Changing With Autumn

Chapter 5

We jumped into Erika’s BMW and I was hit with my usual twinge of awe. No matter how many times I rode in the passenger seat of her car I never really got over the need to compare her very expensive car and my very, very unimpressive one. I mean, we are talking power windows, leather interior, a radio that works properly, pushing the gas pedal and actually accelerating without difficulty. The list could go on and on.  

Now I know that I whine about my car a lot but trust me I’m far from ungrateful for it. My car is literally my little form of freedom. I gained my small independence when I turned 15 and that was only because my parents schedule was too busy to get me to school and I didn’t live close enough to a bus stop. When I passed my behind the wheel and walked out of the DMV with that license paper and a triumphant smile on my face I had unrealistic visions in my head of fast cars and road trips. 

Reality hit when car shopping didn’t mean going to a car lot and buying a pretty new one off the lot. Still I wasn’t deterred from finding my dream first car and I begged my parents for anything that looked badass. I wanted a classic car like a Camero or a Mustang or something that had some major power in it. I even asked for a little pickup truck or a Harley. I wanted to feel the pure adrenaline when I hit the gas. All hope was lost when my dad told me that I needed to learn the value of my possessions, and I wouldn’t learn that by being handed everything in life. 

So, he taught me the value of possessions with my brand s******g, new to me, ‘89 Ford Escort. Bitchin right? Yeah, no.

“Earth to Willow... Are you even listening to me?” Erika snapped her fingers in front of my face pulling me out of my momentary car envy trance.

“Uh, nope. Didn’t hear a word. Sorry I was zoned out.” I gave her an apologetic look.

“Girl, what am I going to do with you? What I was saying is that we are going to have like a ton of fun tonight. Seriously, like a ton. Plus… there are going to be some super hotties there.” She wiggled her eyebrows at me and licked at her fingers as if to emphasize the idea of them being finger licking good.

I couldn’t help but laugh and shake my head at her antics. This girl was going to be the death of me. No matter how polar opposites we were, and although our friendship made no sense to outsiders, she was seriously my favorite person in the whole world. I wouldn’t change anything about her. Although she could be a bit much sometimes she still made life interesting and she cared for me and I would do anything to make her happy. Which was apparent by the fact that I instantly knew what was about to go down. As soon as she mentioned super hotties her surprise bubble had been popped because that could only mean one thing. The dreaded realization hit and the panic set in; she was taking me to a party. 

“So, this party, this wouldn’t happen to be the one that you have been talking about for like the past two weeks would it? You know, the one I said I wouldn’t be caught dead at?” I asked her as I put the pieces together of what direction this night was headed.

“Party? What do you mean? Who said anything about a party?” She giggled nervously and she responded in a voice that was a whole octave higher than her casual voice.

“You are by far the worst liar ever Erika. I thought we agreed that we weren’t going to go. You know how I am at parties.” I whined.

Every single party I had ever been to had turned out to be a disaster. I mean even birthday parties were a no go. My parents stopped having parties for me when I turned 12 and instead ended up just doing the tradition of a homemade cake and me getting to choose dinner for the day. After so many years of failed attempts of me having fun, and surprise parties that I had weaseled my way out of, faked illnesses, and some form of injury or party incident that resulted in an E.R. visit; I had finally been relieved from having to put up with parties any longer. Well, until now apparently.

  “Oh come on Willow. You know I’m dying to go and you’re seriously the only person I want to go with. Aaron is going to be there and I need your emotional support. Please. Please. Please.” She begged and gave me her puppy dog eyes and added a pout to go with it. 

Aaron had been Erika’s on and off since Freshman year. They would get serious and then bored with each other or something and then the cool down period would begin. Then one of them would decide that they can’t live without the other and they would be all about each other again. The breakup and makeup cycle was real, and for the past couple of weeks he had been trying to “rekindle their love” as he kept saying. Erika was protesting against his pleas of getting back together and said that she didn’t want to keep doing this back and forth thing and it was time she found a real relationship rather than a little kid crush.  

“What do you need my support for? I thought you and Aaron were done for good. You aren’t changing your mind again are you?” I asked with pure dread in my voice.

“What? No! I’m still super done with him, but I need my favorite b***h with me for backup just in case he doesn’t seem to remember that fact.” She stated proudly, as if I was some form of a personal bodyguard or something. 

“So what you’re saying is that I am being forced to go to a party against my will purely for the purpose of making sure you keep your restraint against your boyfriend?” I laughed.

“You know I resent that you have so little faith in me.” She feigned mock hurt putting a hand over her heart; “But, yes. I accept your assumptions, and counter with the statement that I am determined to make sure you have fun tonight too.”

“Uh huh. We shall see.” I replied. I put my head against the window thinking about my totally low expectations for any attempt at having a good time. There were many things I would consider fun, and going to this party was definitely not on that list. I mean, anything would be a better option than this. I would have more fun stabbing myself in the eye with a pencil a hundred times or eating a bucket full of worms.

 “Oh. Oh. Oh.” Erika said excitedly as she smacked me in the arm. “I forgot the best part! You know Aaron’s best friend Ricky right? Well I heard that his cousin is going to be there tonight, and he is supposed to be like hella bad boy type. I heard that he is totally drool worthy too, but not the kind of guy you want to mess with. I heard that he’s gotten kicked out of every school in his district and had to go a whole district over just so they would take him. Apparently, he is in like this whole group of bad boys. Sounds like he would be the perfect guy for you.”

“Erika, hold up. Let me get this straight? So what you’re saying is that you are trying to hook me up with some thug? You think some delinquent guy that breaks all the rules and has girls drooling over him is something I would be into? Plus I freaking hate Ricky. He’s an ass and a man-w***e so why would I want to be involved with someone that he hangs around with? How little do you know your supposed best friend, woman?” I said to her getting annoyed at the thought of her attempted hookup.

“Again, ow. I was involved with someone that Ricky hangs around with.” She said.

“See point proven,” I said. “You two are broken up because he is an ass. Therefore my statement stands. Honestly it doesn’t even matter cause I’m not interested in checking out Aaron’s best friend’s, uncle’s, cousin’s, brother or whatever. My plan for tonight is only to keep your boyfriend away from you and get lost in a crowd somewhere until it’s over.” 

“Wow. Poor sport. You are so no fun. Regardless of who he hangs out with Miss Judgy, he sounds like the exact type of guy you need. Someone to get you into some trouble and maybe get the stick out your ass. You don’t have to like marry this guy. I’m not selling you off to him. You just need to relax, live a little, and maybe you can get some of those hottie naughties!” She went back to the eyebrow wiggling as she pushed her elbow into my arm.

“Hottie naughties? Where do you even come up with this stuff?” I shook my head and laughed. This girl was an expert at coming up with over the top phrases. It was like she sat up at night and practiced random words she could put together at any given moment.

“Girl, my awesomeness just flows. It pops in my head and I just let it flow.” She puffed out her chest as she praised herself. 

Yup. I shook my head. She was definitely going to be the death of me.