No, they wouldn't be joining the rest of the party. It turned out there had been other plans for the small group that had been made just recently; plans that had been all predetermined by the hostess. They'd only be told at the last second, and Abbey and Sue couldn't have helped but look openly appalled as Stacy flipped her switch and spoke the up-town accent that she was known to use at school and around Katie when she turned to them — and on them, figuratively speaking — carefully explaining to them the dealings of the night as if they were anything but on or above the same intellectual level as the other guests the rules for that evening. Stacy explained; they wouldn't be partying with the main group of people — all Katie's friends, whomever they were and whatever school they went to (or didn't!). Instead, they would be going to the far end of the house where the other patrons were told not to go, and they would stay there for the majority of the party before being asked to quietly leave before ten that evening. Those were the conditions of Katie's hospitality otherwise they would be asked to leave, and promptly too otherwise they would be trespassing and the police would be called. Once she was done, Stacy stood waiting for an answer from them so she could see she had been understood, and Sue and Abbey nodded their heads in affirmation without fighting about it. With the formalities taken care of and of the way, Stacy turned to the doorway to lead them to the room, expecting them to be close behind her in tight formation and not lagging in any way. They didn't, keeping close behind, but Sue couldn't help but feel a burning sensation on the back of her neck during the explanation. A part of her felt she knew what it was coming from, and that person couldn't have been from anyone else other than Katie. Sue was certain she was near-by watching on eagerly waiting a reaction from her. So, she didn't turn in its direction even on the off-chance she was wrong. That would only acknowledge her if she was, and she was very sure the only thing that would face her back was a girl who thought she was above them all, with the smuggest face to go with it, laughing to herself all the while. She was sure she knew why too after all; Katie had won. Over the school and over her. Katie had gotten her party after almost having it cancelled and bankrolling the school to still have it. She was the star after all; the willing benefactor who was willing to put up with all of them and donate her mansion. How generous was she to save the yearly party? Everyone should be grateful.

And Sue was right, Katie wasn't too far away. But fuck it, Katie knew she had to get in her face about it too.

'Sorry Suzie but those are my conditions.' She teased over Sue's shoulder. Sue turned towards it, to Katie, who only beamed louder when she saw Sue's troubled look. 'Sorry I didn't tell you about them earlier but I'm sure you understand I've been quite busy with planning everything, I just can't have it ruined with your small little group and your K-Mart dress after all.' Sue said nothing, only staring back at with her coldest expression she could manage. It was everything Katie wanted from her; her face only beamed louder. 'Maybe if I'm nice I'll let you come over to see the main party and show you how to better manage one.' She laughed to herself, and nodded towards Stacy.

Stacy nodded too. 'This way, you two.' She called to Abbey and Sue. They turned and followed.

Abbey waited until he was sure he was out of her earshot. 'It's amazing how unbearable she's become. Are you okay? She didn't need to go that far.' He asked.

Sue kept facing forwards, 'It's not surprising it happened since she became the lead cheerleader, it feels like that was the only thing that kept her ego in check. She's become more frustrating when she learned she could throw money around to get her way.'

Stacy turned her head towards them. 'We really shouldn't really talk about this here.'

Sue shook her head in protest. 'You were supposed to be the lead cheerleader; you were winning the election.'

Stacy's ears fell back. 'It doesn't matter anyway.'

'How come?'

'It just doesn't.'

'You let her get away with too much!' Sue protested.

'It's fine.' Stacy assured her. 'I don't think we should talk about this here.'

'Fine.'

Abbey shook his head, 'Come on, leave her be. She's got her reasons.'

'That might be the case but she shouldn't have backed down!'

'You're not bothered from what Katie said, are you?'

'About the dress? Ha! Jokes on her. Stacy and I bought our dresses at the shop she normally goes to. She didn't even realise.'

Abbey chuckled. 'I meant about the planning thing. I seriously thought you were going to blow up back there.'

'Nah. It's not like I had a choice when the school decided it was going to get involved. I didn't even know they could! It's supposed to be a private party, it's always been private. When did the school think it had to involve itself?' She asked.

Abbey shrugged. 'Maybe when it became part of the school event calendar.'

