the same time... If that makes any sense.

So to burn all that extra energy I had gotten from all the sugar I head yesterday from the candies and cookies, I took Sky for a walk around the neighborhood and dropped by at the neighborhood library, Bookmarks, to wish Mrs Smith a happy Halloween.

She's the librarian and store owner.

She's a really nice old lady with the sweetest grandkid.

I know this because I've helped out there a few summers.

Finally, Sunday.

Earlier today, I got texts from my friends and family showing off their costumes.

Mg had a gone as a badly beat up guy.

Mom panicked for just a second when she saw the picture because she thought he had gotten into a fight or whatever goes on in a mother's head.

Mom didn't really have time to put on her complete costume and so she left the house in just goofy glasses.

Yup, she had to work.

No rest for the doctors.

Dad went to work too but as a handyman.

Awful right?

Not the profession but the costume.

I think handyman are normal people with nice professions.

Anyway, back to Dad's costume, it was kinda silly too because he a moustache beneath his nose making him look more like an evil scientist undercover or something.

He reminded me of super mario.

I didn't think dad put much effort into his costume though.

I think he just put on the stuffs he never wore in his closet because it never occurred to me that he had an overall until today.

But who am I to judge?

I didn't even dress up for Halloween.

Anyway, it's a bit around 9Pm and I'm sitting in my bed in my PJs, happily reading the sun is also a star, not wanting to be disturbed whatsoever.

Liz and Sydney are probably having so much fun at the party right now.

Speak of the devil, Sydney was calling.

Miss Eççentric flashed on my phone screen as Sky's barks filled the room– my ringtone.

I picked my phone of the table and ran a finger across it to answer before I pressed it to my ear.

"Sienna," she breathed, sounding relieved, "I was worried you would already be asleep. Listen, my sister got shot and–"

A gasp escaped my lips without thinking as panick filled me.

"Is she okay? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine,"Sydney said hurriedly, "It's just a shoulder wound so hopefully she'll be fine too. I'm heading out of the state right now with my family so we can be there when they're letting people see her. Liz is drunk as f**k right now and I was supposed to be the DD tonight but can't because of this so please would come pick her up and take her home? I would never forgive myself if something bad happened to her."

Was she even asking?

"She's my bestfriend, of course I'll pick her up,"I said.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you,"Sydney said,

"I'm sending Brandon's address right now. I owe you one. Text me when Lizzie's home safe and you too. Love you!"

She hung up up before I could say anything else and not a minute later, her text of the address appeared in my phone.

I really hope Sydney's sister would be okay.

I also hope Liz wouldn't try to drive or anything like that because she said that she would be driving herself to the party and Sydney would arrive with Owen but then Syd would drive her home and spend the night at hey place if she got drunk.

Not letting a moment waste, I grabbed my jacket from the back of my wardrobe and my car keys from my desk before I hurried downstairs.

I scribbled when a note for mom and dad and sent them both texts too before I headed out the door.

I guess me time would have to wait.

And yes, I knew I was still in my PJS but if Courtney made it work, I could too though I wasn't as fabulous as she is.

And if I can't make it work, no worries.

It's Halloween.

With the help of technology, specifically Google maps, I found my way to Brandon Bishops' house.

It's was modern and so massive that it literally screamed 'my dad's bastardly rich!'

Brandon's home had to modern, classy and complex feel to it.

It looked like those homes that they just slapped on the cover of a commercial magazine.

In fact, a could bet you a hundred dollars that it's been in a commercial magazine once.

Behind the tall metal bars guarding the compound, you could tell there was a party going on because litter in front of the compound.

I turned of the ignition and I hopped out of my car.

A chill ran through my spine as the cold air greeted me.

I tucked my keys away safely into my jacket's pocket and walked through Brandon's spacious front yard in my PJs.

Halloween decorations and expensive cars were scattered all over the compound but I ignored all that and focused on the plan which was to find Liz and leave.

I repeated this myself, hoping there wouldn't be any complications as I walked into Brandon's house.

I heard the sound of a witch cackling as I pushed open one of tall mahogany doors.

Inside, it was a mad house.

Whenever Jay or Mg told me about their college Parties, I was 98% sure this was what those parties looked like.

Unlike Jason's party, the music wasn't so loud and I wasn't greeted with a horny couple sucking each other's faces off at the entrance.

Instead, people were taking selfies with beer cups and showing off their costumes.

The lighting in the room changed colours at short timed intervals.

First it was red, then blue then green then purple.

It was starting to hurt my sensitive eyes as the light reflected on my glasses.

Most the guys were shirtless and the girls were in colourful lingeries with something perched on their backs like wings or on their heads like antennas.

I navigated through the dancing bodies searching for Lizzie.

A minute later I found myself in the sitting room.

It seemed like a VIP section or something relating to that because only the popular people were there.

Jason sat on the cushion with Alisha beneath his arm which he had stretched over her. His eyes were closed and his head rested on the cushion which meant that it was was facing upwards. He didn't look like he was wearing any costume though.

