That's Just the Beginning

Chapter 10

After my Aunt texted me, telling me to be home by 2A.M, I sighed as I leaned back in the passenger’s seat, crossing my arms. I'm not used to this type of treatment, on a normal day- my curfew is 8 o'clock sharp but now that my aunt is here, she allows me to stay out until after midnight? Most teenagers would be grinning and smiling but me, I'm a bit nervous and uncomfortable. I doubt I'll even stay away!

“You act like you’re being brought to your death. It’s only a party, if you want to leave during it- just text me,” She said, rolling her eyes as she smirked.

I glared at her with an annoyed look on my face. Does she not understand? Not only am I uncomfortable going to the party- I hate what I’m wearing, that jerk is going to be there, and I’m probably going to be the laughing stock of the whole entire party! What 17 year old girl wears so much pink? I ought to strangle my Aunt!

“And if you’re worried about your outfit, you look fine. I know you added that jean jacket yourself because your Aunt would never let you leave the house with two different colored jeans on.” She sneered. I gave her an annoyed look as she smiled innocently.

“It’s not only that, Jess. It’s the fact that not only am I wearing this horrific outfit, mind you that I never wear pink, it’s because he’s going to be there!” I snapped, gesticulating so wildly that I even cut off Jessie’s vision of the road at one point. Aren’t I grand?

“Who?” Jessie asked stupidly, jerking her head to the side to see the road. I retracted my hands to my sides and gave her a look as if she was stupid. She sure is acting like it!

“Adrian! Adrian Easton!” I exclaimed. She winced and cringed back, giving me a confused look.

“What did he do wrong? The only thing I can think of is being that hot. You have to have a license to look that hot.” She said dreamily. I should smack her in the face. I would if she wasn’t driving. Instead, I snapped my fingers in her face.

"He isn’t hot! He’s annoying! He called me ugly!” I retorted, frowning and sinking back into the chair once more.

“What? When did he do this?” She asked, a look of outrage covering her face.

“He said it yesterday! That’s the whole reason why I’m even going to this party!” I exclaimed, running my hands through my curled hair. It felt soft under my hands, the dirty blonde highlighted hair allowed my hands to drift through it easily.

“What? Why didn’t you tell me?” She asked.

“I am right now, aren't I? He said it after I’d asked him a stupid question!” I told her, sinking even lower in the chair due to embarrassment.

“What?” She asked, confused.

“He’s not only my neighbor but his room is right next door to mine! We barely have any space between our houses! When he was coming home from the party, I’m guessing, I left the window open because I was cleaning and dancing. I couldn’t sleep and he ended up scaring me. He then continued talking to me and decided to answer my question with ‘You’re the ugliest person I’ve ever seen.’” I huffed, suddenly annoyed.

“What was the question?” She asked, curiously. That’s what I was afraid of- she was going to ask what the question was.

“You remember the day he was staring at me right?” I asked and in response I received a nod from her. “Yeah, I asked him why he was staring at me.” I said in a whisper.

Jessie looked outraged as she stared at me with an angry look on her face. She huffed and stumbled over her words before replying. “What did you say?” She asked me, eyes widened as she glanced between me and the road.

“I didn’t say anything. I closed the window and went to sleep.” I replied, biting my lip. Jessie looked like she wanted to punch me in the throat.

“Did you cry?” She asked.

“No, but-.” I began to speak but she cut me off.

“Did you cry?” She asked, emphasizing her words.

“No.” I answered, knowing not to be stupid when Jessie was like this. She wanted answers, no explanations, just answers.

“He’s going to pay for this.” She said in a low voice as her grip visibly tightened on the steering wheel.

“No, Jess. It’s okay. I got it.” I said, in an attempt to calm her down.

“What are you going to do? Close the window?” She asked, annoyed. She always gets angry about the fact that I don’t stand up for myself enough. She means no harm by her words, though.

“No, I don’t know what I’m going to do yet. But Jessie, I can assure you that I’m going to do something.” I told her in a promising tone, but that wasn’t enough for Jessie.

“Do you promise?” She asked, her voice stern and serious. Nobody would be stupid enough to undermine her.

