Page 7 of Told You So
Bethany’s here. I’ve seen her around campus a few times since school started, but I haven’t talked to her since that day in Mr. Silverman’s class a few years ago.
She’s grown up...a lot. I know people change, but her tight jeans and tank top make it clear just how much. I swallow thickly. She’s come a long way from the sad mystery girl she was when we were younger. She’s tall and beautiful and stands out in a crowd, and she clearly doesn’t even know it. I’ve wanted to talk to her so many times over the years, especially after I’d heard about social services. I’d wanted to apologize about what happened, but too much time had passed before I saw her again, like she’d been avoiding me. It felt weird to bring it up after so long. But now, she’s here.
She probably hates me.I tell myself I should look away, that I don’t want to be a creep in a room full of horny dudes, but when her eyes meet mine and her gaze lingers, there’s nothing I can do. My body’s on autopilot, and I make a decision.
Ignoring Slinsky, I shuffle through the crowd, my feet moving faster than my mind can process what I’m going to say when I get to her.
When I’m only a few feet away, she half-smiles. “Hey,” she says and crosses her arms over her chest. It’s a casual hello, an awkward one, even, and so soft I barely hear her over the music. But she’s talking to me, which means she doesn’t hate me, not completely.
“It’s been a while,” is all I can think to say.
Pulling her bottom lip into her mouth, she glances around the room. “Yeah, it has.”
I’ve never struggled to come up with a witty remark or something to say, but my mind draws a blank. “What are you doing here?” It’s a stupid question, one that earns me a confused expression.
“Well,” she says, eyebrows raised a little. “It’s a party, so...”
Laughing nervously, I shake my head. “Right. Of course.” My game is officially off tonight.
Her pink, glossy lips part and her expression softens, like she’s decided to throw me a bone and help me out a little. “My best friend is throwing the party,” she explains and drops her hands at her side, welcoming our conversation. “So, here I am.”
“Oh,that’sAnna Marie—your friend. Yeah, I’ve seen you around school with her.”
Bethany nods and peers around the room. “She’s really embracing the high school experience, as you can tell. Her parents are out of town, so of course she has to throw a party.”
“Of course she does.”
Her eyes shift away from mine nervously, and I’m glad it’s not just me that’s awkward, though I’m confused why it’s so impossible for me to act normal. I’m not sure if it’s the beer or all the time that’s passed since I’ve talked to Bethany last, but this is important to me. Seeing her, talking to her. This is my chance to apologize after all this time and maybe even get to know her a little better.
I lean closer. “Well, I’m glad you’re here.” If I’m not mistaken, her cheeks redden. I appreciate the way she licks her lips and that I have some sort of an affect on her. The cool, calm, collected Nick starts settling back into place.
“Do you want a beer?” I ask, holding up my cup.
She nods eagerly, and with a chuckle, I take her hand and lead her over to the keg. Someone bumps into us, quickly apologizing, but I barely notice. Her hand is soft and warm in mine, and as much as I try to understand why I’m so attracted to her, I’m just glad she’s here and that she’s talking to me.
Quickly, I pour a cup of beer and hand it to her.
“Thanks.”
We bump our beers together. “You’re welcome.”
“So,” she says. “You come to all the parties?”
I shake my head. “No, not all of them. Tonight just seemed like a good idea.”
“You didn’t want to be the only player on the team not here?”
I wink at her. “Something like that.” We talk for a few minutes about things that don’t really matter, and I try to hear her, but it’s hard to stay focused with the increasing noise within the room.
There are a few drawn-out moments of people laughing around us and bumping into us—of us pretending to look around the house and appraise the party—before I force myself to say something else.
I lean closer again, inhaling the sugary scent that clings to her. “Do you want to find somewhere to chill? It’s kinda distracting with all these people.”
Bethany nods, more quickly than I expect. “Follow me.” She turns and leads me through the crowd. I have no idea where she’s taking us, but I follow her willingly.
I’m not much of a drinker, and since I’m three beers deep, my mind starts running away from me a little, and I get inexplicably giddy. I wanted to have fun tonight, so I don’t think too much about it. I just let it be what it is.
As she leads me through the living room, I spot Reilly across the room, talking to a couple guys from the team, and a cheerleader hangs on his arm, though I can’t tell if Reilly even notices. When his eyes meet mine and he sees Bethany, he frowns a little. He knows how bad I felt after I got her in trouble in middle school and that she’s proceeded to dodge me ever since.
