Chapter 6 – Old Classmates
If it was possible to choke on nothing, I think I was.
Sophia was here. At this party. In this room. Walking towards me with a wicked grin on her face… Great.
This girl had made my life miserable for a whole year, and now she was back. But for some reason I had my suspicions. This whole party was planned by Hazel and I knew her sudden characteristic change wasn’t normal, because if she did that on a regular basis, I was going to get whiplash.
Although my thoughts were right, Hazel was up too something, I had no idea she was going to make me face Sophia again. She walked up to me and gave a once over look with a little disgust on her face. “Hello Jacey, long time no see” She stated with an evil smirk
I kept my face natural, “Hello Sophia. It has been a little while since we last saw each other” I replied, Sammy shifted at my side “Oh and this is Sammy”
Sammy gave a short wave with a blank look on her face. Sophia wrinkled her nose a little, “Oh so you have a friend now, how lovely” Sophia replied sarcasm clear in her voice
At this statement Sammy cleared her throat and spoke up. “Friends” She corrected with a smirk “And they’re kinda waiting to talk to us so, bye” she looped her arm with mine and we walked away
When we were out of ear shot of Sophia I turned to Sammy and grinned “Have I ever told you how amazing you are”
“Oh Shucks, Come on lets go find someone to talk too. I understand why you were so upset by her being here. She’s really…annoying, snobby…” She trailed off returning a Cheshire cat grin
We both laughed and ended up running into Cara. “Hey guys! Great party hey. Although there are a couple of people I don’t recognise…” She chirped smiling sweetly at us
“Hey! Yeah the people are from my old school” I replied trying to hide the sadness in my voice, luckily my eyes didn’t betray me this time
After a quick chat with Cara, she skipped off to talk to a guy from school. That girl was always happy, I don’t know how but she was just a cheerful person. I smiled as she walked/skipped away.
“You wanna get a drink?” Sammy suggested; I nodded releasing how thirsty I actually was
Handing a Coca-Cola to her she smiled and took a big drink. She looked at me with an uncertain look on her face, “Hey Jace, I was wondering… I mean I don’t want to be nosey or anything but what happened at your old school? Why did you move?” She asked
I smiled slightly, I knew this topic was going to come up eventually. “Well it all began one day long ago, when my father met my mother…” I trailed off in a sing-song voice, Sammy just rolled her eyes at me and I laughed lightly
“Okay sorry, serious now.” I smiled at her and she nodded at me to continue “Well from the day I was born my eyes were like this. I grew up with kids teasing me and calling me a freak. So I just accepted the fact that I was different. My dad would always say to me ‘It’s not that your different Jace, it’s more to the point that you’re special’. He passed away when I was six years old. After that I sort of blocked out what everyone was saying about me and just got along with school. At some schools I was bullied really bad that I only stayed for a couple of months. I was young and I didn’t know how to control my emotions that well. Anyways, before my Dad died he gave me a present. He gave me a pair of giant shoes and said that when I finally fit into them that I would be a young woman” I paused remembering his comforting face smiling at me, Sammy was listening contently and so I continued “Every time I wore those shoes I felt like I was close to him, it sounded kind of silly, but I found comfort knowing that in Dads eyes where ever he might be that he would be proud of me for staying strong. About a year ago when I still at my old school with Sophia. Back then I was a pretty happy person and had some friends, I thought life was looking up for me. No one knew about my eyes and I tried to keep it that way. I finally had friends and was somewhat enjoying school. I got invited to a party, Sophia’s party. She never liked me from the very first day I set foot in that school I could tell that she hated me, and the funny thing is I had no idea why. I was at the party talking to one of my old friends when she purposely bumped me from behind. I was wearing the shoes that my Dad had gotten me. She made me spill my drink on my shoes. The last thing I had from my Dad after he died…” I trailed of looking at the ground and continued “I lost it, completely. I was so angry with her I turned around and faced her. In all my life I had never felt that much anger, by eyes we bright gold, glowing in fact. At first she was scared but she then showed her true colours. I left the party and burst into tears. The last present I had from my Dad was ruined, and the worst thing about is that she knew those shoes were special to me…”
Sammy just stared at me. I frowned, did I say something wrong? She wanted to know…
She shook her head as if to clear her thoughts, “Wow, Jace. Just wow. People need to give you more credit. After all these years you stayed strong. And you know what, even though we haven’t known each other forever, I’m proud to call you my friend. I think that the people from your old school didn’t understand you as a person…” She raised her finger shaking it lightly in front I my face with a mischievous smile “But, I have a plan to get both Sophia and Hazel off your case. You may have tried this, but I think to get them off your back you should just act like nothing happened. I mean, they made your life misery, but I think the best way to get past that is to stop living in the past. Show them that they don’t have control over you; you’re your own person. And for the record I think the eye thing is really cool!” She ended with a grin
I appreciated her lightening the mood, I myself felt lighter. Getting that off my chest to someone other than my mum was actually an amazing feeling, like I didn’t have to do all this on my own. And now she was going to help me get through this, with another one of her plans… To be honest, her plan was a good one. The whole ‘Show you enemy’s that they don’t control you. Smile and live life, that’s the better than revenge’ thing made sense. It was time to live life.
