Chapter 5: 'You have the nerve to show up here.' 

Party. Party. Party. Party. The words kept repeating themselves in my head, causing me to nearly over pour the milk into my cereal. I'm nervous and excited at the same time, if that's possible. But the nerves are overriding the excitement. Realizing that I probably filled the bowl with enough milk, I quickly halted. Good thing I snapped out of the trance and put the milk away. I dropped a spoon into my cereal and sat down on a stool. My mother had left earlier and my father sleeps in on Saturday evenings. He gets up about 20 minutes before I leave. I’m leaving in a half hour and I can hear him clanking around upstairs.

So today, my plans are to go to work, get my Halloween costume after work, and then come home to get dressed for whatever party Lola and Sandra are dragging me to. My father came down the stairs as I filled my mind with excuses I could use as to why I can’t attend the party. If I'm nervous, it's for a reason, right? I'm not just nervous just because I want to be nervous, right? It's a sixth sense. Something bad will happen if I go.

My mother said I can’t go the party. No, they all know about my mother’s enthusiastic responses when it comes to her only daughter socializing with beings her own age.

My father said I can’t go to the party because I have to clean my room. This wouldn’t work either, they all know about how I always have my room clean.

My mother was ripped apart by rabid wolves and I have to go to the hospital to help stitch her back together. Even I was disturbed by my own mind. I shook my head as my father sat down across from me, a bowl of cereal in front of him.

“Hey, are you going to work today?” my father asked me and I nodded as I finished up the bowl of Frosted Flakes. They’re great!

I walked over to the sink and placed the bowl inside of it. “Don’t I always?”

My father laughed. “You’re more enthusiastic about work than I am.”

I smiled. “You have a lot more responsibility than I do. Besides, all I have to do today is help out the little angels.”

“You’re the girl scout helper?” my father questioned. 

“Yes, and I’m a proud one,” I replied as I rinsed my hands. I wiped them on the towel before grabbing my bag off of the table. My father sighed and shook his head. “I’ll be home later, if mom calls, tell her to call me, it’s important.”

I kissed my father’s cheek. “What? You can’t talk to me about whatever is troubling you?”

I laughed as I walked towards the door. “It’s girl stuff.”

“I’ll tell your mother!” my father hastily stated and I laughed.

---

When I got to the library, the girls scouts weren’t there yet. I always go to work early. I arrived at 11:30 AM, ready to prepare for the girl scouts arrival. When I entered the library, I heard music blasting. Although the library doesn’t open for lone revisers until 3:30 PM, we still try and keep it quiet in here. It is a library, you know.

I groaned loudly but it was drowned out by the sound of the music. Music means that Grayson was here. I recognized the song, I love it but that doesn’t mean I play it in libraries. I watched in amusement as Grayson danced around. He pretended to play a guitar before he switched to the drums. He bounced around like a hyperactive three year old child. I walked over to his phone, the music distributor, and pressed the pause button. He stopped mid strum and turned to look at me. His frown turned into a glare. “Practicing your ballet, I see.”

“You have the nerve to show up here,” he snapped.

I looked around with furrowed eyebrows. “Where? At my job?”

He glared at me but walked over to his phone and pressed the play button. I pressed the pause button again and walked away. As I was going up the stairs, I heard the music start to play again.

“Grayson!” I shouted over the sound of the music.

I’m guessing he didn’t hear me over the sound of his deafening music. “Grayson!”

I tried again. “Grayson!”

I then realized that he was ignoring me. I scoffed. Like I care, it makes things easier for me. I continued my walk to the couch and took out my book. I opened to the page where my bookmark sat before I attempted to read. I could barely hear myself think. My mind couldn’t focus with music playing. I tried again and failed. I slammed the book down on the table and walked over to the banister.

I glanced down and saw Grayson wiping down the tables. I watched as he sprayed the table and wiped it, while singing and dancing. Why can’t I multitask like that? I remembered why I was angry. “Grayson!”

Instead of answering me, he walked over to his phone. He looked up at the banister and gave me a challenging look as his eyes met mine and he increased the volume. I glared at him before walking over to the couch. I sat down and waited until it was 11:50. I galloped down the stairs and turned off his music. I noticed that he’d set everything up on the tables, including the origami paper with the instruction books, craft lace, and things needed to make bracelets. I heard shuffling and I saw Grayson exit the lounge. He picked up his phone and placed it into his pocket. The sound of doors opening greeted the library and I smiled.