"I promise.” I stated with finality and we continued the journey to the party in a quiet car, but I knew she was counting the days until she would finally snap and run to my side. And honestly, I was too

___

I felt my ankle almost give out when I got out of the car. Jessie snickered as my knees began buckling like a baby foals. I wrinkled my nose as I got the hang of walking in them. Even though they were classified as wedges, my ankles still felt like Jell-O.

“You’re walking pretty well in them.” Jessie said as I got the hang of them. I was taller than her when I walked in them. I rolled my upper lip as I felt my ankles shake once more.

“I hate them.” I stated, staring at my feet. As we passed by a car, I couldn’t help but glance into the mirror. I looked like a whole new person. My feelings were mixed about it. In some parts, it was okay because it was a onetime thing and maybe, just maybe, I’d meet a cute and nice guy who recognizes me under this entire pound of gunk and he’d actually talk to me at school and wouldn’t snicker when I pass by. Don’t dream too hard now.

“You look good in them, now let’s get inside. I’m dying for something to drink.” She told me, sighing. I gave her an annoyed look.

“Didn’t you say you weren’t going to drink?” I asked, placing an impatient hand on my hip. There was no way I was letting her drive home drunk. She’d have to crash at my place.

“I said I wasn’t going to drink that much.” She said, shrugging as she continued walking. Her heels clacked against the cement, resounding through the warm air. I stomped after her, ignoring the fact that my ankles were going to give out at any given moment.

“I’m not going to be carrying you inside my house because I’m not letting you drive yourself home drunk.” I stated.

As we approached the large bright house, I started to notice the amounts of teenagers talking. Half of them were guys, and half of those guys were jocks or popular in school. And the rest, well, were more popular than me. I wouldn’t blend in well enough. I’m like a grape in a bag of cherries, terrible analogy but you get my point. I wasn’t fitting in here because everyone here probably was invited while I was crashing this party.

“Please, honey. By the way you look; a guy will make sure you don’t go home either.” She winked at me. I felt my heart drop into my stomach. Is that the one most important thing that I’d let slip my mind? The amount of inappropriate interaction in this party is greater than the amount of F’s Easton receives on his report card. We entered the house and I immediately felt the flee instinct.

“I want to leave.” I stated, sighing loudly as Jessie gave me a flat look and struggled to speak over the music.

“Wait 15 minutes and then call me to tell me if you still want to go home.” She said, placing a hand on her hip.

“Text you? You’re leaving me?” I asked, frowning. I felt the abandoned feeling arise once more as I furrowed my eyebrows.

“Well, I’m going to get a drink and you can rarely find your way out of that circle. I’d tag you along, it’s just that everyone around the table is either drunk or really close to it and I know that you don’t want that.” She said, waving her hands around.

I just nodded, looking around. People were just entering the house and even more were already dancing on each other on the dance floor. I felt vomit rising up my throat as my eyes glanced at a couple intensely making out. I quickly looked away and unfortunately, they made their way toward the popular girls.

“Have fun.” Jessie’s fading voice said as I muttered a goodbye. My eyes were still glued to the popular girls whose faces were caked in makeup and their torsos clad in thin material dresses. Half of the dresses didn’t reach the middle of the girls thighs, they reached just below the waist, short enough that you’ll see if it you were to walk upstairs behind them.

The center girl, Brielle Deleon was the girl that her minions strived to be. She was Cheerleading Captain and also in an on and off type of relationship with the devil himself, Adrian Easton. Sure, he’s not a player, but that doesn’t exclude the idea of a relationship from his mind. And he chose the worst person possible for a girlfriend (or lack thereof), not that I care. In fact, I’m glad he chose her.

Even though when they break up, that night they go to the same party and chose someone to ‘hang’ out with. The person doesn’t mind and neither does the other partner of the relationship. Brielle knows that in the end, Adrian will always be hers and vice versa. I know that Brielle will wreak havoc onto whoever steals Adrian away from her for longer than 2 days. Everyone knows that if he asks you to any dance or school activity, your answer better be ‘no’ because she will ruin your life.

My eyes melted away from them, horrific memories clouded my mind and they needed to escape. I heaved in a breath of air and realized it smelled of cigarette smoke and beer. I wrinkled my nose as I tried to find a door. I squeezed through crowds of people, making sure to apologize if I hit someone, although they never seemed to care.