Pretty Little Liar
1129 Words
Astrid's POV
I went in search of Keri and finally found her in a dark corner, intoxicated. She could have barely managed to keep her eyes open.
"Keri, can you stand?" I questioned her. She looked up at me from the chair she was sitting in.
"I.. want.. to dance!" she blurred.
"No. We need to leave right now," I told her and looked around for Annalise. I spotted her talking with Stormi while having a drink.
"Annalise! Excuse me," I cut in.
"What the hell do you want? Can't you see we're in the middle of a conversation here?" Stormi asked rudely.
"I'm sorry, but Keri and I need to leave," I informed.
"Then leave," Annalise said.
"You sort of gave us a ride here. Keri's car is still back at the school. "
"Well, the others aren't ready to leave as yet, and the party bus got everyone here, not just you two. So you're to either wait until this party is over or you can find your way home yourself," Annalise answered.
"Until the party is over? But we cannot wait that long, Annalise. Look at Keri. She could barely even stand."
"And it's not my fault she can not hold her liquor."
"Annalise, please."
"Astrid, go away."
There was no reasoning with her, and I was left wondering what to do. Everyone else was in their party mood and weren't thinking about going home anytime soon.
I sat next to Keri. Moments afterward, Trent walked into the room. He eyed me in the corner and turned his attention to Annalise, who was already longing for it.
~
Thirty minutes went by. Keri was in and out of consciousness, and my worries only increased.
"Is she okay?" Trent asked, walking over to us.
"No. I need to get her home where she can rest comfortably but I don't have a car."
"Everyone knows that," he answered. I exhaled with a huff. Typical Trent. "Come on, I'll take you two home."
"Huh?"
"You also don't hear good?"
"Wouldn't..umm.. wouldn't Annalise be upset about that?"
"Nah. I want to leave this party also. I get bored easily." He assisted with carrying Keri to his car, and I got up front with him.
I provided him with directions to Keri's place, thanked him for the ride, and the assistance with getting Keri in front of the front door.
I knocked and waited for a response. My heart raced as I heard footsteps approaching. The door swung open, and Mrs Lee stood on the other side, next to her, my mom.
~
"You've got to be kidding me! Astrid, how dare you! How dare you lie to me like that and had me looking like a fool in front of Lee's?" My mom yelled at me when we were in her car and on our way back home.
"I'm sorry," I apologized.
"That's not going to cut it. I looked like I wasn't aware of where my daughter was. I received a text from you stating you would be studying with Keri but I noticed you forgot some of your books so I decided to bring it to you over there, only to find out that you weren't there! And you came back with an intoxicated Keri. Were you drinking too?"
"No. Of course not."
Mom eyed me.
"I wasn't drinking mom. You have to believe me."
"I don't believe you. You lied to me, Astrid, and you've never lied to me before! This isn't you. Wearing mini clothing's, staying out late and being in the presence of alcohol. Where the hell were you tonight?"
"At the head cheerleader's home. She invited us for a get-together and I went."
"I'm so disappointed in you."
"I'm sorry. I don't know what else you want me to say here, mom. I'm sorry," I pleaded with her.
"This isn't you. I don't know what or who you're becoming these days. You used to be perfect!"
"And maybe that's the problem right there. Maybe I don't want to be perfect. Maybe I want to try new things and do new things also."
"Like alcohol?"
"I wasn't drinking!" My voice rose a notch.
Mom took her frustration out on the accelerator until we arrived at home. She slammed the door behind us and stormed up the stairs without another word.
That night, sleep didn't welcome me.
~
It was Saturday morning, and I had the morning shift at the ice-cream parlor. I rolled out of bed, freshened up, and had cereal for breakfast before leaving the house.
Upon arrival at the parlor, I met Sunshine at the door.
"Good morning," I greeted her.
"Good morning," she responded with a smile. I got settled in and took my place at the tubs, awaiting my first customer.
In came Trent. He slowly walked towards me, eyeing the tubs of ice cream.
"One scoop of Cookies and Cream on a cone," he told me, and I served him exactly that.
"Hey, thanks again for the ride last night," I said. Some crazy part of me wanted to make a conversation with Trent Ambrose.
"You're welcome," he answered. He licked his ice cream, and a ripple ran down my spine as my eyes took in the movement of his tongue, and my mind went to somewhere else.
He paid Sunshine and walked out of the parlor without another glance or word.
Then along came Keri and I relief to see her at least up and active. I thought she would have stayed in nursing a hangover while feeling sorry for herself and swearing off alcohol.
"Hi, you," I greeted her. She gave me a sad smile and found a chair and table in the corner, "How are you?"
"I feel like crap," she answered. I rubbed the small of her back.
"I'll get you a club soda."
"Thank you so much, you're a lifesaver."
She opened it and headed the bottle with haste before releasing a loud burp. Sunshine and I giggled from the shock of everything.
"How are you feeling?"
"Much better. Thanks again..but things at home with my parents is a nightmare. Mom and dad teamed against me and they've never done that before. I couldn't stay a moment longer in that house this morning."
"You were pretty drunk last night, Keri. Do you even know how we got home?"
"No. Are you going to tell me?"
"Promise you wouldn't make a big deal out of it, okay?"
"Why would I make a big deal out of it?"
"Trent dropped us off. Even helped you to the front door."
"What? Trent... The Trent Ambrose took us home?"
"Yes."
Keri gasped. "I thought I was crazy to even think that thought."
"What thought?" I questioned.
"He likes you."
- Writer
