Chapter 5

October 10th

“And you’re certain you want to go to this party, Ella?” Connor asked as we ate dinner.

“No, I spent half an hour trying to perfect winged eyeliner to stay home,” I said, putting down my fork to point at the masterpiece I had created on each eye.

He rolled his eyes, “You know what I mean.”

“Chill. I can handle Cameron. He’s not a threat and I’m over him.”

Connor leant back in his chair and sighed defeatedly.

“Okay, if you’re sure...”

I picked up my empty plate and walked to the sink, ruffling his thick dark hair as I went.

“Don’t worry.”

Connor was blessed with our Mother’s genes. With brown curls and warm hazel eyes, he was a spitting image of her.

I, however, got my father’s genes.

My hair was a dull blonde and my skin as pale as the uninteresting blue of my eyes. But of course, I wouldn’t get to inherit his tall, muscular physique. Instead, I was short and in no way remarkable looking.

Biology is a bitch.

An hour later, Abi and Charlotte were waiting for me in the cramped hallway of the house. I’d chucked tomato down my top and was rummaging for something else to wear as Abi tapped her foot.

“Ready!” I announced, running down the stairs, my only pair of shoes in my hands.

They were a battered, dirty pair of converse I’d had for years.

Connor and I had serious money issues. We worked at a cafe five shifts a week and Mom sent us the odd cheque which was scarcely enough to cover the bills and necessities, but new shoes were not on the cards.

“Looking lovely ladies,” I said as I shoved them on my feet.

“Thanks, but we need to go. We’re in danger of going over the fashionably late category,” Abi exclaimed before hustling us out the door.

Connor waited outside with what looked like a bottle of vodka in his hands.

“Connor...” I groaned, “Please don’t get wasted tonight.”

“Relax, Mom,” he said, unscrewing the lid and tilting his head back, “Not like I’m gonna drink it neat or anything.”

He swigged some and grimaced before holding it out to Abi and Charlotte, “Ladies?”

They both giggled as they drank from the bottle, gagging and squirming as it burnt their throats.

“No pressure, Ella, but you can have some if you want,” Connor said, offering the bottle.

I glanced at the bottle and thought of Cameron and Logan and how on earth I was going to get through this night without slapping at least one of them.

“Just a little,” I replied, taking the bottle.

Neat spirits were disgusting. Dangerous too, but the more Abi, Charlotte and I drank of Connor’s vodka, the less he had to be a moron with.

So I took a swig before and handed it back to him only three-quarters full.

“Be careful with that,” I warned.

When the thudding music of the party reached our ears, the bottle was only a quarter full and we were all giggly. As I walked arm in arm with my friends, the continual trials and challenges of my life paused and a smile slipped onto my face.

“Okay,” I said as we reached the door, “I’m tipsy and not a single part of me misses him. That’s a good sign, right?”

They all agreed.

“And Connor, for the love of God, we have a shift at 7 am. At least make sure you’re sober by then.”

“It’s adorable how lowly you think of me, Ells,” he said, chubbing my cheeks, “Now stop worrying and have some fun.”

We joined the hordes of teenagers flocking inside and danced and chatted and partied for hours.

It was a great night... at least until I saw Cameron. I’d avoided him all night until I turned to see him leaning against a doorframe, glancing at me.

His jaw was tight as he looked down to the ground.

I almost felt sorry for him.

But then I remembered: he is an ass and I am over him.

I turned back and continued to dance with Abi and Charlotte, who were screaming the lyrics to ‘party in the USA’ at the top of their lungs.

As we were getting the chorus, someone tapped my shoulder.

“What do you want?” I grunted, turning to see Cameron.

“To talk outside,” he said.

“No.”

“Ella, please,” he begged. “Just for a few minutes.”

“You get thirty seconds.”

I followed him outside to the front yard where the music, muffled by the walls, wasn’t so deafening.

“I wanted to say I’m sorry,” He said. “For pressuring you... and I miss you. I was wondering if we could give us another go?”

“No, Cameron,” I said. “There is no way in hell.”

“Why?” He asked, “We were happy, weren’t we?”

“We were, but now we want different things.”

He sighed and tightened his lips as he stared straight ahead.

“Ella-“

“It’s never going to work,” I said, “Goodbye, Cameron.”

The smell of alcohol was rife in the air. Combined with the teenagers around me making out and groping each other, I began to feel sick.

So I marched down the path, through the front gate and into some fresher air.

I needed to get into the forest to let off some steam. I needed to shift and run.

As I charged along the street, I passed into Logan.

“How’s your boyfriend?” He called after me.

“Logan, you are the last thing I need right now,” I hissed.

“Oooh, looks like someone’s got their panties in a twist.”

I turned back and glared. The corner of his lip folded up as his friends jeered around him.

“Fuck you.”

“Don’t you want this?” He said, waving the shiny envelope in the air.

I stopped and turned around once again.

“Just give it to me,” I said.

“Sure,” he chirped, holding it out to me.

As I reached forward, he whipped it away and laughed.

“I never gave you that lift home.”

“If you think I’m getting in your car with you this drunk-“

“Not now,” he interrupted. “After school on Monday.”

“Fine,” I said. “Whatever.”

“That’s a deal,” he said as he handed me the envelope.

I grabbed the envelope, but before he let go, he bent down, bringing his lips close to my ear.

“Don’t break it.”

He moved his lips towards my cheek, but I smacked him across the face before he could get far.

Irritatingly, he didn’t even flinch.

“I’ve been wanting to do that all day,” I spat before marching away.