'I didn't mean to let that happen! That was just on a sticky note and someone put that into the actual calendar by accident!'

Abbey scoffed 'That was you?!'

'I'd have it all cancelled but I couldn't, they wouldn't let me and even worse they forced me to come anyway since I'm part of the event supervisory team. Even if one person went, I would've still had to! But this worked out after all! We've got our own spot in a mansion and we have free reign over the food. Why would I ruin it right at the last second when things began going to plan, right?' She nudged him. 'Good acting by the way, you've made up for earlier.'

'I didn't say anything!'

'And that's why it worked out!'

Abbey laughed in the same sort of friendly/apologetic manner he usually did. 'Well, no problems so far.'

Sue had to agree. Despite all the worst-case scenarios they were putting up with, things were all going to plan.

All according to plan.

Stacy was leading the duo through several of the vastly decorated rooms to the one they had managed to secure from Katie for the evening; their own little private retreat from the creeps and weirdos within. For something that was turning into an utter disaster one way after another since the idea came up, they had managed quite a win. There was a story to be told in how Stacy managed to get Katie to agree to all of this. It was all very clever when Sue thought back to it; all Stacy had to do was convince Katie that she didn't want really want that small group of nerds from school hanging out with her cool friends. You're really going to let them mingle together?! Sue could imagine Stacy pleading with Katie, Like, what if they ruined the party with their nerd-games? What if one of them pulled a game of pin the tail on the Donkey?! That would be mondo lame! Katie would agree in some unexpected realisation. She didn't think about that, and she couldn't have that! Imagine the embarrassment if one of them bought such a thing to all of her older friends! So, how could she keep them in line? Easy; put them at the back of the house, in the snow. She would relent as even Stacy noted how unbelievably mean that was going to be. Fine, make it the back of the mansion, and Stacy would offer to sacrificially volunteer herself to keep an eye on them if it calmed her anxiety. Perfect, Katie could enjoy her party without worrying about them. She couldn't have been any smugger and more impressed at herself by her idea. She would see it as a win herself; her party not bought down by the nerds.

But she didn't account that the nerds would be playing her in return; they'd be able to have their own party by themselves, at Katie's volunteered house without Katie's weirdo friends. They turned this disaster into something workable. But Sue had to wonder if this was okay. Sure, she wasn't friends with Katie. If anything, they were very much enemies. Katie had never seen her as anything but something to compare her popularity to. She never understood why, maybe she was just an easy target. That made her feel all the easier to believe there was some sort of justification in getting her back in the best way possible. Especially the embarrassment she suffered when the school suddenly got involved. It made it all the more thrilling to know she was winning in the end. But god. . . what if Katie found out that she'd been duped? What if she took it out on Stacy? She wouldn't have deserved it, not her.

Thinking about it only worried her more. Katie was a mean person, but was it mean to take advantage of her like that in return? Did that make her mean? God, she did not like thinking that. If only they could have cancelled it! Katie had a fit and complained to the school about rich discrimination or whatever. And then it had to happen. That was about as much as the school cared for. Katie had something to prove, and that bugged her. Her mind raced to make sense of it, and then she started to wonder if it should have been all that easy to get Stacy to convince her. It couldn't have been! Especially not when Stacy made it sound like Katie had suspected that Stacy wasn't at all up-town like her. And she wasn't! She had another life to her; actual depth. She had other interests; ones Katie would no doubt find too nerdy and beneath her, and above the better friends that came with those hobbies! Fair enough; don't put up a fight against Katie, take all the brunt. Let Katie rub her face in the mud in managing to get the last word. She could put up with it. She had. They were never friends. But don't hate Stacy. She didn't deserve it. Not her.

She had only started to think about how risk there was in what they were doing. She could only really think about it now, every other time Paulo and his study was on her mind. Stacy had told her not to think about it and instead focus on other things. She shouldn't have let Stacy convince her things would play out! It was her own happiness at risk! Wasn't that a problem?! Enjoy the party, you know, so you can make happier memories with Paulo. Bah! If that only was a priority! It was hard to think of an occasion where they didn't butt heads once. They'd fought an awful lot in school. They didn't really have many happy memories, even them getting together was marred by the fact they fought with each other than too, under the questionable fashion and with . . .broken bones in several places.

