Mates

Chapter One

"So Kate, you coming to Jack's party next week?" My best friend Shelby asked me leaning against the wall of lockers in the senior hallway. This was the third day this week she had come up to me pestering me about next weeks Fall party.

"Shell, I don't know it's a a week and a half away, it's a bit early to tell." I tell her shutting my locker after retrieving my necessary textbooks for today. Today was Wednesday, a A day, otherwise known as my busiest and most chaotic day.

"Oh come on girl! Too far away? How can you say that? I've been planning for a week now and I'm still not sure if I'll be ready in time." She said exasperated. "You HAVE to know if you're going. It's the party of the decade!" She exclaimed causing some of the other students in the hall to glare over at us for being so loud. I glared at her gesturing for her to keep quiet. This party was a known event, but not every one was invited to come. Only the "popular" crowd knew about it, as sad as it was.

I sighed, that was my best friend for you, always worried about the party scene and nothing else. I was really beginning to wonder why we were best friends. "Yes Shell, just like last years party and the year before that and the year-

"Don't say another word Katalina Monroe, I know you are all focused on studying and crap for college and whatnot, but you need to lighten up girl. Your eighteen years old for Christ's sake! Have some fun for once!" She said condescendingly her facial expression deepening as she glared at me reproachivingly.

I always wondered how two complete opposite people could be best friends, but we were. And have been since third grade when we discovered that we both shared a similar dislike for marshmallow-filled treats after one boy's birthday parties where we both became very sick. I still hate the sight of marshmallows to this day ten years later.

Shelby was extroverted to the extreme and always kept up to date with the latest fashion trend from Paris. She was short, like me but at least she had more height than I did. With her being five foot four she was not too short but a good average, her height was flattering with her toned legs and gently flowing black hair that fell just above her waist. Me on the other hand was short like too short. I was, shhh four foot ten with a strange color brown hair and flabby blandness on my legs and stomach. My most flattering part of me was my eyes, a dark brown that according to my mood had either gold or green flakes in them.

She was beautiful and outgoing. While I, who could be outgoing when the situation called for it and had a wonderful fashion since, and always pointed out people's short comings when the situation called for it, much preferred to keep to myself and read.

"I do have fun Shelby, and you know that, and I would love to go to Jack's party but I just don't know my schedule for that far ahead yet and won't until next week."

Not a complete fib but it was true, my parents wanted to do some family thing or whatever and I wasn't sure if I was even going to be in town yet, or if I could go. I might've been eighteen but my parents still ran my life like Stalin ran the Soviet Union.

"Okay but you better find out soon," then she leans close to me and whispers "and I heard that Sam was asking if you were going. Isn't that cute we can finally go on a double date!" At that I role my eyes.

"Great." I fake smile for her benefit. Before either of us could respond the two minuet bell rang loud over head. "Hey I got to go girl my class is on the side of the school so I better get going, don't want a detention from Cribs, not when I have that History project due Wednesday, I still need to finish up some final touches before its complete."

"Yeah whatever Katie, but you ARE going to that party next week, so don't even try to get out of it!" She shouted as I started off down the hallway towards my AP Biology class.