Page 19 of Our Forever Starts Tonight

“Yeah,” I said snickering.

“And you’ve already been invited to a party, and you’re going, so that’stwounexpected things,” Zameera said.

At that moment, the door from the lobby swung open and Lucky came waltzing back. He had a muted, bored expression on his face, but then he looked over and saw me and lit up. “Aria! What are you doing here? I thought you had work tomorrow?”

“Figured I’d surprise you. I had to swap shifts,” I said. With much more exuberance, Lucky walked over to his locker, made short work of pushing his stuff inside and grabbing his apron, then he sat down at the table perpendicular to both Zameera and myself. “I have a party to go to tomorrow.”

“One I’m still waiting to hear about,” Zameera said.

“You’re going to a party?” Lucky asked, shocked.

“Yeah, you remember that guy Tristan I was telling you about?” I said, then turned to look at Zameera. “There’s this guy—”

“Wait,” Zameera cut me off, leaning half across the table. “Like… aguy? More than friends guy?”

“I hope so,” I said. “I knew him as a little girl until his family moved away, but he goes to this school and we totally hit it off. He invited me to his birthday party this weekend. Arden thinks it’s a bad idea to go, but I’m going to go anyway. It’ll be fine.”

“Why does Arden think it’s a bad idea?” Zameera and Lucky said in unison.

“Because Tristan—that’s the guy—is one of the popular kids at the very top of the school and we’re the dorks at the bottom. They don’t intermingle, and Arden thinks I’m going to end up getting hurt. I don’t though. I trust Tristan, and it’s clear he likes me, so he’ll probably just leave his friends out of it,” I replied.

“Hm,” Zameera said. “I’ve just decided I really like this Arden girl. I appreciate when people look out for you where I can’t. Jury’s still out on this Tristan guy, but we’ll know for sure about him after this party, right? Do you think something is gonna happen?”

“I mean…” Heat rose to my face as I thought about it. “I’m notaimingfor it or anything, but if he starts something I’m certainly not going to stop it.”

Zameera was all giggles, but Lucky frowned fiercely next to me. I wanted to ask, but I had a feeling I was just going to get another speech like the one Arden had given me, and I didn’t need it. I’d already resolved myself to going to the party, and I was just going to have to expect the unexpected.

7

Tristan

Iparked my car in the third spot of my brother’s garage, and then used my key to let myself in. The whole house smelled delicious, and the entire place was already decorated with the simple, understated options I had requested. Streamers were strung across the ceiling of most of the rooms, in forest green and gold, my school colors, and there were only a couple of bundles of balloons, sitting just inside the front door. Most of Taylor’s living and dining room furniture had been pushed against the walls or removed altogether, creating lots of extra room for party guests. My excitement grew and grew with each passing second.

Trusting Taylor with my party had been the best course of action, and I was happy it worked out.

“Tris?” a voice called out and I recognized it as Taylor’s girlfriend Molly.

“Yeah!”

I walked through the living room and sizable den, into the kitchen. Molly was in there, along with her younger sister Sherelle, and they were working over the oven, preparing a bunch of finger foods en masse. Molly and Sherelle looked almost identical, with chest length, wavy, dirty blond hair, and bright blue eyes. They owned a catering company together and had agreed to do the food for my party. They were putting together about ten different appetizer options, in large quantities, on different plates for serving in different rooms throughout the house.

“Hey there, birthday boy,” Molly greeted, taking a quick break from her work to wrap an arm around me. “Food’s almost done, the house is decorated, as you can see. Taylor just went to gather…” she gave me a half-lidded gaze, “…refreshments.” I smiled then. At least he followed through on letting us havesomebooze, which Molly didn’t seem thrilled with. “Youdorealize you’re not legal right? Your brother is a lawyer. If he gets caught letting you guys drink, he could be disbarred.”

Sherelle walked over and clattered her spatula on the countertop. “Mol, stop. You promised Taylor you wouldn’t do this.”

“I know,” I said to Molly. “I know that Taylor’s taking a big risk. Not only am I aware of that, but I’ve made sure all my friends are too. We’re going to do the solo cup thing, keep empties in the trash, not drink outside, and make sure not to make too much of a ruckus so that there’s no reason to even call the cops or anything. I know I’m kind of a shithead, but I’m not trying to ruin my brother’s whole life. I just want one good party. That’s it.”

Molly took a deep breath in and then out. Sherelle was standing between us like a ref between two boxers and finally Molly shook her head. “I’m not some loser who doesn’t get it, you know? I was eighteen once too, but it’s not just you, it’s your brother, too. You both have really bright futures. I don’t want it to be ruined.”

“I know.” I put a hand on Molly’s shoulder. “I know. I’ll be good. I promise.”

As if summoned by the mention of him, the back door to the kitchen opened, and Taylor walked in with a couple of brown paper bags balanced in each hand. He set them down and then walked out again, returning a few seconds later with a couple more bags. After a few trips, he’d gotten all the bags inside, along with a couple of big coolers and several bags of ice, then he walked over and gave me a hug.

“What’s going on, bro?” he said. “Nearly there for your party!” He snagged a pig in a blanket off one of the trays Molly was preparing and popped it in his mouth. “Got the drinks.”

“What’d you get?” I asked, walking excitedly to the counter where he’d stacked the bags. “You said you compromised.”

“I did. I’m not about to serve a bunch of single-minded teenagers vodka and whisky, so…” He reached into one of the bags and pulled out a six-pack of wine coolers. “You get 6% or less.”

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