Michelle-Note: This isn't one of my favorite fics, but a lot of people liked it back in the day before I took all of my stuff off of here for no reason, so I'm resubmitting it. It takes place in the future (obviously) and is from Ren's POV. I also attempted present tense again, which I should really stop trying to do, so there are tense shifts, but I don't think it makes the reading confusing or anything of the sort, and it probably isn't even that noticeable, but you'll notice because I pointed it out. I apologize for my lack of other words for marijuana, since that was brought up when this was last here, and I know not much about alcoholic beverages. I'm a good girl. Really. Don't let that good girl-ness take away from the actual plot...or something.
Warning: This abounds with homosexuality...mainly of the female kind. There is also heterosexuality, and drugs use. Don't read it if it shall bother you. Tis rated R for reasons, peoples.
Disclaimer: I own not, Even Stevens.
The Papeterie
The bell rang to release me from school, finally, after I had spent six hours being bored out of my mind, and ready to go home before I even left my house this morning.
Yesterday was my birthday, today was Friday, and my party was tonight. A party where I can have boys, and the parental units have promised to leave me alone for the entire night. They're going out. I'm gonna be there with my friends, and boys, and I'm finally sixteen, and old enough to drive. The boys have to go home by midnight though, that sucks. At least I can have them over for a long time though. I kept telling myself that in my head as I walked down the hall toward my locker. Ooh, not much homework this weekend either. I snickered, but something was a bit off. I didn't feel right, my thoughts drifted from the those of boys being allowed over to something that seemed more than a bit off to me, Tawny. It was like I was just trying to convince myself that having a bunch of guys over for my party was going to be great. I really didn't care whether they were there or not, but people were expecting me to, so I acted like it was the most awesome thing ever. In truth, I didn't really pay much attention to them anymore. It's like they were just there, but they didn't really pertain to me. I didn't dare tell anyone though. I just pretended that I was more focused on my school work. I am though.
I opened my locker, and put my Chemistry notebook, and book inside, then pulled out my book bag, causing some random notes from earlier in the year to fall out and land at my feet. Ha. Me and my friends still passed notes around like we were in middle school. I have to admit that it was a convenient and simple form of communication, especially when I only saw certain friends in the hall between classes and didn't have time to gossip for hours and hours. I didn't think much of them, knowing they were all random gossip and such, until I bent down to pick them up, and I saw one from Tawny. I don't remember her ever writing me. How old is this? I wondered, and began to unfold it.
"Hey Ren!" Ruby came running up behind me and grabbed onto my shoulders.
"Hey Ruby!" I said not so enthusiastically, she was a little too hyper today for my liking. She was more excited about my party than I was. I quickly stuffed the note into my bag like it was something to hide. I really don't remember reading a note from Tawny, ever, and I don't forget things that people write to me. I wouldn't forget Tawny writing to me, particularly.
"What was that Ren?"
"Huh? What?" I held my book bag to my chest, and tried to conceive the supposed great fun my party was going to be, while trying to figure out what I needed to take home.
"That note. Was it a love note? Who's it from, Ren? I have to know!" Ruby, jumped up and down, squealing. "Tell me please! You haven't had a boyfriend in months! Who's your latest crush?!"
How am I still friends with this girl? Jease. I winced. "Oh. It was from Tawny." I told her, calmly, and zipped my book bag. "C'mon and let's go before Larry decides to leave us."
"Is he still coming tonight?" She asked me, as we began to walk back down the hall.
"Yep." I said upon exiting the doors that lead out to the parking lot.
She grinned, "I'm so glad that you guys are getting along now, he's such fun."
She has a crush on Larry. I know it. It's so obvious. We'll probably play Truth or Dare tonight and I'm so going to ask her in front of him. I wanted to do something rather evil to her because she was so annoying and encouraged me to get a new crush each week, which I viewed as rather stupid because my love life was rather sucky. I had more important things to think about than boys, especially when nothing ended well. "Yeah. I'm glad that we get along now. It's so much less stressful to concentrate on just myself instead of on beating him at everything." I said matter-of-factly, but she had scampered off toward Larry's car while I was talking. I began to jog after her. "Ruby! Wait for me!"
"Happy birthday again, Ren." My old archenemy said to me when I arrived at his car. He was sitting on the hood of the green Porsche, waiting for us, acting cool. He had let his hair grow out and had dreads now. I can't say that he wasn't attractive, and I can't blame Ruby for crushing on him, but there was just nothing there as more than friends between us. I could see someone and think they were hot without wanted to have wild, monkey sex with them. It seemed like everyone was like that except me, and it was unnerving, like I had no hormones and I was a freak, or something. I'd just rather concentrate on school, and high school isn't the place to find true love anyway, so I was gonna wait until college to find someone, which made perfect sense to me, but to no one else, except Tawny, even though she was still going out with my brother.
Ruby went and put her book bag in the back and then stood quietly, and fawned over him. The only time she ever got quiet was when she was fawning. I was glad he was there. Another thing I liked about notes, especially those from Ruby, was that I couldn't hear her voice.
"Aww...thanks Larry. C'mon I gotta get home so I can get everything ready for tonight." I made my way to the passenger's side, moved the seat up and got in the back. I didn't really have anything to do, it wasn't like we were playing any games that I had to get ready, but I wanted to go home and see if I got any presents yet.
