Chapter 4 - So, you’re friends with Jason?

ABBY

“So will there be boys at this party?” Mom asked, doing the finishing touches on my hair. I nearly rolled my eyes clear out of my head. No Mom, there will be a couple hundred of just girls. That would make for one hell of a party, wouldn’t it?

“Yes, Mom. There will be boys there.”

“You be careful, okay? Remember, don’t go anywhere in private with one, don’t except a drink from anyone, and never leave your drink lying around where someone can slip something into it,” Mom warned.

“I know, Mom. I promise I’ll be careful,” I replied, standing up and walking up to my mirror. It looked great. Mom was always so good at doing hair. It was all twisted and curly on the top of my head. It looked like I’d gotten it professionally done. I bit my lip and turned to face my mother. “Um, can I borrow that nightgown Dad gave you on your anniversary? It’s a sleepover and I highly doubt these girls will be sleeping in worn flannel pants and a Scooby Doo t-shirt. Please? I’ll be really careful with it!”

“Sure, honey,” she complied. “I want you to fit in with this group of kids. This is where you belong.” She hurried off in search of the nightgown.

I examined myself. I didn’t look half bad at the moment. I was wearing khaki jean shorts and a pink Tommy tube top. The tube top was my sister’s, but she doesn’t know that I have it. It went well with my dark skin and darker ebony hair.

I am so excited to spend the night at Brooke’s. I still cannot believe she’s allowed me, a dweeby transfer student from a PUBLIC school, to participate in her illustrious circle of friends! Could life be any luckier?

“Want me to drop you off?” Mom asked, handing me her nightgown. I shook my head and threw it in my bag.

“I’ll walk.”

Within twenty minutes, I arrived at the Thompson mansion. It was enormous and beautiful, just like Brooke herself. I felt my palms start to sweat and I grew nervous. This entire party is completely out of my league. Why am I here? If she knew where I live or how much money I really have, she’d never want to befriend me.

No, Abby! Stop it! I clutched the invitation in my hand and held my head high as I marched up to the security guard dressed in all black. I smiled as he took it, and I noticed a crack of a smile in return. I suppose that would suffice for now.

“Abby!” Brooke exclaimed, running down her stairs, which were long and white, and throwing her arms around me in a great big hug. I nearly toppled over laughing. “I’m so glad you came! You’re a little late so I was afraid you weren’t going to come and then I wasn’t going to have anyone to hang out with!”

I grinned. “Yeah right, Brooke. That would be the day when YOU wouldn’t have anybody to hang out with!”

“At least now I’ll have somebody worthwhile to talk to.” She reached for my hand and dragged me upstairs. “The others won’t be here for a little while longer. I can only take so much of them.”

“They seem different,” I commented, careful not to say the wrong thing to her. “Have you known them long?”

“All my life,” she replied, as we stepped into her humongous room. “We’ve been together since we were babies practically. We all used to be so tight, like sisters. Now that we’re in high school, suddenly everything changed and they aren’t the same anymore. I’m not saying I don’t love them. I do, and I probably always will. It’s just that sometimes I just don’t think we’re as tight anymore.”

I nodded silently, impressed by Brooke’s confession. She opened her enormous walk in closet and I nearly keeled over. Her walk in closet was probably bigger than my entire living room. It was filled with colorful, expensive designer clothes…definitely more impressive than my petty Tommy tube top that my sister probably bought on sale at the mall.

“Do you think this is okay to wear?” I asked, feebly. “I had no idea what to wear so I dressed for comfort.”

“If that’s what you’re comfortable in, that’s cool,” she replied. “But if you’re uncomfortable in that, feel free to surf through my closets and pick out whatever you want. You’re a little taller than me, but it’s all in your legs.”

I blushed at her compliment. “Thanks. What does everyone usually wear at these kind of parties?”

“Next to nothing,” she retorted, rolling her eyes.

I glanced down at my outfit. “Do you mind if I borrow something of yours?”

“Take it and keep it. I probably don’t wear everything in this stupid closet anyway so take what you like!” She exclaimed, rummaging through a jewelry chest.

I got up and began searching through her thousands of designer clothes. “I could never take any of your clothes, Brooke. They’re all so beautiful!”

She put an arm around my shoulder and smiled. “And so are you, so that’s why you should take them.” She paused and continued to look at me. “Have you ever considered wearing contacts? You have such pretty hazel eyes! Why do you hide them?” Her stopped and her eyes grew wide. “Oh, can I do your make up? Can I dress you up tonight? Oh, it’ll be so much fun! I’ve always wanted to do something like this!”

How could I refuse?

“Sure!” I exclaimed, excitedly. She giddily sat me down in front of her vanity and began opening drawers and drawers full of makeup. After another twenty minutes of poking and painting, she stood back and whistled. I began to reach for my glasses but she pushed my hand away.

“Not tonight, honey!” She sauntered over to her own closet and scratched her head. “Good thing we’re about the same size!” Within seconds, she whipped out this white tube top that showed the midriff and matching Capri pants.

