Page 24 of Life of the Party

I wasn’t really paying attention to what Charlie was doing. I was nicely high by that point, content, happy. She began drawing around my eyes with a pencil, her hands soft and cool.

“How old are you?” I asked her suddenly.

Charlie smiled. “Nineteen. Just turned. You?”

“Seventeen,” I admitted morosely. Everyone was older than me. “Do you think I’m too young?”

“Too young?” Charlie thought a moment. “Quit squinting. No, you’re not too young for this crowd, that’s for sure.”

“Why?”

“Honey, if anyone gives you any flak for your age, it’s only because they’re jealous. They wish they still had your excuse to act the way they do.”

“They wish they were still seventeen?”

Charlie nodded. “It’s easier to get away with it all when you’re that young. You are expected to become responsible at some point, you know.” She leaned back and surveyed my face. “There, all done.”

“Thanks.” I got up and looked in the mirror, stunned, wishing now I’d paid attentionto whatever Charlie did. It didn’t look like me, staring back at me. This girl had cheekbones and large, dark eyes—smouldering eyes—deep, full red lips.

I gazed at Charlie in surprise.

“Told you.” She shrugged and started on her own face. I was amazed. I did look hot, and older, too. I liked that a lot.

We primped and preened. I pulled my hair into a glossy ponytail while Charlie shook out her blond curls and put on her tight black knee-high boots. She lent me some distressed silver-black heels, high and pretty, with a closed toe.

I couldn’t believe how good I looked. I didn’t want to be vain, but couldn’t help staring at myself in the mirror. Charlie noticed and began to giggle at me. I laughed, too, a mixture of weed and excitement and complete disbelief. This was going to be a great night. I lit a smoke and tried to calm my nerves.

“I think they’re here,” Charlie exclaimed a few moments later, as the dim noise of a car horn caught our attention. I looked at her desperately, suddenly terrified.

She rolled her eyes and smiled at me.“Relax. He’s not going to know what hit him.”

Somehow I made it down the stairs and to the car. I felt young again, like a tagalong, trailing behind Charlie like a little sister. It made me angry at myself, and I took a breath, willing myself to be brave and more confident.

“Hey.” I recognized his voice before I saw him. A smile lit my face, and suddenly, I wasn’t nervous anymore. Suddenly, it all felt fairly natural, apart from the excited, ramped-up beating of my heart. Grey stood before me then, next to the opened car door, and smiled as he took in my appearance.

“Mackenzie,” was all he said, but I could tell he approved. His blue eyes were darker, gleaming, his face freshly smooth from shaving. A hint of a grin curled his lips, almost a smirk, smug. He had on dark blue jeans and a tight black shirt—I could see his muscles hard against the fabric. If I’ve ever come close to swooning, it was then.

Grey gently pushed an errant dark curl off my shoulder, his fingers brushing my collarbone as he did so. I shivered delightfully. He held the door open and motioned for me to get in. I slid into the middle of the seat, squeezing up close to Alex—the other passenger—as Grey got in beside me. His thigh pressed against mine as he settled himself in, his cologne wafting toward me. Making me dizzy.

Charlie was already in the front passenger seat. Zack shut her door and walked around the front of the car, getting in to drive. His reflection in the rearview mirrorshowed blonde mullety hair and a lean, handsome face. Multiple piercings hung from numerous places, and both his arms sported full sleeves of colourful tattoos.

We adjusted in our close quarters. Grey rested his arm along the top of the seat, not quite hugging me, but I could feel the warmth of his skin along the back of my neck.

“Mackenzie—Alex, and Zack.” Grey introduced. I smiled at them both.

“Nice to meet you.”

Alex nodded. He was slim, with a winning smile, handsome face, and longer, sandy-blonde hair. I could tell right away he was a ton of fun.

It was loud and rowdy in the car. “Moon Baby” by Godsmack was deafening us through the speakers; a dizzying combination of weed and rum being passed around. Eagerly I joined in, taking hit after hit, gulping the booze back with barely a grimace.

Grey watched me, his lips curling in amusement as I swallowed the rum down. “How are you feeling now?” He asked, lowering his mouth wonderfully close to my ear to be heard, giving me delicious shivers, my skin goosebumps.

“Unbelievable.” I breathed.

“Just you wait. This is nothing.” He promised, lifting a hand to play with the curls of my ponytail. I was in heaven.

“Where are we going? What are we—?”

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