Part II-Chapter 10
Disclaimer. I own none of the original Twilight characters. Ownership belongs to Stephenie Meyer.
After a couple hours I had surfing pretty much down. It was hard but definitely fun. The guys had fun laughing at me every time I fell and wiped out but I loved it. Milo, James, and Adam helped me the most and I could tell Kelsey was pissed off. Natasha and her spent most of the time tanning while AJ and Nate drank beer and played volleyball. I had never thought I would actually have a group of friend here. Half of them didn't really speak much to me but it was nice having the company.
"How'd you like it?" Milo asks me, plopping down beside me on a towel. Water drips from all over him and rakes a hand through his hair.
"It was great!" I reply, undoing my bun and letting my hair down to dry.
Milo grabs a beer from the cooler and takes a long gulp. "You picked it up pretty quick for your first time," he says.
I towel off my damp hair and then tighten my bikini strings. "Thank you." I stare at the setting sun and watch as James and Adam catch a wave. I can't help my laughter when Adam crashes head first taking James with him.
Milo looks over at me and smile. I smile back, blushing slightly. Soon it's dark and we all gather our stuff. James tells me they're going to drop off the stuff at his house and later tonight he's having a part. I tell him I should probably go home but he insists he wants me to go with them. We compromise and he takes me home but promises to come back for me at 9pm. I have about 2 hours until then.
When I get home I notice no one seems to be there but I don't dwell long on it and take my shower. I dry my hair and straighten it for a change. I don't really know the dress code for the party but James said to dress nice and bring a swim suit. Since my baby blue one is still wet I put on my leopard print one instead. I throw on a simple strapless black dress that comes about mid thigh. I pair that with some black sandals and swipe some makeup on while I wait. It's my first actual house part and I can't help but be excited. I usually never wear makeup but I want to look nice. I don't use any foundation but I brush on some light pink blush. I use black eye shadow and create that smoky eye effect Leah taught me. I finish it with some mascara and eyeliner on top and bottom. I pat some lip gloss on and then hear a honk from outside. I quickly grab my purse and bolt downstairs.
I open the door to James' car and greet him.
"Wow, you look amazing," he says, eyes raking over me before pulling out of the driveway.
I blush under his gaze but thank him. James' house isn't far from mine. It's in the next town over which is even smaller than Pismo but all the houses are nice. It's only a mile wide in size but the price value for this town is multi millions. James' house is right next to the beach, even closer than mine. It's just a long stairwell down and you're on the sand. When we pull up a driveway I realize we're here. I stare, awed, at his mansion. It's not ridiculously big but it takes up a lot more space than most houses. The front has huge glass windows showing their entire living room and staircase to the second floor. I jump out of his car and glance all around. The front yard is perfectly manicured and rose bushes line the walkway. James takes me through the garage and we enter through their washroom.
I glance around at his simply decorated front room and notice a giant wet bar and TV screen beyond it. The bar is completely stocked and there's even a young bar tender there. There's no one here yet but James warns me that any minute's people will be flooding the front door. I don't ask him how he can afford this, the house is proof enough he's well taken care of. His friends are watching TV on the massive couch but a few wave at me. The door bell rings and James says, "You can grab a drink and chill if you want. I'm going to set the DJ up."
I nod and he leaves me standing there. I casually make my way over to the bar and smile at the young man behind the granite counter top.
"What can I get you?" He winks. "It's all open."
"Open?" I question, hopping on a revolving stool.
"Fancy bar lingo for free." He smiles warmly at me and his brown eyes twinkle.
"I smile back at him and grab the tiny menu beside him. "You'd think I was at a club and not a house," I comment, my eyes running over each drink.
He shrugs and starts cleaning a tall glass. "I wouldn't usually take an underage party—I could lose my license—but James is a friend and he pays well."
I look up at him and admire the curly brown hair hanging in front of his eye.
"So, you know him?" I ask curiously, setting down the menu.
The bartender nods. "We were friends in high school. His older brother is my best friend. I'm Noah, by the way." He sticks out his hand.
"Vanessa," I introduce myself, shaking his hand lightly. When I got to release it Noah gently flips it over and places a kiss on the back. I let out a giggle and blush.
"So, what did you decide on mi lady?" he teases.
I laugh softly and reply, "Me thinks a banana rama sounds exquisite."
Noah starts to work on it and I watch fascinated as he pours in ice, bananas, milk, kiwi, pineapple and a clear fluid he tells me is rum, in the blender. After it's done mixing he pours half of it in the tall glass he was cleaning. He adds a pink straw and flourishes it with a small purple umbrella and a piece of pineapple on the rim. I clap minutely and he bows with a laugh. I take a sip and my eyes widen.
"This is amazing," I compliment, gulping more down.
"Just my specialty."
"Flirting with jail bait again, Noah?"
I spin around in my chair, still sipping my drink, and see Milo. I lower my glass and smile. Milo nods at Noah and smiles back at me as he takes the seat next to me.
"Oh, you know anything for the ladies," Noah replies to Milo.
"Grab me a beer," Milo tells him, scooping a handful of pretzels in his mouth from the bowl on the counter.
"Aye aye captain," Noah salutes, reaching down to the mini fridge to grab a green bottle. Milo takes it from him and washes down his pretzels.
"That stuff must be good," I note. "Every time I hang out with you guys one of you is drinking one."
