Put on your bad self

Get out your party dress and fix up your make-up

Try to make a good impression

This is a new world

We're all the same here

"Love and Addiction," Counting Crows (August and Everything Deluxe Edition - 2007)

Wearing a tight, short forest green dress and white heels, Audrey felt like a million bucks. She was reapplying her make-up in the bathroom. The lipgloss felt so wet on her lips.

This party was for her. She'd never had a blow-out like this before. Sure, she had a Sweet Sixteen that could have rivaled any of those bitches on My Super Sweet Sixteen, but never something this big. Mom and Dad had actually gone out of the state, and let Graham and her run the show. It was pretty unbelievable; Mom usually would never let them adminster a party themselves. It would get ''too out of hand,'' she'd say.

"You whore, what are you doing in the effing bathroom?" Juliet opened the door wide, screaming.

Audrey rolled her eyes. Juliet was drunk. The two best friends often got very, very drunk and did things with boys. Although now that Audrey had Gabriel, she didn't do the latter.

"AUDDDDDDDDDDDDD! Let's get out of this effing bathroom!" Juliet grabbed her arm and they walked out of the bathroom.

Juliet was wearing a beautiful blue dress from Chanel and a gold chain. Her blonde hair was in some fancy half up-do that was now coming out because she was running all over the place.

Audrey was greeted by many girls and boys as Juliet dragged her to the bar. Her best friend ordered her a gin and tonic, gave it to Audrey and Audrey sipped it slowly. The DJ was mixing some song - whatever, it sounded pretty bad to Audrey. People were dancing and grinding and over all having a good time. There was no drama and no puking and no catfights.

Graham was kissing a girl with red hair and freckles and she looked familiar but Audrey couldn't place who it was. Audrey watched as his hand snaked up her leg and she blushed. Then someone blocked her view. She looked up to see who it was. Who but Gabriel Bass? She smiled and he kissed her forehead.

"Happy getting into college, Aud." He whispered into her ear, moving her hair behind her ear so she could hear him.

Audrey giggled. "Thanks."

Gabriel reached for her hand and he moved to her side. They watched the teenagers dancing. She leaned her head against his shoulder. She felt safe with him. And somehow she knew she wanted to end up with him.

"You wanna get out of here?" He asked her.

"I can't, this is my party." She found the offer tempting but knew she couldn't leave her guests. Especially because her brother was way too occupied.

Juliet started dancing with some boy from St. Jude's she didn't recognize. Audrey watched as her best friend tried to dance but was unsucessful because she was drunk.

A slow song began and all of the grinding teenagers moaned. Audrey rolled her eyes. She understood why they were complaining but at the same time she wanted to tell them to deal with it. It was her party after all. Gabriel led her onto the dance floor and they began to dance slowly. She leaned her head on his chest and she felt loved. Audrey loved Gabriel. Sure she had never said it to him, but he said it most certainly enough times to get it through her thick skull.

When the slow song ended, they broke apart. He winked at her and went to get a drink for himself. Audrey walked over to where she left her gin and tonic but found the glass empty. Just then, Dill Bush came up behind her and asked her to come with him. He said that somebody was hurt in one of the rooms. She followed him, concerned for the person.

They went into a dark room and Audrey found that there was no one hurt. She turned to say something to Dill but his lips crashed on hers. They broke apart for a second and she saw some feeling his hazel eyes. He ran a hand through his hair and leaned in to kiss her again.

"What the fuck, Bush?"

Audrey turned to see Gabriel at the door with his shirt half unbuttoned and a scowl on his face. Audrey walked over to him.

"Gabriel, it was nothing. I don't know what--"

He glared at her. "I don't want any of your excuses, Aud."