Alisha was in a Cleopatra costume. I could tell by the little gold dress she was wearing. Her neck was aligned with gold too and she had styled her hair in a fringe or maybe it was a wig.

I couldn't tell because of the lights but I could see that everything on her body was either gold or blue or was it green?

She was typing away on her phone.

She and Jason looked great together.

I noticed Owen standing in the corner with a beer cup in his hand and his phone pressed to his ear.

He had worried expression on his face.

I guessed it was something relating to Sydney.

I also noticed Brandon wasn't in the room and so I guessed Lizzie was with him.

As I turned to leave, I felt something wet soak my PJ shirt.

I looked up and I met a set of blue and pink eyes.

Since it was Halloween, I presumed they were contacts.

I noticed the rest of the costume.

Harley Quin.

She was in the complete getup, hair, bat and all.

"Excuse you," she said as she eyed the mess and then slowly her eyes came up to meet mine.

Belvia Seth.

"Oh,"She said as though she had gotten an idea, "Hi! Sienna right?"

"Yeah,"I said slowly, a bit surprised that she knew my name.

"What are you doing here?Ali said you told her you weren't coming,"Belvia said like we were long term friends or something as she examined me. "What's your costume?"

"Sleeptime me,"I said before I felt the sudden urge to explain,"I didn't have time to put on a costume."

Belvia took a sip of whatever was left of her drink and gave her reply.

"Original," she said approvingly,"I love it!"

"Thanks,"I smiled,"umm, I was looking for my friend, Lizzie. Do you have any idea where she is?"

"No, she just left–"Belvia paused and a small smile appeared on her lips, "Oh you mean Elizabeth O'Conner? Thought you meant someone else. She's on the roof. She mentioned something about star gazing with Brandon."

"Thanks,"I said as I walked past her trying to find my way up to the roof.

Though I didn't look behind me, I felt like she was watching me walk away.

I pushed my way through the bodies, feeling myself getting more and more irritated by the second.

I felt myself getting a migraine but soon I found myself on the roof.

It was quiet.

I don't know what I had expected to see but it wasn't Liz and Brandon making out under the full moon or something.

They weren't here at all.

I set out a disappointing sigh as I approached the edge.

I pulled my phone out and typed in a text for Lizzie.

BLμ€GLiTT3R

I'm @ the party, Liz 10:02pm

Where r u? I'm worried 10:02pm

I stared at my phone feeling dumb.

If she was drunk and I guess she probably is, she wouldn't be able to reply to my texts.

"I didn't think I'd find you here," an all too familiar voice said,"but I guess you never fail to surprise me."

I turned around slowly and Matt stood there behind me in a zombie costume and a beer cup in his hand.

He came to stand beside me at the hardened glass that guarded the roof's edge.

Below us was an empty outdoor pool.

I guess people figured it was too cold to go for a swim.

He took a sip from his cup and turned to stare down at me.

"What are you doing here, Sierra?"Matt asked burning me with the intensity of his 'I-couldn't-care-less' stare."I came here for privacy. I might get the feeling you're stalking me if–"

"What? I'm not– it's not–"I stopped and let out a breath when I realised Belvia had tricked me but what I couldn't understand was why?

"Are you stuttering, Sierra? "Matt asked with laughter in his voice which seemed to get lost in the low sound of music around us. "Do I make you nervous?"

Yes, but not in the way you think, Matthew.

"Enough of the absurd allegations, I'm just searching for Lizzie,"I said as I stepped away from the edge,"I'm her ride home."

I watched as Matt downed the rest of his drink and let the cup fall to the floor.

His eyes skimmed over my clothing and I could tell he was silently questioning my choices.

Then he leaned back against the glass shield protectors and closed his eyes.

Leaving him to his much wanted privacy, I turned away from him and walked away as quietly as I could but then I stopped in my tracks when I heard him speak.

"Did anyone ever tell you how beautiful you are, Sienna?"

"You got my name right, "I said, ignoring the shocking compliment Matt had given me.

The very first compliment to be more precise.

He was probably drunk out of his mind.

"Why are you standing so far away, Sienna?"

"I'm heading back down to search for Lizzie,"I answered with no sacarsm trying to keep nice Matthew, nice. "She obviously isn't here so sorry for bothering you."

"Why don't you stay awhile,"Matt slurred as he approached me. "I'm awful lonely up here. I'm sure Elizabeth is fine. She's very resourceful, you know."

"She's drunk, Matt and so are you,"I said, moving closer to the exit, "I can't leave her alone. It's a girl code. Never leave a girl alone when she's drunk. If something was to happen to her, I wouldn't forgive myself."

"And what about me,"Matt asked as he stopped right in front of me and I caught a whiff of the alcohol in his breath as he spoke. "Isn't there a 'no neighbor left behind' code?"

He slowly brought his index finger to the under of my chin and lifted my face to face directly to his.

