Chapter 27

I knew it was too far to walk home, but calling my mom was not an option at this point. I had gone too far with my parents to turn back now, and asking for a ride would only give them reason to think Kane and I weren't going to work out. I had my back pack, and three blocks into the walk, I was tired.

   Hey, busy? I sent a text to Kaylee, then kept walking. She didn't reply.

   Hey, what are you doing?  I then sent a message to Jessie a few minutes later.

   Homework. What's up? she replied quickly.

   I kind of need a ride, if you can.

   Of course. Where are you?

   I smiled, as I send her back another text. By the gas station on Carter Cres.

   Be there in ten.

   "So, were you with Kane?" Jessie asked me, after I got in in her car, beside her.

   I nodded. "We kind of had a fight. I left."

   "Oh no. What about?" she wanted to know, driving off down the road again. Her dark pony tail was sitting on her shoulder as she looked at me, concerned.

   I looked out the window, sighing.  "He got his college letters. But he says he's not going to college because he doesn't want to leave me."

   "Well, that's the sweetest thing I've ever heard," Jessie laughed, changing lanes.

   "Yeah, but I said he has to go to college. And... I don't know. It was weird, how he didn't want to talk about it."

   "You want him to leave?" Now Jessie looked confused, hitting her blinking to turn down another street.

   "Of course not. But we can make that work. He can't just ignore the college letters. Do you know how smart he is?" I sighed.

   "I do. But maybe he's not ready," she suggested.

   I shook my head. I couldn't think about this anymore. In my driveway a few minutes later, Jessie asked what I was doing that weekend. And suddenly I remembered about the party I was supposed to be hosting, for Kaylee. One of my best friends, who still hadn't even texted me back.

   "I'm actually having a party," I said. "But it's like a birthday party, I'm hosting, for my friend Kaylee."

   "Oh, fun. Well, maybe I'll see you at Trenton's, too?" she asked.

   I nodded. "Thanks for the ride."

   So, Cassie's party? I texted Georgia awhile later.

   Yes! Are you sure you can host? she replied quickly.

   I can. Who should we invite?

   My phone was ringing a minute later.

   "I was thinking, just like Ryan and Nolan, Nolan's girlfriend Tasha, and maybe Sam, since she's always around now. And maybe I should text Lyla and May, since they are her new cheerleading friends-"

   "She made the cheerleading squad?" I asked, feeling embarrassed for not knowing this.

   "Yes. She's been to a lot of practices... she talks about it, like, all the time -"

   "Georgia, I'm so sorry," I finally said. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen, with us."

   "It's fine," she told me. "We are good, right?"

   "Yeah. But I ditched you. I really suck for doing that," I admitted, sitting on my bed.

   "I missed you, that's all. But I get it," she answered, and I could hear in her voice that she was sad.

   "You're the best," I said, just wanting her to feel better.

   "So, I'll tell people tomorrow about the party. Saturday at 6P.M.?" Georgia finished.

   "Sounds good," I agreed.

   My parents had actually agreed to take Andy to visit our grandparents for the evening, so I could host the party. I knew they would be home by 10P.M., and though the rules weren't spoken, I knew them well. They were likely just happy that I was hanging out with my girlfriends again. 

   Georgia arrived at 5P.M., just after my parents left. She had streamers and balloons, and I didn't have the heart to tell her that Kaylee would hate that. So, she decorated while I poured some Cheetos into a big bowl and filled the cooler with ice, soda cans and water bottles. The doorbell rang at 5:45, and it was Kaylee, with Ryan, Nolan and Tasha, and then a few people came in behind them.

   "Hey," Kaylee said to me, coming into the kitchen. Her long blonde hair was down, one side tucked behind her ear.

   "Hey, Happy birthday!" I told her, smiling. It was good to see her, in my house. Nothing was normal but this felt like it almost was.

   She nodded. "Thanks. For the party, too. Things have been weird, but -"

   "I know. I heard you made the cheerleading team," I said, forcing a smile. It was weird that I really didn't want else to say to her.

   She smiled. "Yeah."

   "Congratulations. That's great."

   But before she could say anything else, Ryan was there, pulling at her hand, then kissing her cheek. So I turned away, to put a few more bottles of water in the cooler. She'd had boyfriends before, but this was different, too. It almost felt like her and Ryan were closer than she and I ever had been.

   In an hour, it was obvious that everyone, besides myself and Georgia, were drinking. I saw Nolan with a flask, pouring it into a can of Cola. But they were all dancing to the music that I had playing through my dad's stereo, laughing and having fun. And I just wanted Kaylee to have a fun party. I, again, felt bad for Georgia, who was totally left out, sitting on the sofa.

