Chapter 4
The party was on, and Phoebe was extremely ecstatic about it; she had spent the entire day picking out clothes and a hair style that would just scream "WOW" to the crowd, and especially Cole. She knew most people-- if not the whole school—perceived her as an outsider, a dork. And she knew they, mainly Hannah and her gang would be shocked when they saw her show up.
She, herself, was also surprised at herself for even considering going to the party.
She admired her reflection in the mirror with absolute satisfaction. A sultry smile formed on her lips as she swirled her face to the mirror amazed at her own assets.
"Looks like those squats finally paid off." She thought to herself, tucking her mini light pink with tiny flower patterned sarong inward so it would hug her buttock.
Feeling remarkably proud of herself, Phoebe turned back around and straightened her satin white tank. Reaching for her light pink cardigan, she threw it on, and slipped into her light pink sandals.
Feeling fabulous she did a few poses before a knock on her door interrupted her moment.
"You can stop loving yourself now!" Came a voice behind the door.
"Uh, Jade.?" Phoebe asked, as she leaned again the door.
"Yeah, who else would it be?" Jade retorted rhetorically.
Taking a step back she opened the door and pulled Jade in quickly.
"Why are you acting so…" She took a moment to think up of an adjective. "alert?"
"I don't want my mom to see me like this." Phoebe replied. "She'd get all happy and it's annoying."
Jade pursed her lips and smiled; she took a deep breathe then looked over at an enormous pile of clothes on Phoebe's bed and slightly frowned.
"Uh, did you just buy all that for the party?" She inquired.
"Uh, I'm taking it all back." Phoebe replied while teasing her hair. "I didn't want spend hours in the mall, so I just grabbed whatever I liked and charged it on my mom's credit."
"Does she know?"
"Uh, she knows I bought a couple of outfits."
Jade pursed her lips again then, looked up at Phoebe.
"So, how long have you been liking Cole Turner?"
"Huh?" Phoebe turned, facing Jade baffled as if she didn't hear her question.
"Cole Turner?" Jade reiterated.
"What about him?" She played dumb.
"How long have you had feelings for him?" Jade questioned, putting more emphasis in her voice.
"Uh, I don't have feelings," Phoebe lied, "not for him anyways. He intrigues me—that's all."
She felt awful for lying to her best friend; however telling her the truth would only make Jade question her more. Phoebe liked to keep it to herself, especially when it came to "guys". She was always conscious of what she was saying, and always kept the information to the minimum. No need to let the words out if nothing was going on…even if it was.
"What's with the get-up then?" Jade investigated; her suspicions were building up and she knew something was up. "Trying to impress him?"
"I just thought I oughta look nice for the party." Phoebe simply answered. She knew Jade could smell lies.
"Sure?" Jade raised her eyebrows at Phoebe.
"Positive." Phoebe said. "I gave what you said--about wanting my support—a thought and I see your point. Don't worry; Cole doesn't have much to do with my decision; except for helping me realize how you feel." She went to her bed and took a seat next to Jade. "I know you would do it for me."
"I thought you said you don't have feelings for Cole." Jade interrogated.
"I--" Phoebe thoughts scattered around, she's got tied up in her own dishonesty and now her mind was all in knots. She tried to utter the next word and work it off from there. "not. Just want to see what he's all about."
Jade gave Phoebe a sideway smile and draped her arm around Phoebe's shoulder, "Well, thank you."
"Anytime." Phoebe smiled, and draped her arm around Jade's shoulder.
"Uh, shouldn't we be going now?" Phoebe asked.
Jade pressed her lips together and grinned, "Sun down." She slipped off of the bed and stood in front of Phoebe.
"So, how do I look?" She twirled around in her mini denim skirt accompanied a lacy strap black tank with duplicated twin pink strips embroidered down the sides of it.
"Let's just say Jason will be all over you by the end of the night." Phoebe answered, winking her eyes.
