A/N: I hope everyone is liking this story. Please leave a message of your thoughts on this work. For your reading ease the following names have been changed: Abbie is now Mollie and Derrick is now Casper. The town has also gone through the following changes: It is being moved from Virginia to Wyoming and it's name has changed. It is now called Hidden Rocks, Wyoming. Ty's hometown is now Greely, Colorado. Also I'm changing a bit more of Abbie/Mollie's character. Not saying exactly what it is yet but you'll find out at the end of this chapter.
Chapter 8: End of School Party
If there was one thing that everyone at Hidden Rocks High looked forward to at the end of the school year besides summer was Emma Ross's party. It was an invitation only and double checked at the door. There were some people whose only goal all year was to get an invitation. Emma came to school that last week with her bag of invitations. Very few freshmen were ever invited. Most of the sophomore class warrented an invite. But all of the upper classman were always welcome, minus a few groups.
The last week of school was blur for everyone. The seniors graduated, Matt and Emma offically became student council president and vice president. Finals were taken and grades were handed out. Yearbooks were signed, lost and some were even drowned in the harbor. For some summer meant vying for the summer jobs at the lodge. For others it was a chance to do all the required reading for AP classes. For Halle it was a chance to spend time with Ty. Halle saw Emma walking down the hall and ran to catch up with her.
"Emma!" Halle called. "Emma!"
"Oh hey Halle," Emma said, when she turned around. "What's up?"
"Have you finished the list for the party?" Halle asked.
"Finishing it tonight. Why?"
"Can you put a plus one by my name?"
"Is a certian person from Greely coming?" Emma teased.
"Yeah Ty's coming."
"I'll take care of it. I can't wait to meet him."
"I think you guys are really going to like him. Thanks Emma."
Across campus Mollie and Casper were discussing summer plans. They were facing seperation for a few weeks. Mollie always went up to New York to see her brother Gavin and his family for a few weeks at the start of the summer. Gavin's wife Amy always took her shopping. Casper understood. He had his own job to start at the lodge.
"You could come to New York with me," Mollie said. "For a few days anyway."
"And leave Mom and Pop during the biggest rush of the season? I would love to but Mollie, I got to stay here. I'll be here when you get back."
"You're coming with me to Emma's party, right?" Mollie teased.
"I was actually thinking we could do something else tonight," Casper said, pulling his tiny girlfriend to him. "I was thinking a walk on the beach, dinner on the beach, romantic slow dancing on the beach, first kiss on the beach."
"I have to make an appearance at this party," Mollie teased. "I have to be there for Emma."
"We'll go if it's what you really want to do," Casper sighed, kissing the top of her head.
"Thank you Casper," Mollie said. "I'll see you tonight. I'll be the one in the corner with a book."
Casper watched his girlfriend walk away. Only Mollie would be in the under the tree in Emma's yard reading a book. Mollie wasn't one for parties, large groups of people or a place where she could be put on the spot. She was used to just hanging with her Mom playing silent Scarbble or Monopoly. It was that quality that Casper loved most about her. He knew it was too soon to be thinking LOVE but he sure was feeling it for the short redhead in his life.
For the past few days Maddie had been blissfully happy. She and Frankie were going to Emma's party together. She had the biggest street race of her life on Saturday and her mother had decided to take the salon manager position at the lodge for the summer. Things in Maddie's life couldn't seem to be going better. She apporached Cohen Atwood in the parking lot as she walked into school for the last day. She wanted to start her plan to break up Jesse and Emma as soon as possible.
"Cohen!" Maddie called out. "Hold up a sec?"
Cohen turned to see who was adressing him. He scoffed and kept walking. He was a lot of things but a pawn of Maddie Kingsly's was not on the list. Maddie took the snub in stride and figured she'd catch him another time. She met up with Leah and Odette at the coffee shop and watched the swarms of people all chattering about the same thing: Emma's party. Maddie had to laugh at how big Emma's party had become. In it's infancy it was just a small gathering of Emma's friends from school to come over to her house, swim in the lake (when it was warm enough) and have wonderful cupcakes made by her grandmother. Soon it got to be huge ordeal that spawned lists and invitations.