   It was around 8P.M. when I walked over and sat beside her, smiling. "Need a drink?" I asked her, shrugging.

   "You know I've never drank."

   "I know."

   "Is it fun?" she asked, curious.

   "It can be," I shrugged. "But stupid stuff happens too."

   She looked concerned for a second, and I remembered she didn't know a lot of what I'd done over the last few months. "So, you and Kane are together. How's that going? And why didn't you invite him?" she changed the subject.

   I took in a breath. "Good. He's so... good, for me."

   "That's great," she smiled, but I couldn't tell if it was sincere. "I'm happy for you."

   I nodded at her, but then realized how bad I wanted to talk to Kane. The past day and a half had been normal, but we had avoided the fact that I'd walked out on him, and he had let me. We hadn't even talked about the fight, at all. I knew we both just wanted us to be okay.

   Hey. I texted him a few minutes later. Where are you?

   Trenton's. Kind of drunk. Why aren't you here? he replied.

   I'm having a party here for Kaylee's birthday, remember? My parents are out. You want to come over?

   Okay, see you soon.

   And at the door twenty minutes later was not only Kane, but also Trenton and Jessie. I was so happy to see them, that I didn't think twice about them being there, at my house. I introduced them to Georgia, and soon Trenton and Jessie had made themselves comfortable. They were making out against the kitchen doorway. Kane just held me close, his mouth inches from my neck. Everything seemed so good, calm. I felt normal, and I didn't need to be drunk or high. I spotted Kaylee and she smiled at me from across the room, where she was dancing with Ryan. I couldn't believe that we had managed to combine our worlds, somehow.

   But it didn't take long for all hell to break loose, and I should have seen it coming. Just when I let my guard down, a couple of the junior cheerleaders, Lyla and May, came in from the backyard, with their boyfriends. It was around 9P.M., already dark outside, and from the sofa where I was sitting with Kane, I could just tell something bad about about to happen.

   "Why the hell are those stoners here?" one of the boyfriends asked Lyla, who was now looking at Kaylee for the answer.

   She stepped closer and said something to her that I didn't hear, then, louder, she said, "They are Marley's friends."

   "I thought you said Marley was cool?" Lyla asked, then laughed.

   Kaylee froze, avoiding my eyes. She pulled Lyla into the hallway to say something to her, but the boyfriend stayed where he was, staring at me, then at Trenton and Jessie.

   "Pretty sure you stoners shouldn't be here," he laughed, then high-fived his buddy.

   Trenton glanced at Kane, who shook his head. My face was hot, my hands were shaking  already. Neither Trenton or Kane seemed to be affected by this, but I was.

   "Seriously. Kaylee does not want to associate with stoners," the other boyfriend said loudly.

   Kaylee stepped back into the room, her face looking defeated.

   "Assholes are fine though, I guess?" Jessie yelled back, annoyed, and Trenton laughed loudly.

   "Let's ask Kaylee," the first boyfriend said. "You want the stoners at your party?"

   I swallowed hard, standing up. Kaylee was way too quiet, now. I knew she wanted to - had to - impress the cheerleaders. It was important to her. But this was my house and they were my friends, and me, that they were offending. Kaylee was still not able to find her voice.

   "Go," I said, too loud, to them. All of them. "Seriously."

   The group - all ten or so of them - only hesitated for moment, then they started to move towards the door.  The two cheerleaders and their boyfriends, and two other girls stood at the door, waiting for Kaylee and Ryan. 

   Kaylee looked at me, but I didn't expect her to say anything. I had done the same to her, when I'd started hanging out with Mel and Mandee. Georgia looked shocked, sitting there on the love seat, like a spectator. Once they were all gone, she just kept staring at the door.

   "Wow," Jessie said, plopping back down onto the sofa. "Great bunch they are."

   And suddenly Georgia was sobbing, covering her face in embarrassment. I hurried to her, and she suddenly seemed like the quiet second grader she was all those years ago when we first met.

   "I just wanted us to be back together," she cried, her head on my shoulder.

   "I know. I'm sorry. But people grow, change..." I told her.

   "But I only have you and Kaylee. And you have Kane and Kaylee has Ryan and her new friends. I don't want to lose you guys."

   "You're not losing me," I said. "I'm here."

   "You're welcome to hang with us," Jessie told her. "But we are the stoners."

   I let out a laugh. Georgia looked unsure, but said, "Thanks."

   "You want to stay over?" I asked her. "My mom would be happy to see you, and I kind of need a reason for my mom to be happy with me right now."

   Georgia nodded. "I'd love to."