Chapter 58
As Lee made her way into the living room, she couldn't help but feel flattered that a boy had just complimented her on her hair, and appeared to have been struck speechless by her beauty. Lee had come to this party with the intent to show her true colors, just as May and Marie had before. She wanted to begin her transformation back into the sweet, caring, and beautiful girl she had been prior to her experiences with bullying and abuse.
Lee entered the living room and proceeded to join her two sisters and their "men" by the front window.
"Hey Double Dee," said Lee, "Nice party!"
Double Dee stood confused as he took sight of the tall young woman standing in front of him. Lee had spoken using a gentle lady-like voice that Double Dee couldn't recognize. He glanced at Marie and then back at the red headed teenager.
"I'm terribly sorry," said Double Dee, "Have we met before?"
Lee had almost forgotten that she was practically unrecognizable and saw the perfect opportunity to play a joke on Double Dee. She quickly glanced at Marie and winked, signaling to Marie to play along with whatever she was going to do.
Although Lee was using this party as an opportunity to reinvent herself as a person, she couldn't resist the call of a great joke. Lee walked over to Double Dee and wrapped her arms around his neck, causing him to blush and become extremely nervous. Double Dee wanted to push her away from him, but was too respectful of girls to place his hands on her. He wanted nothing to do with her romantic advances as he was in a dedicated relationship with Marie.
"Come on Double Dee," said Lee as she moved really close to his face, "It's me Julie. How could you forget me after the times we shared last summer? I'm sure you definitely remember what happened down the shore on the beach?"
Lee chuckled.
"DOUBLE DEE!" yelled Marie in an angry tone, obviously joking,"Who the hell is this tramp?"
"Marie I honestly haven't a clue. I have never met this young woman prior to this evening." said Double Dee in an extremely nervous tone.
Double Dee was now sweating bullets. His worst fears had come true, due to unexpected circumstances that he couldn't explain, he was once again about to lose his Marie's trust, something that he couldn't bear to go through again. To make matters worse, there would probably be no way that she would take him back again after something like this.
The sisters could not hold back their laughter any longer upon seeing Double Dee's pale face. Lee pulled away from him and took her place next to Marie. May joined the girls and shared a laugh with her sisters.
"Relax Double Dee," said Marie, "We're just playing with you."
Double Dee stood confused while staring at the sisters after which he looked directly into the mystery young lady's eyes and took note that she looked like a slimmer spitting image of Tabby. With that realization, coupled with the fact that Marie had made the statement that Lee looked like a totally different person after her makeover had allowed him to realize the truth.
"Lee?" asked a surprised Double Dee, "My goodness I almost didn't recognize you."
"I told ya didn't I?" said Marie, "She finally decided to give in and get all dolled up for once in her life."
"Ah shut up Marie," said Lee, "You're just jealous cause it took you fourteen years to become half as hot as I did in three hours!"
"At least I didn't have to get made over to look presentable Lee!" said Marie as she playfully slapped her sister.
The girls bickered for a few more moments and then shared a laugh.
"Besides, I need a change." said Lee as she smiled.
"Yeah," said May, "But the real reason you did it was for Eddy!"
May had been sure to say Eddy's name in a long drawn out tone as if to make fun of her sister.
"Huh," said Lee, "Alright the little man is cute, but I'm not lookin' for a hook up with him tonight, I can get that anytime. Tonight's my night to play the field!"
"Whatever you say Lee," said Marie as she grinned at her sister.
"Damn right whatever I say," said Lee, "Now go get back to your man."
Lee turned to May.
"And you," said Lee as she motioned for May to come towards her with her index finger, "Why don't you take Ed somewhere private and reel him in. The guy's crazy over ya, and it's time that ya went in for the kill like a true Kanker."
May smiled at Lee as she smiled back at her little sister.
"Alright girls," said Lee as she began walking into the dining room, "I'm off to find myself a man, keep yours in check!"
Lee winked at her sisters as she disappeared around the corner. May and Marie rejoined Double Dee and Ed.