"Is Lou getting a ride today?" He asked, getting in.
"Nope. He's walking with Twitty, and Tawny." I told him, and then turned and shouted at Ruby. "Get in the car!"
"Yes ma'am!" She ran around and got in.
Larry laughed.
He knows that she likes him, I could tell. I think everyone knew that he knew, except Ruby.
As we pulled out of school, we passed my brother, and his two friends. I couldn't help but notice that Tawny was lingering behind the males, who were quite a ways in front of her.
"So who all's coming to your party?" Asked Larry.
I wonder what's the matter with Tawny. I hope she didn't get into another fight with Louis. They seemed to have a lot of differences these days. "Oh...um..." I realized Larry was talking to me, "Me, Ruby, Louis'll probably be involved for a little while, Twitty, Tawny, Bobby, Monique, Nelson, Mona, you, and Donnie came down from college too, so he's gonna be there."
"Oh cool. I'll be there around 6. When're your parents leaving?"
"Around 5:30, I hope."
"Yeah. I'll be there around 6."
He pulled his car into my driveway, and I noticed that Ruby had been silent the whole time. Fawning, for sure. "Thanks for the ride, Larry. Ruby, get out and move your seat so I can get out."
"No problem at all." He said, smiling.
"Ruby!" I reached over the seat and jerked on her hair lightly, "Ren to Ruby!"
"Oh! I...uh...yeah..." She got out and moved the seat up. "I'm going to go to my house and get my stuff then I'll be back over here in a few."
"Alright. Bye guys." I turned and scurried into the house. Donnie was sitting in the kitchen. "Donnie! My favorite older brother!" I ran and gave him a hug.
"Ah!" He laughed, "Happy birthday!"
"What'd you get me?" I asked curiously.
"You can't have it until your party." He stuck out his tongue. "What'd mom and dad get you?"
"I dunno...They said I can't have it until after my party's over, and the party's part of it and all. I didn't actually get any presents on my birthday, I get them all tonight or tomorrow." I scanned the parameter for anything that looked like it could be mine. Nothing. "Where exactly are mom and dad anyway?"
Donnie looked around to see what I was looking at, "They went to get cake and pizza and stuff that we're going to eat and stuff." He fumbled with his words like he was trying to cover something up.
"Oh...I see..." I played along. "Well...I'll be back in a minute." I ran up the stairs to my room, and threw my book bag down in a corner. I then scanned my surroundings, looking for anything new, but to no avail. I went back downstairs and talked to Donnie about college life in the living room, and within twenty minutes Ruby walked in carrying her book bag, and a massive duffle bag, stuffed full of God knows what.
She threw it all down by the couch, out of breath, and sat down without saying anything.
Donnie got up, saying, "Bag check. Parents orders. I'm in charge here. Obey my authority."
"Go ahead...I carried both of those things from...four blocks away...I don't care anymore..."
He smiled, mischievously. "How about if I don't check it, and you guys just convince yourselves that I did or something like that?"
"Awesome!" Ruby yelled, full of energy again.
Oh crap, she regained her strength. What a shame. I wondered what she had in her bags. I knew it wasn't all clothes or games, probably a whole bunch of weed, and her bong collection. Peachy. Everyone was going to be stoned at my party, but me because I was the forever reigning queen of goody-goodness. I sat quietly, contemplating how my sixteenth birthday party was going to suck balls, and how balls were probably going to get sucked at my party by everyone but me because I lacked hormones.
Donnie and my annoying friend engaged in conversation about something, and I blocked it out, now wondering what my parents were going to do if they came home tomorrow morning to find their house smelling like pot. Great. "Hey Ruby, go put your stuff in my room by the wall or something, we're sleeping in there tonight. Only you, Tawny, Monique, and Twitty are staying, but Twitty's staying with Louis really, and Tawny's probably going to end up in there with him too..." My voice trailed off. Why was I revolted by the fact of Tawny having sex with my brother, and even the thought of her sleeping in the same bed with him? Maybe it was because he was my brother, and I can't imagine anyone sleeping with either of my brothers. "So I figured that we'd just crash in my room, and all, so we don't make a mess in here."
"Sure Ren. I'll be back in a second Donnie." She got up and threw the strap of her duffle bag over her shoulder.
"Oh wait." Said Donnie, "I'll help you." And then he took the giant bag and threw it over his shoulder, and carried it up the stairs for her.
I sighed. I just wasn't cool, and my house was being used for my brother and friend's drug usage, she hadn't even come over to see me. She'd come over because she knew Donnie wouldn't mind her bringing her "belongings", in fact, he would enjoy her bringing them, and Larry was coming, so of course she would come.
"Ren, come up here!"
I heard her scream from somewhere above me, rolled my eyes, and walked upstairs. They were in Donnie's old room, and they each a had a bong and a Ziploc bag of weed sitting between them. "Yes, Ruby?"
"I brought condoms!"
I blinked a few times, "For?"
She winked, "Just in case, ya know...anything happens. I have plenty for all!"
I tried to act amused best I could, but it just wasn't working, so I turned and walked out. When out of the door, I smacked myself in the forehead with my palm to knock out all the mental pictures that had appeared in my poor brain. As I was coming down the stairs, Louis, Twitty, and Tawny were walking in.
