"I'm going to the party." The words came out as a rush, unplanned, hardly even contemplated. Meg looked up at me from where she laid across from me on the grass.

"You? A party?" She asked raising an eyebrow.

"Well yeah. Max invited me." I shrugged trying to be casual.

"Exactly why you shouldn't go." Meg laughed. I'd told her I knew about what had happened, not the details per say, but I knew enough. She asked if I had bothered to check out the video but the truth was I'd contemplated it. But then I remembered the one circulating around about James. It didn't seem right.

"Yeah but it'll be a good place to socialize. I asked James and he said he'd go too." I'd talked to James earlier in the day and he'd agreed. I guess he thought he could recover some of his social dignity by going.

"Since when did you care?" Meg asked and I could hear the slight tone of irritation in her voice. "Bad things happen at parties Rey."

"Just because it did for you doesn't mean it will for me." The look of complete disgust that morphed her face was enough to sap all confidence from my demeanor.

"Well maybe I'm trying to protect you dumb ass." Meg said standing up. "Max is an evil conniving little girl. Think about it Rey. I'm not saving your scrawny ass from them. Besides why do you even want to go?"

"Because I'm just Reyna, Meg. Nobody knows me." I said looking up at her. She scoffed and rolled her eyes causing agitation to sprout inside me.

"I do. And James does. And Layla." Meg said listing them off. "That should be enough. You're Reyna McAllister you don't do social events."

"So why can't I start now?" I couldn't help getting at least a little defensive. Here she was acting like my parent telling me what I could and couldn't do. I'd already talked it over with my mom so she shouldn't have cared so much.

"You know what? Fine, go." Meg said rolling her eyes. "If you want to experience the social life I can't stop you but it's not all it's cracked up to be honey."

"Honey?" I scoffed raising an eyebrow. "You really do sound like my Mom."

"Whatever, see you around." Meg shook her head and left the park where we had taken as our spot to hang out.

"Where are you going?" I called after her.

"I'm talking to James!" She yelled back. Since when were the two of them talking? My guess was she was going to talk James out of it, or try to.

"Fine go ahead but he's not gonna listen." Meg rolled her eyes and flipped me off something she hadn't done in ages. I was surprised and couldn't help but feel my confidence completely deflate. She didn't do that to me, the others yeah sure they didn't care, but I'd told her a long time ago it was one of my pet peeves. Even if it was to a friend you didn't flip people off. Sure I was in high school and there was a bunch of vulgar and mostly playful gestures etcetera but it didn't mean I had to like them.

Then again ,call me a hypocrite, but if someone was deserving of being called a certain name then I'd say it. Which is exactly why I called after Meg that she was being an ass.

She didn't reply and simply kept walking until she disappeared from sight. Groaning I ran a hand through my hair in frustration. Was I really being stupid? Was it wrong to want to go just because of what Layla said? No...not really, I should be allowed to talk to other people. To try and fit in not just blend in.

In that moment I made up my mind, part of it to spite Meg, the other part because I really did want to go. If anything I'd make a friend or two, or just see how things had changed, get a feel for what it was like being back in town. I was going to the party.
---
As it turned out Meg had talked to James. He'd had a similar reaction as me. The two of them now both stood in my room the tension thick in the air. Meg had conceded in letting us go though it was pointless considering we were going anyways.

"I'm not bailing you guys out if something goes wrong." Meg said with her arms crossed. Her grey eyes were hard almost like a mother warning her kids.

"We'll be fine Meghan. Besides, we're both sensible. It's not like I'm going with Layla or Max." James said. He'd taken special care to comb his hair and coordinate a perfect 'less dorky outfit' in his words.

"No but they'll both still be there. Probably drinking just like last time." Meg said with a sigh.

"Layla isn't that bad, she warned me too." I argued trying to save some of her dignity even if she wasn't here to protect herself.

"Probably out of pity for herself." Meg snorted. "She feels guilty and she should."

"Meg get over it. It's in the past." James said calmly.

"Says the kid who's living on a bench to avoid his brother and self humiliation." Meg retorted getting defensive.

"What? You're living on a bench?!" I asked, looking worriedly at James.

"It was one night, and that was because Max was over." James said looking at the ground and hanging his head.

"Right cause Max is finally getting laid." Meg laughed sarcasm dripping from her tone.

"You don't know that." I pointed out.

"Whatever, just get going if you're going to go. I'll chill back home. I want to hear all about the shitty time you're about to have." Meg smiled her thin lipped sarcastic smirk and climbed out the window.

"God she's being so-"I didn't know the right words to finish my sentence.