"Alright dream boat," said Marie as she leaned into Double Dee's face, "I thinks it's time we got away from all of this hustle and bustle for a little bit and spent some quiet time together. How's that sound?"
Marie pointed towards the stairs, signifying a trip up to his room was on her mind. Double Dee noticed that her face was adorned with her adventurous and amorous grin. . He sighed playfully.
"I'll be up in a few minutes, I just have to discuss something with Ed," said Double Dee as he smiled.
Marie grinned, turned away and began walking towards the stairs, flaunting her hip sway purposely. She reached the railing of the stairs at which point she turned around and placed her index finger on her lips while smiling at Double Dee, attempting to make herself look sexy. Double Dee blushed as he watched Marie begin to ascend the staircase to his bedroom.
Double Dee shook off his feelings for a few seconds and leaned into Ed's ear.
"Ed," said Double Dee, "Why don't you take May outside on my back patio and get to know her a little more. After all, you said yourself that you thought she was an enchanting girl."
Ed fearfully turned around towards May, who was staring dreamily at him. Ed couldn't help but blush as he turned back around to his friend.
"But Double Dee, I don't know what to say," said Ed rather nervously.
"Not to worry Ed," said Double Dee, "Just be yourself, I am sure that you and May share similar hobbies and interests."
Ed glanced back at May who was smiling up into Ed's eyes. Ed had never been captivated by a girl's beauty as much as he was right now; it was that fact that allowed him to turn around and walk towards May who began to blush.
"Um..May…" said Ed as he looked towards the floor while blushing and rubbing his right hand on the back of his head, "Do you want to go outside and talk?"
May's eyes lit up at Ed's question.
"Just me and you?" asked an excited May.
Double Dee had secretly given Ed the advice to talk to May alone with the thought that she would think that Ed came up with the idea himself. Naturally Ed's idiosyncrasies had caused him to inadvertently blow his cover. He turned around to Double Dee.
"Just me and her Double Dee?" asked a nervous Ed.
Double Dee sighed at Ed's antics and placed his palm on his face, sliding it down over his chin.
"Yes Ed, just you and May," said Double Dee in a sarcastic tone.
Ed turned back to May, who was too excited to realize that he was receiving advice from Double Dee.
"Yeah, just you and me," he said rather dopily as he blushed.
"Okay," said May as she blushed and looked at the ground, "Let's go,"
Ed looked down as he watched May's sparkling blue fingernails curl around his hand. She began leading Ed towards the kitchen, where the sliding glass door leading to the patio was located.
Double Dee watched happily as May and Ed began weaving their way in between guests to make their way to the kitchen. After the couple disappeared Double Dee quickly turned his attention to the stairs. He stood at the bottom looking up into the upstairs hallway, thinking of what kind of "adventure" Marie had in store for him tonight. He quickly adjusted his shirt and began making his way upstairs.
Just as Double Dee was making his way up the stairs, Ed and May had finally reached the sliding patio door. Ed grabbed the door and slid it to the open position. The door would usually squeak loudly as one would open it; thankfully the loud music drowned out the irritating noise
"After you my lady," said Ed rather enthusiastically as he moved to the side of the door to let May out into the yard before him. He had seen many movies in his life, not only monster movies, but also love stories. He knew now was the time to emulate the characters in those kind of movies.
"Thank you Ed," said May enthusiastically in her adenoidal voice.
May walked out of the door and into the cold air. May couldn't help but shiver, as she was wearing a strapless dress and her legs were bare. Ed took notice that May was shivering and walked over to her. He recalled seeing a movie where a man removed his own jacket and gave it to his girlfriend to keep her warm in the winter air. Ed decided to follow the movie's example.
Ed had opted to wear a green button down shirt and blue tie that night, but simply could not bear to part with his trademark oversized green coat. Ed removed the coat from his body and began to nervously place it around May's shoulders.
"Fear not May," said Ed, "For the many folds of my trusty jacket will keep you as snug as a bug in the rug."
