Party in the Making
1030 Words
The walk home with Elvis was filled with nervous energy and I found it quite hard to control myself and not be too worried about what would happen if my parents found out about our plans.
While we’d agreed on throwing a party, the reality of it hadn’t quite sunk in yet.
My head spun with questions. What if nobody came? What if Ryan and Luke didn’t show up? What if my parents found out before it even started?
I would be in big trouble with them and I would be too embarrassed to even show my face in school, there by making me to go back to being the loser girl like kast year.
Why was this happening to me?
Just thinking of being known by everyone as the girl whose party nobody came to almost made me shrink in fear and nervousness.
If there was a time I would have a panic attack, it would most certainly be right now.
As soon as we opened the front door, the familiar sound of my parents’ voices greeted us.
You have got to be kidding me
Elvis and I exchanged puzzled looks as my parents voices registered in our heads.
"I thought they were supposed to be gone already," I muttered to Elvis, my stomach sinking.
"Relax," he said, giving my shoulder a reassuring pat. "We’ll just avoid them for now."
We slipped past the living room where my mom was on the phone and my dad was watching TV, their attention thankfully elsewhere.
Once we reached the safety of my room, I closed the door and leaned against it.
"Okay, step one: strategizing," Elvis said, plopping onto my bed with his trademark flair.
"Step one should be figuring out how we’re not going to get caught," I countered, sitting cross-legged on the floor.
"Details, details," he waved off my concern. "What’s a party without a little risk?"
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help smiling.
Elvis’s confidence was infectious.
He pulled out his phone and an odd-looking device that resembled a tiny keyboard with an antenna.
"What’s that?" I asked, leaning forward.
"This," he said with a dramatic flourish, "is the key to making your party legendary. It’s a mass-text broadcaster. Totally untraceable."
I stared at him, dumbfounded.
"Where did you even get that?"
"Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to," he said with a wink.
Elvis tapped a few buttons, and I watched as a message appeared on his phone screen:
"Party at Kristen Walker’s tonight, 8 PM! It's going to be EPIC! Don’t miss it!"
"Wait, wait, wait," I said, holding up my hands as he prepared to send it. "Are you seriously sending that to everyone at school?"
"Of course," he replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Elvis, that’s way too many people! What if the house gets trashed? What if—"
He cut me off, raising a finger.
"Kristen, breathe. The only way to guarantee Ryan and Luke see this is if everyone sees it. We can’t risk missing them."
I hesitated, the knot in my stomach tightening.
"But—"
"No buts," he said firmly. "Do you want Ryan to see you as the girl who throws the best party of the year, or do you want him to forget you exist?"
I sighed, knowing he was right.
"Fine. But if this backfires, it’s on you."
"Noted," he said, pressing a final button.
The device emitted a small beep, and just like that, the invitation was out in the digital ether.
We spent the next hour brainstorming. Elvis took charge of the drinks list, insisting we needed a mix of soda, juice, and some "mystery punch" that he swore would be non-alcoholic but still "taste like rebellion."
I focused on snacks, suggesting popcorn, chips, and a few easy-to-make finger foods.
"We also need music," Elvis said, pulling out his phone. "I’ll make a playlist that’ll have people dancing all night."
"And decorations," I added, picturing string lights and maybe some candles for ambiance.
"We’ll raid your garage for that," he said, typing furiously on his phone.
As we hashed out the details, the door creaked open, and Jack’s freckled face poked in.
"What are you two scheming about?" he asked, smirking.
"Nothing that concerns you," I said quickly, but Jack stepped fully into the room, his arms crossed.
"Doesn’t look like ‘nothing.’" His eyes narrowed. "Are you planning a party?"
I exchanged a nervous glance with Elvis.
"Of course not," I said, trying to sound casual.
Jack snorted.
"Please. I’m not stupid. If you’re throwing a party, you’re going to have to compensate me if you want me to keep my mouth shut."
"Compensate you?" I repeated, my annoyance flaring.
"Yep," he said, leaning against the doorframe. "Otherwise, I’ll just yell for Mom and Dad right now."
"Jack," I began, "if you keep quiet, I’ll… I’ll let you play video games on my laptop for a week."
"Two weeks," he countered.
"Fine, two weeks," I said through gritted teeth.
"And you’ll do my laundry," he added.
I groaned.
"You’re pushing it."
Jack smirked and took a deep breath, ready to call for Mom.
"Okay, okay!" I said quickly. "I’ll do your laundry for two weeks. Happy?"
"A month," he said smugly.
Elvis rolled his eyes.
"Don’t be ridiculous, Jack. Two weeks is plenty."
Jack ignored him and opened his mouth to yell.
"Alright, a month!" I said, throwing my hands in the air. "Just stop!"
Jack grinned triumphantly.
"Pleasure doing business with you."
As he turned to leave, he called out to our mom,
"Don’t worry, everything’s fine!"
Once the door closed behind him, I sank onto my bed, groaning in frustration.
"I can’t believe I just agreed to that," I said.
Elvis patted my shoulder.
"Sacrifices must be made for greatness."
I shot him a look, but his grin was contagious.
"Now," he said, standing up, "let’s make this party unforgettable."
I nodded, my determination renewed. I couldn’t let anything—or anyone—stop me now.
Tonight was going to be the start of something incredible, and I was ready for it.
- Writer