"Stupid? Annoying? Obnoxious?" James suggested.

"Is all of the above an answer?" James laughed lightly at my response and the both of us headed downstairs. He'd decided to drive me there since I'd bothered with him ,despite his jerkiness, during the game. At least that's how he put it.

He wore a simple but fitting outfit, dark blue button up shirt, tan pants and relatively nice shoes. Neither of us were exactly sure what to wear so we'd guessed. I on the other hand went with my casual clothes which seemed to occupy every inch of my closet space. I never had any overly fancy outfits, or anything flashy for that matter, more of the reason why I blended in.

So today I'd decided to wear an outfit I hadn't worn in a long time. I wore simple black colored jeans, black combat boots, a plain black t shirt, and a blue plaid flannel. It used to be one of my routine outfits, one would see me wearing it at least once a week. But for some reason I'd grown tired of it.

Sitting in the passenger seat James expertly pulled out from his parking position and cranked up the radio. He still listened to classical music. I had never minded it much, it wasn't exactly my speed, but he'd always found that it helped him focus. Or in his words, stimulate his brain.

James was surprisingly not as careful a driver as I'd originally thought. He darted in and out of lanes quickly but he claimed it was because he could see things and process it faster than normal. I just said he had a rebel streak which he animatedly argued against.

It wasn't hard to find Max's house, it was big, massive even. It was two stories high polished white, with a big front door. Loud music blasted from inside and pulsing lights illuminated the area. The party started just before sunset, James and I had arrived late, but we didn't have trouble finding a parking spot. Just kidding. We had to walk a good distance after cramming into a small space next to the sidewalk.

James tucked his hands in his pockets and walked slowly towards the entrance like he was having second thoughts. Truth be told I was as well. Parties; I didn't go to parties for a few reasons. The music was loud, there were tons of people I didn't know...and yet here I was.

"We can do it James come on. We can at least have a good time together." I forced a smile and he gave me a look that told me he knew I was faking.

"Yo if it ain't ice boy." A kid waved spastically at us from the upstairs window. James hesitantly waved back. The kid cheered and tossed his drink out the window forgetting it was in his hand.

"A wonderful welcoming committee." James mumbled tugging me towards the door. Max opened it and the smile she had been wearing faltered a bit.

"James. Reyna." She glanced over her shoulder. "I didn't think either of you would come. Parties aren't exactly your speed."

"I had a change of heart. I figured I'm back now so I should try and have a bit of fun." Even I could hardly smile back at her. Not after knowing what had happened after Layla explained it all.

"Same, I figured it'd be best to stop wallowing in self pity." James said smiling. He was a much better actor than I was. "Besides who else is gonna keep an eye on Ashton?"

It was easy to tell that Max was fighting the urge to sneer as she stepped aside letting us in. Taking the first step inside I was immediately bombarded with stares.

"No way she's back." Someone whispered nudging their friend. Their face was one I briefly recalled from grade school.

"Five years. Man she looks hot." Another joked, drinking from his cup. The girl standing next to him with her arms wrapped around his waist narrowed her eyes at me.

"Yeah probably why that one kid a few years ago, what was their name...Me-" James tapped my shoulder distracting me from the others.

"Yeah?" I asked. He seemed a little uncomfortable and I noticed he had just as many people gawking at him as well.

"Know anyone here?" James asked walking slowly beside me.

"Not really but I'm sure we could talk to someone." I said guiding him by the elbow over to where the snacks were laid out. I reached for the bowl of pretzels when he grabbed my hand.

"Don't eat out of there." He whispered.

"Why not?" I asked. James pulled me away from the snacks and beverages keeping a hold of my hand.

"Do you have any idea what people touch around here and then shove their hands in snack bowls?" He asked. My cheeks flared up in embarrassment as all the possible ideas ran through my head.

"Yeah good point. Thanks for the save." I breathed glancing about. People studied us and I felt the immediate effects of what parties entailed. We were social outcasts and for once blending in wasn't exactly an option.

"No problem, let's just kind of greet and mingle. Deal?" He asked letting go of my hand.

"Works for me." With that I made my way through the crowd of snacking and drinking people towards the back patio which low and behold had a massive pool. Some wore bathing suits others didn't and loud voices made an incoherent chorus.

"Hey Rey." I turned seeing Layla smile at me and wave me over. Without a second thought I made my way over.

"Hey Layla what's up?" I asked looking at the other six people crowded around her. Two girls four boys.

"Sup." One of them said taking a drink from his cup.

"Hi." My voice was quieter than I meant it to be.