God, Stacy knew, didn't she? It wasn't like they always got along all of the time even despite being a couple. So, she decided they needed more occasions when they could relax together. This was one such a time, she was trying to be a real friend to her — create better memories for their end of year. Maybe, she told herself. but shouldn't you have better memories too? Why did you give up being the lead-cheerleader?

All the more reason not to put it all to waste, she convinced herself. She wanted to put it behind her and put all her energy towards enjoying the party. Once Paulo got here, then the party would begin for real. Until then, well she could still have fun. She wanted to leave it like that. But there was a problem with doing just that. Thinking to herself was her only salvation from some of the whistling and cat-calling she picked up as they made their way through the mansion to their room. It did nothing but revulsed her. She pointed her noise into the air and paid them no further mind. She would never be a catch for anyone like that, that would never change.

She stopped forward suddenly as Abbey had come to a complete stop in one particular room. Stacy turned back towards them. 'Here's the room I managed to corner off just for us.' She said with a smile. 'It's not much to look at, but it'll do, right?'

Sue had been so deep in thought she hadn't noticed, and she realised what Stacy had been talking about. Her ears fell back as she looked around, her heart feeling heavy as she took turns looking between the sanded down walls and stripped wooden floor which would've been cool to the touch if you went barefoot. The room itself would've been largely empty if it weren't for the two couches sitting opposite each other across a small table, and the Paint cans and upholstery put in a corner of the room. She understood Stacy's apology, the room wasn't much to speak of in comparison to the other rooms. A work in progress to say the least. She looked back at Stacy, who too seemed to be trying her best to smile. 'It's fine, Stacy, this is-'

'Awful!' Stacy cut in. 'A room that's being renovated?! Really?! That's so low!' She shrieked aloud to them. 'I'm sorry! I really tried! This is the best room I could convince Katie to give us. She's just so, so. . .'

'Difficult? It's fine Stace! You did what you could!' Sue said, trying to sound her complete sincerest. She couldn't fault Stacy for trying, neither for trying to get the best for them despite Katie's reservations. It wasn't her fault. Sue couldn't help but feel more than thankful that they at least got a room and weren't just thrown outside. She couldn't have expected more.

But never mind that Stacy was supposed to be Katie's closest friend. She could've gone to the length of even considering her when she was trying to remind Sue how they didn't get along. Being allowed into her house was probably about as much of a compromise Katie would give towards whatever goal she had in mind; whether that was showing off her wealth or even her own popularity with people outside of school. She didn't know. She shook her head and smiled. 'I think getting a room was about as much charity as Katie was going to spare in the first place. We can make do.'

'But the night—'

'Oh, come on, it was already ruined as soon as we knew it was going to be Katie's house, remember?' Sue said with a smile and a shrug. 'Not to mention Paulo didn't want to come with and chose to be difficult. But I'm not going to let that get me down. We make do, right? So, don't feel bad about it.'

'I really hope that's okay; I only found out this was the room she had in mind when I arrived. I wasn't able to have a say! It was this out of all the empty rooms too! I'm sorry, I really wanted to make it special.' She said, looking quite miserable.

'Because it's the last chance we'll have to have a party like this for a while, right? It's fine Stacy, it's the thought that matters.'

'Well. . . That.' She said, but then she leaned closer. 'But more for you and Paulo.' She winked.

Sue blushed and shook her head. 'You didn't have to go through all this just for me, Stace. Seriously, why?'

'You know why.' Stacy said with a smile, quite amused, before turning back towards the small coffee table and started putting her plates down.

Abbey joined her doing the same, before turning back towards the doorway from where they came. His ears couldn't go any flatter than they already were. 'The room's in direct line of sight across the room we just came from.'

