P A R K E R

08 | for the best

FRIDAY ROLLS AROUND fast and I'm more than ready to end this school week. Turns out Nova was right about the rumors. Instead of the sympathetic looks of pity I usually got from everyone after Bryce left, now I get glares too, sneers and gossip trailing my every move. I threw myself into cheerleading practice. With everything happening I don't want to give Riley the satisfaction of finding a fault in me and kicking me out. Its one of the only things keeping me sane and rooted.

I don't think Sean knows about the rumors because it's as if he's trying to get involved with me more and more, rarely leaving me alone. He had lunch with me at the bleachers and ate up my remaining food, which was all of it. I don't mind the company at all. Sean and I are actually starting to get along and it's good. I might need him more than I'm letting on.

Now it's Friday and I'm going clubbing with Nova and a few friends from school. The only person I know and like among this 'few friends' is Blake Trinke and I sure hope his evil twin sister isn't coming along. I don't even know how tonight's gonna turn out. I keep hoping that a goes well but my pessimistic side keeps nudging me that shit is gonna blow up in my face.

I love partying or I did. Bryce and I were the party duo and its because of him, I actually know what I'm doing among a throng of drunk people. There's no kind of party he doesn't go to as Bryce Bryan and as star quarterback, and surely he drags me along. We party a lot and I grew to like it. I love dancing and partying involves dancing too.

Bryce and I took our first taste of alcohol together at a young age of nine. We hated it. We still do- did. He rarely drinks and he always says he'd like to be sober while he does crazy things so he can remember them and tell them to his grandchildren one day. Funny how he took his stories to the grave. And he's a crazy drunk and does stupid unpredictable things. To keep me from always looking out for his ass, he stays away.

I gonna get drunk at this party. I'm gonna get so drunk and do crazy things for us both. I might or might not remember them later on but that's okay. Grandchildren can kiss my ass.

"I'm gonna do this for me and you. You watch and see from heaven, you'll sure laughing your ass out after tonight." I choke out and that's when I realize that tears are streaming down my face.

"Knock knock, Parker?"

My eyes snap up to the door and I quickly start wiping at my tears. The last thing I need is more pity. Mom doesn't wait for me to answer before she opens up the door and steps in. Her eyes find me sprawled down on the floor in a heap of clothes. I quickly sit up and smile at her but she doesn't buy it.

"Parker what's going on?" She closes the door behind her and makes purposeful steps towards me. "I heard you talking... who were you talking to?"

I look around for my phone, an alibi, but its nowhere near me. I sigh, "myself."

"Parker..." She sinks to the floor beside me, her expression morphing into a worried one.

"It's fine. I was just giving myself a pep talk."

"Pep talk for what?"

"Nova and I are going to a party and it my first one since everything, so, I'm a bit nervous." I say and her features change into a soft one, before she shifts her face to mine and studies me.

"Baby you were crying."

My hands touch my moist cheeks like its new news to me. I shake it off. "Yeah, its-- its something that comes with the nervousness."

She sighs, buying it. Or not. "Sweetie if you're nervous maybe you shouldn't be going to a party, I mean its still soon, you can wait--"

"No mum." I cut her off. "I should go, I did this a lot before and I'm just trying to get my life back to... normal."

"Fine," she says reluctantly, "then let Trey comes with you. In case anything happens."

"Trey? No mum, Trey has better things to spend his Friday nights doing than babysit his junior sister and how would that look to my friends." I whine, hoping she changes her mind. Trey would literally ruin things.

Mum places a hand on her chin as she thinks about it. "Sean's coming?"

"Uh-- I don't know. Why?"

"You're allowed to go if Sean's coming along."

"What? Why?" I ask wondering how Sean came into this.

"Because he's older than you, he's eighteen right?" I nod with a frown. "I trust that kid. He's has always been looking out for you, one more night won't hurt."

"And if he's not invited?"

She gets up and pats my cheek affectionately. "Then I suggest you run along and invite him now before its too late. No Sean, no Party."

I huff, crossing my hands as she leaves the room with a satisfied smile. My evening was well planned, now because of my mum the only thing missing out is Sean Bryan. My babysitter. I quickly text Nova asking if she invited Sean.

'Nova' - of course I did. But he said he wouldn't make it, so, bummer?

Dang it.

Tossing my phone unto my bed, I got off the ground and hurried down the stairs and out of the house, going straight to the neighbors. I didn't bother knocking and the door wasn't locked as usual. I rushed in and was surprised when I saw Sean on the sofa, playing video games. I walked closer and he didn't even notice my presence.

"Hi Parker." Or he did.

I crossed my hands, "how did you know I was the one?"

"I perceived you." He says eyes still stuck on the television. I waited for him to say something else or laugh it off but he didn't.

"And that isn't weird at all."

He pushed his head back on the sofa to see me, even though upside down. He had a smile on. "I was going for hot like the vampires you're obsessed with but weird works too."

I rolled my eyes sitting on the arm of the sofa and watching the game unfold. "So how did you really?"

He gestured to the television with his game pad. "I saw you through the screen."

I nodded in understanding then flicked his head. "The door wasn't locked. Ever heard of robbers?"

He scoffed, "I could take them if any dared come."

"Even those with guns?"

He smirked turning to look at me. "Piece of cake."

I flicked his head again and this time he reacted with an ow. "Don't be so sure, you egoist. Lock the doors."