"Did you guys bring your stuff, or do you have to go home and get it?" I asked not very enthusiastically. My enthusiasm was dead, but Ruby was enthusiastic enough for both of us, and horny enough for both of us.
"I brought mine." Twitty mumbled, "Got any food. I'm hungry..." He then wandered off into the kitchen.
Tawny took her book bag off and sat it down on the couch, then sat down next to it, facing away from me.
"Is Ruby here?" Louis asked, passing me, since I was standing at the base of the stairs.
I nodded, then turned my attention to his supposed girlfriend, knowing what he was going upstairs to do. "Tawny? Hello?" I said after he was gone.
"Huh? Oh. Happy birthday again..."
"Is something wro-"
"Where are the parents Ren?!" Twitty asked loudly from the kitchen, interrupting me.
"They went to get us food. They're gonna bring it here and then leave again."
"Oh cool." He walked out with a loaf of bread under his arm, "Is Ruby here?"
"In Donnie's room." I leaned over the back of the couch over Tawny's book bag, and soon Twitty disappeared up the stairs too. "Are you ok?"
"Yeah. I'm just kinda pissed off at everyone right now..."
"Why?"
"Because they're all being really stupid. Louis only wants to smoke his pot, and he pays no attention to me, except when he's begging me to have sex with him, which is really bothering me. I dunno what happened to him."
I sighed, I knew what she meant. It seemed like everyone just wanted to sit around in a circle in Donnie's room and smoke weed or have sex with someone. It was my party, and no one had even given me a present yet. I was feeling unloved. "Are you guys still together?"
"I dunno. I kinda broke up with him a week ago, but we've still been hanging out and stuff. He doesn't even seem affected by it like he thinks we're going to get back together again like we always do."
"Oh. Are you not going to get back with him after everything blows over? Hey. Why didn't anyone tell me?" That wasn't fair. Usually Louis gets all upset when him and Tawny even got into a little fight, and he would consult me. Could he possibly not care anymore? Gah. I dunno. Maybe he had just accepted that they always seemed to get back together. Why do I care? It's his life, and not my business. They always got back together in a week or two after breaking up and they probably would this time.
"I don't know...to both of your questions."
"Well...since everyone's upstairs in Donnie's room at the moment, and probably won't come back down until my parents have come and gone, I'm stuck with you until other sane people get here, if for some reason some more show up, because I'm a drug-free loser."
She smiled a little, "I'm a drug-free loser too. Where do you want me to put my stuff?"
"Up in my room is fine. Are you gonna sleep in there with us?"
She got up, "Yeah, I suppose. Did you think I was gonna sleep with Louis?"
I laughed, "Yep, I actually did. This would be you guys' chance to have sex. Ruby even brought condoms, for God's sake."
"Ha! Right!" She grabbed her book bag, and we progressed up to my room.
"Why so sure that you'll not sleep with him, as in sleep with him?" I asked, curiously. I thought they were in love once, but hey, I thought I was in love with guys repeatedly.
"I just am..." Her voice trailed off, and she sat her stuff on the floor by my bed and then shoved it under. "I don't like people touching my mess, and I always like to know where it is, if you're wondering why I did that." She told me.
"Alright." I shrugged. She was an odd one. I looked over at Ruby's stuff, and it had been rummaged through. Twitty probably needed to borrow a bong, the stoner that he was. He even looked like one, more so than the rest of them. Tawny and I just stood there for a few more minutes, looking at each other, trying to think of something to say, considering we didn't talk much, and didn't know what to say to one another when it was just us. I heard the door open, and it broke the silence. "Oop. Parents're here. We gotta go cover for everyone, and get them to leave, quick."
As we were going back down the stairs, Tawny mumbled, "Why cover for them? Why not let them get caught, so they'll all go away and then it'll just be us..."
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing. Just talking to myself."
"Oh." What she said was weird. Perhaps I misheard her.
Mom and dad were coming in with paper bags full of what I presumed to be food of sorts.
"Ren, honey, go out and grab as many pizza's as you can." My mom told me. "Tawny you too."
We both hurried out and each of us got half of the pizzas out of the back of the car. Then we brought them in and put as many of them as possible in the oven.
Dad came in with the cake, which was in a white box from the bakery, and he sat it on the counter saying, "This is your cake. Eat it. We gotta go."
"Thanks dad." I smiled. I saw Tawny out of the corner of my eye, she was off standing in the corner, watching us. I felt sorry for her. She wasn't very happy. She was a pretty blah person normally, but today she was real blah.
"Where's everyone at?" Mom asked.
"Oh. They're all upstairs. They sent me and Tawny down to help you guys with the stuff."
"Why'd they send the birthday girl down? That's just wrong." My strange father, commented.
Tawny piped up, "We drew straws."
"Oh. I guess that that was fairly democratic." He retorted.
My mom grabbed her purse and said, "I guess we'll be going now. We'll be back in the morning. Have fun, and there better be no boys here other than your brothers and Alan, and Alan had better be in Louis's room when we get back."
"Yes ma'am. Bye! Have fun with whatever you're doing!" I waved, and hoped they would just leave.
Tawny walked over to a window and looked out as they drove away, "They're gone."
I sat back down on the couch. "We'll eat when everyone gets here, I suppose."
