° we never realize how frozen we are until someone starts to melt our ice. °

Chapter 24

"I can go right?" I ask, my fingers crossed behind me.

Mum reads over the paper, then looks at me with a strange smile. "Sure baby, anything you want."

What?

She places her hand on my cheek, "are you feeling better now? Is Darcy coming to the birthday party with you?"

"Um, I'm feeling alright and I don't know if Darcy's coming too."

"I'd talk to her okay? Everything would be fine," she smiles and walks away and I'm left with Nessa who's struggling not to laugh.

I glare, "what was that? What did you do?"

"I promise, I didn't mean to," she says raising both her hands up innocently.

"Tell me."

"So mum cornered me and started asking me what your attitude was all about and I told her you had a fight with a friend," she chuckles. "She asked if that was all, she didn't believe me and I told her it's probably with a girl."

"Oh no."

"Apparently everybody knows your only female friend is Darcy, so of course she thought it's about Darcy. She was going to call you and talk about relationships and girlfriends and tell you you're not ready but I thankfully stopped her telling her it would all just get worst," Nessa ends. "She's still on to you and I think she's trying to mend back your friendship with Darcy."

"Nessa!"

"It's not my fault, I was cornered!"

I sigh, "this is going to be so weird if she talks with Darcy, I don't like her that way and we barely fight." We disagree but I always let her win.

"Well any way you see it, it's a better reason than her knowing why you were so broody and gloomy."

I blush, going up to my room. "I think telling her I failed a test would have worked well too."

"We don't know that."

"Whatever," I ran up the remaining steps and go up to my room.

Tossing my books aside, I open up my wardrobe and start staring inside at all the clothes I have. Both the ones that I've had for years now. What does one wear to a party? I've never been to a party before and I've never been to a party where Sky Hunt would be. He is always impressing me with his outfits and style, for once I'd like to impress him too. What do I wear?

After a lot of thinking, I settle on one of my favorite church khaki pants; I have only worn it once and that was last Easter. The shirt finding is more hard because I don't have anything like a favourite shirt. At last I pick a plane maroon tee shirt and I am going to wear a black blazer over it. I arrange the outfits on my bed and my most new black vans under it, then I take a step back to smile at my picks. They look perfect and are honestly the best I can do on such short notice.

I decide to shower and start prepping my hair before Jamal comes. I can't hide my excitement even if I want to. Despite the fact that I didn't want to go at first, I'm happy Jamal is making me go. I'm excited about it and I'm more excited that Sky is going to be there.

Jamal is punctual and arrives exactly on time but he doesn't come alone.

"Darcy?" I ask, as he collaspes on my bed, crossing his legs in front of him.

Jamal chuckles, "we arrived basically the same time. She downstairs talking with your mum."

"Oh my," I sigh, "only God knows what mum is telling her down there."

"I think it's good she's coming, you won't be the only one who's virginity is popped."

"What?" I startle at that, widening my eyes at Jamal.

"Party virginity?" He elaborates in a duh tone. "Unless of course you are planning on popping another virginity, I'm okay with any—"

I throw my slipper at him, "shut up Jamal." He bursts our laughing just as I shrug on my blazer. "Let's go."

"Hold up," Jamal yells jumping off the bed, "why are you wearing the coat?"

I pull at blazer, "it's not a coat"

"Please remove the suit jacket or coat, Issy," he groans going my wardrobe. "You're not going to a meeting or a date, you idiot."

"B-but it goes," I say, not seeing his problem with it. I think I look just great.

"Yeah, just not for this party," he grabs a random checkered long sleeves button down shirt and tossed to me. "That's better."

"What?" I study the shirt. "Mal, this is so casual."

"Exactly," he says not letting me put another word in as he helps me pull off the blazer and put on the shirt. We don't button it as he pushes me to a mirror, "doesn't that feel better?"

I still look great but it looks more on the normal side. I guess I'll just go for it. I shrug in response and we finally leave my room, going downstairs to meet Darcy and my mum.