"Fine but then how would you be able to barge in?"

I shrugged, "I've got a key."

He stops his game for a second to look at me, to tell if I'm joking or not. I'm not. "Of course you do. I'm not surprised."

I smiled and collected the game pad from him, ignoring the look he shoots me. "You should be getting dressed, we're going clubbing."

He makes a raspberry with his lips. "I'm not."

"Why not?"

He does a one shoulder shrug, "Not in the mood."

"What can put you in the mood?"

He turns to me, "are you going?"

I nod eagerly, hoping he'll change his mind. He claps his hands together, getting up the seat. "Have fun then."

"Come on, are you saying no to free alcohol?" He nods. "Its gonna be fun. You'll love it and I'll need you there."

"You've got Blake." He points out walking into the kitchen and I follow behind him.

"He's totally gonna get wasted before we even make it in."

"And what makes you sure I wouldn't?" He raises a challenging brow.

"Because you're you. If drinking with my brother has shown anything, it's that you hold your alcohol in well." I latched unto his muscled arm with a pout, "Please Sean?"

The next thing I know he's lifting me up and dropping me down on the graphite counter that's oddly comfortable under my butt. I sit with a little yelp and widen my eyes as Sean's hand land on my thigh, moving my legs a little and creating space for him to walk into. I blink at him so close wondering what he's up to and mentally searching for a hard object around arms reach.

"Why do you want me at the club, Parker?" He asks now almost at the same eye level with me.

I gulp, "because my mum says that's the only way she'll let me go. She wants you to babysit me." I sigh, "embarrassing, I know but-" I place my hand on his shoulder, "I really want to go Sean."

His eyes move to my hand on his shoulder and I quickly withdraw. He sighs. "Babysitting is a hard job." I frown about to say something but he cuts me off. "I'll meet you when you're ready."

Its when he walks away that I let myself smile. "Well, aren't you going to bring me down?"

"Nope."

"Why did you take me up then?" I ask easily jumping down.

"Its stressful talking to a short person. I think you're getting shorter."

"Your face is shorter!"

I stomp out of the house with a red face and Sean's echoing laughter.

O_o

When my mum took me out on a cheer up shopping spree I hated it. I grumbled through out and had a permanent frown etched on my face. Shopping was the last thing I wanted to do but Mom insisted. She practically forced the clothes down on me, dragging me to the mirror and later buying a whole lot of it. I didn't see the use and I wasn't grateful at all but now I was.

I had a bunch of new untouched clothes in my wardrobe and some I'm yet to unpack. It was like shopping all over again just that this time, everything would fit and look good on me. I still had a dilemma choosing the right outfit for the night but I eventually settled for a black dress that stopped mid thigh. It didn't have any shiny shiny things on it but it still rocked. It had noodle strap and a bunched up low neck.

I pulled it on and checking myself in the mirror. While pulling out the price tag, Nova walked into the room.

She gasped on seeing me, "Oh God Parker. You look hot."

"Thank you." I said and looked at her outfit too, it was just as pretty even more. "You look great Nova."

She nods coming to stand beside me. "Yeah but I need exercise. Look how skinny and hot you are. I'm tripping."

I laughed looking at her full chest and bum, then at mine. Then at her rosy cheeks and my dry pale ones. "Really? How can you say that?"

"Because its true."

"No its not. Since when is healthy not the best?" I released my hair from the bun it was in and ran a brush through it. I curled it earlier and now it fell over my shoulders in large wave curls. I coated my lashes with mascara and dabbed my lips red.

"You aren't healthy?" Nova asked looking at me as she sat on my bed, crossing her legs over each other.

I rolled my eyes, wearing black stilettos. "I'm a walking stick. Can't you see the bones."

She laughed, "Well that's what the fashion industry likes and you've always been skinny its not like you can do anything about it."

True. My lack of food isn't doing much to my body. I've always been skinny. I look at myself. "Do you think eating more would help my boobs? I'm practically flat chested." If Nova wore this dress, she'd have so much cleavage showing. I had little to none. The dress won't fit into her but if.

"If it makes you feel better, your ass is ass goals." Nova says and as I turn around to look at my flat ass and see the goal in them, the door opens up to reveal Trey and a puzzled look.

"Ass goals?"

Nova grins, "Hi Trey."

"Don't you know how to knock?" I ask glaring at him.

He shakes his head as if just recovering from what he heard. "I will next time. Sup, Nova, how's things?"

"Fine." Nova replies in a shy flirty voice. "I've missed you."

"Aww." He opens his hand out for her to come hug him and Nova's eyes widen like a kid who has just seen a chocolate late fountain. She leaps up the bed like a cat but I move to action immediately.

"Nova!" I jump in front of her and she literally groans. I turn to Trey. "Why are you here?"

He smirks, tearing his eyes off Nova. "Yeah, Sean's waiting outside for you."

"Thank you big brother." I say pushing him out and slamming the door shut.

"Abs-blocker." Nova mumbles, "What did you guys eat in Peru? Trey's hotter and I didn't know its possible."

"That's my twenty two year old brother Nova. Don't be gross." I tell her picking up my phone.

She waves it off. "Ooh oooh Sean's coming."

"Yea." I say as we exit the room.

"Can this night get any better?" Nova asks herself.

"I hope."

• • •

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x Ginika.