Sue had noticed that too but didn't say anything about it. They wouldn't get a good room, they sure as hell weren't going to get any privacy either. 'Maybe so Katie can keep an eye on all of us.' She said, she smiled and winked towards them. 'Katie probably wants to make sure nobody, let alone the geeks are bonking at the party.' Sue could tell Stacy wanted to twist around at the suggestion but found herself unable to as she was still carefully put the plates down. As soon as she could she turned towards them looking quite offended at the suggestion. 'Oh Sue! No!' She shouted.

Abbey looked quite disgusted too. 'I really hope you're joking. Nobody here is going to be doing that.'

'Yeah, but come on Abbey, did you really think I'd be that kind of person?' Then to Stacy. 'You gotta admit, she thought about this, right? You guys heard what happened at Rachel's party the year before; that unwanted pregnancy? Apparently those two were in the bathroom for a while. How many kids in college is she having over and how's she keeping an eye on everything? It's only the first floor we're allowed to be on isn't it?'

'I'm not talking about that! I'm talking about what you're carrying with you!' She said casting a pointed towards Sue's hands. Abbey followed her hand. His mood soured when he noticed. 'Oh no, this is going to be just like last time.' He groaned. Sue held several bottles of beer and wines under her arms, taken from the main room. 'Where did you get those from?!'

'I snagged a few just before we left the main room when Katie was done being a bitch. Seriously, stop giving me that look. You can't have a party without a few drinks, right?' She slammed each bottle down hard on the table, all except for one which she kept to herself. She undid the cap and bought it to her mouth, taking a few sips before bringing it down a quarter and grinning in response to Abbey's protest.

'You've got to be kidding me. I didn't come here just to get drunk!'

'Don't drink then. I need this after what just happened. It's my reward.'

'I don't intend to babysit you when you get hung over.'

'You could cool down too.' She said, under-arming one into his direction. He caught it.

'Sue!' He shouted.

'Stop complaining, Abbey. I said it was going to be a chill evening. You knew there was gonna be drinks here. Katie invited all these older people. She's not going to be serving just soda. We're here to have fun and party hard. It's our last school year. '

He fell back onto the couch, resigning himself. 'Christ, do whatever you want. You're such a pain.'

Sue laughed. 'Trust me, you're going to need them when Paulo gets here. Do you remember what he was like back at the last party?'

'Do you remember what you were like back then, too?!' Abbey snapped back.

'You're defending him?'

'God no, you were about as off your face as he was.'

'I was not!'

'You really were and you only had the one, too!' He pointed out as he undid the cap.

'Oh, so you are going to drink now?'

'I'm taking your expert Paulo-handling advice on board. I mean, you know best, right?'

'Shoosh. Besides, what's going to go wrong? There's nothing that says we can't drink a bit until he gets here. I'm older now, I can handle a few more.'
Abbey looked at her with scepticism. 'That's not how it works.'

'Just take it easy on the drinks guys, it's early after all, the party's not supposed to start until much later.'

'Hey, as far as I can see; the party's already started! We're here together. Who needs all those losers?' She glanced towards Abbey. 'And shut up! I'm the most responsible person around.'

Abbey's ears flattened onto his skull. She was half a bottle and already wobbling around. Already the night was going as well as he imagined.
She crashed back onto the couch. 'But you're right; the night is young. Don't want to knock myself out before the others get here.'
Stacy was worried, 'Where is he, by the way? You mentioned before, why didn't he come with you?' She asked.

'He said he'd made arrangements.' She said with a grumble. 'You know what that means.'

'You don't look at all happy about it at all.'

'Well of course not! I wanted him to at least meet Mom once! He's probably doing something stupid. . . like walking here.'

Stacy's eyes went wide open. 'He wouldn't, really? Katie lives so far away from all of us! Does he hate cars or something?'

'No, he doesn't.' Sue said, shaking her head. 'I think it's pretty obvious he just hates asking for help.' She sighed. 'He made that compromise once. But I guess we'll see him a little later on.'

'It'll probably take him all night to get here.' Abbey chortled. 'Good, the less I see of him, the better.'

'Don't be a fucking ash-hole! He's great!' Sue whined.

'Who are you and what have you done with my friend?' Abbey said resting his head on a hand.

'Sounds like you have a few stories of happy memories already.' Stacy laughed.