Ed was a big guy for his age. His height was around 5' 9" in contrast to May who was around 5'3". Due to this fact, the jacket was simply too large for May and would have drug on the ground if she attempted to walk. This wasn't the first time that May had worn Ed's jacket (she had forced him to trade clothes with her as a bribe for a homeroom switch last fall) however, it was the first time that Ed had voluntarily given up his coat for her to wear. May blushed heavily at Ed's words, as well as his kind gesture. Her heart was beginning to melt already, even though they hadn't been outside for a full minute.
"Thanks Ed, you are so sweet!" said May as she stared up into Ed's eyes.
Although Double Dee had told Ed to be himself while outside talking to May, he had already been relying on his third favorite thing in life after gravy and buttered toast as his life line: movies. The love stories that Ed has seen had given him great ideas thus far for words to use with May. He figured that he would continue using movie references to help him out until he felt comfortable enough on his own.
"Not as sweet as your beautiful smile!" said Ed enthusiastically as he smiled at May.
"Oh Ed," said May, "You're making me blush."
The couple stood in the middle of Double Dee's patio staring at the ground for a few seconds before May laid her eyes on a pair of white lawn chairs in the reclined position. The chairs had been neglected to be put away for the winter. May looked up towards the crystal clear sky and took note that the sky was filled with stars.
"Hey Ed," said May, "Do you want to lay in those chairs and look at the stars together?"
Ed paused as he looked up towards the sky, after which he looked back to May.
"Okie Dokie Spokie!" said Ed happily, causing May to smile. The two teenagers took their seats in the reclining lawn chairs, staring up into the night sky together. Ed and May sat in silence for a few minutes enjoying each other's company.
Back inside the house, Lee was currently standing at the vanity in Double Dee's downstairs half bathroom adjusting her eyeliner using whatever she had in her purse. This was Lee's first social gathering with what she considered, (as much as she hated to admit it), friends. As she glanced at herself in the mirror, a battle was occuring inside of her psyche. She did not know if what she was doing was the right decision for herself, she had gotten her makeover in attempt to build her self confidence, and in effect, provide physical symbolism of her attempt to abstain from negative, self harmful activities.
Eventually, after viewing herself in the mirror for a few more minutes, Lee's eyes began to tear up. While she was happy with her new look and, even though she denied it, happy that boy had flirted with her, the entire situation was relatively overwhelming for Lee. Inside of the rough exterior shell was a vulnerable girl; at that moment it seemed as though a voice inside her mind that she could not control was asking questions at a rapid pace:
Are you really good enough?
Do they really like you?
Do you really trust them?
Did he really flirt with you?
Do you really want to be here?
Are you sorry for your past?
Lee had heard this voice countless times in her head since she was ten, and had learned to get used to it as the questions would usually subside after a few seconds; however, the overwhelming atmosphere of the party seemed to have inadvertantly triggered something more, as the questions were becoming more malicious.
Why was no one there for you?
What if he comes back tonight?
Did you enjoy it?
Are you guilty for what you did?
Do you remember the sound of the door opening?
Do you remember the bright lights in the kitchen?
Do you remember the sound of the belt on your skin?
Are you okay?
Are you okay?
Are you okay?
The last question continued to repeat countless times as Lee now sat on the closed toilet seat, her hands buried in her face crying uncontrollably. Thankfully, the sound of the voice ceased when the sound of another student banging on the door filled the small bathroom. The female student outside was upset at the fact that Lee was taking so long, and was screaming for her to get out as she "had to go".
Lee stood up, still crying profusely, and promptly flung the bathroom door open. She shielded her face as she run past the girl, purse in hand, as she began weaving through the crowd. She accidentally bumped into a male student's arm as he was talking to girl, causing his punch to spill, before running towards the back of the house, disappearing into the crowd.
Meanwhile, Eddy was currently being delivered a slap to the face after attempting to flirt with yet another girl. As the young lady stormed away, Eddy sighed as he grabbed a can of soda out of the cooler, and popped it open. He stood observing his guests interactions for a few minutes.
"Girls, who needs em?" said Eddy silently to himself as he took a sip of his soda.