"Honey!" Lily grabbed Rick's arm- and he knew there was no escape.
"Yes?" He asked, slightly flustered.
Lily smiled up at him, and raised the camera to her eye- Rick was forced to pose, yet another cheesy smile plastering his face- the light flashed in his eyes, and the smile faded.
"How much film have you gone through already?" he asked, in a flat tone.
Lily giggled happily, "three………or four………..I lost count two hours ago!" she beamed.
"And how many glasses of champagne have you had!" He questioned, peering into her glazed eyes.
"One or two………or five" she replied, giddily.
"Oh ok……..." Rick nodded, taking her hand, and leading her towards Judy, who was standing by the drinks table.
"Dink Nazi!" Rick exclaimed, approaching her. Judy had been assigned to the drinks table, where the champagne was- the only alcoholic drink they had at the party. She had to watch how much all the kids were drinking………and she took the job quite seriously………..not afraid to rough handle anyone that was going for their second glass!
Judy smiled, but raised her eyebrow when she looked into her sister's face- she had a flighty expression painted on.
"Could you please take care of Lily………she's a bit tipsy……….and I don't want her to embarrass herself" he put his arm around Lily's waist, and nudged her forward to Judy- who took her hand.
Rick leaned in, "and confiscate that damn camera……….destroy whatever film is on there!" he whispered.
"Gladly! She got a terrible photo of me stuffing me face with finger good………..!" Judy smiled and walked Lily inside the house "take care of the party scene!" she said to Rick, over her shoulder- he nodded, and crossed his arms sternly, taking up the new post at the drinks table.
"Is that you're first drink?" he asked a young man who approached the table…………..
"Come on Lil, just one cup of coffee and then you can go back to the party!" Judy urged, passing Lily a hot mug.
"I am fine Judy……….honestly!" Lily smiled at her sister, passing the mug back to her.
Judy sighed, and, now wanting the hot coffee to go to waste; lifted it to her own lips, taking small sips.
"It is a great party, isn't it?" Lily asked her sister, turning to look out the kitchen window, at the crowd of people dancing.
Judy nodded, "it's amazing………every sixteen-year-olds dream" she replied, then, as she lifted the mug to her mouth again she muttered "and one forty-year olds".
Lily's head turned to her sister, eyes narrowed; "excuse me?" she asked- Judy's snipe comment had not gone un-heard.
Judy took a long sip of coffee, and then connected innocent eyes with her sister; "what?" she asked, defensively.
Lily's eyebrow rose, and her eyes peered deeper into Judy's, slowly as the silence passed by; she broke down her sister's defence.
Judy placed the mug on the table, and ran a hand through her hair; "Lily……….this isn't Jessie's party………….it's yours!" she finally released the words.
"I've told you before Judy………this is all for Jess, not me!"
"I know……….and I know that's what you think this is………..but somewhere in you're subconscious you're trying to have the sweet sixteen that you were denied!"
Lily gasped, "Judy I can't believe your pursuing this!" she looked hard into her sister's eyes.
Judy put her hand on Lily's shoulder comfortingly, "honey, it's not your fault…………..you don't even realize what your doing…………." She said, soothingly.
Lily's eyes remained cold as stone as she stared into Judy's- but, by her sister's touch, they softened, and she turned away.
"I don't believe dad melted the ice sculpture………." She whispered.
Judy smiled, and as she stared at her sister's face, she began to laugh, softly at first, and then louder.
"Oh, shut up!" Lily hissed, refusing to look at her sister's laughing face.
"That yellow flamingo dress I wore……….." Judy managed, through broken giggles.
Lily broke into the smallest of smiles.
"Why did I have to get my period the night before………..?" Lily asked, more herself- but the question only fuelled Judy's laughter.
"Those red puffy eyes……….."Judy managed again, her laughter becoming hard.
Lily's smile grew a little wider……….and in a matter of seconds; her stomach was aching from laughter.
The two sisters reached out for one another, needing something to balance their shaking bodies- they laughed hard for what seemed like a decade, until it slowly died down to a giggle, and then soft sighs as they swiped at tears that had formed in the corners of their eyes.
"I think your right………..I was trying to act 16 again………." Lily sighed, as she wiped at the last tear, and tried fixing up the mascara that had formed under her eye.
Judy helped her, lightly brushing away the black with her index finger- "no sweety……….you just wanted what you never had……….and that's perfectly understandable!" she soothed.
"No, it was selfish, and juvenile and………….." Lily gasped, mortified.
"What!" Judy asked, staring into her sister's shocked face.
"Jessie……….oh poor Jessie……….did she want any of this………..oh what have I done!" Lily exclaimed.
"Well, even if she didn't want a big party…………she's got one………..and she'll just have to survive tonight" Judy tucked a loose piece of hair behind her sister's ear "the party isn't that bad……….she'll be fine!"
Judy nodded, and wrapped an arm around her sister's waist, both women heading towards the back door, to return to the party.
"Excuse me"
They both turned around, to find a tall brunette wearing a dark blue slinky dress staring at them. Her eyes were big, and she smiled nervously.
"Sorry, I let myself in……….I heard you laughing………. I guess that's why you didn't hear me knock…………." She mumbled.
"Oh, sorry………….your here for the party obviously?" Lily asked, smiling warmly.
The girl nodded, "my name's Katie………..I'm Jessie's friend" she stammered, "Sorry I'm late".
Lily smiled, "Oh Katie!" she said in recognition, "come this way"- she said, leading her out the back door.