'Oh. . .well, if you're interested. I do have a couple of stories.' She extended a finger to Stacy. 'You're not writing about them, deal?'

'Deal.'

Abbey shook his head. 'I can't believe you're already drunk. You haven't even finished that drink yet.'

She glared right at him. 'I'm not drunk. I don't even feel it. You gonna sit down to Stace? You should sit down next to Abbey so he doesn't bolt.'

He shrugged, 'Whatever.' And watched as Stacy sat beside him, opening up a bottle herself. 'Not you too.'

'We're here to relax, Abbey. It'll be fine.'

'He's only upset because he's gonna have to start hanging out with Paulo again.' Sue told her.

'Shut up. It's not even him I'm worried about.'

'It's not?' Stacy asked.

Sue gave it some thought. 'If not Paulo.' The idea came suddenly. 'Oh.' She said. 'You mean—'

'Yeah.' He cut in.

'You mean you're starting to consider the possibility then.'

Stacy blinked. 'What?'

'I can't keep calm knowing. . .you know, is going to be here.' He said worryingly.

'Jasmine.' Sue said to Stacy, 'She's not going to be here, Abbey. She wouldn't resort to stealing.' Sue said.

'Has she spoken to you since then?' Stacy felt the need to ask.

'No. She's still been. . . avoiding me, I suppose. I still don't know what I've done wrong.'

She put the bottle down on the arm of the chair. 'Are you sure she's avoiding you?' She asked. 'You didn't bring up Paulo with her, did you?'

Abbey glared back. 'Why would I even do that? I don't gloat about him if that's what you meant! Besides, she was happy to hear you were both dating when she heard the rumour.' He bought his arm up to his chin and look at the wall. 'Well, at least she appeared to be.'

'It'll be fine.' Sue said waving her hand. 'Just catch her later on this evening and ask why she's being such a brat.'

Abbey looked at her dumbfounded. 'It's not going to be that easy.'

'Sure, it will, never know until you try. How did you think I roped Paulo?'

He shook his head; this wasn't bringing him any comfort. 'I don't want to talk about this anymore.'

'Well, okay. . . hopefully you can get it sorted out.' She turned to Stacy and elbowed her gently. 'Otherwise, Stacy's here for the picking.'

Stacy shrieked back and went a bright red as Abbey turned his head to her.

'What?!'

Sue laughed. 'Oh, come on, you've had an eye on Abbey for a while.'

'Don't be mean to him!'

'She's drunk, Stacey.'

Sue shrugged. 'Oh, come on, it's just a joke. But you know. . .I could imagine you both getting along quite well.' She purred under her drink.

'Yep, as I suspected; liquor's gone straight to her head already.' Abbey said, taking a drink.

'It has not! I'm just happy to be here with friends.'

Stacy nodded, 'It's been a while since we'd even spoken together because of classes. Which reminds me.' She said, smirking towards Sue.

'What?'

With a smile across her face to match. 'I wanna know the deets. How did you and Paulo hook up?'

'Oh, no. Please don't.' Abbey begged.

'I wasn't going to at all considering. . .you know.' Sue said, running her fingers into her hair. She smiled. 'But. . .if you insist. . .'

She was up at some of the best parts before being interrupted — rudely by one of the other patrons. She hadn't noticed that someone had been lurking behind her until the hand landed on her shoulder. Her senses had cut off while she was telling her story. Her heart thumped against her chest as she turned towards it. She'd expected Paulo. But it wasn't them. The person she turned to wasn't anyone she knew, at all. She blinked, and then her mood went to shit when she realised. 'Uh.' She started. 'Can I help you?' She asked, with a sigh and resigning herself. She'd expected this would happen, if only once.

'Hi there.' The boy started, 'I couldn't help but notice you back there and wanted to know your name? You're looking really nice tonight.'

'Oh. Sorry. I'm actually taken.' She'd expect that to be the end of it. But instead he catapulted himself from behind the sofa onto it and next to her. He bought a smile to her, she glared back.

'You don't have to be like that. C'mon let's go have a dance and talk for bit.' He tried to take her hand, she wrestled it free.

'I said I was taken. I don't want to.'

'That's not a problem.' He tried to assure her.

