Chapter Six
"So, why are we doing this again?"
I looked over to Kara, who was wearing some skin-tight shorts, a baggy New Politics top hung off one shoulder since she'd 'borrowed' it from me and her hair with pink highlights. I, on the other hand, wore some skinny tattered jeans with a grey t-shirt and a pair of vans.
"Because it'll be fun." I said, grinning at her. It was around eight o'clock now, and so it was getting quite dark now, what with it being winter. I looked over at the beach house, and saw Derby talking to Pinky and some other preppies, who were all wearing button-up shirts and polos. I walked straight past them and noticed Pinky kissing one of the brown-haired bullies. I grinned as she looked over. I put my arm around Kara's neck and whispered in her ear "you warm enough?"
She shuddered slightly, her face very red from the cold and her teeth could not stop chattering.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
I walked past Pinky and the bully, and went inside the house, taking my arm away from her.
I looked around at the scene: everyone was in there. Every senior in Bullworth (except the nerds) were in there partying. Even Russell was…granted he was on the sofa watching Mandy dance, but he was still there enjoying himself.
I scanned the room carefully, and saw Hopkins there, wearing a pair of baggy jeans and a green hoodie. He was talking with a tall guy in a leather jacket and a white shirt and another guy in a blue American football shirt. Another boy walked past me in an orange shirt – he looked pretty…well…pretty much just dirty.
The music started to pound heavily. My head spun around.
I took another shot.
Danced.
Another shot.
Kissed someone. At least I'm certain it was a girl.
Finished the bottle and put it next to the other.
I finally walked out of the house, knowing not to get too drunk.
I looked up at the end of the pier and saw a girl sitting there. She was wearing a wet check shirt, wet jeans and a pair of soaked flats.
"Hey." I said.
She turned around and seeing who I was, rolled her eyes. She was completely soaked.
"I like the look – what is it, Water World next to the carnival? Very business-like."
"Go away Aiden." She said, looking down into the water.
I bit my lower lip.
"What's the matter?"
"Nothing."
I sat down next her on the edge of the pier.
"You're burning a hole into the water."
"Trying to solve global warming because I'm an X-man."
"A completely soaked X-woman."
She turned back to the house.
"Where is everyone?"
"What's your problem?" I asked, holding her arm. "Apart from the fact that you're obviously out of towels?"
She looked at me in frustration.
"I dropped a bracelet in the water, and Jimmy said he'll get it out, but he-" I nodded, then jumped off the pier, into the freezing water. I opened my eyes, only then realising how blindingly cold it was. I caught sight of a emerald green bead bracelet. I grabbed it and then kicked off the planks of the pier at the bottom and flew up to the surface, climbing up the end of the pier.
"I never asked you to do that. Why did you do that?" She asked, obviously distressed.
I shrugged.
"Maybe I'm drunk."
"It's freezing cold down there!" She said, helping me up onto the pier.
"At least I didn't have anything valuable on me." I said, throwing the only thing in my pockets into the water, I could always get more cigarettes – good thing I forgot the zippo.
"You made it look easier then it is."
"What, swimming?" I grinned.
She smiled slightly, rubbing the bracelet against her shirt.
"Well thank you."
"You're welcome." I smiled back.
There was a small silence.
"So, things are good?" I asked.
She nodded.
"Yeah, things are good."
I nodded.
"Your shirts a bit wet." I commented, trying to say something, anything.
"Yeah. I think yours has shrunk a bit."
I smiled, taking off my shirt and ringing it dry over the edge of the pier. My wet, now black hair falling in front of my eyes.
I pulled my shirt back on, shaking my head as water flew off. I caught her smile of amusement.
"I'm Kaitlyn."
I smiled.
"So-" She began, but her phone cut her off. She picked it up from next to her and glanced down at it. She looked back up at me, slightly sheepishly.
"Who is it?"
"It's...it's Jimmy."
"Ah." I said, nodding once.
"I asked him earlier to come and help me so now he's going to-"
"Come and swim down to get the bracelet."
"Yeah."
"Right."
I took the bracelet she had been holding loosely in her hand and tossed it back into the river, walking past her. I decided to go back to the school. I don't know why I had jumped in. Probably the alcohol. I wasn't drunk – just tipsy. I think. Then again, the water had definitely woken me up. At least I could get warm at home so I wouldn't catch pneumonia. Kara would be fine – they were other preps she knew at the party.
…
Fuck Hopkins.