“Audrey!” The little girl’s voices greeted my ears and I couldn’t help but smile. They wrapped their arms around my waist. There were 7 of them: Hailey, Taylor, Grace, Michelle, Asia, Cara, and Bella.

When the other girls let me go, I smiled at them and looked down to see the youngest girl, Grace, frowning at Grayson. He was staring straight at her, a confused look on his face. He’s probably wondering why she’s staring at him. If I’m being honest, I am, too. Isn’t it a coincidence that my favorite girl-scout’s name was so similar to my most hated person’s?

“What’s wrong Grace?” I asked her and she looked up at me with a bright smile. She was missing one of her bottom teeth.

She stood onto the tips of her toes, her blonde hair bouncing around as she cupped her mouth. “Who is he?”

I couldn’t help but notice the twinge of interest in her voice. I smirked as I kneeled down in front of her. “That’s Grayson, why?”

“We have similar names," she blushed and I snorted.

“I noticed that,” I smiled at her. “Now why are you so curious about him?” I poked her stomach and she giggled.

“He’s cute,” she smiled, causing me to roll my eyes.

“I’m gonna tell him!” I giggled as I stood up. She shook her head, latching onto my leg.

“If you tell him, I’ll kill you,” she whispered in a threatening voice. Do you see why she’s my favorite girl-scout? She and Grayson are polar opposites.

I smiled down at her. “I won’t tell him.”

She sighed in relief, placing a hand on her chest. “Woo, I thought I was going to have to kill you, Audrey, and I don’t want to have to do that.”

I let out a laugh before shaking my head. She grabbed my hand and we walked over to the section of the library where we were holding Girl Scout meetings. “So, have any plans for this weekend?”

She laughed and nodded. “I’m going to Taylor’s party later. Do you have any plans, Audrey?”

I felt my stomach clench. I totally forgot about the party. “Yeah, I do. I’m going shopping for my costume for Halloween.”

“You’re going trick-or-treating?” she asked excitedly.

I nodded. “Actually, I’m going trick-or-treating and to a Halloween party!” I explained. I doubt she’d know what a masquerade party is, and I don't feel like explaining it. I tried to shove the party later on to the back of my mind.

“That’s so cool!” Grace explained and once we reached the area where the girls were, I let out a laugh. They were all surrounding Grayson as he tried to get away from them. The six girls were standing in a line in front of him and he was trying to walk away but they moved along with him.

“Who is he?” one of the girls, Michelle, asked. She was staring at Grayson as if he was an alien.

I laughed and walked over to where they were. “Guys, this is Grayson. He’s working in the library from now on. I would introduce you guys to him but he’s giving me the silent treatment. So you’ll have to introduce yourselves,” I laughed evilly as a flash of panic crossed Grayson’s eyes.

“I’m Michelle!” the seven year old, brown haired girl exclaimed, taking a step forward. This caused Grayson to take a step back. He gave a slight wave.

“I’m Hailey!” Hailey announced as she reached out and wrapped her arms around Grayson. Hailey always hugs people. She’s only seven, so people don’t find it as weird as they would if she was 16. I bet he wouldn't mind if she was sixteen. Grayson was panicking and almost had some sort of attack when the small girl touched him. Talk about rude.

“I’m Taylor,” Taylor introduced herself quietly. She hid behind her straight black hair. Grayson blinked a few times at her before the seven year old stepped back and hid behind me.

Grace stepped forward and smiled at Grayson. He stared at the six year old girl, a fearful look on his face. “I’m Grace!”

He nodded and she continued. “Our names are similar. Grayson and Grace, they don’t rhyme but my name can be formed into your name. All you have to do is add the ‘son!’”

Grayson nodded his head, as if realizing this himself. He then looked at me, suddenly realizing why I call him Gracie and Grace. It takes some people a while to catch on, huh? Bella stepped forward and gave Grayson a blank look. “Bella.”

Bella rarely talks and when she does, the answers are short. She’s very reserved for an eight year old. Grayson nodded again. Asia, the second oldest at age eleven, stepped forward. “I’m Asia.”

Cara, who happens to be twelve years old, decided to speak last. “I’m Cara, call me caramel and you die,” Grayson was shocked by her bluntness.

I smiled at the girls. “Nice job, now let’s get to our stations.”

The girls all walked over to a table and sat down, starting to work. The numbers were uneven because we had three tables set up. There were two people at each table, except for the last one. Taylor sat alone at the bracelet making table, working on making a bracelet. I frowned and turned to look at Grayson.

He stared at me before raising his hands. “What?”

I looked back at Taylor and he shook his head. “No, I’m not going to go over there.”

