(21) The Penny

On the way home from work when Will picked her up, Makennah watched seventeen makeup tutorials on YouTube until she found a look she thought she could master - a Smokey eye that didn't take too much effort or technique because Makennah simply wasn't skilled in that arena. Frequently Will asked her questions inquiring about girls things, trying to grasp some knowledge about all things feminine. At first, she found it kind of annoying. But then she told herself it was endearing because Will never had a girl in the family before and he was just trying to get to know her and understand her world better. If anything, she should appreciate it.

As soon as she got home, she raced upstairs and jumped in the shower to wash off the smell of lasagna and garlic bread sticks. She wrapped herself in a fluffy towel and began her beautification ritual - freaking out internally while telling herself she was a capable young woman.

An hour and a half later, Makennah loosened up with some music and felt better about her outfit choice after she texted Grace a picture. Grace then tossed her whole outfit out the door and decided on something else.

Just before they were about to leave, Makennah wrapped herself in a sweater and slipped on some flats.

Matt came to get Makennah and internally she started freaking out. Nervous butterflies took flight in her belly, and her hands started to shake. Makennah could handle herself at a party. In fact, she knew her way around a crowd, could handle her liquor pretty well, and got along with everyone no matter how drunk they were. She could think clearly in a crises even if she was tipsy and could proudly flaunt her skills if someone handed her the aux cord.

But this was different. Everything was different.

This time, it was a party of all rich kids probably in some mansion.

This time, she dressed to impress and hopefully turn heads.

This time, she didn't know everyone and wasn't sure how well she could mingle. She had no clue what the mood of the party would be.

This time, she didn't know if it would be small, big, loud, intimate, or flat out wild. Her lack of expectations is what caused her anxiety.

Matt, Nick, Josh, and Makennah sneaked out the front door together with their overnight stuff. Makennah was so nervous she tripped down the stairs and Josh caught her. They fell into the car in heaps of laughter. Her nervousness did that to her.

"Alright I gotta change. No peeking."

"Aye aye Captain." Nick saluted her jokingly and shifted in the passenger seat so that he couldn't see her.

Josh covered his eyes with his hands and Matt maintained eye contact with the road.

Swiftly, Makennah kicked off her flats and wiggled out of her jeans. She replaced the jeans with a boho-chic faded orange skirt which accented all of her curves and hugged her hips deliciously. Instead of flats, she tied on nude suede espadrilles with a low wedge. Lastly, she ditched the sweater, donned a gold necklace that hung between her cleavage, drawing the eye, and swiped on a cinnamon colored lipstick with red hues that smoked out her entire makeup look.

"Okay you can look."

"Hey you look great!" Josh offered her a fist bump. She wondered if he said that just because he felt he had to as her brother.

"Thanks," she mumbled and fidgeted with her hair. another department where she entirely lacked skills. She'd have to get Grace's opinion once they arrived at the party. She could always take it down.

As they arrived on the street with the party, it became blatantly obvious because of all the cars that lined the streets a mile away from the mansion. As Matt cruised past them all, Makennah noticed all of the kids from their school trudging along the sidewalk to the party.

When they neared the house, a guy that Makennah had seen hanging out with Matt frequently waved them into a reserved parking spot. They just arrived and they were obviously VIP? She wasn't prepared for this.

Gulping back the nerves, Makennah's heart settled low in her tummy. A little light headed, she took deep breathes. All she had to do was not completely embarrass herself tonight. She could do that.

Ever the gentleman, Matt opened the door for Makennah and ushered her out of the Jeep. Having prepared for parties before, Makennah tucked all of her necessary items into her black crocheted bralette so that she didn't have to carry anything, save her phone.

As she exited the vehicle and straightened her skirt, Matt greeted his friends and so did Nick.

"Let's go!" Nick yelled on the other side of the Jeep and motioned for everyone to come inside.

Josh ran inside first and instantly found a group of friends and girls which he wrapped his arms around. She shook her head, knowing Josh felt like he was on cloud nine as a freshman at a senior party.

The music pounded in her ears as Makennah mounted the many expansive stairs into the house. Matt held the door open for her so she sauntered inside, steady in her heels. Glancing around, she confidently wormed herself through the crowd, acting like she knew where she was going.

"Mack!" A familiar voice shouted above the music.

She spun around in the grand foyer with marble floors, a winding staircase which was decorated with party litter, and a hanging chandelier and spotted Grace and some friends. "Hi!" Per usual party linguistics, Makennah hugged everyone and commented on their outfits and makeup. "Grace, you look gorgeous!"

"Um please. I'm a dull little nothing next to you. That is hot. And your hair is so cute!" Grace fingered the ends of Makennah's hair.

She spun around for show and did a little pose. "Are you sure?"

"Yes it's adorable!" Grace assured her.