A couple of hours flew by quickly and it was about time for Jade and Phoebe to leave for the party. Phoebe was getting anxious her palms were starting to sweat and she was getting perspiration around her neck. Planning details of the party in her head, Phoebe started asking Jade "what if" questions. She knew a lot of people who would attend the party would not know her, despite her existence in school. She wouldn't be surprised if people questioned her if she was new to the school.
Jade on the other hand was getting nervous and wanting to back out. However, Phoebe wouldn't let that happen.
"How about I'll just see him at school?" Jade nervously queried, adding an edgy smile.
"No, you're going," Phoebe affirmed sternly. "You're going to go and you're going to have fun and you're going to blow Jason's mind away."
"Suddenly you and your confidence," Jade said.
"Well, one of us has gotta have it." Phoebe stated, then grabbed Jade's arm. "Now let's go."
She pulled Jade into the hallway and hollered for her mom.
"Mom let's go."
"Be out in a min, hon." Phoebe's mom yelled back. "Go start the car."
"Alright." Phoebe then bounced off to downstairs with Jade by her side. She grabbed the car key on its hanger by the doorway and headed out to start the car.
A few minutes later, Phoebe's mother arrived with a surprised mug. She's finally saw Phoebe in her outfit and she was speechless. She had never seen her daughter dressed so girly like. Always in jeans and saggy tee.
"Phoebe." Her mother cried as she was getting into the car. "You look beautiful."
"You mean girly-like?" Phoebe asked rhetorically.
"Well, either way, you're beautiful." Her mother stated matter-of-factly.
"Please don't praise mother." Phoebe pleaded.
Her mother flashed Phoebe a smile then took off.
Ideas were running across Phoebe's mind. Imaging getting sweet kisses from Cole when they got more acquainted at the party. She could image what the kiss was going to be like: he would take a seat next to her on the couch and they would get to know each other a little better, she would show him the real side of her—the sweet, deep, thoughtful side of her, then they would have a few laughs over a few anecdotes or maybe incidents that would occur at the party, and finally he would lean in and kiss her.
There were many occasions where she wanted to shut down her tough exterior shield and be nice to him. She wanted to show him that she liked him; however, she knew it would be a big joke to people around her. Her liking a senior-- not just any senior-- but Cole Turner. He was all she ever wanted, but couldn't have. The first time she had laid her eyes on him, she knew there was something special about him and that attracted him to her. Even though there was no physical appearance—besides his eyes—she knew there was something in the interior of his feature that magnetically pulled her to him.
Though, she knew—maybe not knew, but figured—that he was out of her league-- that she wasn't meant to be with him. She wanted to befriend him and take it from there, but the fear of embarrassment for her failure in attempt to be with him would come back and bite her in the ass was too much of a risk for her. She was one who did not like to stand corrected.
Only it made her more tempted to go after him—it was like a hopeless romance to her. Maybe life wouldn't be so complicated if teenagers treated each other as equals and did not categorized themselves.
Moments in deep thought, Phoebe hadn't realized they arrived at Cole's party.
"Alright." Phoebe's mother voice snapped her back to reality.
She could see all the popular people from school standing around the porch. Predictably, she felt out of place. Maybe she's having second thoughts about the party.
"Call me when you're ready to get picked up." Her mother said. "I won't be home 'til 8, so call me on my cell."
"Okay, mom." Phoebe murmured, and got out of the car, as did Jade. "Bye."
"Bye sweetheart, have fun." Her mom took off at the speed of light, leaving her standing alone with Jade on the deserted sidewalk.
Exchanging nerving glances toward each other, Phoebe took a deep breath and gave Jade a reassuring smile.
"Let's do this," Jade declared, unnervingly. "just one foot in front of the other." She paced herself along with Phoebe up the steps and glanced at people around her.
Phoebe's heart started to bump rapidly as she took each step closer to the door. She could hear the music pounding away from the inside, and kids' voices, and laughter. It was frightening to her. She had never attended a party before…she didn't know how to act or what to do.
Stepping her foot into the door, her surroundings became woodsy. Darkness of the forest captured every part of the house, filling in every corner. Everywhere she looked were just pure silhouettes, only tiny glimpses of light from the front porch and the patio.
