*Two*

It was quite late, and I was still at Dave's party. Sitting on the edge of a big rock near to the lake, feet dangling below, when my mother decided to call saying that she was out, and I needed to catch a ride with someone else. Quite frankly it was just like my mother to do something like that.

fortunately for me, by then Amanda's mom had fetched her already, and Mrs Bryn had offered me a ride in good nature, but I had kindly declined, as I thought my mother would throw a fit, when I supposedly did; 'whatever the fuck I wanted' - and not consider other people, by leaving with her, if my mom was on her way to fetch me

I sighed, and pulled my jacket tighter around my body. Unfortunately this behaviour of my mother was no new discovery, she always did it. It was just more intense every time my father was out of town.

I pulled out my phone and called home.

Matt, my brother, picked up on the third ring, his voice slightly anxious

''Mom?'' Hope so evident in his voice it broke my heart

''Matt?''

''Oh, - uh, hi Em ... where are you? Is mom with you?'' the words came tumbling out

''No, I was calling to hear if she is home?''

''Nope, I haven't seen her since this morning'' he sounded bored already

''What are you doing now?'' I asked, trying to start conversation feeling kind of guilty I didn't stay in, and at least keep Matt Company, when i had kind of predicted this, but i had still selfishly decided to go out.

''Nothing really, just watching T.V, it's very quiet here'' he mumbled in response

''Well, mom said she can't fetch me, and Mandy left, so I officially have no ride'' I breathed out into the receiver

He seemed to go over the words once more, probably not getting what I was saying

''sooooo ... are you not coming home?'' His voice was uneven, panic lacing it. I could imagine how he felt; he was alone at home, frightened and unsure. And Matt wasn't the type that could exactly stay home alone.

''I don't know Matt, lots of kids are gone, and I don't know anyone else''

''Just ask them, ask them nicely Em'' he pleaded

''Matt, I don't speak to those kids, I can't exactly go to some rando, and ask for a ride''

''But they not rando's isn't it your friend's house'' he remarked smartly

I smiled; before I had left I told Matt I'd be going to a friend's house

''That's not how it works'' I sighed hanging my head low

I started to the weigh odds, and they didn't seem to be in my favour

In fact I was actually starting to think I'd be stuck here till morning. My heart was beating in my stomach, I felt uneasy, I was at a house party, with kids I didn't know, from seniors, to kids who didn't even attend our school.

''Em, you still there?''

''Uh, yeah, - '' sorry, uhm.. I'm here yeah''

''Are you coming home anytime soon?''

Pushy kid

''I honestly don't know'' I muttered under my breath

Matt let out a long yawn

He should go to bed, but he was probably restless

''Have you eaten supper?'' I asked suddenly worried. For if my mother hadn't been at home that meant that he probably hadn't eaten yet.

''Yeah, I did, I made myself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich'' Matt answered, and I could just about hear the smile in his voice

I let out a long frustrated breath, frustrated that I hadn't trusted my gut and stayed the hell at home.

''Okay, I'm going to order a pizza, there is cash in my top dresser drawer''

''So are you not coming home?''

''No, uhm, I am - just uhm,- just when the pizza comes pay the man, lock the door, and save me a slice okay?''

The saving a slice part seemed to comfort him.

''Okay''

''You should go sleep''

''No I'm going to wait for you''

I gulped

''Okay, but don't wait too long up'' I said sternly

''Yep''

''Don't stay to long then'' he retorted

Smart mouth

''Okay I have to go now, I need to phone the pizza place, and if mom comes back before I'm home, just ask if she could come fetch me''

''Okay, but if she doesn't, you still have to come home Em''

I nodded

''Of course Matty'' I answered, silently smiling to myself.

''Bye now''

''Bye'' he replied letting another yawn slip.

I hung up, and sat there still for a moment, taking in what was happening, letting the cool air rush down my spine. I shivered, and dialled my mom on speed dial

Straight to voicemail

I tried again

And again

And again

Until I was certain, that my mother was an unreliable source, at least for now.

I buried my head in my hands

Oh god

I didn't want to phone Amanda, because that would seem forward of me, and her mother had offered, and stupid me had declined. Plus it wasn't as if Dave lived near to all, he lived quite far, far enough that it was a good drive, and asking would be way out of line. But I didn't know what else to do, I didn't want to be stuck here the night

I called Amanda

''Hello....

I breathed out a breath I hadn't even known I was holding in till now

''Mandy, uh - '' I began

''Just kidding you've reached voicemail, if it's important you'd know what to do, beep''

I hung up, let out a frustrated breath, and ran my hands through my hair a bit too violently

I tried my mom again

Nothing.

I sat there for another few quiet moments

Glancing back at the house, it looked like I'd have to go back in there or sit here and freeze to my death.

