Trouble Next Door

chapter twelve

"Is it a college party?" Kathy asked.

"Something like that" i replied.

We had both dressed up for the party. Lucas had texted the location to us. A good thing he didn't come pick us up. What would aunt Mary say? We met Pip outside.

"Looking good girls", he called to us from the front of the house. I could hear the music blaring from inside.

We both went to meet him, not at all trilled to be there. Kathy and i weren't too fond of parties. Well it was a college kid hosting it. At least that was what Lucas told me. So I was hoping it would be different from the usual highschool party. Wrong.

Inside was crowded, all chocked up with highschool kids and non highschool kids. Most were adults though. I guessed only highschool seniors were invited.

I noticed that Kathy made it a point of duty to stay away from Pip. Poor Kathy. Pip seemed a bit tipsy and so into the fun that he did not notice Kathy's uneasiness. He flung his arm around her waist nonchalantly and I watched as Kathy froze.

"Good thing you came skinny." He whispered to her. "I was beginning to get bored."

Kathy tried to pull away but he tightened his hold. "Get off." She gritted out.

He smiled sheepishly and removed his arm from around her, then swayed away to join a group of girls calling to him. Immediately one of them flung her arm around him and shrieked excitedly pushing him away when he tried to kiss her.

Player alert!

I saw Kathy watch the scene in anger, then turned to me, disgust apparent on her face. "Why are we here again? To watch that i***t make out with clueless random girls?" She motioned over to where Pip was, in a heated make out with the girl. I turned away, embarrassed. I wasn't too comfortable with people making out in public.

This definitely wasn't my idea of fun. Watching random kids, girls scantily dressed and slutty, making out with wasted guys. I wished the music would be turned down.

"Where the hell is Lucas anyways," I said scanning the room for any sight of him. Just then I sighted him and Reggie sitting on a sofa amidst some other guys, taking shots. Kathy and I both made our way to meet them, Kathy highly irritated. She was quite popular in highschool but hated these party scenes. Kathy was a lot like me in that aspect.

Lucas' face lighted up in a smile as soon as he saw us. "They came!"

"Hey Maury! Kathy!" Reggie called standing up to hug us like we were long time friends.

I felt a little weird as her arm tightened around me mostly because i didn't expect her to be so friendly with me. I decided that Reggie was an OK gal and i liked her.

Just then two blonde bimbos pushed past Kathy and I, making me stumble.

What the..

I glared daggers at them as they both made their way to sit on either side of Lucas.

"Hey Lucas," one of them purred. "I missed you so much."

The one on the other side of Lucas turned his face away from her friend. "Nah i miss you more."

Seriously? Was this some sort of competition? She made to kiss him but her friend pushed her head away, giggling.

Alright! What the hell is going on here? Why are these slutty girls all over Lucas?

"That's what he has to put up with. He's just too good looking for his own good." Reggie whispered to me.

"Oh," i said clapping my hand over my mouth. I realised that I had said that out loud, but was relieved that only Reggie and Kathy got to hear.

Lucas pulled his gaze away from the girls and grinned at me. But I wasn't grinning back. A scowl appeared on his face and his smile disappeared in surprise, perhaps wondering why I was mad at him. I too wondered why i was mad. It was immediately replaced with a smirk.

"You look hot love." He said winking at me.

Urgh! I groaned inwardly. The nerve! He had the guts to act all nonchalant with those bimbos plastered on him. He made to stand up but one of the girls pulled him back down, attacking his face with kisses.

"Don't go lukey dear," she whined.

Eww. I felt like throwing up. I was so pissed but i could not really show my anger. He still had the pill. I had to find a way to get it. Then i would be free from this humiliation.

"I think I need a drink." I heard Reggie say. I sighed, relieved at the excuse of an escape. I couldn't watch this any longer. I had to go clear my head and figure out why seeing those girls with Lucas bothered me so much.

"Me too." I and Kathy said at the same time. Obviously I wasn't the only one uncomfortable around here. We turned and went with Reggie.

"Maury!" I heard Lucas call. But I wasn't about to answer him. I was so mad at him.

Reggie got us drinks and we stood in a corner watching the outrageous party scene. I made a mental note not to drink too much, because I didn't want to get drunk. Definitely not as drunk as that clueless girl who was dancing on a table, surrounded by horny teenage boys, hooting at her as she performed a strip tease. I found myself downing shots after shots. What the hell is wrong with me? Why am i so upset?

"Easy there tiger." Kathy whispered to me. "You don't want to get drunk."

"We're taking a taxi home anyways." I answered bitterly.

"We both aren't in a good mood." Kathy said, sensing my mood. "Let's ditch this party. I knew it was a bad idea."

"But what about the pill?"

"What pill," Reggie asked.

We both forgot she was there.

"Oh nothing," I answered immediately.

"Look its obvious you girls hate this party. So why don't you just go home?"

"Lucas invited us."

Reggie gave me a weird look as if to say "seriously".

" The i***t is over there with those dumb bimbos. Ash and Natalie." She added with a sneer.

"You don't like them?"

"Course i don't, they're bitches."

"Yeah." I agreed, remembering how they had pushed me out of the way.

"So is he dating them both?" Kathy asked wryly.

"Nah. They wish. The sluts. All they do is throw themselves at him."

"Well he didn't seem to mind". Kathy said.

" Why're you at this party?" I asked Reggie curiously.

"A close friend of ours is hosting it. So yeah. That's why i'm here. Rowdy parties like this are not exactly my scene."

I was growing fonder of her and told her so.

She smiled. "I'm easy to like". She said smugly. " I mean what's not to like". She said motioning to herself.

I laughed, thinking that Lucas' cockiness was rubbing off on her.

"But seriously Why're you here?" She was puzzled. "You can just go home."

"Can't."

"Why not?"

After much probing, she got the truth out of us.

"The idiot." She said feigning anger. I didn't fail to catch the amusement in her voice. Suddenly she smiled. "You girls showed them uh? Its no wonder they won't stop talking about you."

Talking about us? That was a revelation. It had never crossed my mind that the boys talked about us the same way we talked about them.

"Good things i hope." Kathy said.

"Well...Lucas thinks you both are fun. And he thinks Maury needs to loosen up a little."

"Loosen up?" I chocked out.

"But he says you're pretty". Reggie quickly added.

I felt a blush creeping up my face. He thought i was pretty? I felt the butterflies in my tummy but killed them immediately when I remembered how angry i was with him. Pretty my a*s! I wondered what he thought of the bitches, Ash and Natalie.

" What did Pip say about us?" Kathy asked timidly, obviously hating herself for asking. "Never mind." She added immediately. "I don't care what that i***t thinks."

"He said you're both pretty too and hot." Reggie said and I watched as Kathy's lips curled up in a smile which she tried to turn to a scowl but failed miserably. "But..."

Kathy's smile fell. " But what?"

"His exact words. "I think the skinny one is a bit conceited and pretentious and her friend a busybody".

" Pretentious...." Kathy chocked out.

"Me a busybody?" I said. "The nerve!"

Reggie burst out laughing, obviously amused. But we didn't find it funny at all.

"Don't take it to heart. Boys talk. They think you're both fun."

"Yeah of course. As clowns for their entertainment." Kathy said with a sneer.

"Not that, i think they like you girls."

I and Kathy snorted. Obviously not buying it. We were more than determined to get back at them.

"Me?.....pretentious? That annoying pig! I'll tell him exactly what I think of him."

"Now please!" Reggie gasped. "Don't tell them what i told you. They'll never trust me with another secret, please...." She pouted, making adorable puppy dog eyes. Its hard not to like this girl.