"Awe she's scared." One of the girls smiled. "First party?"

"Yeah actually. Not much of a socialite." I said glancing at the ground.

"That's okay I was the same but then theater happened and here I am." One of the guys said though he appeared to be a little tipsy.

"Well it's nice to meet you guys." I could feel myself relaxing a bit and forgetting the stares I had earned earlier.

"Touché mi amigo." Another boy smiled extending his hand. "The name's Jeffrey."

"Nice name. I'm Reyna." I smiled shaking his hand.

"So uh how do you know Layla?" He asked.

"Oh we were really good friends. Before I, uh, left." Jeffrey nodded glancing about.

"So what changed?" He asked glancing between the two of us. Layla and I both shifted awkwardly.

"Long explanation." Layla said smiling warmly. Even I could have been fooled into thinking it was a simple explanation, despite knowing the truth. I guess acting really had become a talent of hers. "But Rey I heard you came with James, know where he is?"

"What?" I turned around to see that James had disappeared from sight. "Oh crap I left him."

"He'll be okay." Jeffrey shrugged.

"How do you know? He's not used to these things." My voice held a slight panic.

"Jeff is right Reyna. I'm sure he's okay and he is used to these things he's had parties at his place before. " Layla rested a hand on my shoulder. She'd yet to do anything friendly of the sort and it threw me off a bit, but it was nice.

"Yeah okay." I nodded blushing from embarrassment. "Sorry for worrying it's just James, he's also a good friend of mine."

"Do you like him?" One of the girls asked raising an eyebrow.

"What?" I laughed shaking my head. "No, he's like my brother."

"Just curious. But do you have a crush?" She asked seriously.

"No I don't like any of the guys at school. Then again I haven't talked to many of them. I just kind of hang out with James and my other friend Meghan in my free time." I smiled glancing at them. The girl who had asked the question shifted on her feet and Jeffrey took a long drawl from his cup. I got the feeling I'd said something wrong.

"Guess I shouldn't be surprised by that answer." Jeffrey said at last.

"What do you mean?" I asked confused.

"Nothing, I guess you wouldn't know." The girl said sharing a look with the others. Layla sighed and grabbed my arm tugging me away a bit.

"Reyna." She said shaking her head. "You didn't watch the video did you?"

"No. You know how I feel about that kind of thing." I replied not caring to keep my voice low.

"Look, just don't talk about her okay?" Layla said. "Everyone remembers what happened. Nobody wants to talk about it especially not while Max is hanging around as well as Ashton."

"Yeah but what happened was wrong. And it wasn't her fault." I argued.

"Okay maybe, but still, social reputations are on the line at these sorts of things." Layla explained before letting go of my arm. "Just stay cool okay and don't be stupid."

"Yeah." I knew this was Layla's way of politely saying I'd made things awkward and it was time to go. Without the slightest clue as to where James went I looked for another familiar face.

Deciding it would be best to look for James I wandered around for a bit before figuring that he'd probably gone outside and sat in the car. Walking outside it was strange to have the noise drop a lot no longer surrounded by loud voices and music. Walking down the sidewalk a bit I heard yelling.

My eyes settled on James in a yelling match with Ashton and about four other guys. Worried, I jogged over.

"James take it easy what happened?" I asked stepping between the two brothers.

"He slashed my tires!" James yelled shaking in anger. "That's my car you asshole!"

"Oh piss off James it was a joke!" Ashton said rolling his eyes. He seemed a little lethargic like he couldn't think clearly; his words coming out slow and thick. The other kids seemed all in various states of drunkenness some of them holding beer bottles.

"A joke?" James scoffed his eyes were wet with held back tears. "Guess who has to pay for those tires Ashton? Me!"

"Ash come on really? His tires?" I asked in exasperation. Ashton pushed me out of the way getting nose to nose with his brother.

"Don't push her like that." James said angrily.

"You got a problem with it buddy?" Ashton asked shoving James. James pushed his sleeves up and raised his fists. "Oh you want to fight huh?"

"Ashton stop." I grabbed his arm trying to tug him away but he shoved me off again and I stumbled back into the car behind me.

"Don't tell me what to do." He growled looking back at his brother. "And you. You can't take a damn joke!"

"It's not a joke if it hurts." James's voice wavered and a tear slipped down his cheek.

"Awe man the baby is crying!" One of Ashton's lackies chuckled downing the rest of his bottle.

"No I'm not." James sniffled wiping his tears away furiously.

"Ashton just drop it. It's not worth it. James didn't do anything." I stepped in front of him so the others would stop mocking him. James was too sweet for any of this, he didn't deserve it.

