Started With a Lie

Chapter Two

            “A party?” she asks. “What kind of party?”

            “You know,” I wave my hand around, “just a casual party.” Candy nods from next to me.

            Mom eyes us suspiciously. “A party? On a school night? On the first day of school?” She sets her mug down. “I don’t think so, sweetie.”

            “But, mom!” I complain. “We’re already dressed and ready and I’ll be back soon! I promise!” I grab Mom’s elbow and shake it. “Please, mom! Pleeease!”

            She sips her coffee with her other hand. “No.”    

            “Mom!” I whine. I stomp my foot like a little toddler. “Please! I’ll do anything, Mom! I’ll do chores and everything! Please! Please!”

            She thinks about it for a second. Mom looks over to Candy. “Are you going?” Candy nods. Mom turns back to me. “Will there be alcohol?”

            She’s on the verge of letting me go. I know it. “No,” I lie. “No alcohol. And even if there is—I won’t drink it.” Now that’s the truth.

            Seconds pass.

            “Fine,” Mom sighs. “But if anything happens, you are grounded for the rest of eternity. Okay?”

            I nod ferociously. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” I tackle her and she has to grip the island counter from falling over. I kiss her cheek. “I love you so much, Mom!” I slide my coat on and grab my car keys.

            “Be back soon, you hear?” Mom yells as I’m opening the front door. “If you’re one minute past curfew, you are scrubbing this house spotless tomorrow!”

            “Okay!” I yell back. “Love you, bye!”

            I see her smile before I close the door.

            Candy and I walk to my car. The cold air nips at my bare legs. It feels like my legs are freezing—but it’s worth it since I look nice. We turn the heat on full blast when we get inside my Honda.

            “Can’t believe your Mom let you go,” Candy says as she rubs her hands together to keep warm. She grins. “We almost got caught for a second.”

            “I know,” I respond, turning the car around a corner. I’ve nailed the directions to Peter’s house in my brain. I’ve gone so many times to his house in the past that it’s like the back of my hand to me.

            I park the car near a tree. Peter’s house is at the end of a dead end street so there’s plenty of room for cars to park. And they already have. There’s about fifty cars already parked out. I get out of my car with Candy and we inch closer to the house.

            I can feel the ground vibrating from the loud music. Cheers and yells are thrown around in the air. Every room in his house is lit up. People are on the porch, talking and drinking out of red cups. Some are on the lawn.

            “It’s so crowded!” Candy yells over the music at me.

            “I know!” I agree as we push through sweaty bodies. I feel like gagging as I smell some people who obviously forgot to put on some deodorant. The sofas and all furniture are pushed up against the walls where some people sit on them. I tap Candy and point to the kitchen.