"Do you see Jason anywhere?" Jade suddenly whispered to Phoebe. Her eyes wandered to find him as she cramped through people.
"No." Phoebe replied, as she searched for Cole. "Maybe they're outside."
"They're?" Jade looked dumbfounded.
"I mean, Jason and other people… like his friends, you know?" Phoebe frantically working up a cover up.
"Yeah." Jade looked at Phoebe suspiciously. "Sure."
They hastened to the backdoor and walked out. Phoebe spotting Cole by the pool chatting with his friends…mostly girls; in his arm was a raven-haired beauty with hazel eyes. Suddenly a shock of jealousy hit Phoebe. She felt empty…plain. It was like she had nothing to offer. Phoebe just looked at Cole for a moment. He didn't even know her arrival. Her expression went from jealousy to a hint of embarrassment.
However a real hit of embarrassment came when Hannah's voice boomed the place.
"OH. MY. GOSH!" She shrieked in horror. "Who invited this…"she was too disgusted to think of an insult. "this thing?"
Alerted by Hannah's voice, everyone was facing Phoebe. Most had confused looks on their face—they had no notion of who she was.
Phoebe could feel heat emerging from her cheeks, her eyes were burning up, and her mind was just a mess. Her every thought was jumbled up.
"Just never mind her Phoebe." Jade advised. "She's not worth our time."
Phoebe didn't respond, instead she turned around and walked back inside. She wasn't in the mood for snobby nonsense. As she turned, she saw Cole's eyes fixed on her, she could hear murmurs from his clique questioning, "Who's she." Naturally Hannah answered voluntarily. "A freak who doesn't know her place."
And that just did it for Phoebe. She swirled around, her face was now brightly red, her eyes were beaming with anger, her fists curled, "And where is my place, Hannah?" Phoebe clinched her teeth and her head cocked to one side. "It's people like you that make me laugh. You prance around thinking you're all that, like you own the world...until the real world crushes on you. Then you'll be running around quarrelling how the world is so unfair because you've spent most of your time sticking your head up your own ass!"
Paralyzed by Phoebe's words, Hannah stood frozen with a humiliated look on her mug.
Far left by the pool Phoebe could sense Cole gazing at her; however she didn't bother to look. Though, she was glad she'd grabbed his attention. Even though he may have already knew she didn't take crap from people…especially when they pushed her too far.
She turned and began to head back inside, however before she could take her first step Jade tucked her and mouthed that Jason was sitting on the far left corner about two feet away from Cole with the guys.
Phoebe looked hesitant at first, rethinking maybe she shouldn't be over there; but before she could protest Jade had already pulled her to them.
"Hi." Phoebe sounded throatily. Her nerves were getting to her, as she was only standing a couple of feet away from Turner.
Cole glanced over at Phoebe and smiled to himself. His eyes traveled a bit south of her back. He pursed his lips as if something was going through his mind. It seemed his interest was on Phoebe's body. His eyes traced her outline carefully then turned to his clique.
"Excuse me, ladies." Cole cleared his throat, letting go of the raven-haired beauty.
He swooped over to where Phoebe was standing and said "Hi" to Phoebe and Jade.
"I see you made it." Cole smiled at Phoebe. She smiled back and quickly glanced away.
Cole could tell Phoebe was merely an amateur to these to try things…parties and crowds. She seemed a bit timid…actually a lot timid and a bit uncomfortable. He could tell this was not her type of crowd.
"So what do you think of the party?" Cole asked, trying to loose her up.
"It's…"Phoebe pondered to try to find the right word, "interesting. Nothing I've ever been too."
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
"It's a good thing." Phoebe smiled and nodded her head.
"Hey," A friend of Jason's called for Phoebe. "you're new to the school?"
She shyly shook her head. She knew that question was bound to come up sometime during the party. She didn't recognize most of the people, and she didn't expect them to know her either.
Meanwhile, as Jade and Jason were getting acquainted Phoebe sat alone in side. She told Jade she was going to go use the restroom but hadn't returned in about an hour. She didn't want to be a third wheel or be an intruder. Cole had returned to his group.