She came and sat down too. "When's everyone else supposed to get here?"
Glancing down at my watch, "Any time now."
"Oh...Can I ask you something?"
"Yeah."
"Well...I..."
As she was about to say something, Monique, and Mona walked in the door.
"Happy birthday, Ren!" Monique squealed. "I brought you your present!"
"Finally, someone brought me a present!" I stood up and reached out for it as she approached me, and she snatched it away.
"No, no, no! You can't have it until everyone gets here to watch you open it!"
I sat back down and sighed, "So Mona, did you bring me anything?"
Mona was carrying her bag and Monique's, she nodded, "You can't have it 'til later either."
I had met her at the beginning of this school year. She was in my homeroom, and was a cheerleader along with Monique. She was like Monique's crony or side-kick or clone or something of the sort. I couldn't invite Monique without inviting her too. She wasn't a bad person or anything, she was nice and all, but she was an obvious sycophant, and tried way too hard to fit it. She started acting incredibly like Monique and was like a shorter, white version of her.
"Go put your stuff in my room guys. Mona you can leave yours down here since you're not staying."
"Ok!" Monique kept her cheerleader voice, and mannerisms throughout her day, and it got rather annoying. "Come Mona! Go to Ren's bedroom!"
The short blonde-haired girl threw her book bag down, and followed her commander, carrying still, the other bag, Monique's as I thought.
"Sorry Tawny, what were you saying?"
She shook her head, "Nothing. Nevermind."
The doorbell rang, "Must be Bobby. He's the only person that has ever actually used the doorbell." I looked through the window. Yep. Bobby. Bobby with a big box. I opened the door and let him in. "Leave your mess at the door and give me my present."
He backed away, jokingly, "Ok...no wait. You can't have your present until everyone's here. It's a rule. Everyone knows that."
"Oh jease! Fine! Come in." I moved out of his way, and he walked past me.
"Is Ruby here?" He asked.
I nearly fell over. I almost thought he was here for me. Monique and Mona hadn't come back, and I didn't wonder where they were, and I didn't wonder why Bobby was asking either. This was just retarded. I had might as well go upstairs too because they wouldn't pay attention to me otherwise. I glared at him, "Upstairs."
"Ok. Larry's coming, right?"
"Yes, Larry is coming. When you go up, tell them that my parents have come and gone, and they can feel free to come down for my party anytime."
"Why don't you just come up there?"
Tawny started coughing, suspiciously.
He looked at her and raised an eyebrow.
"I swallowed some lint." She sputtered out, and kept coughing.
"Um...no." I said to him. I was being an ass, but I was getting pissed off, and with good reason.
"Whatever." He rolled his eyes, and proceeded up the stairs.
"Fuck him too." I went and sat by Tawny again, "Maybe when Larry gets here everyone'll come down, and I can open my presents."
"I got you a present."
I turned, "Give it to me!"
"I don't know if you'll like it..."
"I don't care! Give me my present!" I then tackled her, and pretended to strangle her on the couch, while laying on top of her.
"Oh no, please don't choke me!" She said laughing. It was the first time she'd laughed all day, and it was the first time all day that I was content.
I failed to hear the door open, and notice Larry come in.
"Whoa! Ladies! Save that for later!" He said happily.
I jumped up off of her, and she got up and scooted to the far end of the couch, looking away. "That wasn't what you thought it was Larry! No reason to get excited!"
"Oh...right Ren...I bet, you flaming lesbian, you! Save it for later!" He sat his backpack down in a chair. "Where the hell is everyone?"
"They're upstairs, smoking pot."
He nodded, "Oh I see, and they're neglecting the birthday girl. How wrong is that? If the guys knew what you and Tawny were doing, they'd be down here in seconds."
I grunted, annoyed. "Did you bring me a present?" I made the sad- puppy face at him. "And can I have it now, if you did?"
"As a matter of fact, I did bring you a present, but no, you can't have it until after we eat. It's a rule." He smiled, "I'm gonna go get everyone to come down here so we can eat, you can open your presents, and then we can play some good ol' party games."
"Conspiracy!" I screamed, as he walked quickly up the stairs. If he didn't come back, I was going to go up there and kick everyone's asses.
Tawny laughed again. "I'm hungry."
I raised an eyebrow, and threw my arms in the air. "Pervert!"
"What'd I do?" She said, acting sad.
I chuckled, "Let's go get the pizza and bring it in here."
"Ok. Let's."
It was nice to see her back to her cheerier self. It was really depressing when she was sad. It made me feel a little better about my so- far sucking party that she was happy. We brought the pizzas in and sat them on the coffee table in the middle of the living room. My parents had moved everything breakable, luckily.
"Food's ready!" We both yelled in unison. Then giggled stupidly. What the heck was wrong with me all of a sudden? I was giggly for no reason, this wasn't normal. It was completely not normal.
We waited for everyone to come down, and sat on the couch again. The lights weren't turned on, but sunlight was coming through the windows in streaks. I looked at Tawny out of the corner of my eye, trying not to let her know that I was doing it. She was looking at the wall in silence. The light made her eyes sparkle, and I continued examining her hopelessly, unable to stop. Her hair, her eyes, her perfect face, and her lips. She was wearing a little lip gloss that shone in the light. She kept pressing her lips together thoughtfully, not knowing she was doing it as she looked at the wall and thought about something that I couldn't figure out simply by looking at her. Why was I looking at her? What the hell was I doing? First I had nor hormones, and now they were all messed up. I looked in the opposite direction quickly, toward the kitchen, and wished that someone would hurry and come downstairs.