"Should we have other plans tonight in case Emma's cut us from the list?" Leah asked, sipping her coffee.
"It would be social suicide to be exed," Odette said.
"Emma Ross would not ex us," Maddie said. "Deep down she needs us there to cause trouble. If we weren't there who else would cause problems and stress for Emma?"
"Point well made, Maddie," a voice behind her said.
Maddie turned around and saw Emma standing there. It was the first time the two girls had been within arm swinging length of each other since camp. It was also strange that Emma was alone. Emma never came anywhere near Maddie alone.
"I just wanted to let you know Maddie, that I added a 'plus one' by your name for the party," Emma said. "Have a wonderful day."
Emma walked away and smiled. In all the years that she had included Maddie on the list for the party she had never had to add a plus one. It was a passive-agressive, silent burn. One that Steven Hyde would be very proud of. She had a few other people to talk to before heading home. The only reason why Emma ever came to school on the last day was to handle any last minute party details. Like burning Maddie.
Emma wandered down the halls to the art room where she knew Mollie would be. At school if you can't find Mollie she is in one of two locations: the library or the photography lab. Emma had a sure bet that it would be the photo lab. She saw Mrs. Curtis, the art teacher sitting at her desk. She looked up when she heard the door open.
"Emma, if you're looking for Mollie she's in the darkroom," Mrs. Curtis said. "What is that going to do this summer?"
"I have no idea," Emma said. She knocked on the door to the darkroom. She had inadvertently ruined a roll of film on Mollie once when she just burst in the door. Now she has to knock the rhythm of "Carnival of the Animals" on the door. She waited until Mollie opened the door.
"I am liberating you from the darkroom," Emma said. "I need your help on wardrobe issues."
"Em, you'll look great in whatever you decide to wear. I have work to do."
"School is over, please come shopping with me Mollie. Please?" Emma begged.
Mollie sighed and knew that once Emma had an idea in her head there was no talking her out of it. She packed up her camera and other items and thanked Mrs. Curtis for letting her in. Before Mollie left Mrs. Curtis handed her a key to the art room so she could work on her photos over the summer. Emma had never seen Mollie grin like that in a long time. She had been grinning like that a lot more now that she was with Casper.
Mollie and Emma left the school and headed for the parking lot. The girls waved at the other students as they left. Most were asking if they had made the list. Emma would never say only to tell them they'd have to come tonight and find out. Unless you had made yourself a sore in Emma's side for the year there was a very unlikely chance that you would be exed from the list.
Emma and Mollie ended up in downtown Hidden Rocks. The main street of downtown Hidden Rocks was the epitome of the old time small town main streets. All the little shops melded together to form the shopping district on the even side of town. Hidden Rocks had the custom shops that you can't find anywhere else in the world. It was in those shops that Emma and Mollie spent their last day of school. Their first stop was the tiny JC Penney's.
"Not to be nosy, what does Casper think about you taking off for the rest of June to go see Gavin?" Emma asked.
"He's fine with it," Mollie replied, while flipping through a stack of sweaters that were on sale. "He's got so much going on with the lodge opening for the summer that I don't even think he's going to know I'm gone."
"Please," Emma teased. "That boy is going to be absolutely miserable while you're gone."
"He is not," Mollie said, setting down the red sweater that she was looking at. "He's going to be busy. It will be fine. We're going to be fine."
The look on Mollie's face was that of worry. Emma realized that she had said the wrong thing. "Oh God Mollie! I'm sorry! Casper Lang is crazy about you. Those few weeks are going to go by so fast it won't even seem that bad."
"But what if Maddie gets to him while I'm gone?" Mollie asked.
"Then I'll kill him and her and make it look like suicide," Emma teased. "Seriously Mollie. Casper has never been happier than I have seen him in a long time. That boy would do absolutely anything for you and you and I know it. So why are you doubting?"
"I keep remembering what she did to Halle and am afraid she'll try the same thing."
