Page 17 of Our Final Encore

I nod, an odd feeling starts to spread through my chest. “Sure, I’ll ask.”

The teacher clears his throat, and when I look up he’s staring at Brooke and I with a stern expression. She winks at me and smiles one more time before turning her body back toward the front of the room.

I let out a sigh and try my best to focus on math even though my mind is officially reeling.

“We got invited to a party,”I say right before I stuff a chicken ring into my mouth. Our school doesn’t have chicken nuggets, only chicken rings. They’re surprisingly tasty, despite their weird shape.

“A party? Where?”

“Brooke Brown’s house.”

He blinks at me a couple times, an unreadable expression on his face. “Are you going?”

“I don’t know.” I shrug nonchalantly. “She said I should invite you, too.”

He bites the inside of his cheek and looks away, almost like he’s nervous. Is he nervous because he finds her attractive? Probably, she’s gorgeous after all.

“I’ll go if you want me to, but I don’t really care either way,” he shrugs. “I’d rather just hang out with you.”

The energy between us shifts just slightly when I meet his stare. Butterflies flutter in my stomach, and I try my best to ignore them. Sometimes the vibes between Alex and I are weird.

We’ve been friends for so long now, and even though I’ve always found him super attractive and all around amazing, I don’t think he could ever feel the same way for me. Not when he has girls lined up and down the block waiting for an ounce of attention from him.

But then we have moments like this, where I wonder if just maybe he could feel something more than friendship towards me, too. Would it even matter, though? I know where I belong, and it’s by his side as his best friend. Guys like Alex always end up with girls like Brooke, I’d be silly to believe anything else.

“Well, let’s just go check it out and we can leave if it’s boring.” I can’t deny that part of me desperately wants to go. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to go to a party, or to hang out with popular people. Alex is the type that couldn’t care less, he does his own thing and pays no attention to what other people think. I’d like to be more like him, but I’ve always wished for a taste of popularity.

“Whatever you want to do.”

“Maybe it’ll be fun,” I shrug.

“So are you and Brooke friends?”

I’m not sure how to answer that question. “Sort of. We talk to each other in math.”

He nods before taking a sip of his chocolate milk. “Alright, let’s go. You’re only in high school once, right?”

I grin at him, happy that he’ll be there with me because I know I couldn’t handle attending a party by myself anyway. “Right.”

TEN

Opal

My grandma pulls her car to a stop in the middle of a cul de sac in one of the fanciest neighborhoods in town. We’re surrounded by two-story, brick houses with beautifully maintained yards.

“Y’all have fun and be safe,” she says it cheerfully, but I can tell by the look in her eye that she’s scrutinizing the house we’re about to walk into, probably wondering if she should have told me I couldn’t come at all.

“Thanks, Mamaw.” I kiss her on the cheek before opening the door. Alex thanks her as well, and we walk up the circular driveway towards the front porch. I can hear loud techno music coming from inside.

“Oh my gosh, you’re here!” Brooke pulls me in for a quick hug once she spots me, and then steps back, sweeping her eyes up and down Alex’s body next to me. “Hi, I’m Brooke! So glad you could make it.” I don’t miss the way she pushes out her chest and arches her back just slightly while leaning towards him.

He nods and gives her a tight smile. “Thanks for the invite.”

Her house is filled with people from our school. Most of them are people I’ve never talked to. A huge banner that reads “Happy Birthday Brooke!” hangs on the wall of her living room, it’s surrounded by pink and silver balloons.

She hands us both a can of Bud Light, I try taking a sip of mine and never touch it again, deciding that I hate the flavor. Mom and Mamaw have always drank wine, but never beer, now I see why. I honestly can’t believe her parents would even allow her to have beer at a party considering how young we all are. It only takes a few minutes for Alex to finish his can and pop another open.

People crowd around Brooke constantly trying to get her attention, especially guys, but she seems to ignore most of them. Instead she focuses most of her attention on Alex, who doesn’t seem super interested in answering any of her questions. Brooke makes small talk with me here and there as well, asking me questions like where I got my hair-clip from (Target) and whether I think the guy who sits next to us in math is cute (I don’t).

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