"Beer?" he asks and I nod. He shrugs and takes a gulp. "You wouldn't like it."
Feeling a bit brave I reply, "We'll see," and grab the bottle from his hand, our fingers brushing slightly. I take a big gulp and feel the cool liquid slide down my throat like fire leaving a horribly bitter taste behind. I can't help it when I go "bleh" afterward.
Milo smirks but doesn't say anything. Noah just laughs and I feel my cheeks heat up. Neither boy says anything so I return to my drink peacefully. I'm on my second one when the guests arrive. It seemed the entire senior class shower up and I feel slightly out of place. Milo makes no move but Noah sighs heavily before hefting up a large silver thing which he explains is a keg. He puts the keg on the ground next to the counter and puts a large bag of red cups beside it. A few seconds later loud music comes from the living room and multicolored lights flash around wildly.
James walks up to us then and fills his red cup from the keg. We smile at each other and James shouts over the music. "Noah, make sure you set up the shots."
Noah nods in acknowledgement and starts pulling out what looks like jell-o. He lines them up on the counter. The purse I had on the counter is taken and locked up in one of the cabinets so I don't have to worry about it. More and more people fill the house and now I definitely feel out of place. Milo just leans back against the counter and nods his head to the beat. I take his stance and cross my legs, relaxing. My tongue already feels fuzzy so I know I shouldn't drink anymore. Thankfully, I'm feeling a little loose and not so scared anymore.
"Do you want to go swim before it gets crowded?" Milo asks me, his mouth right next to my ear.
I nod, happy to have someone who wants to hang out with me. Milo grabs my hand, much to my surprise and leads me through the large house to the backyard. The front yard was put to shame by the backyard. There were flower bushes everywhere filling the air with a sweet floral scent. Twinkling lights cover every inch and the grand pool is lit with multicolored lights. They even have a cave and waterfall. It looks like one of those healing springs and the pool is a giant lagoon. The hot tub is steaming and Milo lets go of my hand to take his shirt and jeans off. I take his lead and pull off my dress and lay it on a lounge chair. The air chills me and goose bumps cover my skin. I start to get in the pool but Milo sinks himself into the Jacuzzi. I hesitate for a moment but throw my hair up into a messy bun and enter in after him. Milo closes his eyes as he sits down on the ledge. It's quiet out here and I look up at the sky, amazed I can see the stars. I shift so I'm sitting on the other side of him.
"This is my favorite thing to do," Milo says.
I glance over at him but his eyes are still closed. His hands roam over the top of the water where the water bubbles up.
"Me too," I reply. "The stars are a lot clearer up in Washington. My friend Embry and I used to sneak out and lie down on the beach just to watch the stars." I sigh, homesickness hitting me.
Milo wades over to me, practically touching arm to arm as he sits next to me.
"Tell me about your life in Washington."
I gulp slightly but nod. "It wasn't perfect. No one's life is. I was bullied a lot at school. Everyone was mean because I'm only half Quileute. My dad was called pale face by the town. We were the wealthiest in town and lots of kids were jealous. Embry says they're mean to me because I'm pretty and I know that's true. I hate looking like this. Most of the time I just wanted to eat a bunch of junk food so I'd get fat and then hopefully get acne or something. My mom doesn't let us eat junk food though."
I don't know why I tell Milo all this but he has the type of personality that makes you want to open up.
"But I had the absolute best group of friends." I smile. "Leah, my best friend aside from Embry, is crazy but amazing. She's like a sister to me. Then there's Kim, we aren't close but she's nice. I'm worried those kids are gonna pick on her now." I frown, wondering if she's okay. "Then there's Quil and Jake. They're both really great guys."
Milo looks thoughtful for a moment. "Embry? What about him?"
I smile without thinking. "He's my whole world. We've grown up together. He's lived next to me my whole life. There's just no words good enough to explain him," I say truthfully.
"You love him," Milo states.
"Of course," I reply.
Milo rolls his eyes and bumps me gently.
"No, you love him," he repeats.
I blush violently and turn my head away. "It's not like that," I mumble.
Milo gives me a crooked grin. "Sure."
"It's not," I defend lamely.
"Mhm," he says, splashing me gently.
I childishly poke my tongue out at him. He rolls his eyes. Voices filter into the air and I see Natasha and AJ coming out of the house, holding hands. Natasha has on a monokini and AJ is in swim trunks. They both smile at us before getting in.
"You guys got out here early," Milo notes.
Natasha smiles, nodding. "It's only a matter of time before everyone comes out here." Milo grimaces. "Sorry we interrupted you guys," she tells me. She looks at AJ and nudges him.
He glare at her and she gestures to Milo and I. "Oh yea, sorry."
"It's okay," I assure them.
Suddenly loud music fills the air and lots of bikini clad girls and teenage boys pour out. Almost all of them have a beer in hand.
"That's my cue," Milo says, lifting himself out of the water. "You down to play beer pong?"
Before I get the chance to reply Natasha cuts me off. "Ugh, don't do it. He always wins," she groans.
Milo smirks. "You just suck." He turns to me, offering his hand. "You can be on my team."
I take his hand, stepping out of the water. "What's beer pong?" I ask curiously.
Milo's smile from before falters.
"Ha!" Natasha laughs. "Might not win this time will ya?" Now it's her turn to smirk.
"We'll win," he says confidently. "Let's go."
I let him lead me, still wondering just what I've agreed to.