CHAPTER ELEVEN
PARTY
A week has passed. I haven't said anyhting to Mel about her secret boyfriend. If she doesn't want to tell me she doesn't have to. Yeah, it makes me sad that she doesn't trust me but I'm fed up of getting worked up about people keeping secrets. So I won't get worked up anymore. My mind has been elsewhere anyway. I haven't stopped thinking about Caleb. His eyes, his hair, the way he talks, the way he moves, the way he makes me feel. I'm getting obsessed and I know what I feel towards him isn't right. There are two thoughts that go through my head when I think of him: I really like this boy and he's my brother's best friend- these thoughts do not belong together. So to try and take my mind off of him I have been studying my arse off.
Tonight though, I have something else to look forward to. Tonight is the Potter/Weasley Welcome-back-to-Hogwarts party. Every year Fred and James and Roxie through a party in the Room of Requirement (they throw loads of parties throughout the year but they ALWAYS have a welcome back party). You are only allowed if you are 4th year and above or part of our family (or our friends). Our family usually choose a non-drinker to look after the others (eg. make sure they don't do anything stupid, make sure they get home ok) and to make sure Lucy doesn't drink since she is only 12. Tonight is the first night Hugo and I will be allowed to drink but I don't inttend to - years of watching my drunken cousins and their embarassing escapades is hilarious but not something I want to reinact. It's James' turn to be sober tonight, something he hates. I have a feeling that tonight will be akward. I have been avoiding my family since I found out that they are all keeping secrets from me.
But I'm going to the party anyway, for 4 reasons. 1- I promised Rikki and Mel that I would go with them to every Potter/Weasley party, 2- It's tradition that I always go and no matter how mad at them I am at my family, I kinda love our parties, 3- I have to make sure they don't get too drunk because I have a feeling James won't be staying sober for long and 4- Caleb will probably be there.
The day goes by quickly and for once I spend time with Mel. But she seems upset. I wonder if she and her boyfriend are fighting. I hope not, she's been so happy lately - distant but happy. After a quick dinner we head upstairs to get ready for the party. Every year Mel and Rikki force me into a silly dress and silly shoes and insist on doing my hair and makeup. Every year I object and every year they make me look quite nice. It's one of the few times I feel good about myself. This year Rikki rakes through her wardrobe until she apparently finds something she likes. She hold up a short black dress. It's not too short - just above the knee - but it would be the shortest dress I have ever worn.
"Hell no!" I protest. But of course I put it on anyway. It's tight and sort of ruffled/wrinkled at the torso the at the hips it flows out and ends just above my knees. I throw on a pair of black high heels, but not so high that I can't walk. The outfit is simple but elegant and I love it. Then I sit down and Mel does my hair and makeup. Then the tell me to cover my eyes and move me until I'm standing in front of the mirror. I have no idea who this girl is but she is gorgeous.
I usually hate my hair. It isn't poker straight and beautifully blonde like Dom's or pretty redish-brown curls like Rose. My hair is wavey and a bright orange. But tonight I love it. It's piled high on my head with a few tendrils framing my face. My makeup has been done to perfection. The eyeliner highlights my big, brown eyes making them stand out beautifully. My lips are full and pink and my skin is flawless. I am speechless.
Mel and Rikki get ready quickly and both look stunning. Mel is wearing a long pink dress that goes down to her ankles and sparkling sandles - she looks like a greek goddess. Rikki on the other hand is wearing a short red dress - and I mean SHORT - paired up with her black leather jacket and killer spiked, black boots. On anyone else it would look slutty but on Rikki it looks so cool. We walk to the Room of Requirement arm in arm and when we open the door the party is already in full swing.
Music is blaring and people are already trying their hardest to get drunk - chugging back firewhiskey like there's no tomorrow. I laugh at them thinking to myself "it's only 8 o'clock people!". I spot Al in the middle of the dance floor "dancing" (eg grinding) with some girl in the year above. There's an image I could've done without. I scan the room for Caleb and I see him sitting in the corner holding a firewhiskey in his hand, laughing at Al and the slut dancing. I would find it funny too ... if it wasn't so scarring.
