Page 29 of Life of the Party

I groaned again, heading to the bathroom to investigate. It wasn’t terrible. I changed out of the clothes Charlie lent me and back into my own, borrowed some of her deodorant, rubbed some toothpaste over my gums, sprayed some mystery perfume all over and threw my knotted hair into a ponytail.

My lips were chapped and swollen. They smiled at me in the mirror.

When I came out of the bathroom, Zack and Alex were awake, loud and rowdy, recapping the best moments of the night. I snuck past them and crouched down nextto Grey, not quite willing to leave him and this unreal dream that ended with us together, somehow.

“Hey.” I kept my voice low. “I’ve gotta go to school.”

“Okay,” Grey growled, but he didn’t open his eyes. I giggled sympathetically.

“There’s water here.” I handed him the cup.

“Tell those assholes to keep it down.”

“Hey, assholes, keep it down!” I yelled at them, right in Grey’s ear, realizing my mistake too late. I looked down repentantly. He was glaring at me with one eye open.

“Sorry. Uh…I’ll just be going now.” I smiled. Alex and Zack laughed at me.

“I bet he appreciated that.” They joked.

I put a finger to my lips, “Shhhh,” but I was trying not to laugh. “Bye.” I bent down, hesitantly, and kissed Grey’s lips. To my joy and relief, he moved his hand to cup the back of my head and kissed me for longer.

“You work tonight?” He wondered.

“Yeah.” I groaned. “I’m going to die. You?”

“Nope.” He chuckled slightly and winced. “I get to sleep all day.”

“That is not fair.” I groaned again.

“But it was worth it, right?”

“So worth it.” I smiled. We kissed again, and then regretfully, I forced myself away from him. I didn’t care about school, but I definitely didn’t want to repeat the twelfth grade, either.

“Where are you going?” Zack wondered, watching as I gathered my things.

“I’ve got to walk to school.”

“School? Geeze, how old are you anyway? Fifteen?”

“Something like that. I’ll see you guys later.” I opened the door to the painfully bright sunshine, took a healing breath, and stumble-limped down the old grey stairs.

I wasn’t far from my school, but it was far enough when every step was utter agony. I sighed and began my trek, lighting a smoke though my poor lungs wheezed in protest.

I heard a car coming down the street, rustily, it sounded like. When it began to slow by the time it reached me, I turned to investigate. It was purple, old…beat up.

It was Riley.

CHAPTER 13

The passenger door opened to me, beckoning, and Riley leaned across the seat. He looked puzzled. “Mackenzie? What are you doing here?”

“I stayed at Charlie’s house last night.” I pointed behind me.

“Oh. Well, get in, I’ll give you a ride. Come on, we’re late.”

I hesitated a moment, but took him up on the offer. I was too achy and sore to protest, all of our differences aside. I threw my smoke down and climbed stiffly into the car.

We stared at each other once I was in. He was the same old Riley I’d known forever, but to me, he seemed…different already. Not in looks or appearance or anything, just in him. Like he was peaceful, or something. He smiled hopefully at me, but the wide expanse of seat between us seemed to represent the status of our relationship. My expression was blank as I stared back at him.

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