The party was on, and Phoebe was extremely ecstatic about it; she had spent the entire day picking out clothes and a hair style that would just scream "WOW" to the crowd, and especially Cole. She knew most people-- if not the whole school—perceived her as an outsider, a dork. And she knew they, mainly Hannah and her gang would be shocked when they saw her show up.
She, herself, was also surprised at herself for even considering going to the party.
She admired her reflection in the mirror with absolute satisfaction. A sultry smile formed on her lips as she swirled her face to the mirror amazed at her own assets.
"Looks like those squats finally paid off." She thought to herself, tucking her mini light pink with tiny flower patterned sarong inward so it would hug her buttock.
Feeling remarkably proud of herself, Phoebe turned back around and straightened her satin white tank. Reaching for her light pink cardigan, she threw it on, and slipped into her light pink sandals.
Feeling fabulous she did a few poses before a knock on her door interrupted her moment.
"You can stop loving yourself now!" Came a voice behind the door.
"Uh, Jade.?" Phoebe asked, as she leaned again the door.
"Yeah, who else would it be?" Jade retorted rhetorically.
Taking a step back she opened the door and pulled Jade in quickly.
"Why are you acting so…" She took a moment to think up of an adjective. "alert?"
"I don't want my mom to see me like this." Phoebe replied. "She'd get all happy and it's annoying."
Jade pursed her lips and smiled; she took a deep breathe then looked over at an enormous pile of clothes on Phoebe's bed and slightly frowned.
"Uh, did you just buy all that for the party?" She inquired.
"Uh, I'm taking it all back." Phoebe replied while teasing her hair. "I didn't want spend hours in the mall, so I just grabbed whatever I liked and charged it on my mom's credit."
"Does she know?"
"Uh, she knows I bought a couple of outfits."
Jade pursed her lips again then, looked up at Phoebe.
"So, how long have you been liking Cole Turner?"
"Huh?" Phoebe turned, facing Jade baffled as if she didn't hear her question.
"Cole Turner?" Jade reiterated.
"What about him?" She played dumb.
"How long have you had feelings for him?" Jade questioned, putting more emphasis in her voice.
"Uh, I don't have feelings," Phoebe lied, "not for him anyways. He intrigues me—that's all."
She felt awful for lying to her best friend; however telling her the truth would only make Jade question her more. Phoebe liked to keep it to herself, especially when it came to "guys". She was always conscious of what she was saying, and always kept the information to the minimum. No need to let the words out if nothing was going on…even if it was.
"What's with the get-up then?" Jade investigated; her suspicions were building up and she knew something was up. "Trying to impress him?"
"I just thought I oughta look nice for the party." Phoebe simply answered. She knew Jade could smell lies.
"Sure?" Jade raised her eyebrows at Phoebe.
"Positive." Phoebe said. "I gave what you said--about wanting my support—a thought and I see your point. Don't worry; Cole doesn't have much to do with my decision; except for helping me realize how you feel." She went to her bed and took a seat next to Jade. "I know you would do it for me."
"I thought you said you don't have feelings for Cole." Jade interrogated.
"I--" Phoebe thoughts scattered around, she's got tied up in her own dishonesty and now her mind was all in knots. She tried to utter the next word and work it off from there. "not. Just want to see what he's all about."
Jade gave Phoebe a sideway smile and draped her arm around Phoebe's shoulder, "Well, thank you."
"Anytime." Phoebe smiled, and draped her arm around Jade's shoulder.
"Uh, shouldn't we be going now?" Phoebe asked.
Jade pressed her lips together and grinned, "Sun down." She slipped off of the bed and stood in front of Phoebe.
"So, how do I look?" She twirled around in her mini denim skirt accompanied a lacy strap black tank with duplicated twin pink strips embroidered down the sides of it.
"Let's just say Jason will be all over you by the end of the night." Phoebe answered, winking her eyes.
