the only exception

chapter 13

 Phoebe wasn't sure she was a fan of the party, at first at least.

It was loud and crowded, and almost everyone was a junior or senior, besides Emily's little group of friends. Who were only really there because most of them had upperclassmen siblings.

Plus, alcohol was so gross. The moment Emily had talked her into taking the first shot, Phoebe felt like she could've thrown up. Luckily, she wasn't alone, seeing as Emily didn't seem to be a fan of the taste either.

Hayden and James tried not to tease the girls too much, instead having one of their older friends mix a perfectly crafted drink that the girls could enjoy. Phoebe could still taste the alcohol in it, and according to the frown on Emily's face, she could too, but at this point Phoebe started to feel it. She felt light and carefree and that, in itself made the bitter taste a little bit worth it.

When James and Emily disappeared, Phoebe was left with Hayden. At this point in the night it no longer made her nervous to be around the boy, instead she just felt giddy at the thought, grinning from ear to ear.

"You enjoying your first party?" Hayden asked, leaning in a little bit closer to ensure she could hear him over the music and talking.

Phoebe nodded, giggling at the closeness, "It's fun! I think I like drinking."

"Yeah?" Hayden asked, clearly amused.

"For sure," she grinned, before looking around, "Where'd Em and James go?"

"Probably to get Henry and Jackie to give them some weed," Hayden shrugged, looking around as well. She couldn't think on it too hard considering her mind felt so fuzzy, but she knew Jackie was Emily's sister and was pretty sure Henry was Hayden's brother.

"Speak of the devil," Hayden grinned, looking over her shoulder. Phoebe turned, following his gaze to find Emily and James approaching them with bright eyes.

"Would you two care to join us for a little smoke sesh in the backyard?" James asked, and before Phoebe knew it, the four of them were sitting outback by the pool.

"Have you ever smoked before?" Emily asked, in which Phoebe just shook her head. "Oh, that's okay! I only have like, once before. I don't even think I got high. You usually don't for the first time."

"And you don't have to if you don't want to," James assured quickly.

"No, I wanna try," Phoebe nodded, because isn't this what high school is for? Her childhood was filled with so much shit and no fun. This though, this could be fun.

They lit the pipe and passed it around the circle before it reached Phoebe. Without a second guess she brought it to her lips, taking a deep inhale. This of course, caused her to instantly start coughing.

She assured the trio she was fine, watching them continue to pass it around. By the end of it, after she'd taken 4 or 5 hits, she was no longer coughing. In fact, she thought it felt good, if not a little uncomfortable at first.

Hayden, Emily, and James all turned out to be giggly when high, and it was the first time Phoebe felt like maybe they did still feel like kids. Even if they were clearly ahead of her in the drinking, smoking, and partying aspect.

It was fun, and before she knew it she was giggling too, still sipping on her drink as she joined in on the jokes.

But then she could feel her skin tingling and the sounds around her becoming slightly distorted. It sort've felt like everything was moving in slow motion.

"I'm gon' go to the bathroom," she mumbled, pushing herself off the ground with shaky hands. Emily and James seemed to be lost in their own little world, smiling at eachother. Phoebe wondered for a moment if they were together and she just hadn't realized yet.