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Emmy didn't care what Caine had said. He thought he was in charge of her but he was completely wrong. It was the first party that her year was invited to and all her friends were going, she had to go. She was wearing a tight top that showed off her enviable torso, along with high waisted shorts and pumps. Her make-up was perfect, not lathered on like most girls did. Instead she used a delicate and skilled touch. "I'm going to a party," she told Petal.

"Good," Petal smiled. "I need some peace and quiet for meditation. Unless you want me to teach you?"

"I don't think sitting still is my thing," Emmy laughed. Emmy walked towards the room where the party was. She knew she had the right location, as the music that was playing grew louder. The room was large and dark. But thankfully Piper, Alexa and Shelley were near the entrance.

"What are you doing here?" Piper asked her once she joined them.

"Just what everyone else is, enjoying a party," Emmy said.

"You know Caine's here?" Shelley asked with a worried expression.

"I don't care," Emmy replied.

"I'll show you where you can get a drink," Alexa said. Emmy followed her to a table piled with drinks

"What do you want?" a boy standing at the table asked.

"He's in charge of the drinks," Alexa explained.

"It's two dollars for something like coke or lemonade," the boy clarified. "Or five dollars for something alcoholic."

Emmy scanned the table for something that appealed to her. "I'll have vodka with coke," she ordered.

Alexa's mouth fell open, "Are you sure? We don't usually drink."

"Why not?" Emmy asked. "It's a party, have some fun."

"That's the attitude," the boy said, making Emmy's drink. She handed him the money and took her drink.

Emmy and Alexa walked back to Piper and Shelley. The four spent most of the night together, dancing and chatting. Emmy even managed to get them to switch over to something alcoholic. Although it appeared to be the first time either Shelley or Alexa had ever drunk. Their laughs were more like screeches and they could barely stand after two drinks. Emmy had a bit of experience with drinking, after spending many Saturday evenings with Melissa and her friends.

Then two boys made their way over to them, one being Chad. "Emmy!" he smiled, "I thought you didn't like parties."

"One thing you need to know about my brother," Emmy said, "is that he is a liar."

Chad shook his head, "Nah, he's a great guy. How are you?"

"I'm fine," Emmy smiled.

"Do you want another drink?" Chad asked her.

"Sure," Emmy said. Chad's friend went with him, leaving the girls alone.

"I'm having the best time!" Shelley yelled, jumping up and down.

"I know!" Alexa agreed.

Piper looked agitated. "Everything okay?" Emmy asked her with a wry smile.

Chad arrived back with Emmy's drink. "Where's your friend?" Emmy asked him.

"I'd rather talk to you than him," Chad said as gently brushed a strand of hair out of Emmy's face. "Do you want to sit down?"

"Yeah," Emmy said. Chad took her hand and led her towards the sofas in the corner of the room. Emmy took one last glance at her friends, enjoying the sight of Piper scowling.

…

Diana walked up to the table covered in drinks. "Hey Chaz," she smiled at him.

"The usual?" he asked.

"You know it."

"Five dollars," Chaz set the drink in front of her.

Diana stepped closer to Chaz and placed her hand on his arm. "Please, we're friends," she looked at him with big, innocent eyes.

"Okay," he relented, "just this one time."

"Thanks, you're amazing."

Diana walked back towards Caine, "I think this may be a decent party. Are you still on Emmy-watch?" Diana asked.

"I don't know," Caine answered. "It's been almost a month and she hasn't went to any parties. But the other day I saw her talking to that idiot Chad."

"What? She was talking to someone?" Diana mocked him.

Caine scanned the room to see if Emmy was there. He didn't see her, but he located her friends. "That's odd," Caine said, mainly to himself.

"What is?" Diana asked him.

"Emmy's friends are here. But she's not. Let's go and make sure that she's not here."

"You can, I'm going to see if I can find someone interesting to talk to." Diana walked off, leaving Caine as he made his way to the girls. He only knew one of the girls. Her name began with a P, he thought.

"Hey," Caine said to her.

The girl's eyes widened. "He-hey," she stammered.

"Your Emmy's friends, aren't you?" Caine asked, noticing the two other girls suddenly getting excited.

The girl he knew nodded vigorously.

"Is she here?"

"Umm… no," she shook her head now, with equal enthusiasm. She looked at her friends as a signal to shoo them away.

"Okay, thanks," Caine went to walk away but the girl stopped him.

"Do you want to talk?" she asked him, nervously.

Caine had no desire to do so. He had only talked to her once before. She had laughed like an idiot, and he was so glad when Diana rescued him. But he realised that this was his opportunity to find out what Emmy was up to. "I'd like that," he smiled at her.

…

"I love that movie!" Emmy laughed. She had been talking to Chad a long time and although he seemed a bit like a prick, she could by-pass that to have a decent conversation.

"No," Chad shook his head. "There's no way a girl like you likes action films."

"What do you mean, a girl like me?" Emmy playfully hit him on the arm.

"Most girls like chick flicks," Chad pointed out.

