A/N: Hey! I haven't done this in awhile! Sorry for the wait, I was having some serious writers block even though I knew what I was supposed to write! So, anyways, my fingers got tired from typing so the actual party won't be for another chapter. I'm sorry! It will be in Emma's POV(I know, this messes up the whole cycle!) and then the chapter after that will be in Ruby's(from Main Street). So anyway: I do not own the Mother-Daughter Book Club OR Main Street. It would be sick-awesome if I did, but I'd probably ruin them by accident. So, on to the story!
Cassidy
"Look, Stan, I know you think you're great at Extreme Scrabble, but you aren't. I've beaten you eight times already. You should just give up while you have the chance." I said to Stan the Man, or Stanley Kincaid, my mom's husband. Yeah, I still call him by his first name. He's technically not my dad, and never will be. But at least thanks to my therapist dude, I don't hate him like I used to. My mom, the famous Clementine Sloane, is happy about that.
"Sure, I'll give up. When you make me!" he said as he slammed down a card with the letter U on it. Ugh, he had spelled "Truck" again. Before, I made the word Track, after he had spelled Trace. This game could take forever. I checked my watch for the twelfth time. It was only 5:23. The Concord Comets Celebration wouldn't start for another hour and a half. Kill. Me.
My friends and I had been waiting for this day to come for weeks. After almost getting the privilege to go to the party taken away from us, we were more apprehensive than anything. Especially Jess. I don't know why. It's just a party, right?
Stan had proceeded to spell the word Trick, which I turned into Crick, which he turned into Crack, which I turned into Clack, which he turned into Cluck, which I turned into Clock, which he turned into Click, which I turned into Clink, which he turned into Drink which I turned into Drank, which he turned into Drunk which was when I gave up and went up to my room to change.
I put on the dark blue V-neck that the girls and I had chosen a couple days ago and the black jeans. I fished around in my closet for my hockey jersey and pulled it on over the shirt. I checked my watch again, and it was 5:55. Why must time move so slow?
I spent the rest of the time jumping on the bed, listening to music, and just simply getting pumped for the party. This was going to be awesome, I could tell. I would not only be receiving my MVP award tonight, but I would also be able to hang out with my friends and hockey pals. But there was only one setback; the parents wanted to leave before 8:00.
They said it was for the big Mother-Daughter Book Club "surprise", or something. Whatever, as long as I'm able to get my award before we leave, I'll be okay. The party ends at 9:00 though, so I'm not too sure.
I eventually hear the doorbell ring and Stan opening the door to greet everyone. I slip on my navy blue Converse (they're my favorite pair of shoes), look in the mirror one last time(my red hair actually looked okay for once), and run downstairs. I saw Megan, Emma, and Jess standing there, looking great. I suddenly feel a serge of self-consciousness pull over me. I'm horribly dressed and I know it. Oh well. I think before I invite them in.
"This is going to be amazing!" Emma said excitedly, but her face unsure. Her smile faltered a bit as she fixed her hair, which was accessorized with a purple head band and a black floral pin. That's a little too girly for my tastes, but it looked good on her. She pushed her glasses up her nose and giggled as Jess tried to pull her dress over her knees.
"Stop laughing, this dress is too short!" Jess said as she awkwardly tried to cover herself with a jacket.
"For the billionth time Jess, it's not too short! It's the perfect size, and it's supposed to go right above your knee." Megan said while she shook her head. She looked absolutely perfect in her mini-dress or chemise or whatever you call it. She was wearing a black turtle-shaped broach, which made her look really—I don't know—mature maybe.
"Yeah, but what if boys laugh at me for it? I have so many scabs on my knees too, maybe I should just go back home and change into something more modest." She said nervously, almost turning around but Megan stopped her and sat her down on my couch.
"Jessica Delaney, you. Look. Great. Why don't you see that?" Megan said encouragingly. Jess smiled but still looked a bit nervous.
"There's nothing to worry about Jess. I bet the guys will just love your outfit. Especially one certain boy who's name starts with D and ends with Arcy!" Emma said mischievously. Wait, what? What does Darcy have to do with this?
"Emma!" Jess cried with a look of pure embarrassment on her face. It was all red and stuff. I just don't get it; does Jess like Darcy or something? I don't understand all this dumb crush stuff! I mean, I've never had one, so I guess I wouldn't know. Courtney says it's probably the best and worst feeling a girl can ever have. But I always ask how something can be good and bad at the same time? Then she always just says that I'll understand soon enough.
Sure, whatever.
"What? Isn't that why you're so nervous?" Emma asks as she sits down next to Jess, who looks like she wants to be anywhere but here. Jess just looks at Emma and lays her head on her shoulder. She's not crying or anything, but she looks really sad.
"What's wrong Jess?" Megan asks before Emma simply shoos her away with her hands and mouths the words: Boy Trouble. Megan grabs my hand and we rush away into my kitchen.
"What the heck is going on? Why is Jess going crazy?" I ask Megan like a maniac. Instead of answering though, she crouches down near the doorway, and appears to be listening to Emma and Jess's conversation!
I know it's wrong, but I had a pretty good feeling that my questions would be answered it I just quietly eavesdropped along with Megan. I'm such a bad friend, and I know it, but they should just tell us what's going on, right? I can just barely hear what they're saying anyway.
"I tried, Emma. I really did! I just don't think he thinks the way about me as I do of him. I'm so stupid." Jess's voice uttered. I'll guess she was talking about Darcy.
"What did you do? Did you ask him, did you flirt? You have to be more specific about this."
"I asked him what he liked in a girl. He said he liked it when they're adventurous, but have a sweet and girly side. He said he likes it when a girl wears fancy things, but doesn't try too hard. He wants a girl who looks absolutely perfect. You know, by his standards."
"And those standards are…?"
"Cute, silly, funny, talkative, sweet, caring, decisive, non judgmental, and most of all," Jess said. "…pretty eyes. He says that the second he sees a girl with pretty eyes, he falls for them. I don't have pretty eyes Emma." Jess said with her head hung low. Her voice was quivering, and I almost wanted to cry out "It'll be okay, Jess!" and hug her.
"Jess, whoever told you that you don't have pretty eyes is a jerk. And even if you didn't, you still have all of those other good qualities too." Emma said while patting Jess on the back. "Besides, I think Darcy kinda likes you too."
At this, Jess's head piped up, and I could tell that her eyes were wide open.
"Really? Are you sure Emma? Please don't be just saying this to make me feel better!" said Jess.
"I know this for a semi-fact. He definitely thinks you're cute." Emma said with a giggle.
"How do you know? Did he tell you? When?" Jess questioned wildly.
"Well, we were talking about the celebration after you and the other girls left a few days ago. He was really excited, and he said something about not being able to wait to see you there. I asked him why, and he blushed and said that you'd look really pretty. But, he sorta told me not to tell you I said that, so don't tell him I told you." Emma said. Megan and I heard Jess's extremely loud squeal, and we decided to go back into the living room.
"So, what's going on?" Megan said mischievous yet girly grin on her face.
"Uh, nothing. Except for the fact that I'm definitely going to ask Darcy Hawthorne to dance with me tonight, no matter what." Jess said with her arms on her hips like she was Superman or something. Wow.
Finally, Courtney came down the stairs with her car keys, and we all cheered. About time! "Come on girlies, it's time to get you to that party!" she said.
We all went outside and filed into Courtney's silver SUV. None of us could contain our excitement. Tonight is going to be AMAZING!