Her glare worsened. 'Hell NO. Get lost!'

'You don't have to play hard to get you know?'

Sue laughed. 'I am SO not doing that!'

Abbey stood up. 'She said she's not interested! How about you leave her alone.'

He didn't pay Abbey much mind. 'Back away kid. I'm trying to work here.'

'What did you say?' He was just about to stand, if Stacy's hand hadn't caught his arm.

'Abbey, no!' She turned towards the other boy. 'Zack, go away and stop causing trouble with my friends. I know where Carmel is, she wouldn't be very impressed if you're doing this.'

'She wouldn't do anything.'

'Then I'll get the bouncer! It's your choice!'

He stared at her for a moment and contemplated his choices. He turned to Sue and took her hand, figuring he'd try one last time just to be sure. 'Come with me. I can show you a better time at this party than these two lamers.' He tugged her hand for her to follow with. She wrestled it free.

'These lamers are my friends. I'm not leaving them for a sleaze-ball like you! I'm taken so get lost!'

'Zack!' Stacy shouted.

The man shrugged and gave an apathetic sigh before finally standing, 'Alright, alright I get it. I'll go.' He started to walk towards the hallway door, but not before turning back to Sue one more time. 'My offer stands if you're still interested!'

'Gross!' Sue shouted back. The boy shrugged and left. She turned back to Abbey and Stacy once the man had disappeared. 'Some people, right?'

'I hope that's the last we see of him. What the hell is wrong with some of these people?' Abbey said.

'I'm sorry, Sue!' Stacy said.

'Forget it, at least I'm turning some heads now, right?' She smiled. 'Where was I?' She continued from where she thought she was, she did what she could to calm her shaking hands and pace her heart that threatened to burst out of her chest. She tried not to think too deeply about it and focused on her story. But she couldn't help but feel him staring back at them from somewhere.

'I'm going to be sick.' Abbey muttered under his breath. Unsurprisingly, there were few who took notice. Not Sue, who could only go on and on about Paulo in her drunken state. Not David (who had arrived only a few minutes ago and had already disappeared from the group, he wasn't sure where he went). It wasn't until Stacy thought she heard him, her ear flicked, far too captivated herself by Sue's story and taking mental notes for her next fanfiction, she turned to him looking a little worried. 'Did you drink too much?'

'No.' Abbey grunted. 'I mean, not really.' He waved his drink in his fingers, showing he hadn't even touched it. He bought it up to his lips and took another swig. 'I'm just going to get sick from hearing about this.'

Sue smiled at him from the other end of the room. She laid on her side of the sofa with a Cheshire grin from ear to ear. 'That was everything.'

'Are you sure?' He shot back. 'Have you finally got it out of your system?'

'Yep.' Again, very proud of herself. She really had been waiting all this time to talk about it, he suspected.

'God, I thought the rumours were sappy, but here we are.' He replied. He bought a hand up to hold his head. 'I look forward to the unwanted pregnancy arc.'

Sue stared at him with a scornful look for a good moment. 'I really thought we dealt with this earlier. God! What's your problem?'

'I just remembered and started thinking about the time you said school relationships are dumb and won't last the year?' He said, he paid careful mind to gesture with air quotes in the most appropriate places.

'Hey, you were saying the same until Jasmine asked you. Why can't I be in one?'

'I never said you couldn't. I just—'

'Great! You heard it here too Stacy, it's fine.'

'Oh, to hell with it.' He shouted. 'I'm done trying to find logic in this mind-game.'

'I'm just playing, Abbey. It jus' happened. An' I agreed to being it.' Sue said, shrugging. 'I was still planning on ending my school year being single originally.'

'But what changed?' Stacy said with a curiousness playfulness in her tone.

She shrugged once more, shaking her head and smiling to herself with some proudness. 'It was when he cried his eyes out about how jealous he was of me and. . .' She blushed off to the side. 'Well I couldn't just. . .'

A very mischievous smile run its way across Stacy's face, 'You know, I forgot how a particular someone likes being praised.'

Sue broke out in a shade of red. Embarrassed as she was, she knew she could count it up to Stacy to find the smallest details.