I glared at him. “You have to get along with at least one of them.”

He groaned before walking past me. I turned. “Gracie.” He looked at me and groaned again. “At least have a good attitude about it.”

---

When the girl scouts left, I was slightly grateful. Although I love them, I just wanted to go shopping for my costume. Party. I groaned and placed my head onto the front desk. “What’s got you in a foul mood?”

“I’m not sure what I’m more surprised about: the fact that you care or the fact that you actually said the phrase ‘foul mood,’” I muttered as I lifted my head. Grayson and I were waiting for Ms. Janie to show up. When she does, we can leave and do whatever we want on this fine Saturday afternoon.

He scoffed. “I never said I care.”

I laughed. “I didn’t expect you to.”

When Ms. Janie entered the library, I grinned. “I’ve got to get going!”

“What’s got you so excited?” Ms. Janie questioned. I turned back as I was walking towards the exit. I noticed Grayson leaning against the counter. It was obvious that he was listening.

“I have plans,” I smirked, wriggling my eyebrows.  

“Nice,” Ms. Janie smiled at me and I quickly exited the library, slinging my sweater over my shoulders.

---

I called Sandra and Lola and told them to go to the costume store and that I’d be there shortly. When I arrived, they were already there, holding their costumes. I smiled at them only to have them smirk evilly at me. “What are you guys planning?”

“Well…there are only 5 costumes left, we already chose ours,” the girls explained. Lola was holding up a Mad Hatter costume and Sandra was clutching a pirate costume. I shook my head at both of them. Sandra had an obsession with saying ‘argh’ lately and ever since I made the joke ‘you should be a pirate for Halloween,’ she’s been fixed on buying a costume. I hoped they didn’t have any left but it seems that they did. And then there was Lola who absolutely loved the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland and she said she would pay $200.00 for a costume. I'm hoping she didn't because who will pay for my fast food now if she's broke?

I gave them both confused looks. “Then what’s the problem?”

“Nothing,” the girls giggled and I scowled, walking towards the ‘teenage girl’s costumes’ section. They were right, there were only 5 left. I looked through them- a cow costume, a Hershey bar costume, a Band-Aid costume, a creepy queen costume, and a football player costume.

The Hershey bar costume and the Band-Aid costume were two sizes too small and I’m not trying to squeeze into anything. The creepy queen costume is… let’s just eliminate that from our options. The cow costume had a device in it that you could put milk in and it would squirt out of the utters, and it was $250.00 which is out of my price range. I stared at the only possible option: the football player costume. It was $35.00 and it was my size. I sighed and took it off the rack. That’s what I get for being a late shopper.

“I guess I have to buy this," I muttered under my breath and the girls snickered. I didn’t bother asking them what they were laughing about and instead we made our way over to the part of the store that sold costumes for masquerade parties.

After purchasing the Halloween and masquerade costumes, I was praying that my friends had forgotten about the party. I was smiling and so were they. It was only 4:30 PM and we decided to go get fast food. I drove in my car and they drove in Lola’s.

Once we got out of the car and entered the establishment, Lola turned to me with furrowed eyebrows. “Now, make this quick- we have to get to Sandra’s house and get ready for the party.”

My good mood deflated quickly. I frowned and looked at the floor, racking up a list of excuses in my head. “I can’t…my clothes are at my house and it’d take too long to get there, get back and then to drive all the way to Sandra’s.” Thank God that Sandra’s house is 40 minutes away from mine.

Sandra smiled sweetly. “You can borrow some of my clothes.”

I felt my frown deepen as I nodded. It was my turn to order food, so I did. I ate slowly while Lola shouted at me to hurry up so we can go get ready. Although the party is at 9 o’clock, they’re keen on being ready by 8. They said that it was a long drive there.

When we arrived at Sandra’s house, I decided to call my mom. “Hi, mom.”

“Hi, daughter,” my mother replied with sass.

I laughed. “Sandra and Lola were wondering if I can go to a party with them.”

“As in… a teenager’s party?” my mother asked.

I sighed as I kicked the carpet. “Yeah.”

My mom was quiet for a moment. “Yeah, I guess you can. You know the rules, though. If you come home drunk, high, or pregnant- I’ll disown you, and then take the grandchild. I have a lot of trust in you…don’t mess this up, sweetie.”

I frowned. Why can’t she scream at me, saying that the whole idea was absurd? “Okay.”

“Have fun sweetie, don’t come home too late,” my mother quickly hung up the phone. I should’ve asked my dad.

