Chapter 4: Granny Harper
1184 Words
Chapter 4: Granny Harper
Clare's POV
“Whoa… what is she wearing?”
“That looks awful!”
I tugged at my cardigan, suddenly aware of how out of place I looked.
Girls wore short dresses that glittered and sparkled.
Guys were shirtless, showing off their abs and muscles.
And there I was, standing at the door in my old jeans and buttoned-up cardigan.
“Wanna dance, glasses?” a boy approached me and I stopped back, almost retching from how terrible his breath reeked of alcohol.
“I can make you feel beautiful even with those ugly clothes you have on.” he continued, leaning in closer.
Maggie pushed him backwards, making him tumble and almost lose his footing. She then grabbed my arm, tugging me slightly to the side.
“Come on, you have to change. Something… more appropriate for the party. I don't want them to keep making fun of you.”
“I… I don’t—”
“Well, well, well… if it isn’t Granny Harper. She came dressed for Bible study!”
I froze.
A few guys laughed.
My cheeks burned hot.
My eyes shot to the source. Betty Mae. And she had clearly brought her entire entourage with her. Cleo, Summer, and a few other sorority girls trailed behind her, smirking with their faces caked with makeup.
She sauntered closer. “What’s the occasion, Virgin Mary? Planning to bless us all?”
More laughter.
“She missed her way due to bad eyesight, maybe? I think she forgot that the bingo club was on the next street.” Summer added and the room erupted into laughter.
I felt heat crawling up my neck. My face was on fire, and I could feel my ears burning.
Maggie’s hand on my arm tightened. “Ignore them, Clare. Seriously, they’re idiots.”
“Easy for you to say,” I muttered, my voice barely audible over the snickering.
Betty stepped closer, her smirk widening. “You know, I almost felt sorry for you. Almost.”
“Back off, Betty.” Maggie stepped in front of me, defending me.
Betty just scoffed and attempted to push her aside but Maggie stayed still.
“I don't think your face would like to meet my fist.” she sneered and Betty backed off but she still gave me that look that she was going to ruin me.
Someone poked at me and I shifted slightly to the side. I felt another poke at my side and this went on till a lot of people were poking at me and jeering, calling me Bishop's daughter.
Maggie couldn't ward them all off and Betty was having the time of her life laughing in front of me.
Tears pricked my vision and I wanted to disappear when Christian stepped through the doors and everyone paused to look at him.
“Christian is here,” Chloe whispered to a still laughing Betty who stilled and spun around to see him dressed in just a flannel shirt and jeans and sneakers.
He was talking to the senior from earlier and all eyes were on him. The girls were frothing at the mouth and I would have also if he hadn't been so rude earlier or I had just not been ridiculed.
Everyone turned their attention away from me to him
“Christian. I didn't think you'd come.” A girl clung to his arm and he shrugged her off but she held on tighter.
Betty stepped forward and the girl scurried off, scared for her life, I was sure.
“Christian,” she said and he gave her a slight nod and walked off but she trailed after him, and so did her cronies.
Maggie sighed and dragged me over to the kitchen, grabbing a bag of chips and handing it over to me.
“Sorry you had to go through that.”
I just shook my head at her. It wasn't her fault.
She opened her mouth to speak but her phone pinged with a text. She smiled and her face almost turned red from blushing so I could guess who she was talking to. That was definitely her boyfriend, Matt.
She looked at me and I just rolled my eyes, shooing her away.
“Just go. I know he's waiting for you.”
She jumped on me and gave me a kiss on the cheek before running out of the kitchen and up the stairs.
I took a seat on one of the kitchen chairs and took out my phone reading a book I had saved there when a hand grabbed my shoulder, dragging me back to the living room.
“Hey guys, I found one more person to join us for the drinking game.”
“No, I'm not. I don't plan to join you.” I said, trying to speak over the loud music but it was either that he didn't hear me or he was pretending not to.
He pushed me till I sat down on one of the chairs and handed me a shot.
“Look guys, I don't drink,” I said and one of the girls threw her head back laughing.
“You can't come to a party and not drink, old Granny Harper. Chug up!”
I shook my head but they started to laugh at me, mocking me again.
I shouldn't have but I couldn't bear to be made fun of again so I raised the glass to my lips and downed the liquid in one go.
They yelled and hyped me up and I smiled.
Maybe this wasn't such a bad idea although the liquid tasted like hell.
I was handed another shot and I did the same again, drinking every single drop.
“You're like, a natural.” someone commented.
My head was spinning and I felt free.
“Let's race to see who can finish this bottle.” a guy that looked like those guys from the beach with their shiny long hair handed me a bottle.
I caught it and raised the mouth to my lips.
“Chug, Chug, Chug!” everyone around yelled.
I finished it all before he did and I got raised off my feet as everyone was screaming my name or more like my nickname, Granny Harper.
I was dizzy and I could barely keep my eyes open but I felt good.
They dropped me to the floor and I climbed the table.
“Dj, okay some music,” I yelled and everyone hollered as I danced, taking off my sweater and revealing my tank top.
I laughed as I danced, stumbling around…
My head was spinning.
I climbed the stairs, searching for somewhere quiet.
My legs wobbled.
Every step felt heavier.
I found a door half open, light spilling through.
Inside, it was calm and still—a bed, a window, silence.
I stumbled toward it, meaning to sit down for just a minute.
The sheets were soft.
The air smelled faintly like cologne.
I closed my eyes.
Just a few minutes, I told myself.
Just to stop the spinning.
- Writer
