THE PROMISES OF FRIENEMIES

PLAN RUIN THE PARTY

My life sucked, but it sucked a little less now that I had a friend. Jackson was so different from any of the guys i'd know. He didn't talk about sports cars or the newest smartphones or the best companies to invest in, but he thought me how to cut out grocery coupons from newspapers or what the cheapest bus route was and how to ride a bicycle. He even got me a waitressing job at the cafe and covered for my mistakes, He lived in a tiny rundown house with his mom and three younger sisters. And even though they didn't have much, I was always made to feel welcome. One day at the park, while Jackson was feeding the ducks with his sister's,I accidentally knocked over his backpack, and a sketch book fell out. I opened it to find the most amazing comic drawings, I leafed through the pages and found a sketch of me. And another, and another (Jackson) what do you think you are doing? ( Olivia) I'm sorry, it just fell out, Jackson you are so talented. (Jackson) it's just a silly hobby (Olivia) it's not a silly hobby, are you ganna apply to an art school (Jackson) Incase you haven't noticed, I'm poor. I have to work right out of high school (Olivia) but you are too good not to take this seriously, you have to (Jackson) can we please not talk about this? (Olivia) okay (Jackson) and I didn't make your sketches because I have a crush on you or something. Your just a new, interesting face (Olivia) does interesting mean the same as pretty? (Jackson) not necessarily (Olivia) so you don't think I'm pretty? (Jackson) you are not, not pretty, and what is pretty anyway? there's no set standards. (Jackson's sister) shut up, Jackson. You said Olivia's the prettiest girl you've ever met (Jackson) no, I didn't. I said Bolivia has the prettiest girls that I've never met (Jacksons sister) he wrote a poem in his diary, about your eyes being as blue as corn flower. And what was the next line girls? (girls) I could stare into those sapphire lakes for hours. (Jackson's sisters laughing) my diary YOU! (groans) see what I mean? I need to earn money to put them all in a mental institution. (Olivia) I couldn't stop laughing as he chased the girls away. And I felt a warm tingle in my toes, and the thought maybe Jackson liked me. A few weeks later, we were sitting in the cafeteria, when I got an email alert on my phone, and Jackson noticed my face fall (Jackson) what's wrong? (Olivia) oh, it's just that witch Penelope, she's hosting her grand annual Halloween party. And I guess she just forgot to take me off the invite list. (Jackson) okay then, my mom is making her famous shepher's pie this weekend, and she thinks I don't know what the secret ingredient is, (Olivia) I think I wanna go to the party (Jackson) what? why? (Olivia) because I, well, I want revenge. Penelope and all those people hurt me, and I wanna hurt them back (Jackson) what will you even do? (Olivia) I don't have it all planned out, but I want to ruin her stupid party because it means a lot to her and her friend's. And you should come with me (Jackson) umm no, and you shouldn't go either. You'll get in trouble. (Olivia) it's Halloween we'll be in costumes. No one will recognize us. And we won't be their for a very long time. And Penelope will have the best food, I'm certain she stole my caterer (Jackson) I don't know (Olivia) please? I need this, and I don't wanna go alone (Jackson) all right, the food better be good. (Olivia) on the night of Penelope's Halloween party Jackson and I took the bus to the rich part of town, and walked the last few blocks to Penelope's house. No one's gonna recognize me, right? (Jackson) you're dressed like an evil eggplant, it's very unlikely (Olivia) you look good as a tree, very tall and leafy. Now do you remember the plan (Jackson) right, make as many things go wrong as possible, am I forgetting anything? (Olivia) Nope, that's the whole plan. Let's go. Penelope's place was swarming with guests. And no one paid much attention to us as we slipped in. And we got down to our mission right away. We sneaked off all the black and gold balloons, and made them fly away. We messed up the fake cobwebs and smashed some curved pumpkins. We locked up the kitchen doors and we threw the keys in the swimming pool. (Penelope) where Didi all the balloons go? I ordered 500 of them. People watch were you're going! you're smashing the pumpkins and walking into the cobwebs, and where are all the waiters? why is there no food? (Olivia) as Penelope stormed off towards the kitchen, Jackson and I high- fived (Jackson) should we go now? (Olivia) oh, no, this was just the warm up. Penelope always has a surprise celebrity singer perform at her Halloween parties And I know this time is Harry Styles. We have to wreck his concert. it'll drive her crazy (Jackson) no, that's going too far, someone will catch as. (Olivia) can you stop being such a scaredy cat? just tell me if you are in or out? (Jackson) Olivia, I think I'm out. And then he actually left. Fine, I'd finish the job myself. I ran off to the back of the house where I knew all of the power supply boards will be. I spotted a tool box nearby, I picked a plier, and started snipping away every wire. I wouldn't let his concert happened, I'd ruin the whole party. Everyone will remember it as the worst Halloween ever. Just then I saw a figure emerge from the shadows. (Chad) hey, what do you think you are doing? (Olivia) o flung the pliers to one side and started running for my life across the garden. But my stupid eggplant costume was slowing me down. And suddenly I found my self being pushed forward and pinned to the ground. When the person chasing me turned me over. I saw it was, CHAD? (Chad) how do you know my, OH MY GOD, livvy, is that you? why are you an eggplant? actually what are you doing here? (Olivia) I could ask you the same question, my whole life blew up and you couldn't send a text? but you made sure you didn't miss Penelope's part? (Chad) listen (Olivia) just then, a pretty girl I'd never seen before came running behind us (Chads date) babe, are you okay? who's this creep? I'll call security (Chad) no, don't call security, there has been a misunderstanding (Olivia) babe? is that what she just called you? (Chads date) who are you? and why are you dressed up like an eggplant? (Olivia) because BABA GANOUSH is my favorite dip not that it's any of your business. I pushed Chad away and stormed off. Tears pouring down my face, I just made it a few blocks down when I ran into a tree, I'm so sorry I shouldn't have left you behind I came back. Now let's go destroy Penelope. (Olivia) No I'm done, coming here was a stupid idea. Let's just go home Jackson.