Her

Chapter 15

As if on cue, my stomach growled the same time as the bell for lunch rang. Halfway through the day and I was already hating it. At least I can eat now though.

Once I got my tray of unappetizing food, I turned to face the cafeteria. Of course, loads of laughing and chatter and conversation and hardly a friend to sit with. I always wished school would be easy for me like everyone else. School is supposed to be about education and learning, but in reality, school is about learning to fit in and being accepted. I never accomplished that.

I found a half-empty table with no one sitting on the far right side. I went with my gut and chose to sit there.

I could hear conversations from the table next to mine. I eavesdropped, because there was nothing else to do. These girls were talking about a party taking place later that night apparently. A party already?

No way would I go there. Memories of the middle school party from years ago infiltrated my mind. There were no happy memories, only sadness. I remember crying on the porch waiting for my mom to pick me up.

That was Elena's party. No wonder it was horrible. Maybe if Elena doesn't go to this party, I'll actually have a good time.

"Stop the obsessive thoughts, please, for once in your damn life." I thought to myself. It felt like no matter how hard I tried to push them back, they always came back.

"Are you okay?" A guy sitting across from me startled me. When did he get here?

"Uh, yeah I'm fine." I replied quickly. I wasn't prepared for unexpected company so I shifted uncomfortably in my seat.

"I'm Aiden." He extended his hand across the table to me.

"Stella." I replied with a shy smile.

"You going to this party thing later?" He asked me.

"What party?" I asked, acting dumb.

"Senior party, but a bunch of us juniors are going apparently. I might go, I don't know yet." He stretched his arms above his head in a careless manner. 

"Parties and I, don't mix very well." I answered honestly.

"What if we went together? You know, as emotional support." Aiden suprised me by saying. 

I just sat there in silence, staring at him, and he raised an eyebrow. "Well, I guess I got my answer."

"No, no, I'll go with you. Sorry. I'm not used to people like, inviting me to places. We should definitely go." My words were scrambled and I guess he found my nervousness cute. 

"Alright. Sounds like a plan." Aiden smiled before taking a bite of his apple. 

So later on in the day, it's getting darker out and the time for the party is inching closer. I haven't been to a party since the sixth grade, and we already know it was a disaster for me. But for some reason, my new friend wanting to take me gave me a boost of confidence. 

I stared at my reflection in the mirror hanging on my wall. I attempted to curl the ends of my hair, giving it a distressed messy look which I seemed to like. I applied winged eyeliner and mascara to my eyes. For my outfit, I had on a simple long-sleeved black shirt, with a yellow plaid skirt and black platform boots. I really liked how I looked. My phone dinged as I was touching up my hair, notifying me that Aiden was just outside.

I grabbed my purse and walked outside, and started heading towards Aiden's black car parked out front. I entered through the passenger side, and he smiled at me.

"Woah there, you look great." He complimented me.

I lightly blushed. "Thank you.. so do you."

He looked down at himself and back at me. "I'm literally wearing the same thing from earlier."

"Well, you look great!" I laughed and then he started to drive. "To the party, we go."

Soon, we pulled up to the house and got out of the car. Maybe this won't be so bad because it's not Elena's party. Aiden and I laughed and joked the whole car ride there, and I felt happy and care-free. Even though I only just met Aiden a few hours ago, I felt comfortable around him. He wasn't an arrogant asshole, and he genuinely seemed like a good person. I had a feeling we were going to have a great time together.

An hour passed, and somehow I had two drinks and we were laughing on the couch talking about some TV show. No, this really isn't like me. I never go out to parties and drink and let loose with some guy I've just met, but something was in the air that night. Aiden was a friend, we weren't messing around or trying to hook up, and he wasn't making any moves on me, we were just talking and joking and having a great time. 

Aiden ended up playing beer pong with a couple of guys, and I just sat on the couch sipping from my red cup. The music was blaring, and a bunch of people were talking over each other. The noise and commotion was becoming too much for me, reminding me of how introverted I actually am. I stood up and walked over to the kitchen, pouring myself another drink.

I headed off into one of the bedrooms for some quiet. I drank, feeling the alcohol take over my body, and I laid down. I closed my eyes for a moment, then opened them to stare at the ceiling. The music was distorted and faded from the other rooms. 

I heard footsteps, and someone else entered the room. I sat up to see her, and I shivered. What is she doing here?

Elena was crying, and once she noticed me, she quickly apologized and headed back for the door.

"Wait, hey, what's wrong?" I slurred. I was obviously very drunk.

"Nothing.. It's nothing." She replied. 

I scooted over so she could sit on the bed. She hesitated, before eventually sitting down. "Guys are just so stupid. I don't even know why I bother anymore." 

My head was pounding from the excessive alcohol running through me and I just looked over at me, admiring her face. "Yeah, you're right about that one.."

"I just walked in on my boyfriend cheating on me.. we've been together for a year!" She cried.

I didn't know what to do, mostly because of how socially awkward I was. I offered an arm around her. She looked confused and a little uncomfortable at first, but then began crying on my shoulder.

"I'm so sorry to hear that. That's horrible." I spoke. "I know I suck at talking and shit, but, I'm here to listen."

A few minutes passed as Elena cried on me. I smelled her hair, and her perfume was so sweet and heavenly. I don't know what the alcohol has done to me, but I definitely felt a shift. I felt like I was in an alternate Universe, where somehow everything was different. I reached over and grabbed her chin, lifting it and planting a kiss on her lips.

And those few seconds were unworldly, and I wasn't thinking. I actually felt something, something not like me at all. Those heavenly seconds ended abruptly when Elena stood up real fast and pushed me off of her. "What the Hell is wrong with you, Stella?!" 

My vision was blurry, and my head pounded more. I couldn't look straight at Elena because the booze was taking over me. I could see her standing up off the bed, her angry eyes piercing right through me. I could swear her eyes were red in anger and confusion. And at that moment, I knew I severely fucked up. I couldn't be any more embarrassed and ashamed of myself. I held my hand over my mouth in shock. 

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry -" I stood up too. "I'm just really drunk."

"I'm gonna go." Elena said quietly, then fled the room like she was fleeing the scene of a crime. 

I was alone again, in that bedroom. My heart was beating fast and my vision was getting blurry with tears. I sat there, alone, crying to myself. The night was so perfect before she came in the room. I always fuck something up when it comes to her. I wasn't sure whether I should blame myself or her. I had no idea what I felt or what came through me. I was terrified.