Another gulp

Rising to my feet, I pulled the jacket around me tighter, walking up to the house, where lights and music were radiating from.

Every step I took closer, my heart beat louder than the beat before

I heard laughing.

Be like Amanda

Act like Amanda

She would know what to do

Think: Amanda

I walked into the house, it was pretty crowded, crowded enough that I slipped in unnoticed.

I got a cup from the table, and filled it with punch, I know they always filled the punch with shit, worse than what is in regular alcohol, but I thought I pretty much needed it.

I filled my cup

''Hey, slow down there''

I nearly jumped out of my own skin, and the dishing spoon clattered on the marble counter.

''Whoa, just - ''

I followed the sound of the voice

It's only as awkward as you make it

I repeated Amanda's motto in my head, which she used every time she met new people and stepped out of her comfort zone

It's only as awkward as you make it

''Oh hey ''

The face of the voice that startled me a few seconds ago was female; she was very pretty, in a 'college girl' type of way.

She had platinum blonde hair that reached her shoulders, and wore a red spaghetti strap velvet dress that barely covered mid-thigh.

''Hey I'm Cecily'' the girl stated, flashing me a row of perfectly straight white teeth

''Em'' I offered and giving her my best smile, hoping I came off as friendly as friendly could be

I filled my cup with the coral liquid in the punch bowl, holding it up to her in an offering

She shook her head, the tips of her hair dusting her shoulders when she did this

I took the liberty and tried to make some small talk

''What do they put in here anyway?'' I asked

''No idea, just don't drink too much Hun''

I smelled the liquid, it smelled sweet, but at the same time sour, and a hint of something alien

I crinkled my nose

She laughed

''Fist drink, I'm guessing?'' she asked in amusement

''Yeah, I'm not much of a drinker'' I answered truthfully

She let out a low chuckle, now she looked curious

''What changed your mind tonight?'' she enquired folding her arms over her chest

I shrugged ''just a gut feeling that I might need it tonight''

''Oh you always need it for this type of thing'' she assured me, gesturing around her, like some sort of pirate.

Cecily wrapped her arm around my shoulder steering me out of the kitchen

''I like you Em - ''

That was fast

'' -You're like one of those nice girls, no bullshit, just you -''

Maybe she was drunk

I walked by her side silent, I wasn't exactly sure, if she had just complimented me or insulted me, but she carried on never the less, filling the awkwardness,

''God I don't even know why people come to these dreadful things anyway'' Cecily said, and one didn't have to be a genius to know she was referring to the party

I shrugged ''I mean I don't even know fully myself''

Cecily dropped her arm from my shoulder and faced me

''Then why come?'' She asked out of genuine curiosity

''I think it's just one of those stupid things you do, that for some reason you just have to do it, - yeah I know this sounds dumb - ''

''No! It doesn't, - i mean, like I get it, but like after you did it, why do it again? Like you did the dumb thing already why do it again?

''That - I have no idea why, but those are the first thoughts that pop in my head before I come every weekend to these damned pity parties''

She chuckled

''I like the sound of that 'pity parties' - '' Cecily remarked, making air quotations at: pity party

We reached the back sliding door, and Cecily was opening it, I shivered violently forgetting how cold it was out, Cecily noticed this and shut the door again.

''You cold?'' she lifted a perfectly arched eyebrow at me

I nodded

''Yeah I kinda still have the swimsuit on from when I swam earlier, and I hadn't brought extra clothes to change into'' I informed her, lifting the white shirt to expose my swimsuit.

''Nice suit'' she said offering me a smile

''Oh'' I pulled the tee down again ''it's not mine, I think its Dave's sister or something'' I shrugged it off just to be safe

''hmmm, and where did you get it, ?'' Cecily asked

''My friend Mandy'' I said, - then bit down on my tongue, not knowing if I possibly got Amanda in trouble or something.

''Amanda? Mandy''

I didn't answer; I had caused enough damage already

Cecily took my silence for: agreement

''You and her are friends?''

I couldn't exactly just ignore her

So I nodded slowly

''Oh you guys are just adorable'' Cecily clapped her hands together, she seemed pleased enough

I stayed silent not really knowing how to respond to this

''Is she still here?'' Cecily asked

''who?''

''Amanda of course''

''oh, no she left a while ago''

''Oh, I didn't see her go'' Cecily said genuinely seeming saddened by this information

we walked through the living area, where there were kids splayed out on the sofa, some drunk, some not, playing what looked to be a game, Dave was amongst them, i noticed that his eyes followed Cecily as we walked past, his eyes flicked for only a brief second to mine, and then he took a sip from his cup.

Cecily started heading up the stairs

''Where we going?'' I asked a bit unsure about going upstairs

''You want to get changed right, don't you? Into something maybe less wet''

''uhm yeah, I guess - ''

''Now c'mon, I think I have something for you''

We walked up, my foot moments slower than hers, still uneasy about going up the stairs in Dave Windel's house.

