Friday morning I was collecting my books out of my locker for my literature class when I was interrupted by a tap on the shoulder. I spun around in surprise to face Maria. She was smiling widely holding up a shopping bag.
I wondered what was inside, she hadn't told me yesterday at the mall what she was planning on bringing for me, she just said it was 'perfect'.
"So, what's inside?" I ask.
"Open it up and take a look!" She orders.
I take the shopping bag out of her hand and look inside, I can't see too well so I take the item on top out. It's a red boob tube with white polka dots. I'd never imagined myself wearing anything like it. Next, I pulled out a pair of faded frayed edged jean shorts.
I could picture the outfit looking fantastic on Maria, I didn't know how the clothes would look on me.
"You can wear the new red heels you got the other week! They match the top perfectly." She suggests.
I smile at her. "Thank-you". I say as the bell rings and she walks to her own locker with a wave. I shove the clothes back into the shopping bag and into my locker and make my way to my class.
I try my best to concentrate, literature is one of my best subjects at school. I can't think straight though, I'm anxious about tonight. Lauren Aronsen was one of Jessi and Sanjita's friends, so it was more than likely I would have to see them again tonight.
I practically run home after school, I'm excited about tonight. I tell my mother I'm just visiting Liz's place. Before now, I haven't really been at any parties and don't know how she'd react if she knew I was now.
At 6.30, I leave for Liz's, she asked if I wanted to get ready at her place.
we begin to get ready immediately. I've finished my hair and make up. I wear my hair up and half down, I put the mousse and gel in again and wear my bangs to the side. Next, I put on the clothes I borrowed, I feel terribly exposed in the denim shorts my white legs stand out a mile away, the fake tan we put on the other week has faded away and I'm back to blinding white. I slip into the red heels I bought the other week and then my look is complete.
I wait in Liz's bedroom while she gets ready in her bathroom, only her mother is at home. Her room is quite big and cluttered. There are many photos on her dresser of her and the other girls, as well as photos of herself as a child.
Liz wears her hair in a very high pony tail, she's wearing a pale pink top which sits off one shoulder and a pair of black jeans. The lipgloss she's wearing is a perfect match for her top.
She throws open the bedroom door and informs me "We look FABULOUS!" I smile and we walk out into the living room as she gestures her arm outside the bedroom door.
Liz's mother is sitting on the white leather sofa watching a soap opera intently. In one hand she holds a glass of wine, and in the other a cigarette. She looks a bit like Liz, only older. Still, she doesn't look very old, only in her early 30's. She wears far too much makeup, a line on the side of her cheek shows the end of her foundation and her bright crimson lipstick is smudged outside her lip line.
She doesn't turn around when we enter the room.
"We'll be late." Liz informs her dryly and heads to the front door. I stand frozen in place in astonishment that Liz doesn't tell her mother exactly where it is we are going and exactly when we are coming back.
Her mother does not turn her attention from the television. "Good, go." She eventually replies monotonously with a wave of her hand and a roll of her eyes.
She does not even acknowledge my presence.
Lauren Aronsen lives not too far away. The house is filled with extremely loud music and lots of people, many I recognise from school. The other girls are all sitting on a sofa sipping drinks.
"This party is lame!" Jamie informs me. "Aren't they your clothes Maria?" Mara asks Maria with a wrinkled nose pointing at my outfit.
"Yes! I think Mallory looks great." She answers and then walks off to get more drinks.
"I don't think those legs remember the last time they saw the sun!" She retorts with a nasty giggle.
Something about Mara Semple makes me uneasy. It's the same feeling I had gotten when she made fun of Jessi when we were at her house.
All I can think about now is my pale legs. They'd worried me when I first put the shorts on and now I felt like everyone in the room was looking at them.
Maria returns with numerous bottles of beer. She hands one out to me, I wrinkle up my nose. I've never tried beer.
"You'll love it!" She informs me with a pat on the back. I take a swig and realize it doesn't taste too awful. We sit and chat for some time, I finish my beer and Maria hands me another. I become more acquired to the taste and I drink another 2 bottles.
Sometime after, I place the bottle down on the glass coffee table. I grin softly at my friends uncomfortably after I realise they haven't said anything in a little while. They aren't facing me anymore, they're looking over to the right. I see what they're looking at now, Craig is standing off to the side with one elbow resting on the wall. He's chatting to John Rosen and sipping a beer just like mine. I feel my face turn red and my heart pound faster just at the sight of him. My stomach feels as though it's doing back flips.
He catches my eye and I quickly look away and pretend I hadn't been staring at him. It's too late, he realises I was. My heart and my breathing both feel like they stop, just for a moment.
I look up and he's standing over me. The girls are long gone and no longer on the couch with me. I feel like all he can see are my white pasty legs in these far too short shorts.
If he does notice, he obviously doesn't care. He grins and then takes the seat beside me and inches himself closer towards me. I don't know what I'm going to say, I feel like I've lost the power to speak.
"So, you're all alone?" He asks.
"Looks that way." Is all I manage to quickly blurt out after I discover I still have control over my voice.
"That's a damn waste, and a damn shame". He informs me and puts one arm around my shoulder.
There goes the ability to speak again, so instead I just grin sheepishly and giggle like a schoolgirl. That's exactly what I am, a silly school girl. I never thought I'd become a giggling speechless mess because of a boy.
I had friends like Stacey who were "Boy crazy" and I'd never understood them until now. Even though we're sitting so closely together, the space feels like it's widening due to my lack of thinking of anything relevant or clever to say.
Luckily (or unluckily) enough, Lauren rushes past me with a glass in her hand and miraculously manages to drop it at my feet. It shatters all over the floor boards directly under my feet. It breaks the silence. I squeal from the shock of how close it came to cutting up my legs.
All she manages to do is stand there, in shock at what she has done. Craig looks angrily at Lauren and she bursts into tears.
"That was one of my mom's most expensive glasses, I'm dead!" she wails, apparently not noticing she nearly sliced me open.
Craig helps me to my feet and makes sure I'm ok. A smile comes back across his face.
"Do you want to get away from all of this for a little while? I hear the Aronsen's have a great view from the upstairs." Before I can even answer, he's pulling me up the stairs by the hand.