Introvert

Chapter One

"Woah," I hear from behind me. I turn around and see Mike in my doorway. "Who are you, and what have you done with Corona?" he chuckles. I bite my lip.

I feel gross.

I want to cover up in a blanket and hide.

"Doesn't she look great?" Alex says with joy. Mike crosses his arms and smiles. "She looks...new."

Alex pats me on the shoulder. "My work here is done," he laughs. The gesture alone is enough to make me flinch away and sit on my bed.

I look down at my hands, cheeks surely burning. Alex's face is a mixture of confusion and worry as Mike shakes his head in dissmisal. "It's just her," he mumbles as if I can't here.

"C-can you guys leave?" I say quietly. Alex's expression suddenly changes to look as if I'd just broken his heart. Though, he nods and leaves silently.

Mike, on the other hand, does not. "C'rona, tonight's gonna be fun. I promise," he says. I shake my head and laugh sarcastically. "Maybe for you..."

He sighs, then leaves me. Alone in my room. Alone with my thoughts. How am I supposed to act tonight? Mike will surely be off with either his buddies, or his 'perfect-in-every-way' girlfriend, Ava. So, I can't just hang around with him.

Alex won't think much of me. He'll probably be drinking his weight the entire night. Maybe I can just hide away in the kitchen. Nothing bad ever happens in the kitchen.

I fall back onto my bed with a huff. "Let's just sleep our troubles away. Maybe Mike won't wanna wake me up if he sees how asleep I am at the time of the party."

°°°

Not the case.

"Oi! Party Time! Wake up!" Mike yells, shoving me around. I groan in response, knowing that my hair is now messed up, if it wasn't already.

As a result of me refusing to cooperate, Mike sits me up himself, and starts grooming me like I'm a dog.

After a fit of my whines for him to "stop brushing so hard!" and "you're getting toothpaste everywhere!" I find myself half-asleep in the back of Mike's car.

"So, Ronnie," Alex says from the passengers seat. "Here are some guidelines you should go by at ANY party." I yawn and nod, trying my best to pay attention to him spilling out information.

"First, if you don't want to get drunk, don't drink anything. Second, don't go into any bedrooms or closets. You're innocent eyes shouldn't have to see that," he chuckles. I feel a pang in my chest, at the realization that I'm probably going to be the only virgin at this party.

"Third, don't eat the brownies or snort ANYTHING. You'll get high. It's not a warning, it's a guarantee. And lastly," he glances back at me, "try and get out there and have some fun. Harry Potter can't be you're only friend forever."

Love you too, Alex.

As if tonight couldn't get any worse, the house we pull up to is enormous. I'll easily get lost in there. My heart starts pounding so loud, I almost don't hear Alex open my door for me.

Alex must notice my nervousness as I exit because he says in a soft tone, "I'll be there if you need me, alright?" I simply nod in reponse, seeing as how he's been more helpful to me than my brother has.

Each step I take closer to the door, I feel my insecurities build up more and more.

Your stomach flab is showing.

Remember how you couldn't fit into these jeans?

Your hair is probably greasy.

I try and shake away the nerves before entering the house that will change me forever...