Warning: This abounds with homosexuality...mainly of the female kind. There is also heterosexuality, and drugs use. Don't read it if it shall bother you. Tis rated R for reasons, peoples.
Disclaimer: I own not, Even Stevens.
The Papeterie
The bell rang to release me from school, finally, after I had spent six hours being bored out of my mind, and ready to go home before I even left my house this morning.
Yesterday was my birthday, today was Friday, and my party was tonight. A party where I can have boys, and the parental units have promised to leave me alone for the entire night. They're going out. I'm gonna be there with my friends, and boys, and I'm finally sixteen, and old enough to drive. The boys have to go home by midnight though, that sucks. At least I can have them over for a long time though. I kept telling myself that in my head as I walked down the hall toward my locker. Ooh, not much homework this weekend either. I snickered, but something was a bit off. I didn't feel right, my thoughts drifted from the those of boys being allowed over to something that seemed more than a bit off to me, Tawny. It was like I was just trying to convince myself that having a bunch of guys over for my party was going to be great. I really didn't care whether they were there or not, but people were expecting me to, so I acted like it was the most awesome thing ever. In truth, I didn't really pay much attention to them anymore. It's like they were just there, but they didn't really pertain to me. I didn't dare tell anyone though. I just pretended that I was more focused on my school work. I am though.
I opened my locker, and put my Chemistry notebook, and book inside, then pulled out my book bag, causing some random notes from earlier in the year to fall out and land at my feet. Ha. Me and my friends still passed notes around like we were in middle school. I have to admit that it was a convenient and simple form of communication, especially when I only saw certain friends in the hall between classes and didn't have time to gossip for hours and hours. I didn't think much of them, knowing they were all random gossip and such, until I bent down to pick them up, and I saw one from Tawny. I don't remember her ever writing me. How old is this? I wondered, and began to unfold it.
"Hey Ren!" Ruby came running up behind me and grabbed onto my shoulders.
"Hey Ruby!" I said not so enthusiastically, she was a little too hyper today for my liking. She was more excited about my party than I was. I quickly stuffed the note into my bag like it was something to hide. I really don't remember reading a note from Tawny, ever, and I don't forget things that people write to me. I wouldn't forget Tawny writing to me, particularly.
"What was that Ren?"
"Huh? What?" I held my book bag to my chest, and tried to conceive the supposed great fun my party was going to be, while trying to figure out what I needed to take home.
"That note. Was it a love note? Who's it from, Ren? I have to know!" Ruby, jumped up and down, squealing. "Tell me please! You haven't had a boyfriend in months! Who's your latest crush?!"
How am I still friends with this girl? Jease. I winced. "Oh. It was from Tawny." I told her, calmly, and zipped my book bag. "C'mon and let's go before Larry decides to leave us."
"Is he still coming tonight?" She asked me, as we began to walk back down the hall.
"Yep." I said upon exiting the doors that lead out to the parking lot.
She grinned, "I'm so glad that you guys are getting along now, he's such fun."
She has a crush on Larry. I know it. It's so obvious. We'll probably play Truth or Dare tonight and I'm so going to ask her in front of him. I wanted to do something rather evil to her because she was so annoying and encouraged me to get a new crush each week, which I viewed as rather stupid because my love life was rather sucky. I had more important things to think about than boys, especially when nothing ended well. "Yeah. I'm glad that we get along now. It's so much less stressful to concentrate on just myself instead of on beating him at everything." I said matter-of-factly, but she had scampered off toward Larry's car while I was talking. I began to jog after her. "Ruby! Wait for me!"
"Happy birthday again, Ren." My old archenemy said to me when I arrived at his car. He was sitting on the hood of the green Porsche, waiting for us, acting cool. He had let his hair grow out and had dreads now. I can't say that he wasn't attractive, and I can't blame Ruby for crushing on him, but there was just nothing there as more than friends between us. I could see someone and think they were hot without wanted to have wild, monkey sex with them. It seemed like everyone was like that except me, and it was unnerving, like I had no hormones and I was a freak, or something. I'd just rather concentrate on school, and high school isn't the place to find true love anyway, so I was gonna wait until college to find someone, which made perfect sense to me, but to no one else, except Tawny, even though she was still going out with my brother.
Ruby went and put her book bag in the back and then stood quietly, and fawned over him. The only time she ever got quiet was when she was fawning. I was glad he was there. Another thing I liked about notes, especially those from Ruby, was that I couldn't hear her voice.
"Aww...thanks Larry. C'mon I gotta get home so I can get everything ready for tonight." I made my way to the passenger's side, moved the seat up and got in the back. I didn't really have anything to do, it wasn't like we were playing any games that I had to get ready, but I wanted to go home and see if I got any presents yet.
"Is Lou getting a ride today?" He asked, getting in.
"Nope. He's walking with Twitty, and Tawny." I told him, and then turned and shouted at Ruby. "Get in the car!"
"Yes ma'am!" She ran around and got in.
Larry laughed.