By 9 o'clock I have lost both Rikki and Mel and nearly everyone is drunk. I spot James knocking back his 5th drink and go up to him.
"You're supposed to be staying sober tonight." I tell him off, jokingly.
"You're suppose' to be gettin' drunk 'night." He slurs and I laugh. I pat his arm.
"Be careful OK? Get me if you need help getting back to your dorm later." I tell him, though I know he won't remember. I start to go looking for Lucy to make sure she isn't drinking when I hear voices from inside a closet that has magically appeared in the room. It's Mel.
"I can't keep lying. I just can't" She says.
"Just a little while longer ok? Then we can tell people. I just - I don't want them to judge us." Says a male voice. I recognise it.
"But Lily's my best friend. Not being able to tell her is weird. She's going to be so upset."
"She'll be fine, Mel, I promise."
"No she won't. She has a thing about secrets. "It's ok to have them as long as they aren't hurting anyone" that's what she says."
"Calm down, love. Nobody knows. We'll tell people in our own time. Let's just enjoy this time alone." The tone of the boy's voice changes at the end and then there's the sound of kissing. I know the saying "curiosity killed the cat" but I couldn't help myself. I opened the door.
"LOUIS!" I shriek. Oh Merlin this can't be real. They jump apart and look at me guiltily. After I get over the intial shock, I feel angry. It's obviously evident on my face because Mel starts to cry.
"Please. Please don't be mad at me Lily. I just - just..." Louis wraps his arm around her in comfort as she starts to sob. This winds me up more.
"Just what? Thought you'd have a little fun behind my back? Become just another one of his sluts?" Even I am surprised by the venom in my words.
"It wasn't like that. We're together." Louis states, as Mel can't seem to form words.
"Together? You are the biggest player in this school. Wait, Mels been acting weird since the first day which means ... You've been doing this since before the Summer?!" I accuse. Mel breaks down into fresh tears, "Ugh, I can't even be arsed dealing with this." I mutter and stalk off. I hear Louis shushing Mel, comforting her and instantly I wonder why I acted the way I did. It doesn't really bother me it was just spur of the moment anger. I turn back to tell Mel I'm sorry when I see them kissing passionately. So they didn't even care about me enough to take their tounges out of each others mouths. Fine.
I stalk off and grab a drink of firewhiskey and down it quickly. Then another and another until the anger stops playing on my mind. I start to dance in the middle of the room. Turning and twisting and moving my hips, lost in the music. I feel hands on my waist and I turn around. A very drunk boy from James' year grabs my arm and starts trying to dance again. I'm drunk but not that drunk!
"Get off" I mumble, stumbling and trying to get away.
"Don't be like that, love." The guy grins, drunkenly swaying on the spot.
"Let go of her arm. Now." Says a beautiful voice. Caleb. Instantly the guy lets go of my arm and Caleb pulls me to sit on a sofa in the corner.
"You have a pretty voice." I tell him, giggling. Instead of smiling he sighs and looks at me concerned.
"How much did you drink, Brown-eyes" He asks me.
"I like that nickname." I smile and hold up five fingers.
"Five glasses?" He asks, I nod, "Merlin Lily, I didn't take you as the type to drink. Wanna tell me what made you so upset?"
"What makes you think I'm upset?" I question, plastering a fake smile on my face.
"I've been watching you all night. You didn't have a sip of alcohol all night. Then you dissapear, come back looking mad as fuck and down 5 glasses of firewhiskey."
And I break down. I start to cry and I tell him how I caught Mel and Louis in the closet and how I wasn't really mad. But then I saw them kissing as if nothing had happened. And I felt invisible again.
"Oh Brown-eyes." He sighs, patting my hair.
"You don't make me feel invisible though. You make me feel ... visible." I lean in with new found confidence and, though his expression is shocked, he doesn't pull away. In fact he closes the distance.
The second his lips touch mine, fireworks explode behind my closed eyes. He tastes amazing like mint and fresh air and a little bit of firewhiskey. Intoxicating. Our lips move in sinc and even though it's only my first kiss, I know this is the kiss all other kisses will be measured against. We finally pull away for breath.
"Wow" I say staring into his eyes ... and then I puke on his shoes.