''My room is that way'' she pointed out to a white door at the end of a hallway sensing my unease

Hold up, she lives here?

I tried to bite down on the words that were forming inside my head

''You live here?'' I blurted. Then shut my mouth instantly, secretly willing the words to be reeled back into my mouth like a fisherman and his fishing rod when he knew he caught something.

Thankfully, Cecily was nice enough about it

''Not really, I stay on campus, but sometimes when I come down I just crash here''

''Oh'' is all I said, still not really getting it, - and also too afraid to open my mouth again, - in case other questions come tumbling out.

My curiosity was not having it, I put two and two together and settled on a question that seemed to not be too privy

''So how long have you two been dating?''

Cecily looked at me surprised

''Dating?'' she repeated confused

''Yeah you and Dave?''

A look fell on her face that I couldn't quite describe, and then she burst out laughing.

Feeling a bit dumb, I shoved my hands into my jeans pocket shuffling my feet awkwardly.

''Oh honey is that what you thought?'' Cecily asked regaining herself

I shrugged, again not really knowing how to respond.

She composed herself, and took a deep breath

''No Hun, Dave is my younger brother''

''Oh''

Oh.

I was wearing her swimsuit.

We got to her room, and she showed the door open.

I wasn't really paying attention till I stepped in and looked up, on the giant four poster bed; lay the blonde haired tattooed boy, with Regina Miller, a senior at Crescent high, straddling him

''Oh god'' I blurted, and shielded my eyes

All the words that Cecily was about to say, evaporated when she saw my face

Cecily chuckled at my response, then snapped back into it

''Fuck no! - I said not in my room Finn'' she snapped, the tone of her voice sent me flinching

Regina turned around and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

Cecily glared daggers at her

''Scram you desperate whore''

The boy on the bed shrugged his shoulders and folded his arms behind his neck seemingly unfazed by all of this

''You back, three weeks, and you manage to shag almost the whole of Crescent high's population.'' Cecily remarked, picking up the girls jacket, and throwing it at her.

The boy got up, and pulled on a white t shirt.

Glancing at me for the first time, he winked.

Creep.

Regina left the room, and Cecily was back to her normal cheerful bubbly self

I turned around to where Cecily was busy rummaging through her drawers for something for me to wear, I assumed.

''Who's your friend?'' The boy asked, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it in between his lips.

Cecily ignored him and pulled out a juicy couture crop top and held it up, then bit her lip

''Too much?'' she asked turning to me

''Yeaaah'' I said slowly, not trying to sound ungrateful at the same time. Suddenly the idea of Cecily picking me out something to wear seemed like a bad idea

''You know what Cecily -, anything would do, even like a sweatshirt or something'' I said intimating to the word: sweatshirt.

But Cecily's attention was not focussed on me

''What are you still doing here?'' she said looking at the boy lying there on her bed, arms folded behind his neck

''I live here'' he said simply

Wait, how many of them lived here?

I definitely didn't ask him how long he was dating Dave.

Cecily sighed and rolled her eyes.

She yanked open a cupboard, and pulled out a grey hoodie, then nodded approvingly.

I glanced down at the cup that I forgot I was holding in my hands till now

Ugh screw it.

I threw the contents into my mouth, and downed it in almost one go

I heard the boy smirk

Cecily turned around.

''See even your presence is a bad influence'' she swatted the boys arm.

'' It wasn't me, I've literally done nothing'' he chuckled holding up his hands palms facing Cecily in poor defence.

The liquid was horrible as it rolled over my tongue I couldn't help scrunching my face

Cecily tossed the hoodie at me and I caught it square.

''You can change in there, she said pointing to a white wooden door behind me, seeing that the boy lying on the bed was not going to listen to her

''Where is the fun in that?'' the boy teased

''Go find another skank Finn'' Cecily said nonchalantly.

Finn

I pulled off the white tee, and jeans, and then slipped out of the swimsuit.

Pulling on the sweater over my head and my damp jeans on again I exited the bathroom, holding the rest of the slightly damp clothes in my hand.

''Thanks for the sweatshirt''

''No problem doll''

I glanced at the figure slipping out of the room and shutting the door behind him

Cecily looked in the same direction

''That's, my brother Finn, the one I might worry slightly about too much'' she sighed and turned towards me.

This was news to my ears, that there was another brother, I felt like I was uncovering the Windell family tree

''How many siblings do you have?'' I asked curiosity getting the better hold of me

''It's just the three of us, Finn, me, and Dave.'' she didn't seem to mind telling me this, even though I was biting down on the inside of my lip. - For my questions knew no limits

''And you're the oldest?''

''Yep''

''Unfortunately'' she muttered under her breath

And I almost didn't catch it