'I really hope that wasn't the only reason.' Abbey chastised her, 'For your own sake.'

'I've been in a relationship before, Abbey!' She shouted back.

'It didn't last long.' He noted.

'Shoosh! I already explained there was another reason!' Sue shouted. She rose her drink to her lips as her eyes moved to the direction of the window. 'Plenty of other reasons.' She said into it, wondering where he was.

Stacy edged forward in her seat and rest her head on her hand. 'So which one's the reason for that. . .?' She queried, pointing towards her.

Abbey glanced between them not being too sure what to make out what she meant.

'I mean, it's pretty obvious from how Sue's dressed tonight, isn't it?' Stacy said flashing mischievous grin.

He took that in and looked over towards Sue, her eyes moved away once they met. He then looked towards Stacy. He hadn't noticed particularly until she mentioned it just now. But she was right, compared to Stacy, Sue was looking rather. . . overdressed for the occasion. Then it hit him. 'Oh my god.' He said, sounding appalled. 'You're trying to impress him. Him of all people.'

'I am not!' She shouted, shying behind her bottle. 'I just thought we should look special for the evening. Weren't you going to join me too?' She asked Stacy.

'I still have to put my own make-up on myself. But the dress code was to be somewhere under less formal.' Stacy said.

Abbey leant forwards from his seat and peered into the doorway back towards the other rooms where the other guests were. Plenty were female, but none of them looked as dolled up as Sue was. He thought about what she said before, and gave up with a sigh. 'I give up.' He finally admitted. 'Are you sure you're not scraping out from the bottom of the barrel?'

'That better be the alcohol doing the talking.'

'You know whom I'm talking about. Don't act like I don't-' He made a sound and sat back in his chair. 'Whatever, so long as you're happy.'

Sue smiled. 'Now see that's what I wanted to hear.'

'You guys really got along quite well, didn't you?' Stacy asked. 'It's nice to know he was so worried about you back at his house.'

'God. . .' Sue started. 'That was the cutest part. He wouldn't let me out of his sight after nearly being killed by his door.' She laughed. 'He was doing his best to make sure I was still okay and wasn't going to collapse.'

'Aww.' Stacy said.

'God.' Abbey said. A part of him blamed himself. This is what he had resigned himself to. It could only go on for hours. There could be no worse hell.
But it was his only respite from thinking about Jasmine, who he had spotted through the open-door frame. He made no attempt to go after her.

Lucy spent the majority of her time at the party talking to some of the other girls who she didn't personally know. A first-time thing for her; being openly social for a change, and it appeared to be working out for her much to her own surprise. Unsurprisingly, none were from Roseville. Most of them were in college, or working. A healthy majority of them didn't know Katie personally, instead most knowing Katie through their boyfriends. While she had really only wanted to learn more about college life, she found the mention of Katie a conversation landmine for quite a few of them in prior relationships, with questionable people with questionable tastes. Most of the other girls were single, and they made it clear from the way they dressed they hoped to find someone new at this party. She only had to assume that it was the same story for some of the other boys as well. Well, good luck to them. Lucy told herself. She was well out of her comfort zone, but in doing so felt relieved in how well she was coping.
She was missing familiar company most of all. She'd known where her old friends were hanging out. But like before she chose to stay away. She promised Stacy as much. Every time someone came through to bring food back with them Lucy would try to keep out of sight, finding a new group of girls to hang out with. But she kept her eye on the doorway at all times, feeling nostalgic. She snapped out of it, feeling a hand on her leg. It happened a few times tonight. She threatened the last few bunches of boys who did it. This one would be no different. She swiftly turned around only to find themselves staring at their back. She reached up to his shoulder and swung him around. 'What's the big id—' She couldn't finish the sentence, only managing to step back from the tallest person she'd seen that evening at the party. But she recognised this behemoth. 'David?' She asked it.

She knew she was right when it turned towards the voice. He expected someone towards his height, but the 'ahem' made him look lower, and he found her, 'O—Oh!' David stammered. 'I—It's you.'

'Yeah.' She nodded. 'First time for everything right?'

'I thought you didn't like parties?'