I looked at Sammy and grinned “Let’s do this!”
With a signature Cheshire cat smile she dragged me to the dance floor.
I loved this girl, without a doubt, she’s my best friend.
***
The party was in full swing by now and everyone was laughing and dancing.
I’d seen Noah a couple of times talking and hanging out with his friends, he looked like he was having fun. I smiled to myself, I don’t know why though. Sammy and I were dancing away when someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around to see none other than Hazel and Sophia staring at me.
“Oh hey Hazel and Sophia! Great party!” I chirped over the music, playing along with ‘the plan’
They both looked at little taken back by my happiness, until the exchanged a look and smirked at each other. Here we go again; they’re making a plan of their own. I had my suspicions that Hazel and Sophia would get along.
“Yeah it is great, isn’t it great to catch up with everyone?” Hazel said gesturing to Sophia and a couple of old class mates smirking
I smiled sweetly and replied “I didn’t think I’d see them again, funny how things work out, huh?” My sweet smile turned a little smug when Hazel looked a little surprised again but hid it quickly
“Huh, well anyways, I’ll see ya later” she replied flatly
Sammy and I looked at each other; she gave me a knowing smile.
Even though they’re persistent in ways to get me down hurt a little, but Sammy’s plan works. The fact that they continue to try and put me down just to make them-selves look better saddens me, if only they knew a better way to make them-selves feel better.
“Feels pretty empowering huh” Sammy commented on the smile that formed on my face
“You bet”
We both laughed and continued to dance. Even though there was no alcohol at the party it looked like some people were drunk either way, giggling, swaying a little while walking, maybe they were drunk on the atmosphere; that’s heard of, right?
The next song started and some bad singing followed. Apparently someone thought the party was missing karaoke, well this party just got more interesting…
Sammy grinned at me with a mischievous look in her eyes, “Let’s give a go!”
I laughed, bring on the singing!
***
Three songs later, my throat was crying out for a drink. As I started to make my way off the stage I tripped and began to fall. Someone caught me by the waist. I heard them give a light laugh and place me back down on my feet. I turned to face them and saw Noah grinning at me. I laughed, “Thanks for that, face planting at my first party at a new school isn’t really the way I wanted people to remember my name”
“No thanks necessary, ma’am” he replied taking off an imaginary hat with a bow
We both laughed, “Hey I’m on my way to get a drink, do you want one? Karaoke really can take it out of you”
“I was actually just about to go get a drink, Shall we” He joked putting out his arm
Playing along I laughed and placed my hand dramatically over my heart, “Why thank you sir”
A few giggles later we emerged at the drink table. With both Hazel and Sophia glaring at us.
“Here we go again” I mumbled to myself, what do they have planned this time…
“I’ll go us our drinks” I suggested
“Yeah, uh… I’ll just wait here” Replied Noah casting an uneasy look towards Hazel and Sophia glaring at us
As I made my way towards the drink table Sophia whispered something to Hazel that made her lips curve into a cruel smile. I had a feeling something like this would happen yet again.
As I reached for a drink they decided to make their move and walk towards me. Hazel dramatically “slipped” and poured her drink all over the front of my dress. I exhaled, seriously this routine again?
I didn’t have the patience for this, are they really this immature?
“Oppies daisies”
“Seriously?! This is my favourite dress…” I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose
“What is it with you, are you sentimental with clothing or something?” Sophia said snickering at my dress