A couple of hours flew by quickly and it was about time for Jade and Phoebe to leave for the party. Phoebe was getting anxious her palms were starting to sweat and she was getting perspiration around her neck. Planning details of the party in her head, Phoebe started asking Jade "what if" questions. She knew a lot of people who would attend the party would not know her, despite her existence in school. She wouldn't be surprised if people questioned her if she was new to the school.
Jade on the other hand was getting nervous and wanting to back out. However, Phoebe wouldn't let that happen.
"How about I'll just see him at school?" Jade nervously queried, adding an edgy smile.
"No, you're going," Phoebe affirmed sternly. "You're going to go and you're going to have fun and you're going to blow Jason's mind away."
"Suddenly you and your confidence," Jade said.
"Well, one of us has gotta have it." Phoebe stated, then grabbed Jade's arm. "Now let's go."
She pulled Jade into the hallway and hollered for her mom.
"Mom let's go."
"Be out in a min, hon." Phoebe's mom yelled back. "Go start the car."
"Alright." Phoebe then bounced off to downstairs with Jade by her side. She grabbed the car key on its hanger by the doorway and headed out to start the car.
A few minutes later, Phoebe's mother arrived with a surprised mug. She's finally saw Phoebe in her outfit and she was speechless. She had never seen her daughter dressed so girly like. Always in jeans and saggy tee.
"Phoebe." Her mother cried as she was getting into the car. "You look beautiful."
"You mean girly-like?" Phoebe asked rhetorically.
"Well, either way, you're beautiful." Her mother stated matter-of-factly.
"Please don't praise mother." Phoebe pleaded.
Her mother flashed Phoebe a smile then took off.
Ideas were running across Phoebe's mind. Imaging getting sweet kisses from Cole when they got more acquainted at the party. She could image what the kiss was going to be like: he would take a seat next to her on the couch and they would get to know each other a little better, she would show him the real side of her—the sweet, deep, thoughtful side of her, then they would have a few laughs over a few anecdotes or maybe incidents that would occur at the party, and finally he would lean in and kiss her.
There were many occasions where she wanted to shut down her tough exterior shield and be nice to him. She wanted to show him that she liked him; however, she knew it would be a big joke to people around her. Her liking a senior-- not just any senior-- but Cole Turner. He was all she ever wanted, but couldn't have. The first time she had laid her eyes on him, she knew there was something special about him and that attracted him to her. Even though there was no physical appearance—besides his eyes—she knew there was something in the interior of his feature that magnetically pulled her to him.
Though, she knew—maybe not knew, but figured—that he was out of her league-- that she wasn't meant to be with him. She wanted to befriend him and take it from there, but the fear of embarrassment for her failure in attempt to be with him would come back and bite her in the ass was too much of a risk for her. She was one who did not like to stand corrected.
Only it made her more tempted to go after him—it was like a hopeless romance to her. Maybe life wouldn't be so complicated if teenagers treated each other as equals and did not categorized themselves.
Moments in deep thought, Phoebe hadn't realized they arrived at Cole's party.
"Alright." Phoebe's mother voice snapped her back to reality.
She could see all the popular people from school standing around the porch. Predictably, she felt out of place. Maybe she's having second thoughts about the party.
"Call me when you're ready to get picked up." Her mother said. "I won't be home 'til 8, so call me on my cell."
"Okay, mom." Phoebe murmured, and got out of the car, as did Jade. "Bye."
"Bye sweetheart, have fun." Her mom took off at the speed of light, leaving her standing alone with Jade on the deserted sidewalk.
Exchanging nerving glances toward each other, Phoebe took a deep breath and gave Jade a reassuring smile.
"Let's do this," Jade declared, unnervingly. "just one foot in front of the other." She paced herself along with Phoebe up the steps and glanced at people around her.
Phoebe's heart started to bump rapidly as she took each step closer to the door. She could hear the music pounding away from the inside, and kids' voices, and laughter. It was frightening to her. She had never attended a party before…she didn't know how to act or what to do.
Stepping her foot into the door, her surroundings became woodsy. Darkness of the forest captured every part of the house, filling in every corner. Everywhere she looked were just pure silhouettes, only tiny glimpses of light from the front porch and the patio.