"Mollie, there are way too many people around Casper that are one hundred percent loyal to you and would have no issues taking out Casper if he strayed."
"You're right. I saw you talking to Halle earlier. Is Ty making an apperance at the party?" Mollie asked, changing the subject.
"Oh yeah. I can't wait to meet him."
"From what Halle has said he is close to perfect."
"That girl is smitten. She's worse than you. Ever since she got back from meeting him, Jesse has said that she's been walking on air and barely paying attention to anyone else."
"That is smitten. Are you finding anything at all that you like?" Mollie asked. "You have a closet full of stuff."
Emma knew that Mollie had something else, slightly more important that she needed to be doing instead of shopping with her. Emma sighed and looked over at her best friend.
"Is everything all right at home, Lee?" Emma asked, quietly. "Your mom ok?"
"It was a bad morning. I almost stayed home to be with her," Mollie said.
"You want me to take you home?" Emma asked. "I can do this by myself."
"Not it's fine. Mom doesn't want me to spend all my time taking care of her. She wants me to be a normal teenager."
Emma knew that this was very hard for Mollie. Her mother was her best friend, her confidant, the one person Mollie could turn to no matter what. Her mother being diagnosed with cancer had been very hard on Mollie. Katherine Reynolds just wasn't the same.
"Mollie you are far from a normal teenager. If you want to go home than-"
"Mom would just send me back out again. Besides I have to talk to you about something Casper said earlier," Mollie said, moving around the display of sweaters to the rack of dresses.
"What did he say?" Emma asked, jumping on the defensive side.
"We were talking about the party and he asked if we really had to go," Mollie said. "He mentioned our first kiss."
"You guys haven't...?"
"Not in the way you and Jesse do. Casper's kissed my hand, my cheek, my forehead but we have never had the-the-you know," Mollie stammered.
Emma understood what Mollie was getting at. Mollie and Casper had never kissed. Emma began to process what it was that she could possibly say to ease Mollie's worries.
"Are you nervous about it? Do you feel like you're ready? Contrary to bpopular belief, a guy cannot pressure you into something you are not ready for."
"I guess I am just waiting for the right moment."
"Mollie, there is no such thing as the 'right' moment," Emma said. "I've known Casper Lang for a long time and that boy is just as scared as you are about this relationship. The other girls he's been with never made him work as hard to win them over as you do. He knows you. He knows that no matter what the world says is the way things are supposed to be, it's just the opposite for you. He's used to leading with shallow, empty headed girls. Now, he's got you. You, Mollie Reynolds."
"Why did he pick me? Out of all the girls in school, why did he pick me? Shy, quiet, always has a book with her me?"
Emma pulled Mollie away from the dress rack and shoved her into the fitting room. "Because he sees what a beautiful, smart, funny, amazing girl that you are. Look in the mirror, Mollie."
Mollie looked up at her reflection. Staring back at her was a short, red-headed girl with green eyes, all dressed in pink and white. "Look at you Mollie," Emma said. "You're beautiful. Casper Lang made the best choice of all the girls at school. He adores you inside and out. I don't ever want to hear you doubt yourself anymore. You got me?"
"Yeah Emma. I got you," Mollie replied.
"Good. Now let's find you something that will make Casper forget all about the other people at the party and only want you!"
After the girl talk, Mollie brightened up. The two friends tried on dozens of dresses at Penney's until Emma finally decided on the best one for Mollie. It was tea length white sundress with a big blue ribbon for a belt and a matching butterfly on the shoulder straps. It looked wonderful on Mollie and Mollie loved it. It was like everything else in her closet.
All over Hidden Rocks the teens were preparing for the party. The ones with older brothers and sisters were collecting contraband alchol and other items that would not be found at a party Mollie was used to attending. For the most part, Mollie would stay long enough to say hello to all her friends and then would quietly slip back home, to the comfort and quiet of a night in with her mom. But this year she had Casper to keep her company.