"So cute. You need to wear it like that more often." Meredith welcomed herself into the conversation in her hole-y faded boyfriend jeans and a tight black top. She hugged Makennah sideways and whispered in her ear, "That's a I'm-getting-laid type of outfit."

Makennah leaned into her side and said, "Definitely not happening."

Meredith rolled her eyes and nodded behind Makennah. "I wouldn't be so sure about that especially the way Prince Charming is looking at you."

Some of the nerves coursing through her system started to die down in the presence and reassurance of her friends. She could handle all of this with them by her side. Then she registered what Meredith said....

"Prince Charming?" She questioned.

"Let's go get a drink!" Penny shot Meredith a look, hooked her arm through Makennah's and dragged her down a long hallway to the back of the house where the music originated from.

Grace sidled up beside her. "So did you put this together with someone in mind?"

Thank God it was dark save for the lights strung on the walls and the colorful flashing lights outside that illuminated the pool area. "No I dressed nice for myself."

"Can I fill you in on something?" Penny and Makennah paused while Grace greeted some of her friends. She returned and picked up right where she left off. "You are absolutely the worst liar I've ever met."

"True!" Penny added.

"100% agree!" Meredith piped up behind her.

"I don't even like any of you!" Makennah announced and flounced away to the bar by herself. She ran away from her friends and slammed up against the side of the dark wood glossy bar. Laughing, she dodged behind the bar to avoid her friends.

It was probably the only safe area in the entire house or property. No one stood behind the bar or lingered around it. They just hopped in and out to fetch a beer or drink then disappeared.

When her friends arrived, Makennah barred them from slipping behind the bar. "Ah ah ah, excuse you but only the bartender may reside behind the bar!" She smoothed her hand along the length of the bar and flipped her hair dramatically over her shoulder.

"Alright alright I'll take a beer!" Meredith waved her over, going along with the act.

All of her friends crowded around the bar top, holding out their cups for refills.

"A beer coming right up!" Figuring it was a free for all, Makennah dug into the double wide fridge with glass doors and found Meredith a Corona and lime. Digging through some drawers, she located a bottle opener and popped the cap off. "Cash only!" She informed them all seriously.

"Oh shut up and get me a drink!" Penny joked, holding out her cup.

"Feisty one!"

"Always the red head!" Grace mocked.

Mouth dropping open, Penny shoved Grace aside and almost knocked her over. Before, Makennah couldn't tell that Grace was intoxicated but she could sense now that she totally was.

"Alright what will the redhead have?"

Penny answered for herself. "Fix her up something special!"

A task set ahead of her, Makennah focused on what she was doing instead of thinking about the Prince Charming that Meredith mentioned and how he had already spied her across the room...however she had yet to see him.

Bopping to the music, Makennah mouthed the words and sifted through a plethora of liquor bottles on the counter and stacked behind The bar. Having hosted many many parties with her alcoholic mother and her friends, Makennah carried a unique set of skills for mixing drinks for someone her age. Countless nights she poured drinks for her mom's friends and warded off handsy old men. So she whipped up a cute little drink for Penny with lemonade as the base, a splash or two or peach schnapps and whiskey. The drink turned a coppery color over ice.

"I call it the Penny!" She announced and handed the drink over.

"Okay girl you fancy!" Penny tasted her drink and her eyes went wide with surprise. "I don't even like whiskey and this is so good!"

"I want a Penny!" Grace shouted out.

"Coming up!" Snatching her cup out of her hands over the bar, Makennah mixed another Penny for Grace. She was astounded at the quality of the products behind the bar, the bar tools and equipment as well as the glasses and serving specials. Clearly this family hosted fabulous parties from their own house.

Mixing Grace's Penny over ice, she lifted the cup and leaned across the counter to give it to Grace. All of the girls were busy dying laughing over something silly that Grace did so she set the glass down.

Smiling at her friends antics, Makennah felt a pair of eyes on her. Her gaze flitted around the room to find the source.

Across the room, her eyes connected with Prince Charming.

Theodore Alexander Rose III.

Lifting his beer bottle to his lips, Theo winked at her and continued chatting with a group of his friends. She tried to tear her gaze away from him but she couldn't. Never before had she seen Theo in this setting or type of mood. He was relaxed but obviously carrying the conversation, flitting from friend to friend. His smile never left his lips. His hair swept back casually from his face in soft waves. The lights played over tan skin, illuminating his happiness.

"What's a Penny? I want one!" A cute curvy brunette approached the bar and held out her cup, snapping Makennah back to attention.

"It's a drink named after me!" Penny yelled throwing up her hands and dancing to the music.

"It has whiskey in it. Is that okay?" She asked the girl.

"Yeah! Can you make my friends one too? Guys, give her your cups!" She smiled and collected all of her friends cups.