“Um, I don’t think I can wear that,” I exclaimed, eyes wide.

“Come on, you’re skinny as a rail! Just try it on!” I stiffly accepted the clothes (or lack thereof) and quickly changed into the ensemble. When I was finished, I slowly approached her full-length mirror.

“Wow…” I murmured, amazed at my own reflection. Brooke came up from behind me and draped an arm around my shoulder.

“You definitely look smoldering!” She giggled. “Do I have an eye for this stuff or what? You’ll definitely be the talk of the town tonight!”

I blushed again. “Nah…”

“Yeah!” She protested, searching through her closet for something to wear herself.

“You think so?” I asked, hopefully. She nodded. I couldn’t even believe my own reflection. I knew it was me…but it wasn’t at the same time. I look so much older without my glasses and the white really looked nice against my dark complexion.

“You need jewelry,” she stated, tossing me a pair of large gold hoop earrings. “Okay, you’re all set and looking hot. Now what am I going to put myself in?”

“Allow me!” I exclaimed, pushing past her and peering into her vast closet. “Hmm…with such pretty blonde hair, we’re going to need something dramatic. Black? Nah, too classy and formal for a party. Oh, I know! Red. We’re going with red!”

“Oh dear Lord!” She wailed, laughing. “I’m nervous! Just don’t pull out a giant red catsuit, okay?”

“Okay, Britney, I won’t.”

“Hey guys!” Tiffany shouted, with a sophisticated Uma in tow. “Ooh, Abby! You look good, honey! I like the outfit!”

“Thanks,” I replied. “But it’s Bro-”

“Brand new!” Brooke interrupted, putting an arm around me again. “Isn’t it simply adorable? And it looks amazing on her!”

“Very nice,” Tiffany agreed while Uma just shrugged. I didn’t really expect a complement from Uma, so a shrug suited me just fine.

I couldn’t believe Tiffany had the nerve to wear what she was wearing! I thought my outfit was a bit risqué with the midriff showing but Tiff practically bared it all! She was wearing one of those shiny pink triangle boob bikinis with a vinyl look to it and short jean shorts that exposed half her butt cheeks. She of course had the perfect body for it, but her audacity still hit me hard.

Uma was dressed less flashy. She wore a dark brown tube dress that ended right under her derriere and matching brown spike heels. She looked elegant, as always.

“Hey, everyone! It looks like the party is all here, y’all!” Sandra declared, bouncing into the room. “Nice outfits guys! What do you think of mine?” She whirled around to show off her Guess tight, tight jeans (too tight for my own personal comfort) and a sparkly black cut off t-shirt that said “Baby” on it.

“You guys want to help yourselves to the drinks? The guests should be here any minute and I still have to get myself ready!” Brooke explained, ushering the girls out of her room. She closed the door and sighed at me. “Okay now, where were we?”

Within an hour, we’d managed to finish dressing completely, with hair and makeup. She looked gorgeous in the red dress I’d picked out for her. At first she insisted it wasn’t her style nor her size, but I managed to coerce her into it. Let me just say, breathtaking couldn’t even do her justice.

“Are you all set?” She asked me, as I was making sure everything was nicely in place.

“Yepper!”

“Great, let’s make our entrance!” Together we made our way down the stairs, and I swear the room nearly hushed to a whisper. Now, I’m not foolish enough to say that everyone was admiring my beauty (or lack thereof), but everyone was entranced by Brooke’s saunter down the steps. She winked at me and continued her confident strut down the long steps. I swear to God that I think I heard grown men whimper and sigh and girls start to drool.

“Brooke! Brooke!” I heard Tiffany call out. She was waving frantically at her while some good-looking guy she was with stared at Brooke like a puppy admiring a juicy bone.

“I’ll catch up with you as soon as possible, okay?” She whispered in my ear. I nodded. “You go mingle and have some fun!”

“You too!” I replied. With another wave, she was gone.

Okay, I told myself. You can do this. You belong here just as much as everybody else in this room. You were personally invited by Brooke and you’re sleeping over as well. I guess that made me pretty popular. I smiled. I’m popular.

I walked over to the keg of beer and poured myself a glass. I have never seen so much alcohol in my entire life! The house was filled with attractive people.

“Excuse me,” a young man began, smiling. “Would you like me to pour your beverage for you?”

I peered at the dark haired boy oddly. “Sure, if you’d like.” He was kind of handsome…in a scruffy, dirty way. But his green eyes were so pure, so untainted by everything else.

“You’re a beautiful girl, you know that?” He asked.

I started laughing. “Is that some kind of lame pick up line?”

He blushed and looked at the floor while he poured the beer for me. “I should have figured you’d be too smart for something as stupid as that. You are beautiful though.”

“Nah, not really,” I admitted, shyly. I accepted my drink and took a small sip. It was nice and smooth and not the least bit bitter, obvious that is wasn’t cheap beer. “But thank you.”

“Are you here with someone tonight?” He asked, smiling at me.