"I hate chick flicks," Emmy said. "I can literally feel myself falling asleep every time I see a poster for one!"

"Need a top up?" Chad asked her.

She raised an eyebrow. "Are you trying to get me drunk?" she asked.

"What?" Chad protested. "I just don't want you to faint from de-hydration. It is hot in here."

"Oh that's very nice of you," Emmy softened, "I would like another." Chad went to get her one, leaving her to think for a moment.

"Having fun?" Emmy looked at Diana, who was walking towards her with a smirk. "Don't worry, Caine doesn't know you're here," Diana reassured her.

"Good," Emmy sighed.

Diana sat down beside Emmy on the sofa. "I think we'd be great friends," she said. "You've only been here a month and you've got the hottest boy in your year's attention. That deserves respect."

"Thanks," Emmy said, hoping that Diana wasn't insinuating that they were the same. Emmy didn't want a reputation like Diana.

"Just don't do anything that I wouldn't do," Diana smiled.

"Based on what I heard, that doesn't rule out much," Emmy said dryly. "But I know it's mostly lies."

"Why?" Diana asked.

"Because if you were as bad as they say you are, you would have done something with Caine by now. I'd guess that would ruin a friendship."

Diana laughed, "You're right. I think you might be my new favourite Soren."

"I've seen my competition. I'd want to punch you if I wasn't!" The two girls laughed together, like old friends.

"I'll leave you to enjoy yourself," Diana stood up to walk away.

"Bye Diana," Emmy called after her.

Chad joined her again, handing her drink over. "What did Diana want?" he asked.

"Just wanted to say hello," Emmy said. Chad edged closer to Emmy and placed his hand on her thigh. She stopped herself from telling him to take it away. That would be unbelievably pathetic. Chad closed his eyes and leaned in towards her. She did the same and kissed him back. Emmy could feel Chad's hands moving up and down her body. As his hands moved under her top, Emmy stopped kissing him.

"Wow, slow down," she laughed uneasily, backing away.

"Sorry," Chad apologised. "Want another drink?"

Emmy looked at her drink that she had taken two sips from. "I'm good thanks," she said.

"Another drink and she'll probably let me see her boobs."

"What?" Emmy yelled at him, "Did you seriously say that?"

"What's wrong?" Chad asked, placing a hand on Emmy's shoulder.

Emmy shrugged it off. "You just said you are trying to get me drunk. So that you can see my boobs. That's what is wrong."

"I never said that," Chad protested.

"Yes you did, I heard you," Emmy said.

Chad squinted at her, speechless. "I didn't say that. But…"

"But what?" Emmy asked, almost daring him to answer.

"But, I thought it," Chad said. "Maybe I accidently said it. I'm sorry." Chad moved back to kiss her, but Emmy pushed him away.

"You're a pig!" she shouted at him as she stormed off.

Emmy went straight back to her room. It was after midnight but Petal was still up.

"How was the party?" she asked Emmy.

"Does it matter?" Emmy snapped. She went into the bathroom to take off her make-up. She froze halfway through and looked at herself in the mirror, puzzled. She finished up and went back to the bedroom. "Petal," Emmy said.

"Yeah," Petal looked up from her book.

"Can you do something for me?" Emmy asked. Petal nodded, and Emmy sat on Petal's bed beside her.

"Think of a really random animal," Emmy instructed her. Emmy stared at Petal hard, nothing happening. Emmy placed her hand on Petal's arm and tried again.

"Walrus?" Emmy asked Petal.

Petal looked shocked. "Yeah. How did you do that? Was it a magic trick?"

"Something like that," Emmy said.

...

Caine stood there, stuck listening to the girl drone on about a "funny story". He could see all the people he would rather talk to. He had tried several times to get rid of her, saying hello to other people as they passed. But the girl never got the hint, she just stood there. Then Caine would be left alone with her again. He had to lose her.

"Listen," Caine interrupted the girl mid-sentence. "It's been great talking to you Pippa-"

"My name's Piper," she interjected, hurriedly. "But it doesn't matter. You can call me Pippa if you like. In fact, I prefer it. Pippa's great."

"Okay," Caine continued, "It's been great talking to you. But I'm really tired, I'm going to bed."

Piper look disappointed, "Oh, that's fine. See you around."

"Sure," Caine left her and noticed a group of boys to talk to.

"Caine," one of them put an arm around him.

"Hey Chad," Caine said, noticing that Chad was very drunk. "What's up?"

"Your sister is crazy!" Chad said.

Caine already knew that. "Why?" he asked.

"We were making out, and it was great. But I said something, though I think I only thought it, you know? Anyway she over-reacted and stormed off. Crazy."

Caine closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "You made out with my sister?"

The other boys in the group appeared worried and looked at Chad, begging him to shut up.

Chad obviously didn't pick up on them, "Yeah. You're sister's hot!"

Caine removed Chad's arm from around him. "Sorry, but I've got to go."

Caine walked around, looking for Drake. He found him at the drinks table. "Do me a favour," Caine said. "Deal with Chad from the eighth grade. You know what I mean."

"Sure," Drake said.