Tyler Morris kept checking the clock. It was a long drive from Greely to northern Wyoming. He left early that morning. He had promised Halle that he would come. His old truck barely made it. Once he got past Casper (the town, not the boy!) he knew he would be fine. He arrived on the even sidbe of Hidden Rocks with minutes to spare. He found out quite quickly how to get from one side of the town to the other. He drove past Halle's house and then left his truck at the park just a few blocks from the house. Sitting on the swings was Halle staring out at the lake. She looked over and saw Ty coming toward her. Her face lit up and she ran for her long distance boyfriend.
"You made it!" she exclaimed, hugging him tightly.
"I made it but I think it's time to retire Ol' George now," he laughed.
"You named your truck?" Halle questioned.
"Name came with the trucbk. AJ had it first tbhen Richie, then Kevbin and now me," Ty explained.
"Right."
Halle didn't care. She was just happy that he had made it at all. "Did your mom ask where you were headed so early?"
"I told her I was going to Cheyenne to visit a friend. Once we're more established I'll tell her the truth."
Halle and Ty were the first in line at the rope at Emma's. Emma paid Abbie's two brothers Hunter and Bryan fifty bucks each to be bouncers for the night. They were the enforcers of the no kegs rule, the valets and the ones to call the cops if things got too out of hand. Emma had never once had to call the cops during one of her parties. But she could never be too careful. Along with the fifty bucks, Emma also bought Hunter and Bryan a few pizzas for their time. Free food and easy money, you didn't have to ask the boys twice.
"Name?" Bryan asked, at the velvet rope.
"Halle Valmont, plus one," Halle answered.
Hunter checked the list and nodded to his brother to let them in. Halle thanked the boys politely and walked hand in hand with Ty into the backyard. Halle was amazed at the amount of work that Emma had done to the backyard. She had strung lights and paper lanterns in all the trees. Along her deck she had posted the bug torches. Closer to Matt's house Halle saw Matt, Marc and her brother Jesse dragging out the last bits of sound equipment. Matt and Jesse were always the DJs.
Everyone was too busy with the things they had to do to pay attention to Halle and the strange boy she had brought with her. Jesse, Matt and Marc were arguing about the best place to set up the speakers and other guy things. Halle still hadn't seen Emma or Mollie. She figured where Casper was Mollie was likely to be close by. They stopped at the drink table and poured a glass of soda. By then more people were starting to arrive. There were kids from all over town that Halle didn't even know. Most were freshmen that Halle had no classes with.
Coming out of the house was Emma and Mollie. They were looking great and were greeting those that came in. They were being the gracious hostesses. Halle and Ty wandered through the crowd that was beginning to form over to Emma and Mollie.
"Emma! Mollie!" Halle called. "This is Ty."
Both Emma and Mollie's jaws dropped. They quickly recovered and greeted Ty warmly. They were happy for their friend. The three girls and Ty chatted for a bit and then some extra special caught Mollie's eye. Casper had just arrived and was carrying a single red rose. Mollie smiled and left her friends.
"You look great, Mollie," Casper said, giving her the rose. "Absolutely beautiful."
Mollie blushed and looked down. Casper lifted her chin with index finger knuckle. His hand moved from under her chin, onto her cheek, over her ear and into her hair. He toyed with a small curl at the base of her neck. He slipped his hand down her back and to her hand, which he grasped tightly. As much as he wanted to kiss her, here at this party was not where he wanted to do it. He wanted Mollie's first kiss to the most special thing he could give her.
The party was in full swing by the time Maddie and Frankie arrived. Maddie was dressed to the nines, making sure that she was the best looking girl at the party. As long as she could still turn heads, Maddie would be happy. She had on a pair of low cut jeans, a tank top that showed off her belly ring and tattoo and her racing boots. It helped that Frankie was all over her. His hand permentaly fixed in her back pocket and his other wrapped possively around her shoulders. Maddie ignored the whispers and wandered over to the drink and snack table.
Odette was the first to come up to her best friend. Zach O'Ryan was attatched to Odette in the same manner that Frankie was to Maddie. The girls shared a knowing glance and was content to just hang and see who else could cause drama. They were both amazed that Emma hadn't barred them from the party. Maddie looked over at the benches by the lake and saw Casper and Mollie together.