"When I ask questions, I expect answers, Sienna."

I held my breath and shook my head.

Matt gave his signature smirk.

Maybe I was seeing things but it seemed like Matt was bringing his face closer to mine.

I squeezed my eyes shut as I waited for it to come.

I waited for his mean comment or prank or whatever it was but it never came.

I opened my eyes and Matt's grey eyes bore into mine.

He seemed different.

Vulnerable.

And I guess that was why when he wrapped his arms around me, I let him.

I let Matthew Davidson– my personal tormentor– hug me.

You know, the reason why I do nice things are beyond me.

"What are you doing here? "A confused voice asked and I jumped–okay maybe just moved– away from Matthew but in a shocked way.

Jason Macaulay's POV

Sienna brushed past me as she muttered something that seemed like, "Hey, Jason. Bye Jason."

"You don't get the right to give that speech, you know,"Matt said as he pulled out his phone from his pocket.

I never really did get this dude, Matt, Owen's Best bro.

You know, the thing about friendship was that you got your own buddies but you're also in this group given to you by society.

At school, it was this way: Brandon and I, Ali and Belvia and Owen and Matt.

Everyone had their cliques and though the idea of being in a clique seemed very uncomfortable to me.

Still, Highschool put me in one without my permission.

I liked to think I was cool with everyone but when any of us were having an exclusive party (Brandon/I), Ali and Belvia dealt with the invitations and Owen and Matt were they first people they invited.

"What?" I asked in confusion but then I decided against it, leaving my question unanswered as I went after Sienna in a totally non-stalkerish way.

She said she wouldn't be here but she is and there must be a really important reason.

Due to the amount of times I had been in Brandon's house, I seemed to search for her quickly within the house till the only places left to look was the bathrooms and outside.

I chose the latter.

I found Sienna standing at the pavement of Brandon's house.

She had her phone pressed to her ear as she muttered something that sounded along the lines of:

"Pick up, please, pick up."

"What's wrong?"I asked as I approached her.

She turned to me, her hair which fell gracefully behind her turning with her neck.

"Jason, do you have any idea where Lizzie is?"Sienna asked, worry written all over her features. "Sydney had to leave and there's no one to drive her and I can't find her and she's not answering my texts or picking up her–"

"Hey, hey, hey," I said as I quickly crossed over to her in two long strides and placed my hands on her shoulders. "Your bestie is fine. She left a while ago with Brandon. He drove her home. He mentioned something about her parents being out of time so I guess he'll be there for a while."

Sienna let out a breath of relief and I took my hands off her shoulders before the moment got awkward.

She pulled her glasses away from her face and wiped her eyes.

"Thank you," she said as she slid them back on and then she raised an eyebrow as she studied me.

I watched as she bent her head to the side, her long hair following the movement and she kept on with her examination.

"Umm, what are you doing? "I asked, staring back at her.

"What are you supposed to be?" she asked as she resumed her initial position and pocketed her phone.

"Really?" my eyes widened in disbelief that she couldn't tell what my costume was.

"Isn't it obvious?"I gestured to my black leather jacket above a white tee, my dark jeans and my hair which I had styled differently.

"Jace, you dress this way everyday,"Sienna said as she began to shake her head at me but stopped as she brought a finger to my face and ran it over the side of it.

"Is this...powder?"

I nodded and her lips formed a small 'O'.

"Edward Cullen,"we both chorused.

Sienna let out a giggle.

"Gee, Jason. I didn't know you were such a dork."

"What are you supposed to be then?"

"Isn't it obvious?" she asked with a sly smile and I shook my head.

"No, it isn't."

"Alright, alright, "Sienna chuckled,"I know don't laugh but I'm bedtime me."

I raised an eyebrow and she explained.

"I didn't have time to put a costume together."

"That's fine, you didn't plan on being here anyway."

"It's been really nice talking with you Jason,"Sienna began to say,"but I should really get going if I want to make it home on time."

"Your going home?"I asked.

"No, I'm going over to Lizzie's to make sure she's okay. She's not answering her phone so my mind isn't at ease yet."

"Can I come?"I asked and Sienna raised an eyebrow at me.

"Aren't you supposed to stay back and keep an eye on your friend's party?" she wondered.

"That's what Alisha and Belvia are here for,"I said,"c'mon."

"I'm driving,"Sienna said as she led the way.

That was easier than I thought.

"Well yeah,"I agreed,"it's your car we're taking after all."

"So it doesn't affect your pride or something to let a girl drive?" she questioned.

"Well, not in the way you think, "I answered,"my sister used to give me rides all the time but I can't let my mom drive though the scenerio is kinda impossible because my mom never drives herself anywhere."

"So you don't put up the 'I'm-all-grown-up-and-I-always-need-to-be-incharge' picture with your sister?"

"No, not really."

"I think I'm going to enjoy getting to know you, Jason," she smiled over at me.

Approval.

The feeling is mutual, Sienna.