He knows that she likes him, I could tell. I think everyone knew that he knew, except Ruby.
As we pulled out of school, we passed my brother, and his two friends. I couldn't help but notice that Tawny was lingering behind the males, who were quite a ways in front of her.
"So who all's coming to your party?" Asked Larry.
I wonder what's the matter with Tawny. I hope she didn't get into another fight with Louis. They seemed to have a lot of differences these days. "Oh...um..." I realized Larry was talking to me, "Me, Ruby, Louis'll probably be involved for a little while, Twitty, Tawny, Bobby, Monique, Nelson, Mona, you, and Donnie came down from college too, so he's gonna be there."
"Oh cool. I'll be there around 6. When're your parents leaving?"
"Around 5:30, I hope."
"Yeah. I'll be there around 6."
He pulled his car into my driveway, and I noticed that Ruby had been silent the whole time. Fawning, for sure. "Thanks for the ride, Larry. Ruby, get out and move your seat so I can get out."
"No problem at all." He said, smiling.
"Ruby!" I reached over the seat and jerked on her hair lightly, "Ren to Ruby!"
"Oh! I...uh...yeah..." She got out and moved the seat up. "I'm going to go to my house and get my stuff then I'll be back over here in a few."
"Alright. Bye guys." I turned and scurried into the house. Donnie was sitting in the kitchen. "Donnie! My favorite older brother!" I ran and gave him a hug.
"Ah!" He laughed, "Happy birthday!"
"What'd you get me?" I asked curiously.
"You can't have it until your party." He stuck out his tongue. "What'd mom and dad get you?"
"I dunno...They said I can't have it until after my party's over, and the party's part of it and all. I didn't actually get any presents on my birthday, I get them all tonight or tomorrow." I scanned the parameter for anything that looked like it could be mine. Nothing. "Where exactly are mom and dad anyway?"
Donnie looked around to see what I was looking at, "They went to get cake and pizza and stuff that we're going to eat and stuff." He fumbled with his words like he was trying to cover something up.
"Oh...I see..." I played along. "Well...I'll be back in a minute." I ran up the stairs to my room, and threw my book bag down in a corner. I then scanned my surroundings, looking for anything new, but to no avail. I went back downstairs and talked to Donnie about college life in the living room, and within twenty minutes Ruby walked in carrying her book bag, and a massive duffle bag, stuffed full of God knows what.
She threw it all down by the couch, out of breath, and sat down without saying anything.
Donnie got up, saying, "Bag check. Parents orders. I'm in charge here. Obey my authority."
"Go ahead...I carried both of those things from...four blocks away...I don't care anymore..."
He smiled, mischievously. "How about if I don't check it, and you guys just convince yourselves that I did or something like that?"
"Awesome!" Ruby yelled, full of energy again.
Oh crap, she regained her strength. What a shame. I wondered what she had in her bags. I knew it wasn't all clothes or games, probably a whole bunch of weed, and her bong collection. Peachy. Everyone was going to be stoned at my party, but me because I was the forever reigning queen of goody-goodness. I sat quietly, contemplating how my sixteenth birthday party was going to suck balls, and how balls were probably going to get sucked at my party by everyone but me because I lacked hormones.
Donnie and my annoying friend engaged in conversation about something, and I blocked it out, now wondering what my parents were going to do if they came home tomorrow morning to find their house smelling like pot. Great. "Hey Ruby, go put your stuff in my room by the wall or something, we're sleeping in there tonight. Only you, Tawny, Monique, and Twitty are staying, but Twitty's staying with Louis really, and Tawny's probably going to end up in there with him too..." My voice trailed off. Why was I revolted by the fact of Tawny having sex with my brother, and even the thought of her sleeping in the same bed with him? Maybe it was because he was my brother, and I can't imagine anyone sleeping with either of my brothers. "So I figured that we'd just crash in my room, and all, so we don't make a mess in here."
"Sure Ren. I'll be back in a second Donnie." She got up and threw the strap of her duffle bag over her shoulder.
"Oh wait." Said Donnie, "I'll help you." And then he took the giant bag and threw it over his shoulder, and carried it up the stairs for her.
I sighed. I just wasn't cool, and my house was being used for my brother and friend's drug usage, she hadn't even come over to see me. She'd come over because she knew Donnie wouldn't mind her bringing her "belongings", in fact, he would enjoy her bringing them, and Larry was coming, so of course she would come.
"Ren, come up here!"
I heard her scream from somewhere above me, rolled my eyes, and walked upstairs. They were in Donnie's old room, and they each a had a bong and a Ziploc bag of weed sitting between them. "Yes, Ruby?"
"I brought condoms!"
I blinked a few times, "For?"
She winked, "Just in case, ya know...anything happens. I have plenty for all!"
I tried to act amused best I could, but it just wasn't working, so I turned and walked out. When out of the door, I smacked myself in the forehead with my palm to knock out all the mental pictures that had appeared in my poor brain. As I was coming down the stairs, Louis, Twitty, and Tawny were walking in.
"Did you guys bring your stuff, or do you have to go home and get it?" I asked not very enthusiastically. My enthusiasm was dead, but Ruby was enthusiastic enough for both of us, and horny enough for both of us.
"I brought mine." Twitty mumbled, "Got any food. I'm hungry..." He then wandered off into the kitchen.