Marc pulled Casper away from Mollie for a moment and Mollie took the opportunity to start on her book. She was reading White Oleander again. A few of Casper's friends that didn't run with the same people as Mollie did saw her sitting there alone. One of them was Marc's twin brother Zach. They walked over to Casper.
"Since when do you hang out with the Christian girl?" Zach asked. "You know she won't do any of the things normal chicks do."
"Whatever Zach," Casper said, looking over at Mollibe.
"What do you even see in her?" Zach kept prodding. "She doesn't put out, we know that much. If you weren't with her, you'd be stoned or drunk off your ass by now."
"It's none of your business," Casper said, turning from his best friend. "In fact this converstation is over. I'll see you later."
Casper started to walk away. But Zach wasn't done. His other friends started walking to Mollie. Harris, Leah's boyfriend got behind her and snatched her book from her hands.
"Would you mind giving that back, please," Mollie said, standing up.
"Yeah right," Harris scoffed and tossed the book to another guy.
"You've had your fun," Mollie said, trying to remain calm. "Please give me my book back."
"Don't think so," the other guy said, tossing it back to Harris.
Casper was trying to get to Mollie but everyone seemed to be in his way. Harris tossed Mollie's book to the side and grabbed her around the waist. He pawed her, smelling her hair.
"No wonder Lang likes you," Harris whispered into her ear. "You're so soft."
His hands began to travel to places that they didn't belong. Harris laughed as Mollie struggled against the big linebacker. Harris let go of her and pushed her towards the other guy. Other people at the party began to realize what was going on and started watching, not doing much to help Mollie. Harris finally caught Mollie again and picked her up and started walking for the dock. Casper finally broke through the crowd with Sebastian on his heels. The two boys saw Harris carry Mollie towards the water. The one place that truly frightened Mollie.
"Put me down! Harris please!" Mollie cried, tears forming in her eyes.
Casper and Sebastian ran towards Harris. The look of terror on Mollie's face was all that Casper could see.
"Put her down Harris!" Casper shouted. "This is between you and me. Put her down!"
Wanting to fight Casper and Sebastian more than screwing with Mollie was enough to get him to put her down. Mollie ran to her brother who held her close to him. Sebastian glared at him.
"You ever put your hands on my sister again, I'll kill you," Sebastian growled.
Mollie was trying very hard not to cry in front of the larger boys. To cry in front of them would be worse than the ordeal itself. She refused to show any weakness. She moved from her brother to Casper's comforting arms. Just to prove his point, Sebastian gave Harris a mighty shove that just about knocked him to the ground. That set Harris off more and he lunged at Sebastian. In his tackle he took Sebastian and Casper out, knocking Mollie to the ground as well. The party for Casper ended right there. He looked at Sebastian who nodded. The two boys got back on their feet and together plowed into Harris.
"FIGHT!" someone in the crowd shouted.
Jesse, Marc and Matt came running throubgh the crowd to see who it was. They saw it was Casper and Sebastian against Harris. They stood back. Unless it got too out of hand they wouldn't step in.
"Casper, stop it!" Mollie yelled. "Just stop!"
Bryan and Hunter came running down the hill to the ruckus. They ripped the three boys apart. Hunter hauled his younger brother back up the hill and towards their house. Bryan did the same with Harris only Bryan led him to the street. Mollie ran to Casper, wanting to scold him for fighting but ended up just holding onto him tightly. They too, started for Mollie's house. They walked past Zach, who was back to hanging all over Odette. As Mollie and Casper passed, Zach grabbed Mollie's rear, giving it a hard squeeze.
That action set Casper off again. He balled his fist and landed a hard punch on Zach's jaw. Thus led to the second fight of the night. This one lasted much longer. Both boys got several punches in, until finally they crashed through Emma's basement window. They landed in a heap on the cold hard basement floor. Emma's grandfather heard the crash and came out onto their upper deck in his bathrobe and toting his shotgun. He fired a shot into the air. That was the universal call that the party was over.
