I slid a black headband with a red rose on the left side into my long, dark, sleek hair. My stomach, in knots. People hated me. There I was, going to meet a billion of them. My head pounded and my headache could have shattered glass. Maybe even plastic. I didn't even want to go. My heart craved affection, from someone that didn't mind if my satellite dish was crooked or if my bedspread didn't fit right through the gears of my head.
I knocked on the door. I stepped back and instantly bumped into a strong body. I turned to see a tall man with olive skin and dark hair.
"Hey, new meat!" he yelled and then opened the door and I heard a loud crowd yell, "Sav!"
I started to back away, my stomach tightening, I clenched my jaw until it hurt.. I can't do this. I turned to go back to my bike when his kind voice pounded against my eardrums.
"Hey! Imogen! Where you going?" Adam called, running to me and touching my shoulder.
"Oh, I, um, remembered… my Mom needs me home, I can't be here, I just can't" I stammered.
His face fell, his eyes lost their tugging glow. "You're leaving?" he choked. "But, don't leave."
I looked at him, I bit my lip and then forced my stomach back into it's normal routine.
"Yeah, I guess I can stay, for a little, I mean, yeah totally." I said, trying to regain my charisma.
"Are you okay?" he said. "You don't have to stay if you're not on your feet…"
I straightened my cardigan. "I'm always on my feet, Master Torres," I said, pulling him by his hoodie into his house.
He led me in once we got into the foyer, and took me into the Living Room, there were 6 people on the couch, all laughing, throwing popcorn and having a great time. Then I came in.
The room fell silent.
"Guys, this is my friend Imogen, she's really cool," Adam said. "That's Clare, Fiona, Sav, Bianca, Drew and Conor,"
Most of them nodded and I could almost choke on the awkwardness in the air.
"Hello fellow students," I said characterlessly.
I sat down on the couch next to so called Clare and began a conversation.
"Hi!" she said offering me a hand. "I'm Clare Edwards,"
"Imogen Moreno, pleased to meet you." I stammered.
Then a huge bang shook the floor, it was the front door slamming open.
"THE PARTY HAS ARRIVED!" I heard a perky voice say. I instantly wanted to slide into my seat, and perhaps disappear.
"Hey guys!" Adam yelled. "This is Imogen, Imogen this is Katie and Marisol,"
We smiled and exchanged meaningless glances.
"So what are we doing?" Marisol said plopping down on the couch next to me. I inched a little closer to Clare. All of a sudden, the tablecloth-patterned-clothes girl didn't seem so bad.
"We were just about to play some party games." Adam said, living up the dull air that was full of Clare rambling and the occasional Marisol giggles.
"Ooh, party games?" Drew said.
"Like Truth or Dare, 7 minutes in heaven, guess the pedo.." Fiona offered.
These games sounded more like prison trust exercises than party games that were going to enjoy.
"Should we wait for Connor and Eli?" Katie said.
"No, I don't think they're coming.." he shrugged. "Their loss,"
Aw man, missed an opportunity to bond with people that will mean absolutely nothing to me. They started truth or dare, and I zoned out pondering about the other things that could have been going on if I wasn't here wasting away my Friday night.
"Imogen! Truth or dare?" Marisol said.
"Oh, um truth…," I said.
"You look like the different kind of girl, what's the worst thing you've ever done?"
"Oh, well when I was fifteen, … "
Footsteps sounded in the hallway…
"Eli is that you?" Adam said.
He walked in and stood there surveying the room.
My heart stopped. My throat closed, almost all the way, the breath was stolen from my lungs. He glanced my way. His green eyes locked mine. He bit his lip and with that, he looked away.
"Imogen.. what were you saying?" Marisol said.
"Oh, well when I was fifteen, I accidentally… well, never mind." I said.
"Come on, Imogen, Spill your beans!" Dave called.
"Yeah, come on tell us, Imogen!" Adam said.
"It's nothing, just forget I said anything, ask another question." I said.
"What are you afraid of?" Katie stabbed.
"I SAID FORGET IT." I stammered.
He watched in the corner, his eyes focused on me, trying to figure me out.
"Next game?" Adam said.