Ch.9

Claire and I arrive at the party at 9 and see that it is already in full swing. Claire parks the car about a block away and we walk towards the house. We are both wearing three inch heels, but are walking as if they were tennis shoes. We had walked in high heels for miles on numerous occasions, so it didn’t bother us any more.

We walk up to the front door of a party as a bunch of jocks dragged a freshman out. We ignore them and go inside. People were jammed into every available space around us. They part as best they can to let us walk through, though. Claire and I are the two hardest partiers of our grade. We determined if the party was good enough or not. One of us was usually the first to know about an upcoming party. A lot of lower classmen considered it the biggest accomplishment if either of us even showed up at one of their parties.

Because of our notorious partying, which Claire seemed to have continued to do without me this year, people are calling out hellos to us as we pass. Most of them neither of us have ever spoken to before, but we call out our hellos anyways.

I smile at all the people I pass on the way to the kitchen. This was an annual party that some kid had been having since freshman year, and so we knew where everything would be. I pass on the drink Claire offers me and tell her I will be dancing. She nods at me because it is easier then talking.

I walk away and out in to the backyard. The host, Trevor, has a huge sound system set up in the back. There are speakers placed around a large area that serves as the dance floor. I walk over and am greeted by more people I don’t know. I start dancing at the edge of the crowd and am swiftly pulled into the middle.

I let myself be lost in the music. Everyone is so tightly packed that no matter how I move I touch someone else. This doesn’t bother me as much as I had feared it would. I am a good dancer and I know a lot of people who like to just watch me. I had been able to dance since I was a little girl.

I jump a bit and let out a small shriek of surprise when I feel a hand on my shoulder though. I spin around and look up to find Edwin standing behind me. He doesn’t say anything and just turns me back around. He steps up so my body is pressed against his, and we start dancing.

Once again, I lose myself in the music. Edwin and my bodies sway as one, so it is easy to forget everything. I let lose everything I’ve been holding in. I feel the darkness fade from inside me and a light replaces it. I was actually happy to be here, surrounded by people pressed to close to me, a layer of sweat covering my body, and pressed against my fiancé.

“I am going to go get a drink,” I say as I am panting for air.

“Ok,” Edwin answers.

I walk up and grab a pop out of the cooler. Cracking it open, I drink it fiercely. I stop to take a breath and glance around. I do a double take when I see Chris dancing with another girl. He is dancing with Macy, the girl that is known as the popular whore. He seems really into it. I feel anger seep into me and hit every vain.

“What is going on girly?” I hear Claire say to me, but I don’t respond.

“What’s wrong?” She says and after a moment she sighs, “Ohh…”

“Mhm,” I manage to say and I think I can’t ever get a break can I?

“Hazel, don’t pay attention to him. Guys are idiots.”

My eyes stay fixed. Suddenly Chris looks up and sees me. He almost smiles but then frowns and looks down. He then begins to dance harder and faster.

“You asshole!” I say loud enough for him to hear.

“Hazel?” I hear Edwin’s voice now.

I snap out of it now and look at him.

“Yes!” I say in a loud and angry voice.

“I was just… wondering if you wanted to get out of here…” He says shyly.

“Gladly!” I yell and take his hand, “Claire! Take me home please!”

I stomp out of the place as quickly as possible. I don’t know why, but I am fuming. I feel mad at him. God! Why would he stoop so low to her!

“Calm down Hazel,” I hear Claire say from behind me.

“No! I can’t!” I fume.

“Someone is jealous…” I hear Claire mumble.

“I am not!” I scream at her.

I step into the car and slam the door. Looking out into the yard, I see Chris standing there staring at me.

“Hazel!” I hear him call my name.

Claire ducks down from her window, “Talk to him Hazel.”

I get out of the car and walk to the front of the car. He meets me there.

“Hazel, why did you call me that?” He says in confusion and anger.

“Why don’t you go back to dancing with Macy!? You seem to be into it!” I scream again.

“I have to live my life,” he tells me with sadness in his voice, “I can’t be with you so I have to try to find something that makes me happy. I didn’t ask to get my heart ripped out. I didn’t ask for any of this. So ya I am going to dance with Macy because I need to let loose. If I have to live without you, you have to live with me being with other girls.”

“But to stoop as low as Macy?” I ask quietly.

“It’s… temporary, Hazel.” Chris says. He reaches out his arm as if to take my hand but then stops and pulls back. A pained expression crosses his face as Edwin walks up to us.

“Hey.” Chris says and Edwin nods in acknowledgment. “I’ll see ya around.”

With that Chris walks away from me. I stare after for a second and then turn my attention to Edwin.

“I can take you home, if you would like ya know.” He says. Then he turns to Clare and says, “Or if you want to stay…”

“It’s up to Hazel.” Clare says.

“You can take me home.” I say to Edwin. “Stay here and enjoy yourself, Claire.”

“If you’re sure…” Claire hesitates. I nod and she says, “Alright… I’ll text you when I get home and we can talk if you want.”

I nod again as she walks away.

When she is gone Edwin turns to walk a little farther down the street. He tells me, “My car is just down here a ways.”

“Mkay… Just one second….” I say as I stop. I reach my hand out for his arm as I bend down and take off my heels. When I’m down, I sling the bands over one of my fingers and say, “Okay. That feels much better!”

Edwin just laughs and shakes his head at me as we start walking again. He reaches down and hesitates in shyness, then takes my hand and laces his fingers through mine. His touch is so fearful and unsure it makes me want to scream.

I take a deep breath, however, and squeeze his hand to let him know that it’s okay, that he isn’t doing anything wrong. When I do, I hear him let out a breath that it sounded like he was holding. I glance at him and it looked like is entire posture had relaxed to some degree. I smile to myself, glad that he was finally relaxing with me.

We walk in silence the rest of the way to his car. When we get to it, he walks me to the passenger side of the car and opens the door for me.

“Thank you.” I say, giving him my most flirtatious smile.

“Of course.” He responds, closing the door and walking around to the driver’s side door.

The perfect gentleman… I think to myself as he starts the car and heads towards home.