"Oh what do you know?" Ashton sneered. "Disappearing for five years. You know what happened then? James here got super smart!"

Ashton dragged James out from behind me and rested his hands on James's shoulders in an iron death grip. James whimpered under his touch.

"And me? Well I was just the stupid jock playing football. Mom and Dad just loved you didn't they Jay?" Ashton jerked James's head back and forth in a nod.

"You tell him Ash. Lousy nerd. Nothing more than a rat." One of the drunken idiots advanced.

"Ashton that's not true you're better than this." My voice was harsh and stern his eyes which I now noticed were bloodshot bore into mine.

"Like hell it is. So let's see here Jay. What are you going to do tonight? Cry like usual? Run away? Cower in fear?" Ashton asked pressing James back against the hood of his car. James's eyes had dilated in an intense fear. A large wet spot appeared on his pants.

"He pissed himself." Someone chuckled. By now they had made a semicircle around James acting as if I wasn't there about to witness my friend get pounded into a pulp. Panicking I shoved away one of the boys and stood over James protectively.

"None of you are touching him." They just sneered and the next thing I knew cold wet sticky liquid poured down my face and head.

"Whatever you say bitch." The group laughed as they dumped what remained of their beverages on my head. James yelled at them as they walked away. Ashton glared at the two of us his fists clenched as he stormed off.

"No no no." I stood there frozen. "My parents are gonna kill me they're gonna think that I drank or or-"

"It's all my fault Rey." James mumbled.

"What? No James no it's not." I shook my head turning and hugging him tightly. "Ashton is just being a jerk. I don't know what his problem is he was so nice when I talked to him"

"Yeah well he's an ass when he's with friends and when he's drunk or high." James said quietly. "Doesn't matter though we need a ride home."

"No shut the hell up Max!" Glancing over my shoulder I saw Layla walking towards us Max hot on her heels.

"Layla get back here now." Max growled.

"What? So you can embarrass me again? I don't think so slut." Layla called back.

"Don't call me a slut you're the girl who dates every guy around even the ones that-" Layla cut her off.

"The ones that what? Hit me?! Yeah I get it Maxine I'm a lousy excuse of a girl but it's is my life. At least I'm not sleeping with my friend's brother." Layla retorted storming towards her car. "Are you kidding me? My tires?"

"Serves you right." Max laughed.

"Your boyfriend butchered my tires." Layla said angrily. "How do I get home?"

"Call a ride." Max said. Ashton had come back outside to observe the commotion. He walked over and wrapped a protective arm around Max.

"Who?" Layla demanded. "Not my parents."

"What about that low life Reyna adores." Max sneered.

"She isn't gonna come. She wants nothing to do with this, don't drag her into it." I snapped, beyond mad now. Not only had James been attacked, but Layla was now a victim as well, there was no way I was letting them drag Meg into it as well.

"I'm calling the cops." Layla decided. Max's eyes widened and she looked genuinely afraid for a moment.

"Go ahead." She replied but the confidence was lacking. She turned on her heel dragging Ashton along behind her and I presumed it was to break up the party. There was no way she would risk getting caught. Even Max wasn't that stupid.

Soon kids were frantically pouring out of the house in an attempt to escape the said cops that would be coming. But Layla hadn't even dialed the number. Instead she made her way over to us and faced James and I wearing an apologetic look.

"I'm calling Meg anyways." I sighed pulling out my phone.

"She's not gonna come." Layla said.

"Yeah." James agreed.

"Hello?" Meg answered her voice a bit groggy and I wondered if she had been sleeping.

"Hey Meg it's me." I talked quietly not feeling like talking loud anymore.

"Hey Rey what's up? You sound bad. You upset?" She asked.

"The uh party is over." I mumbled and the full reality of what had happened crashed down on me. James had been so afraid of Ashton it made me sick and I could only guess why he was so scared. Max was simply horrible and Ashton wasn't the Ashton I knew. Layla was also a victim of Max's and Ashton's stupidity. And now I was covered in sticky beer. It overwhelmed me and I couldn't keep from crying.

"Reyna are you crying?" Meg asked her voice full of concern. "What happened?"

"Ashton slashed James's tires as a joke. He's drunk out of his mind and he nearly beat the crap out of James. And I tried to stop it but they just dumped beer all over me. And Max is just being a bitch and Layla's tires are gone now too and-" I sighed trying to catch my breath.

"Take it easy I'll be there as soon as possible to pick you guys up." Meg said and I could already hear the clatter of her car keys in hand. "Stay safe in the meantime."

With that I hung up and sat on the curb.