Darcy and I exchange greetings and I see that she has a yellow dress on that has really thin straps on, is a bit tight after her bosom and flows down stopping at her knee. It's a pretty dress that I've never seen her with and I blink at her exposed shoulders and hands, slightly wondering if it's the Darcy Pickett I know. Her blond hair is on a cute side braid, with little locks coming out in front and apart from the lip balm on her pink lips, she has absolutely no makeup on. On her feet were nice gold scandals.

You can tell she put a little effort on with the dress and hair and I smile to myself. At least she didn't wear her usual very long skirts and long sleeves, she looks prettier and I am happy she's here, I just pray she doesn't try to control my life.

After a ton of advice from mum and her slipping an envelope to me (birthday present that I didn't even think of), we finally leave and when Darcy picks a black jean jacket to wear over her dress, I roll my eyes. Of course, Darcy Pickett is still in there after all.

"Darcy, I have to say," Jamal says opening the passenger door of my car for her. "You look kinda hot."

"Huh?" She purses her lips at him. And I hold in my chuckle.

"Kinda hot in a cute innocent, I'd still not try to mess with you way." He expands.

Darcy rolls her eyes, "thanks?"

He grins exaggeratedly, "you're welcome." She enters the car and he shuts the door after her then we both enter the front seats.

"Darce, did you originally want to come or my mum made you?" I ask, starting up the car.

"Your mum made me," she said matter of fact and maybe she heard my wince because she adds. "I was thinking about it though, I wasn't totally sure I'd come."

"I'm sorry about my mum."

"It's okay, I'm glad I came." She leans forward so her head is between the I and Jamal's seat. "But she was saying some strange things about forgiving you and not taking everything you say to heart. That you were just a normal teenage boy with confusing hormones at the moment, what did she mean?"

I go all still. If I wasn't driving, I'd have gone so hot, I'd cringe and melt away.

"Hormones?" Jamal asks, already laughing. "Care to explain, Issy?"

"It's nothing," I quickly say. "Just a stupid misunderstanding that Nessa started."

"Uh huh?" Jamal asks teasingly and I snap my eyes to him.

"Yes, uh huh."

He still laughs, raising a hand up like he's innocent. "Fine, don't get your panties in a twist."

"Shut up Jamal."

"I second that," Darcy says from behind and Mal gapes at us.

"This is so wrong," he shakes his head. "Having both of you in the same car."

"You just called me hot, you nitwit. Doesn't that kind of imply, you don't mind me here?" Darcy asks.

"It did," Jamal answers. "Until you opened your mouth."

"Oh so my breath and words don't stink like yours, it makes me less tolerable?"

"That and because—"

I zone out at that, turning on the radio and trying to focus on driving while they both argued in the background. I should've known something like this would happen. They never get along.

We arrive Sara's house twenty minutes later and I rush out the car, inspecting my ears to make sure they still worked. I've been to the Reverend's house on different occasions with my mum and I thought I knew it but now staring at it, I realize I don't know anything about it. There's are lights of different colours everywhere and the house is booming with music with what looks like the whole town strutting in and out like that wasn't the Reverend's house.

"Whoa," Darcy says coming to stand beside me. "Are you sure we're in the right place?"

Jamal cackles, "I knew Sara is going to be so wild at this party thing. Ten says she drugged her uncle and has him stashed down the basement with headphones on."

Darcy and I turn to him with shocked expressions and he laughs harder. "Sara wouldn't do that, Mal. Stop being ridiculous."

I hear exhale heavily before she says, "maybe we should just go back."

"What?" Jamal and I ask at the same time. Jamal continues, "don't be ridiculous Darcy, no way."

I have to agree with Mal on this one, I didn't have all those preparation just to turn back when I'm already here. I am super nervous but excited all at the same time. And Sky is probably already in there, I'm not backing out now. Half the people in there are our mate and we all attended the same church and worshipped the same God.

"This is clearly not what we bargained for," Darcy says. "Israel it's a mad house."

"This is exactly what I bargained for," Jamal contradicts her.

"Of course it is," Darcy fires, "You're an idiot."

"We're here already," I interrupt before another fight starts. "Let's go in. What's the worse that can happen?"