"Do you see Jason anywhere?" Jade suddenly whispered to Phoebe. Her eyes wandered to find him as she cramped through people.
"No." Phoebe replied, as she searched for Cole. "Maybe they're outside."
"They're?" Jade looked dumbfounded.
"I mean, Jason and other people… like his friends, you know?" Phoebe frantically working up a cover up.
"Yeah." Jade looked at Phoebe suspiciously. "Sure."
They hastened to the backdoor and walked out. Phoebe spotting Cole by the pool chatting with his friends…mostly girls; in his arm was a raven-haired beauty with hazel eyes. Suddenly a shock of jealousy hit Phoebe. She felt empty…plain. It was like she had nothing to offer. Phoebe just looked at Cole for a moment. He didn't even know her arrival. Her expression went from jealousy to a hint of embarrassment.
However a real hit of embarrassment came when Hannah's voice boomed the place.
"OH. MY. GOSH!" She shrieked in horror. "Who invited this…"she was too disgusted to think of an insult. "this thing?"
Alerted by Hannah's voice, everyone was facing Phoebe. Most had confused looks on their face—they had no notion of who she was.
Phoebe could feel heat emerging from her cheeks, her eyes were burning up, and her mind was just a mess. Her every thought was jumbled up.
"Just never mind her Phoebe." Jade advised. "She's not worth our time."
Phoebe didn't respond, instead she turned around and walked back inside. She wasn't in the mood for snobby nonsense. As she turned, she saw Cole's eyes fixed on her, she could hear murmurs from his clique questioning, "Who's she." Naturally Hannah answered voluntarily. "A freak who doesn't know her place."
And that just did it for Phoebe. She swirled around, her face was now brightly red, her eyes were beaming with anger, her fists curled, "And where is my place, Hannah?" Phoebe clinched her teeth and her head cocked to one side. "It's people like you that make me laugh. You prance around thinking you're all that, like you own the world...until the real world crushes on you. Then you'll be running around quarrelling how the world is so unfair because you've spent most of your time sticking your head up your own ass!"
Paralyzed by Phoebe's words, Hannah stood frozen with a humiliated look on her mug.
Far left by the pool Phoebe could sense Cole gazing at her; however she didn't bother to look. Though, she was glad she'd grabbed his attention. Even though he may have already knew she didn't take crap from people…especially when they pushed her too far.
She turned and began to head back inside, however before she could take her first step Jade tucked her and mouthed that Jason was sitting on the far left corner about two feet away from Cole with the guys.
Phoebe looked hesitant at first, rethinking maybe she shouldn't be over there; but before she could protest Jade had already pulled her to them.
"Hi." Phoebe sounded throatily. Her nerves were getting to her, as she was only standing a couple of feet away from Turner.
Cole glanced over at Phoebe and smiled to himself. His eyes traveled a bit south of her back. He pursed his lips as if something was going through his mind. It seemed his interest was on Phoebe's body. His eyes traced her outline carefully then turned to his clique.
"Excuse me, ladies." Cole cleared his throat, letting go of the raven-haired beauty.
He swooped over to where Phoebe was standing and said "Hi" to Phoebe and Jade.
"I see you made it." Cole smiled at Phoebe. She smiled back and quickly glanced away.
Cole could tell Phoebe was merely an amateur to these to try things…parties and crowds. She seemed a bit timid…actually a lot timid and a bit uncomfortable. He could tell this was not her type of crowd.
"So what do you think of the party?" Cole asked, trying to loose her up.
"It's…"Phoebe pondered to try to find the right word, "interesting. Nothing I've ever been too."
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
"It's a good thing." Phoebe smiled and nodded her head.
"Hey," A friend of Jason's called for Phoebe. "you're new to the school?"
She shyly shook her head. She knew that question was bound to come up sometime during the party. She didn't recognize most of the people, and she didn't expect them to know her either.
Meanwhile, as Jade and Jason were getting acquainted Phoebe sat alone in side. She told Jade she was going to go use the restroom but hadn't returned in about an hour. She didn't want to be a third wheel or be an intruder. Cole had returned to his group.