Tawny took her book bag off and sat it down on the couch, then sat down next to it, facing away from me.
"Is Ruby here?" Louis asked, passing me, since I was standing at the base of the stairs.
I nodded, then turned my attention to his supposed girlfriend, knowing what he was going upstairs to do. "Tawny? Hello?" I said after he was gone.
"Huh? Oh. Happy birthday again..."
"Is something wro-"
"Where are the parents Ren?!" Twitty asked loudly from the kitchen, interrupting me.
"They went to get us food. They're gonna bring it here and then leave again."
"Oh cool." He walked out with a loaf of bread under his arm, "Is Ruby here?"
"In Donnie's room." I leaned over the back of the couch over Tawny's book bag, and soon Twitty disappeared up the stairs too. "Are you ok?"
"Yeah. I'm just kinda pissed off at everyone right now..."
"Why?"
"Because they're all being really stupid. Louis only wants to smoke his pot, and he pays no attention to me, except when he's begging me to have sex with him, which is really bothering me. I dunno what happened to him."
I sighed, I knew what she meant. It seemed like everyone just wanted to sit around in a circle in Donnie's room and smoke weed or have sex with someone. It was my party, and no one had even given me a present yet. I was feeling unloved. "Are you guys still together?"
"I dunno. I kinda broke up with him a week ago, but we've still been hanging out and stuff. He doesn't even seem affected by it like he thinks we're going to get back together again like we always do."
"Oh. Are you not going to get back with him after everything blows over? Hey. Why didn't anyone tell me?" That wasn't fair. Usually Louis gets all upset when him and Tawny even got into a little fight, and he would consult me. Could he possibly not care anymore? Gah. I dunno. Maybe he had just accepted that they always seemed to get back together. Why do I care? It's his life, and not my business. They always got back together in a week or two after breaking up and they probably would this time.
"I don't know...to both of your questions."
"Well...since everyone's upstairs in Donnie's room at the moment, and probably won't come back down until my parents have come and gone, I'm stuck with you until other sane people get here, if for some reason some more show up, because I'm a drug-free loser."
She smiled a little, "I'm a drug-free loser too. Where do you want me to put my stuff?"
"Up in my room is fine. Are you gonna sleep in there with us?"
She got up, "Yeah, I suppose. Did you think I was gonna sleep with Louis?"
I laughed, "Yep, I actually did. This would be you guys' chance to have sex. Ruby even brought condoms, for God's sake."
"Ha! Right!" She grabbed her book bag, and we progressed up to my room.
"Why so sure that you'll not sleep with him, as in sleep with him?" I asked, curiously. I thought they were in love once, but hey, I thought I was in love with guys repeatedly.
"I just am..." Her voice trailed off, and she sat her stuff on the floor by my bed and then shoved it under. "I don't like people touching my mess, and I always like to know where it is, if you're wondering why I did that." She told me.
"Alright." I shrugged. She was an odd one. I looked over at Ruby's stuff, and it had been rummaged through. Twitty probably needed to borrow a bong, the stoner that he was. He even looked like one, more so than the rest of them. Tawny and I just stood there for a few more minutes, looking at each other, trying to think of something to say, considering we didn't talk much, and didn't know what to say to one another when it was just us. I heard the door open, and it broke the silence. "Oop. Parents're here. We gotta go cover for everyone, and get them to leave, quick."
As we were going back down the stairs, Tawny mumbled, "Why cover for them? Why not let them get caught, so they'll all go away and then it'll just be us..."
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing. Just talking to myself."
"Oh." What she said was weird. Perhaps I misheard her.
Mom and dad were coming in with paper bags full of what I presumed to be food of sorts.
"Ren, honey, go out and grab as many pizza's as you can." My mom told me. "Tawny you too."
We both hurried out and each of us got half of the pizzas out of the back of the car. Then we brought them in and put as many of them as possible in the oven.
Dad came in with the cake, which was in a white box from the bakery, and he sat it on the counter saying, "This is your cake. Eat it. We gotta go."
"Thanks dad." I smiled. I saw Tawny out of the corner of my eye, she was off standing in the corner, watching us. I felt sorry for her. She wasn't very happy. She was a pretty blah person normally, but today she was real blah.
"Where's everyone at?" Mom asked.
"Oh. They're all upstairs. They sent me and Tawny down to help you guys with the stuff."
"Why'd they send the birthday girl down? That's just wrong." My strange father, commented.
Tawny piped up, "We drew straws."
"Oh. I guess that that was fairly democratic." He retorted.
My mom grabbed her purse and said, "I guess we'll be going now. We'll be back in the morning. Have fun, and there better be no boys here other than your brothers and Alan, and Alan had better be in Louis's room when we get back."
"Yes ma'am. Bye! Have fun with whatever you're doing!" I waved, and hoped they would just leave.
Tawny walked over to a window and looked out as they drove away, "They're gone."
I sat back down on the couch. "We'll eat when everyone gets here, I suppose."
She came and sat down too. "When's everyone else supposed to get here?"
Glancing down at my watch, "Any time now."
"Oh...Can I ask you something?"
"Yeah."
"Well...I..."
As she was about to say something, Monique, and Mona walked in the door.
"Happy birthday, Ren!" Monique squealed. "I brought you your present!"
