Some people think that the school vacations are great. An excuse to party, drink and go out with friends. I, on the other hand, think they are in - convenient. I have to hover about the house now because most of my class mates, who I wouldn't really consider friends but merely people I would text or say hi to in the hall, were gone on vacations with their families. I could call Jane.
I went down stairs to make some coffee. My dad was sitting there reading his paper as always. I put on the kettle and sat down at the table.
“Hey Dad,” I said tiredly. I didn't have much energy this morning.
“Good morning sweetheart, sleep well?” he asked, trying to pull off the fact that he wasn’t that interested in the news paper.
“Uh, yeah,” I said sarcastically.
“Well,” my dad said, awkwardly getting up from the table and putting down the paper.”I’m going to work darling. I’ll see you later. Call me If you need anything OK?” he said kindly, but still in a rush. I would be on my own again.
“Yeah Dad, I’ll be fine,” I said, and without thinking I went over and gave him a big hug. I was feeling a little emotional and I didn’t even know it. I was also feeling guilty for what I’d said to him before.
“What’s this for?” he said surprised, but he hugged me back. We weren’t very close but I loved him so much. I just needed my dad. I was missing having things normal.
“Nothing I just wanted a hug. Have a good day at work,” I said and smiled.
“Thanks, love you sweetie,” he said, then he left for work.
I gave Jane a call to know if she wanted to go and see a movie or something. I met up with her at the park.
“Hey!” I said enthusiastically. I was so happy to have company.
“Hello,” she replied. As always, she was wearing something cool. Her short brown hair bounced above her shoulders, the color of her dress matched her green eyes. She looked awesome.
“Let’s go,” I said.
We went to see a romance. I didn’t really want to see one. Not because of my recent over – dramatic behavior and stuff with Jack. I was so not like most of the teenage girls who get involved with guys just to get hurt, for a reason to be dramatic. They just want to live like a soap opera. I didn’t. I didn’t want to see it because movies like that are ones where you have to say “aw” every five minutes. Or cry when the dude is a jerk. That’s just so typical and I had no interest in it for that reason.
We walked into the theater among the mostly filled seats. We sat down somewhere near the back. Better view. We barely even watched the movie, we spent most the time whispering to eachother and throwing pop corn like five year olds.
After, I went home. My dad was home and he cooked dinner. I sat down with him and we told each other about our day.
I went to sleep after that. I had plans for tomorrow to go shopping with Jane for outfits to Mike’s party, which was tomorrow night.
He was sort of a friend from school. It would be polite to show up after being invited, even if it wasn’t our thing.
______________
“Wow! Look at that dress, it’s gorgeous,” I said, gazing in the window of the store.
“Yeah, that would look hot on you,” she said.
We went in and looked around in the store. Apparently, money was no object with Jane. The beautiful red mini dress she bought was worth over five hundred bucks.
Before buying the one I got, I tried it on. It was black and it flared at the ends. There was lace in the back, going just half way down my spine. Sexy but appropriate. It was just a party after all. The only reason I was even bothering to dress up was because it was in celebration of the end of our school year, which I couldn’t have been happier was over.
We both went home to get ready. I had already been given permission from my dad to go.
We arrived at the party, wearing our new outfits. I didn’t wear any make up. My blonde hair was wavy.
______________
“Hey guys! Glad you could make it,” Mike said as we went in like loads of other kids from our school. I guessed this was something he had rehearsed to say to everyone. His big house was lovely, would probably be nicer if you took away all the dancing teenagers and beer cans on the ground, and the strong scent of alcohol in the air.
“He knows how to throw parties, do you think his parents have any idea about it?” Jane asked me.
“Nah, they probably have no idea,” I guessed.
We danced and chatted with some of our close school pals. The music blared loudly. I noticed someone standing over by the drink table. A guy with longish dark hair, band T-shirt. I wouldn’t have had to see his face to know who it was. It was Jack. I didn’t care about him anymore though.
Mathew Collins from my math class asked me to dance. I didn’t want to be rude, so I did. We were actually having fun. He was telling me about how one of our most hated teachers was suspended from our school for hitting a student. It was funny, but I could have guessed the student he was talking about was him, if I knew Mathew even a little bit.
A slow song came on, I liked slow songs but I wasn’t sure if I should stay and dance with him, or go mess about with Jane. I stayed, I didn’t want to hurt his feelings.
I made sure not to get too close though. But Mathew wouldn’t have it. He pulled me closer when I tried to push him away. I wasn’t entirely sure if he was being in-appropriate or just having fun dancing with me.
As I looked over his shoulder, I saw Hayley Smith dancing with Jack. I suddenly became entirely aware of everything. She was trying to make a move on him to get at me. We all knew she liked his friend Eric. If she thought that then she was wrong. I couldn’t care less what they did together. But I couldn’t help noticing the uncomfortable look on his face while he was dancing with her. She was showing as much flesh as her skimpy dress allowed. Jack was staring over at me; I quickly looked away and hid my face in Mathews shoulder while we swayed along with the soft music.
As I looked up, I saw with the corner of my eye, Hayley pulled him in as close as physically possible. I felt a pang in my stomach. A chill went through me, as if I had ice thrown down my back, running along my spine. Before I knew it, I pulled Mathew in more, he wasn’t complaining.
What am I doing? I thought to myself. I shouldn’t still like him, but something was burning me deep inside my head telling me I was wrong, and that if I didn’t do something about Hayley Smith and her flirting then I might lose him. Despite how much of a jerk he was to me, I didn’t want to lose him all the same. I was a little dramatic about it anyways.
I laughed loudly and childishly, at an un-hilarious joke Mathew said. The music was fast now. It's strong beat pulsed through my head. I took it as a chance to look like I was having heaps of fun with Mathew, even though I wasn’t. Jack did the exact same thing with Hayley. If his aim was to make me feel uncomfortable, it was working.
I was flirting with Mathew even more now.
I looked to see his reaction, he just stared. I think Hayley caught on to what we were doing, because she suddenly took his face in her hands and kissed him with as much passion as she could.
I felt gutted. What did I do that for? I thought. But it made me more determined. Jack pushed her off of him, I was actually surprised. Nobody had ever refused Hayley before.
Mathew also must have caught on, because he gave Jack the dirtiest look a human could give another. Then he took my hand dragged me out of the room. Jack looked on. He knew where Mathew was taking me, and it killed him. I knew where he was taking me also and I didn’t want to go there.
He took me into the spare bedroom upstairs and locked the door. My throat went dry. I was a little freaked. I was only sixteen. I wanted nothing to do with whatever he had in mind.
He sat me on the bed, and kissed me full on the lips. I pushed him off immediately,
“What are you doing?” I demanded. What a creep. As if I wanted anyone but Jack, even if at this point we were in a childish argument.
“What does it look like?” he said smiling. He went to untie the back of my dress.”Now just relax,” he said. I slapped him across the face.
“Get your hands off me!” I said angrily, getting up from the tidy white bed.
Mathew wouldn’t let me leave. He pushed me back down and sat above me, the weight of his body crushing me. My head was spinning, I could feel my nerves kicking up.
“Stay!” He shouted. I was all of a sudden terrified. I had never known him well, but I didn’t think he had such a side to him.
“Please just let me leave,” I choked out. I was barely able to breathe. I had literally never been so scared. He just laughed.
“Nah, now do exactly as I say,” he said in a dark tone. I had never wanted Jack to be with me more than at that moment. To just come in and save me from what was obviously going to happen. The music was loud, loud enough to block out any screams.