When I walked into Sandra’s room, I was tossed a pair of black jeans that looked 4 sizes too small. I laughed loudly when Sandra told me to put them on. “You think these will fit me?”

Sandra laughed. “They fit me.”

I rolled my eyes and entered the bathroom, changing into the black jeans. I buttoned them and walked out of the bathroom. Surprisingly, they didn’t feel all that tight. “You look great!” 

I didn’t feel great. I forced a smile. “Thanks, Sandra.”

She sighed, grabbing an orange sweater and tossing it at me. I caught it. “You do look great.”

I trudged back into the bathroom, slipping into the large orange sweater. At least she was nice enough to give me something I’d be comfortable in. “You look so cute, Audrey!”

I grimaced at Lola’s screechy voice. “Do you think Kyle will notice me?”

I winced at the desperateness her voice gave off. I sighed. “If he does, he does, if he doesn’t, don’t stress it.”

She frowned. “Is this dress not pretty enough?”

I ran a hand down my face, growing impatient with her. “The dress is beautiful. If Kyle doesn’t notice you-.” she cut me off.

“You’ll tell Grayson to make him notice me? Please, for me,” I glared at her and she gave me a pleading look. “Please, I really like him.”

I just nodded my head, already annoyed and we aren’t even at the party. “And what about me and Carson?”

“Fine, while I’m at it- I might as well introduce the football team to the entire chess club,” I snapped as I sat down on Sandra’s bed.

Sandra scoffed. “Don’t get so upset, Audrey, you have connections now.”

I just scowled and waited for them to finish getting ready. I planned on staying silent but Lola decided to force words out of me. “How do you want your hair done?”

I shrugged, carelessly. “Don’t you want your hair to look pretty?” she questioned. “Not that it doesn’t look pretty already, but you can make it look prettier.”

Her incessant nagging caused my left eye to twitch. “Fine, straighten it, whatever, I don’t care. I just want this night to be over. I am tired and I need sleep.”

Lola looked taken back by my outburst. She frowned. “But…the night hasn’t even started yet!”

I glared at her as she danced around in her dress, plugging in the straightener and singing along to the song that Sandra was blasting on her phone. I watched as she bounced around, grabbing spray from Sandra’s dresser. She danced over to me, making weird facial expressions as she did, and she sprayed my hair, dampening it. She fluffed it up before starting on the hour long process of straightening my hair.

---

“I swear, Audrey, you look beautiful,” somehow, someway, the two girls managed to persuade me into taking a seat at Sandra’s beauty station.

I was currently faced away from the mirror while the girls plastered my face in makeup that I was most likely going to wash off in five minutes. But they didn’t know that. “Can I look now?”

They denied my request. “Aren’t we supposed to be leaving soon?”

“It’s only 7:45, we have fifteen minutes. Now stop talking and sit there,” I raised and dropped my eyebrows at Lola’s sassy remark. I wear makeup on occasion, but the thing about these girls is that when they put on makeup, they don't know when to stop. Meaning that to them, there is no such thing as too much.

When they finally finished, I opened my eyes and looked in the mirror. I didn’t gasp like they do in the movies. I just stared. My blue eyes weren’t dull; in fact, they popped more than they normally did. They actually had a sense of life in them, too. Mascara was obviously brushed through my eyelashes and liquid eyeliner was lining my lid. It wasn't a cat eye; it was better. My naturally wavy, brown hair was straightened and placed in a loose fishtail braid, swung over my right shoulder. My lips had a light peach coloring and they looked glossy, something I wasn’t used to. I would probably wipe it off later. How can I eat with it on? One thought popped into my head and it surprised me: I should wear makeup more often.

The thought surprised me and scared me. “Thanks…but I’m going to go wash it off.”

“No!” Lola’s voice was somewhat demonic, causing me to whip around to face her.

Sandra sighed. “If she doesn’t like it, she doesn’t like it. We’re lucky she’s still wearing the clothes we picked out for her.”

Lola frowned. “She should be happy, I mean, we worked so hard on it!”

I frowned. “It?”

“I mean, we worked so hard on you," she clarified and I frowned.  The girls continued to bicker back and forth.

“Fine, I’ll leave it on, let’s just go.” I sighed.

Sandra grinned. “Someone’s eager to leave.”

I glared at her. “The sooner we get there, the sooner we can leave.”

“Maybe Shane will notice you,” Lola giggled as we got into Sandra’s car. We decided to leave my car at Sandra’s.

I playfully glared at her. Sandra snorted. “Yes, because she wants Shane to notice her.”

The two girls giggled up front while I sat in the back, clueless. Maybe I should’ve taken my car.