I zipped up my little red dress, slipped on my heels, and grabbed my purse before heading out to my car. My mother and father were already waiting outside, along with my older brother and younger sister. They all smiled at me.
"Are you ready?" My father asked, wrapping an arm around my mother's shoulders. I swallowed hard and nodded, getting in the back seat of the car. I made sure I was by the door. The car ride was silent, and I nervously shook my leg.
I was nervous; my best friends had gotten signed to a major record label right after graduation, which didn't give me time to tell them the important news. I held back tears as I thought about all of the memories I had with the boys.
Our parents were throwing a party for the five of us. Well, actually, the party was meant for them, but they included me. Probably because it had always been the five of us, well…actually, it had been Jack and I. That was until Alex showed up, and he and Jack were an instant match.
Jack had introduced me to Alex once in 8th grade, and after that we all started hanging out almost everyday. Jack and Alex had wanted to start a band, and that's about the time they found Rian, who is now their drummer. Then one of Jack's friends introduced them to Zack, and we all welcomed him into our group.
We were like a family, and I was the mother. I always had to make sure Alex and Jack were doing their homework, and not drinking too much, and I spent many nights driving to parties to drive their drunken asses home. Of course Rian helped me with all of this, so I guess you could call him the father. Zack was the good child, sure he drank and did his fair share of bad things, but he didn't get in as much trouble as Jack and Alex. So it was the five of us, one big family.
I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard my father say we were there. I smiled up and Alex's house and jumped out of the car, running to the front door. I knocked three times and then the door opened to reveal my boys. I smiled widely and threw my arms around them, trying not to cry.
"Hey Lace," Alex smiled, fixing his hair.
"LACEY!" Jack squealed, hugging me tightly.
"Hello Lacey, you look pretty tonight." Rian smiled, hugging me.
"'Sup Lace?" Zack asked, nodding in my direction.
I backed up and looked at all of them, before crying. I couldn't help it; I already missed them so much. I turned around and ran out of the house, pushing past my family. I ran to the end of the driveway and sat down, wiping my tears.
"Lacey, what's wrong?" Alex asked, sitting down beside me. Jack, Rian, and Zack followed him, sitting down around me, forming a circle.
"Guys, I have some…important news to tell you." My voice cracked and I started crying again. Alex wrapped an arm around me and rubbed circles in my arm.
"Shhh, its okay, just tell us." Alex whispered.
"I'm moving," I spit out, "To England, tomorrow."
No one said anything for a long time. Alex let me go; actually, he pushed me away and got up. He angrily sauntered off into the house. I watched him walk away, and turned to the others.
"He's been going through a lot lately, you know. Don't worry about it, he's just hurt." Rian tried to smile, but couldn't. "First Daniel, now you."
Daniel was Alex's older brother, well…half-brother. He had been a heavy drinker, and had recently died. Alex had been close to Daniel, and he wasn't taking his death very well.
"Let me go talk to him, and then I'll talk to you guys later, okay?" I asked, standing up. Jack got up and hugged me. I hugged him back, trying not to cry.
I walked into the house, and back to the kitchen. Alex's mother, Isobel, was taking a pan out of the oven.
"Lacey! How are you love?" Isobel asked, hugging me.
"I'm good, have you seen Alex?" I asked, looking around.
"He just went out back." Isobel smiled, walking into the dining room to put the food down.
I went to the backdoor and looked out onto their back porch. Alex was sitting on the edge of it, dangling his legs over the side. I opened the door and stepped out into the warm summer air.
"Lace?" Alex asked without turning around, I could hear the way his voice cracked. He had been crying. I felt my heart break; the last thing I wanted was to see one of my best friends crying over me.
"Yes." I answered, watching Alex turn around and stand up. I took him in, fully, as if it was the first time I had ever seen him.
His shaggy caramel-colored hair hung in his deep brown eyes. He was dressed in a suit, which was not normal for Alex. His vest and tie were red, just like my dress. We had all planned it; all of the boys were wearing black suits with red vests and ties. There was no doubt about it, Alex was gorgeous. He knew it, too.
I remembered in our sophomore year, when girls really started noticing Alex. How all of the girls had swarmed around him, and tried to get with him. Sure, Alex had had his fair share of relationships and heartbreak, and I had been there for all of them; just like I had been there for the other boys.
"Lacey, don't go. You can stay here, at my house, we have a spare room. Please, don't go. We need you. Jack needs you, Rian and Zack need you, and I need you. We're nothing without you." Alex begged, grabbing my hand and squeezing it.
"Do you really think I didn't already ask to stay Alexander William?" I asked, looking up at him.
"I hate your parents." Alex smiled, laughing a little. I wiped some stray tears from his cheeks.
"Come on, dinner's ready." I laughed, walking away from him and back inside. I sat down next to Jack, who was sitting next to Zack, who was sitting next to Rian. Alex came in and sat on my other side. Our parents sat across from us.
After all of the toasts and congratulations it was time for me and the boys to go to a little party of our own. Some kid from our graduating class was throwing a party, and we had all decided to go. Alex drove me home, because my parents were catching up with all of the other parents.
"Go in and get changed, princess." Alex laughed, he had already changed. He was wearing black skinnies, a Glamour Kills shirt, and his gray converse.
"Come inside with me, its dark out." I laughed, getting out of the car. He got out too, and walked with me to the front door. I unlocked the door and walked inside and up to my room.
Alex sat on my bed while I picked out something to wear. I got out a pair of tight black short shorts, and a loose-fit tank top. I slipped my dress off, and put the clothes on; I put my vans on and grabbed my phone.
"Ready?" Alex asked, getting off my bed. I smiled and ran out of the house, screaming party at the top of my lungs.
I grinded against Jack's crotch while his hands gripped on to my hips.
"Oh I'm going to miss you Lace!" Jack screamed over the music.
"I'm going to miss you to, Jackie-kins!" I smiled, getting off of his crotch and walking over to the others. They were sitting in a corner, drinking.
"I can bet you…10 bucks that Lacey here won't take off her top." Alex slurred, smiling at me.
"Of course I won't take my top off, you pervs." I snorted, "I'm classy."
"Suuuure, classy," Jack winked. The rest of the night was filled with laughter and fun. Rian and Alex's girlfriends, Kara and Lisa, had showed up so they had gone off to spend time with them.
I left around 3 A.M. and started walking home. I packed up all of my things once I got home, and didn't end up going to sleep until around 6. That left me with 4 hours to sleep. I crawled into bed and looked out the window until I fell asleep.