"Finally, someone brought me a present!" I stood up and reached out for it as she approached me, and she snatched it away.
"No, no, no! You can't have it until everyone gets here to watch you open it!"
I sat back down and sighed, "So Mona, did you bring me anything?"
Mona was carrying her bag and Monique's, she nodded, "You can't have it 'til later either."
I had met her at the beginning of this school year. She was in my homeroom, and was a cheerleader along with Monique. She was like Monique's crony or side-kick or clone or something of the sort. I couldn't invite Monique without inviting her too. She wasn't a bad person or anything, she was nice and all, but she was an obvious sycophant, and tried way too hard to fit it. She started acting incredibly like Monique and was like a shorter, white version of her.
"Go put your stuff in my room guys. Mona you can leave yours down here since you're not staying."
"Ok!" Monique kept her cheerleader voice, and mannerisms throughout her day, and it got rather annoying. "Come Mona! Go to Ren's bedroom!"
The short blonde-haired girl threw her book bag down, and followed her commander, carrying still, the other bag, Monique's as I thought.
"Sorry Tawny, what were you saying?"
She shook her head, "Nothing. Nevermind."
The doorbell rang, "Must be Bobby. He's the only person that has ever actually used the doorbell." I looked through the window. Yep. Bobby. Bobby with a big box. I opened the door and let him in. "Leave your mess at the door and give me my present."
He backed away, jokingly, "Ok...no wait. You can't have your present until everyone's here. It's a rule. Everyone knows that."
"Oh jease! Fine! Come in." I moved out of his way, and he walked past me.
"Is Ruby here?" He asked.
I nearly fell over. I almost thought he was here for me. Monique and Mona hadn't come back, and I didn't wonder where they were, and I didn't wonder why Bobby was asking either. This was just retarded. I had might as well go upstairs too because they wouldn't pay attention to me otherwise. I glared at him, "Upstairs."
"Ok. Larry's coming, right?"
"Yes, Larry is coming. When you go up, tell them that my parents have come and gone, and they can feel free to come down for my party anytime."
"Why don't you just come up there?"
Tawny started coughing, suspiciously.
He looked at her and raised an eyebrow.
"I swallowed some lint." She sputtered out, and kept coughing.
"Um...no." I said to him. I was being an ass, but I was getting pissed off, and with good reason.
"Whatever." He rolled his eyes, and proceeded up the stairs.
"Fuck him too." I went and sat by Tawny again, "Maybe when Larry gets here everyone'll come down, and I can open my presents."
"I got you a present."
I turned, "Give it to me!"
"I don't know if you'll like it..."
"I don't care! Give me my present!" I then tackled her, and pretended to strangle her on the couch, while laying on top of her.
"Oh no, please don't choke me!" She said laughing. It was the first time she'd laughed all day, and it was the first time all day that I was content.
I failed to hear the door open, and notice Larry come in.
"Whoa! Ladies! Save that for later!" He said happily.
I jumped up off of her, and she got up and scooted to the far end of the couch, looking away. "That wasn't what you thought it was Larry! No reason to get excited!"
"Oh...right Ren...I bet, you flaming lesbian, you! Save it for later!" He sat his backpack down in a chair. "Where the hell is everyone?"
"They're upstairs, smoking pot."
He nodded, "Oh I see, and they're neglecting the birthday girl. How wrong is that? If the guys knew what you and Tawny were doing, they'd be down here in seconds."
I grunted, annoyed. "Did you bring me a present?" I made the sad- puppy face at him. "And can I have it now, if you did?"
"As a matter of fact, I did bring you a present, but no, you can't have it until after we eat. It's a rule." He smiled, "I'm gonna go get everyone to come down here so we can eat, you can open your presents, and then we can play some good ol' party games."
"Conspiracy!" I screamed, as he walked quickly up the stairs. If he didn't come back, I was going to go up there and kick everyone's asses.
Tawny laughed again. "I'm hungry."
I raised an eyebrow, and threw my arms in the air. "Pervert!"
"What'd I do?" She said, acting sad.
I chuckled, "Let's go get the pizza and bring it in here."
"Ok. Let's."
It was nice to see her back to her cheerier self. It was really depressing when she was sad. It made me feel a little better about my so- far sucking party that she was happy. We brought the pizzas in and sat them on the coffee table in the middle of the living room. My parents had moved everything breakable, luckily.
"Food's ready!" We both yelled in unison. Then giggled stupidly. What the heck was wrong with me all of a sudden? I was giggly for no reason, this wasn't normal. It was completely not normal.
We waited for everyone to come down, and sat on the couch again. The lights weren't turned on, but sunlight was coming through the windows in streaks. I looked at Tawny out of the corner of my eye, trying not to let her know that I was doing it. She was looking at the wall in silence. The light made her eyes sparkle, and I continued examining her hopelessly, unable to stop. Her hair, her eyes, her perfect face, and her lips. She was wearing a little lip gloss that shone in the light. She kept pressing her lips together thoughtfully, not knowing she was doing it as she looked at the wall and thought about something that I couldn't figure out simply by looking at her. Why was I looking at her? What the hell was I doing? First I had nor hormones, and now they were all messed up. I looked in the opposite direction quickly, toward the kitchen, and wished that someone would hurry and come downstairs.