Zach was the first one out of the Ross' basement. Casper was right behind him.
"We're through," Casper said to Zach's back. "You so much as look at Mollie wrong."
"You and your Christian can kiss my ass," Zach interuptted.
Casper looked over at Mollie. She was wiping tears from her eyes. Nothing like this had ever happened to her before. She couldn't believe that the boys that Casper considered his friends would do something like that to her. Casper walked towards her, his eyes never leaving hers. He opened his arms for her which she ran into. They started walking towards her house.
"I have never been so scared," Mollie whispered. "Why did they do that?"
"Baby, it had nothing to do with you at all," Casper whispered. "They just don't understand that I love you."
Mollie stopped walking and looked up at her boyfriend. "What did you just say?"
Casper smiled. He took her hands in his and looked into her charming green eyes. He leaned down and kissed her, swollen lip be damned. He released her hands and let his travel into her hair, pulling her close to him. Casper was the first to pull away. Mollie laid her head on Casper's chest in total awe of the moment.
"I love you Mollie Reynolds," Casper whispered into her ear.
Mollie bit her lip. She wasn't ready to make such a bold statement. She had never uttered those three words to anyone besides her family and God. She needed more time before she would feel she was ready to say those words to Casper. She stayed close to him while they walked up to her house. She helped him inside and into the kitchen where she was able to see the damage that had been caused from his back to back fights.
Casper looked worse than he did when he fell in the lake on their first real date. His bottom lip was swollen and split open. He had a black eye forming on his left eye. His shirt was torn and muddy from the tackles and going through a window. Thirty miuntes and several whines from Casper he was looking better than he had before.
Sebastian came into the kitchen looking half as bad as Casper did. The two boys shared a knowing smile. Sebastian was happy that his baby sister had someone who would protect her at any cost.
"Boy is Emma going to have a lot of explaining to do tonight," Sebastian said, trying to make a joke. "Of all the ways for her party to go the two of us have to get in a fight."
Mollie reached over and took Casper's hand. "It was worth it though," she said.
The three of them broke out the Scrabble board and invited Katherine to play as well. It was the best way Casper could have spent his Friday night. He loved spending time with Mollie even if it was the quietest game of Scrabble he had ever played. He wasn't really paying attention becasue he always had his eye on Mollie. He couldn't believe that he had told her he loved her. Not that he wanted to take it back, not at all. It was the circumstances that led to the declaration that he didn't like.
Matt and Becca had been missing from the party for most of the night. Becca had come with Jo and had not planned on talking to Matt at all. In fact she had snubbed him several times before he caught her arm and pulled her into his house. There they finally talked.
"I'm not going to take you back just because you ask me to," Becca said. "I'm still very mad at you."
"You have every right to be, Becca," Matt conceded. "I would like to apologize. I never should have made any decsions without talking to you first. The job is yours if you want it. The rest of the Student council can kiss my ass for all I care. I'm sorry I hurt you."
"It's not just about student council, Matt. I just don't think we can be together anymore. You have hurt me in more ways than I thought possible."
"Becca, I love you. You have to know that. I lost my head for awhile but I know that you are the one for me."
"But I can't trust you anymore Matt," Becca stated. "If I can't trust you, I can't love you. I'm sorry, Matt. I can't do this anymore."
"Becca, what can I do? How can I make this better?"
"I don't know Matt," Becca said, defeatedly.
"I guess we're at what you could call an impasse," Matt said, turning away from Becca. He sighed for a moment and then turned back to face Becca. His sweet Becca. He loved her more than he ever thought possible. He was like a member of her family. Rita did his laundry, fed him. There was nothing that Becca could do that would make him think less of her. Becca was his best friend. But lately he had been abusing their relationship. "Can I ever gain your trust back?"
"One day at a time Matt," Becca said. "I'm willing to start tonight if you are."
"Definetly," Matt said. He gathered Becca in his arms, holding her tight. "I am so sorry I have treated you like this Becca. I know I don't deserve this millionth chance but I'm going to take it. I will never break your heart again. I promise."