Mom and Callie got back from their honeymoon four days ago.
Callie had worked a 24 and basically would be back to her normal schedule now.
Mom, on the other hand, was working so much because of having to take time off.
Currently, she was working.
And I was at a high school party.
Without Isa. She's out of town on her family vacation.
Lots of updates.
Mom and Callie's honeymoon was good, incase you were wondering. I didn't ask too many questions about the nitty gritty. I didn't want anything inappropriate to accidentally slip up. Mom couldn't be trusted.
Anyway, back to the high school party.
I wasn't sure why I came. I mean, everyone was going, so I just got a ride with someone I knew. But, she had long since abandoned me, and I was left to listen to the loud music in the living room, surrounded by sweaty kids.
I'm totally not a dancer, so I decided exploring would be my best bet. I happened to be pretty stuck in the crowd of people trying to dance, though. So, my explorations were starting off very very slowly.
After finally pushing through that nasty crowd, I opened the sliding door to the back yard and slipped outside. Much less hot and sweaty. And despite the fact that it was Summer, it was nicer outside than it was in.
I immediately tensed up when I saw the friend I had come here with, as she looked like she was about to fall over.
"Maria? You good?" I went over to her. Maybe she was sick? I wasn't really sure.
"I'm great!"
Slurred words. Wobbling.
I scanned the area, all the kids around her were in similar states. And, then my eyes fell upon the source of the 'great' feeling. Vodka. How did they even get that?
"How much did you drink?!" I asked.
"Not too much," Maria smiled, giggling. Clearly she wasn't sober enough to tell me.
"Cmon, Liv, take a nice big sip, your shoulders are tense." Carter, a kid in my grade cut in. He held out a bottle.
"Absolutely not." I couldn't drink. I couldn't.
"Liv, cmon," Maria encouraged.
I pushed the bottle away, "I'm fine."
"Someone's a party pooper" Another voice said.
"Why so boring?" Carter pushed.
"Yeah, cmon, have some fun Liv!" Maria jumped in again.
She was fully leaning against the rock wall surrounding the patio.
I didn't know what to say.
I knew that I couldn't, though.
My chest felt tight with nerves. They were all drunk. Or tipsy. I couldn't tell. But they had all been drinking.
I reached for my phone in my pocket, stepping away from the slurred mumbling of how boring I am.
I needed my mom.
I called.
No answer.
I called.
No answer.
I called again.
No answer.
"Liv! It's gonna be gone soon!" Kelly yelled out- another girl in my grade.
Mom was working. She was probably with a patient. It could be hours until she is able to get to her phone.
I sighed, tears forming in my eyes.
I couldn't stay here feeling like this.
So, I called Callie.
One ring and she answered.
"Liv?" Her voice was sleepy.
"Who's Liv calling?" I heard someone say.
"Can you pick me up? Now? Please? I'm sorry I really need-"
"Yeah, I'll be right there." Callie cut off my rambling, voice suddenly wide awake.
"Liv! Come backkk!" Maria called out.
I squeezed my eyes shut, keeping my back to them all for another second. Then, I pressed the hang up button.
Callie knew where I was. She would be here.
I mustered up the last bit of control I had and turned around.
"Who was on the phone?" Maria whispered to me when I was close enough. Her whispers were loud. Everyone could hear. "Are you gonna have a drink?"
"No."
"Why not?!"
"I don't want to."
"Who was on the phone?"
"My step mom. She's coming to pick me up." I mumbled, crossing my arms tightly over my chest, gripping my phone in my right hand.
Suddenly, some random girl I had never seen before seemed very worried.
"You can't tell your step mom that we have this." She said.
I stayed quiet as she stepped closer to me, her breath reeked of alcohol. I winced at the smell.
"No one can know. Got it?" Her look was serious, less drunken than the others, but she smelled the worst.
I nodded my head slowly, then, without a word, I pushed past the girl and walked around the house.
Once I was out of sight, I started crying. I couldn't help it.
I sat on the curb until Callie pulled up next to me.
I didn't notice her car until she rolled her window down, "Olivia! Liv!" She called out.
I got up and got into her car, buckling and then placing my arms back over my chest tightly. I needed to breathe.
"Honey, what is wrong? Why are you crying?!" Callie asked immediately.
I wanted to tell her. I really did.
"Okay, breathe. Liv. Okay, I'm gonna get us home, maybe that'll be better, yeah? You just breathe, okay?" Callie started to drive.
I stayed quiet. Now was when the panic started to set in. I had just been surrounded by a bunch of drunk people. Drunk high schoolers. People I saw every day.
By the time we got home, Callie was insanely worried.
"Liv, what happened?" Callie asked as we walked inside.
"I- they..." I sighed. Tears were streaming down my cheeks by now.
"Breathe." Callie said soothingly.
I started to walk back and forth behind the couch. "There were so many people there and I didn't know where anyone I knew went so I went outside," I rubbed my eyes. "They were drunk. They're 15 years old! And they were trying to get me to drink and they were all... you know drunk." I explained. "And I tried to call Mom but she's... she's busy so I called you and you answered. Thank you for answering." I started to cry again.
"Okay, okay." Callie came over and hugged me tightly. "You did the right thing Liv."
"They were drunk." I cried, holding on to her.
I couldn't let go.
"They- they were drunk and... I'm scared." My eyes squeezed shut as tears dripped down my face.
"You're okay, Liv. It's okay." Callie spoke quietly, understanding.
Then, she started to pull away.
"Don't... don't leave." I mumbled. I couldn't be alone right now. I didn't want her to let go and leave me. I was terrified.
"Hey..." Callie held my face. I opened my eyes, meeting her sympathetic brown eyes. "I will never leave you." She said softly.
And I knew she meant it.