I glanced over my shoulder at the boys behind me, clutching my books a little tighter. The second I had passed them they'd started whispering. I got one of those feeling where you just know they are talking about you. So, either I was right and I did look like a life size barbie, or Lorie’s make over had actually worked and they thought I was cute.
I heard a skateboard coming up behind me and knew is was them.
“Hey Aero,” they were referring to the brand along my sleeve. One of them cut in front of me forcing me to stop, “what's your name?”
I couldn't decide if his v-neck and Jedi braid made him cool or scary. I didn't bother answering him and just walked around, but then another one cut me off again.
The second road block had a sort of bird's nest style to his hair and ear buds hanging out of his shirt. All of them did actually, but for some reason his bright green ones got your attention, “Come on, we just want a name.”
This guy didn't scare me any less, but I talked to him, “Why?”
The last guy took that as his cue to jump in, “'cause he they think you're hot, duh.”
Bird's-Nest gave him a could-you-have-said-something-more-stupid-look and Jedi-Braid shoved him off his skateboard. I took that as my cue to leave, but they hurried and blocked my path. Again.
“Can I go, please?” their scariness was turning into annoyance.
Bird's-Nest kicked up his skateboard, blocking my path even more, “Not till you give us a name.”
Fine, “Gabby.”
“Gabby...?”
“You said a name, not two.”
“First and last counts as one.”
I rolled my eyes, “Smith.”
“Liar.”
Seriously? “How do you know?”
“Because only boring girls are named Smith, and I'm already thoroughly entertained.”
Was that an attempt at being romantic? “You're going to make me late.”
Jedi-Braid smiled, “Your boyfriend can wait.”
“I don't-” why was I telling him this? “look, if I tell you my name do you promise to let me leave?”
“Absolutely.”
I adjusted the books in my arm, “Gabriela Newman. My friends call my Gabby.”
The name caused a reaction in their faces and they both looked at each other as if they had solved some clever puzzle.
Bird's-Nest smiled, “Cute name,” then they all jumped on their board and rode off as fast as they had come.
I looked back to watch them leave and Jedi-Braid waved, “See you at Lorie’s party.”
Okay, now I was freaked out.
* * *
Lorie was famous for the parties she gave. Well actually it was Lorie's sister, Jessica, who was famous for her parties. But Jessica had graduated last year and now people were happily putting her sophomore sister in to fill her spot. So now it was the famous Lorie parties. There was no way you were going to even be considered as a person worth paying attention too until you had been to at least one of her parties. And there was no way you were going to make it up the social ladder unless you had fully participated in one.
The reason Lorie's parties were famous wasn't because they were extra naughty, there weren't couples in the closet, there weren't bottle of beer everywhere; Lorie’s parents would never have condoned that. The reason Lorie's parties were famous is because they were daring. Truth or Dare was the top game of these events and they played rather elaborate versions too. Probably more then half the school had gotten their first kiss at a Lorie party and apparently you could go home and actually tell your parents all that went on. I was curious to see how true the accounts were. Maybe her parties were really famous because she had managed to keep them so secret from adults.
Lorie had dressed me up again for the party. I was wearing white stitched skinny jeans with so many rhinestones on the back pockets, I was wondering if they would be uncomfortable to sit in. My tank top had a shrug over it and my hair was in loose, long ringlets. The blue color of my top looked gorgeous on me and the excessive amounts of bracelets I was wearing actually added to the look. According to my sister, I looked way to hot for a 9th grader and I agreed with her, only I thought of it as a good thing.
From the stories I had heard, I expected there to be at least a hundred people at this party. Lorie's house was huge and I was counting on being able to get my few 'participating' kisses with a too-busy-to-be-interested audience or without one at all.
I was wrong.
Too my shock and dismay, when I walked through the door to the ultra big, ultra cool, party room, there were probably only a dozen people there. If that.
Lorie ran up to greet me, instantly gushing at how cute I looked and how she must have a gift for picking out my clothes.
“Where is everyone? I thought you said your guests were usually in the hundreds?”
She looked confused, “Well, yeah, at my big parties. But my parents only let me have those every three months. This is one of my ultra-exclusive small parties.”
She said the last part as if it was one of the most fantastic things I could ever experience, “What?!” I was whispering, but my tone was outraged, “Lorie, you said I wouldn't have to worry about people watching!”
She laughed, “Relax Gabby, you don't. All of these people are super cool. You should be thanking me, if you hit it off at this party, you might never have to come to one of my parties again and still retain your status. Although I know you'll want to come back; few don't.”
“You know,” I was becoming very bitter at this girl, “you think rather highly of your party throwing abilities, don't you?”
She laughed, “Yes, but so does everyone else, so don't try to deny it's true.”
“You could be more humble though.”
“I know, but what's the fun in that?”
I had to give her points, since she managed to say this without sounding like a vain jerk. In fact, I was beginning to believe that she actually was kind of humble...in a weird sort of way.
“Now come on, you're going to love tonight,” she grabbed my hand and led me to join the rest of the group on the couches.
Pretty much every guy there was insanely cute. I was both worried and relived to see the two skater boys on the couch across from me. Relived, because the fact that they were here meant they weren't the creepers I thought they were. Worried, because they were both giving me this you-look-hot- face.
I pulled a pillow in front of me, hoping it would act as a sort of shield, whereas Lorie positioned herself in a way that made it look like she was showing off her figure. I was starting to understand why she had a new boy friend every month. I was also further believing that this was going to be an interesting party, since she was currently single.
We were still waiting for people to show up, so I leaned over to Lorie to find out exactly who these still-staring-skater-boys were.
“Who are the two boys right across from us? are they brothers?” they looked it.
Lorie discretely pointed to Jedi-Braid then Bird's-Nest and then looked back at me, “That's Avery and Nolan. They're not brothers, but they might as well be. They are always together and since Avery's dad is a pilot, he sleeps at Nolan’s house almost every other night. Half of his stuff is in Nolan's room. It's almost like joint custody.”
“What about his mom?”
“She died when he was five,” she looked down at her nails seeming a little embarrassed, “I dated him once. He's pretty cool.”
“Why'd you break up with him?”
She bit her lip looking more embarrassed, “Actually, he broke up with me.”
That was one I hadn't heard before. Lorie was almost never the dumpie, “Oh, I'm sorry. Was it another girl?”
She shook her head, “That was the worst part. It wasn't anything, no fight, no drama, he just got bored with me I guess.”
Bored with Lorie? I would have to look into that later, find out what really happened.
She shook her head as if to clear the sad thoughts and put on a sincere smile, “Looks like every one is here. Let's start.”
I made the mistake of looking right at the skater boys as soon as Lorie got up. They both winked at me. Great, now they knew I was talking about them.
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