“No, why do you want to know?” I asked, coolly. I liked playing this game. I felt so empowered.

“Because if I asked you to dance, I didn’t want to step in on some guys territory,” he replied, finishing his cup of beer. “By the way, I’m Jason Ashley.”

“Abby Deluca.”

“Do you go to Dayton?” He asked, taking a gulp of his next beer. “You seem vaguely familiar.”

“Yeah, I do. I’m surprised we’re not in any of the same classes, because I’m certain I’d remember you,” I purred, flirtatiously. Hey, I could be flirty when I wanted to.

He grinned and for the next twenty minutes, we discussed everything from politics to the weather. He was really a charming, witty person, which one wouldn’t conclude judging solely by his outward exterior. It was the sparkle in his eyes that was alluring, and the width of his toothy grin that was adorable. We meshed together perfectly.

“So, how about that dance, Abby?”

“Sure, I…”

“Abby!” Brooke exclaimed, grabbing my arm. “Sorry to interrupt but you HAVE to come with me! Craig Seeger is following me around and I told him I was a lesbian to get him off my back! Will you pretend to be my girlfriend for a minute? I know this is really weird but PLEASE! He’s really starting to scare me!”

I just sort of gaped at her. “You want me to pretend I’m a lesbian?”

She bit her bottom lip. “If you do this one favor, I swear to God I’ll do anything you want, okay? Just name it and you got it!”

“Um, okay,” I replied. As if on cue, Craig Seeger sauntered up to us, highly intoxicated.

“So this is your lover?” He asked, skeptically. “I thought there was supposed to be one butch chick in the relationship?”

“Shows how stereotypical you really are!” I exclaimed, kissing Brooke on the cheek. “We happen to be perfectly happy together so I’d greatly appreciate it if you just left us alone. Come on, honey. Let’s dance.” I whisked Brooke into my arms and we danced for a couple of seconds until Craig decided to leave us alone.

“Thanks, Ab,” Brooke whispered, giving me a quick hug. “I owe you!”

“Not a problem!” I replied. “I’m going to get another drink, okay?”

“Okay, I’ll meet up with you later!” Brooke answered, waving.

I made my way back to the keg and was disappointed to discover that Jason was no longer waiting there. I searched the room for him and unfortunately found him dancing in between two girls that I remembered seeing in school. He probably forgot all about me.

I felt tears stinging my eyes and I immediately cursed myself for wanting to cry over that stupid guy that I hardly even knew! I needed a bathroom…I needed to hide! I needed to…

SMACK! I almost screamed as I smacked right into some guy. I backed up quickly as his beer nearly splashed on me from our impact. I glared at him.

“Why don’t you watch where you’re going?” I shouted, angry with everything at the moment.

“That’s funny, I thought you were the one running around with her head down,” the guy retorted. I narrowed my eyes at him. This was the guy Tiffany had been dancing with before.

“Fuck you,” I muttered. “Now get out of my way!”

“Hey! No need to get hostile!” He exclaimed, putting his hands up in front of him.

“Look, Trevor or whatever your name is,” I seethed, my face hot with the tears that threatened to fall. “You almost spilled that nasty shit on my clothes, and they aren’t even mine! They’re Brooke’s…”

“Taylor. You’re friends with Brooke?” He asked, sweetly.

I shook my head. Another asshole wants a piece of her, therefore wanting me to help him get a piece of her. “Look, she’s definitely out of your…”

“Hey, Taylor!” Jason Ashley shouted, running up to us. “Oh, hi Abby. Look, I just met these two college seniors and I’d know they’d dig us, man! Come on!” He ran off quickly, and now it was my turn to smile sweetly.

“So, you’re friends with Jason?”

“Um, yeah,” he began, noticing Jason pleading with him to join him and those girls on the couch. “Look, I need to go, okay? See ya later.”

I stood there, glaring at him venomously. I couldn’t tell who I was angry at. Him, for getting in my way or myself for believing that Jason would have actually picked ME out of all the beautiful women in this room. The tears were stinging at my eyes once again and I knew I needed a bathroom soon. Realizing few people would venture upstairs, I rushed up to the bathroom adjacent to her room.

I locked myself in and slumped against the door. Bringing my knees up to my stomach, I began to cry. What was my problem? Why was I so emotional all of a sudden? Why did I like this stupid, random guy so much? Why was I allowing him to affect me so greatly?

What did those college girls have that I didn’t, other than four years? They were attractive, but not so attractive that a man couldn’t help himself around them. Surely they couldn’t enjoy the simple things like she had. I’m sure THEY wouldn’t realize how animated his eyes get whenever he’s making the simplest conversation. I’m sure they wouldn’t admire the person he was on the inside.

I stood up and wiped the running mascara out from under my eyes. I looked like a blotchy-faced raccoon.

I lowered my eyes from my horrible reflection and watched a tear fall directly into the sink. I touched it lovingly, wishing it had never fallen.

“I wish I could be closer to Jason.”