"Sure!" Happy to hide behind the bar away from the conglomerations of people, Makennah lined up their cups, filled them with ice and poured a shot or two of whiskey in each glass. She added the peach schnapps and topped it off with lemonade. "Here ya go!"

"Ooo what's that?" She heard another group of girls say. "Let me try!" "WOW that's so good!" "I'm gonna get one!"

"Hey!" Bree, a friend from the soccer team approached the bar and motioned to her friends behind her. "Okay, hottest bartender I've ever seen, we need some Penny's!"

"I'm freaking famous!" Penny yelled, holding up her cup and cheering to her friends.

Shaking her head at Penny, Makennah grabbed their cups and started mixing some more Penny's. "Sure thing! Coming right up!"

"Hey what's your name?" One of Bree's friends asked.

"Makennah!" She yelled over the music.

"You're so pretty!" Her other friend said.

"Thank you!" She smiled nicely and returned their drinks. "Enjoy!"

"Bye, Makennah!" They waved and merged into the crowd.

"I have doubts about your age, Miss. Can I see your ID?" A husky deep voice said behind her.

Makennah spun around and found Theo standing much closer than she anticipated. Startled, she took a step back and bumped into the counter top. The space behind the bar was suddenly much smaller and compact with Theo crowding her with his powerful presence.

"If we're checking IDs, you're first." She pointed to his beer bottle.

Smirking, he finished off his beer and tossed the bottle in the trash can. It clattered to the bottom with many of its empty friends. "Alright you win." A huge smile bloomed on his lips. He seemed like he was going to say something else but he got distracted by looking at her. She slacked a hip and lifted her chin as his eyes slid down her entire body, lingering with heat over the places he obviously appraised more. His gaze danced back up her tan toned legs across her curvy hips into the dip of her skinny waist and swam over the hills of her chest. His eyes focused on the area between her cleavage - so the necklace did the trick.

Finally, with hooded eyes, Theo dragged his gaze up slowly to her eyes. Her entire body felt like it was on fire where his eyes touched her.

"You didn't hold back, huh?" He said. She cocked her head as if she didn't know what he meant. Stepping up in front of her, one finger touched her bare shoulder and slipped underneath the skinny black strap of her bralette. "Every guy in here is picturing themselves undressing you now."

Makennah laughed because that was just preposterous. "No one has seen me. I'm hiding behind the bar." She leaned back to create some space between them but Theo followed suit and crowded her space even more.

His finger drew back from her bralette. The back of his hand tantalizingly traced down the sensitive inside of her arm all the way to her wrist. His thumb softly traced the area where her pulse beat wildly. A whisper of a touch grazed her hip before drawing back. "It's really cute that you're a hot little bartender, but this..." he motioned to her outfit. "...deserves to be seen. Stop hiding behind the bar and go mingle."

She cleared her throat and willed her arm to stop tingling where he touched her. "Well I haven't made myself a drink yet."

Theo shifted back and grabbed Makennah two cups. "And what is the lady drinking this evening?"

She accepted the glasses. "Guess." She grinned mischievously. "And what are you having?"

"Whatever you're pouring," Theo said, propping a hip up against the counter beside her. He crossed his muscular arms over his chest as he thought about her drink of choice. "Something vodka?"

Remembering that Theo was drinking a beer earlier, she wondered if he was okay to mix alcohols but didn't mention anything. He was a big boy after all. "Try again," she said as she poured him a Jack Honey and Coke.

"I don't take you for a dark liquor type of person but maybe I'm wrong?" He raised an eyebrow.

She shrugged. "I don't know." Handing him his drink, he took a sip before answering again.

"Final answer: tequila."

Makennah shook her head with a grin. "Wrong. Tequila makes her clothes fall off, haven't you heard?"

"Oh is that where you draw the line?" He held up his glass. "Thanks."

"You're welcome and yes."

"Alright so fill me in. What's your drink of choice?"

Instead of answering with words, Makennah cracked open a two liter of sprite and poured it over the ice in her glass. Knowing he was watching, she stretched on tip toes and stuck her hips out to reach the bottle of Crown Royal on the shelf. Unscrewing the lid, she dashed two shots into her glass and mixed it with the Sprite.

"Fancy whiskey? Alright I didn't see that coming." Again Theo winked except it took a little bit of effort this time. Looking into his eyes, she noticed they were glazed over. Theo was a little drunk.

"I'm full of surprises," she flirtatiously said.

All of a sudden a shadow crossed over his features and he clenched his jaw angrily. "I'll be back." Downing his Jack and Coke, Theo quickly disappeared into the crowd, beelining for a hot blonde.

"Ooo do you know who that is?" Meredith asked. Suddenly all of her friends were behind her.

Makennah watched them with interest. "No."

"That's Theo's ex-girlfriend."

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Part 2 coming soon!!!

Xoxo

W. Carolina