'I don't. I'm really here because Katie invited me for having her over at that party I. . .Daisy, had years ago, and I needed to get out of my house for a change. Why are you around here dealing with these guys? Aren't Sue, Abbey and Stacy in the other room?'

'Y—Yeah, and Paulo's here too.' He said, shrugging.

'Why aren't you with them?' Her brows furred. 'You're both not fighting each other, are you?'

His jaw dropped at the accusation, 'What? No! Not my best bro!' David shouted. 'I'm just over here because I want to be here, okay?'

Lucy sighed a breath of relief. She was happy at least one friendship of theirs withstood the test of time. 'Okay, but why here though? Why not hang out with Paulo? Let me guess, you're running a distraction while Paulo comes from behind, right?' She said. She twisted, reading to land a kick behind her on the orange figure that would no less try to grab her, like he did a long time ago in the past. But she found nothing there. Were her senses off? Had it been that long? She tuned back to David with raised hands.

'He isn't here with me.'

'Where's he then?'

He appeared hesitant to give an answer. 'He's with the other guys. . .'

'The other guys? These guys?'

He shook his head. 'N—No! I meant with Sue and Abbey.'

Genuine curiosity crept over her face. It was interesting. Paulo and David were still friends, but Paulo chose to hang around Sue and Abbey more? 'Why's he hanging out around them? I thought they couldn't stand each other.'.

'H—He's hanging out more with Sue these days.'

She blinked. 'Wait, with Sue? Hanging out with Sue?'

David nodded.

She became more surprised, 'The last I remember they were at each other's throats.'

'Well, they do get that way sometimes. Just. . .in a different way.' He said with a shrug.

'What does that mean?'

'You know, tonging and all.'

'Gross David. Wait, you actually mean they're. . .?'

'Yeah. Right?' It was hard for him to try and mask how depressed he sounded. .' I would've thought the two of us would've been setting this party on fire ourselves, but instead he'd rather be romantic and lovey-dovey with Sue.' He sighed. 'They even dressed up like it was prom again. He's changed, he. . .' He stopped when he was getting drowned out by Lucy's laughter.

'Oh my god!' She turned from him and made her way towards the doorway where she saw them through from before.

'W-Where are you going?' He shouted towards her.

'I need to see this!' Lucy said with a smile plastered across her face. She didn't see the ghastly look David made before he lunged in her direction. His hand stopped her, she couldn't do much but turn towards it, 'David!' She shouted at him.

'No!'

'It's fine! All I just want to do is look!' She said. 'I promise.'

HIs hand moved away from her, and with a sigh he pointed to the room they were in. She creeped up on it, up to the door frame and peered through it across the rooms. It wouldn't take much effort to find him, there he was; dressed up and looking something completely different from his scruffy self like usual, just as David described him. She couldn't do anything to wipe the smile off her face or the tear. Part of her wanted to turn to David and say something smarmy like she would, but she found herself unable to turn away for some reason. Her reaction was different. Now she found her heart thumping against her chest and her cheeks burning red. Ah, she realised. Shit, he was still cute after all these years. She stayed there for a bit before turning towards David. 'Do they fight?'

'A little bit.' He shrugged.

'But every other time they're close?'

He nodded. 'Yeah, sure.' With a sadness.

'Huh.' She turned back to her old friends and kept watching from the door frame. She was quiet for a moment before giving a short burst of laughter. 'I'm glad!' She said turning towards him. 'I'm only sticking around this part of the party, for Katie. You don't have to worry about me going over there.' She looked back towards them again. 'Besides, I'm sure they're happier like this.'
'Y—Yeah.' David said, sighing. Folding his arms. 'They're definitely happier.'

She took that for what it was, her ears fell back as she lingered there, 'Yeah. And don't worry. I'm sure he hasn't forgotten about you.'

'Yeah.' He said a little happier.

'That's good. Well. . .I'm gonna go over here. I guess I'll see you later then.'

'Yeah.' He said, and turned to look at something, and then he went. It was fine. She'd expected not everyone would've forgotten, and that was something she had to live with. But still, it hurt. She could not find the will to blame them for it.