We start walking in and I feel Darcy's hand clamp over me, our fingers getting intertwined. "I could few bad things that can happen. We could get drugged, arrested, someone could die..."

"Oh and," Jamal drawls, "we could have fun. Bet that didn't occur to you, Darcy Magdalene, did it?"

Darcy glares at him and I pull at our hands, making her look at me. I smile at her, "it's going to be fine Darce, we'd all be together throughout, nothing bad would happen." I am not even fifty percent sure of that especially the staying together part but I have to say something to make her relax.

"Promise?"

Wasn't expecting that. "Um..." Some guys save me from making a dead promise when they yell at us to move out of the way. We did and they carry kegs of alcohol into the house.

"Now I'm really worried about Sara's uncle," Jamal says. "You think he's dead?"

We don't answer Jamal this time and we successfully make it into the house unscathed. The neon bright flashing lights makes me dizzy for some seconds before I get used to it. People are dancing up and down to the loud booming sounds, kissing, laughing, playing games and drinking alcohol. Most of them half naked— girls had bikini's on and guys had just shorts. I can't believe my eyes and I actually laugh when some guy spills his drink directly down some girls breasts and she gasps loudly but then I think she's too drunk and instead of being mad, she burst out laughing and they end up kissing.

"Whoo," Jamal yells, placing his hands on my shoulder. "This is what I'm talking about Issy, we're going to have so much fun!"

"We're not doing alcohol," I say, Darcy nodding in agreement and Jamal joins in.

"Fine," he says, "I am though so keep an eye out for me."

"Hi boys," Sara says in her sing song voice, cat walking towards us in just her bra and panties— bikini, I guess. "I'm so glad you guys made it. The party is just getting fucking crazy!"

"Sara!" Darcy gasps out, staring at her in so much disbelief, I nearly burst out laughing. Her face is priceless.

Sara turns to Darcy, just noticing her presence. "Oh hi Darcy, I didn't know you'd come too. Nice to see you out of your element."

Before Darcy can say anything else, Jamal chips in. "Sara, what about your uncle?"

"Oh he travelled out this week and won't be back until next week," she laughs slapping Jamal on the shoulder. "How convenient, am I right?" When none of us says anything, she continues. "Well I hope you guys have fun, there's cake and drinks in the kitchen and the main party is out back by the pool. Like duh."

"Isn't this a bit much, Sara?" Darcy asks before Sara leaves.

Sara laughs, "Of course not, Darcy. And chill, I've got security or chaperones, anyone you'd want to call it." She points and when we look, truly as she said there were some men dressed in black situated at different corners of the house, overseeing everything.

I nod in approval, slipping Sara and envelope and getting a nod of thanks before she catwalks away.

"Happy, now?" Jamal asks, then smiles. "On to the kitchen then."

We manuver ourselves to the kitchen passing by drunk and dancing teenagers. Jamal gets his drink from the keg, Darcy took canned Coke and I took some punch and the exact drink Sky brought over to our sleepover the last time. I wanted the little alcohol it promised, sue me. Then we stole large pieces of cake, placing it on plates and leaving.

The back of the house turns out more big and more beautiful than the inside. With the giant blue pool casting it's blue light everywhere. The music was not so loud out here and some people were swimming in the pool while others were walking about around it, sitting at the edges and sharing stories.

"Okay, this is actually beautiful," Darcy says chewing on her cake.

I nod distractedly looking for Sky around. I wanted to see him so badly, was he here already? Would he pick his phone if I call? I don't get to think about too much because as I turn around next, I spot him. My heart does a little somersault on seeing him and I can already feel the warmth spreading from it. In the blue glow of the pool, he looks magnificent. He was dressed in a big black Alan Walker hoodie with ripped black jeans. His hair curls were falling over his face and he has a laugh on.

My eyes moved to the person he was sharing a laugh with and I almost choke on air. Standing next to him is another fine looking young guy in the person of Lou St Martin. Lou shares the same ripped jeans too but instead of a hoodie he had a only a black jacket on. And when I say I mean only. If I look hard enough, I am sure to see peeks of his bare skin.

"You think they know each other?" Jamal asks really close to my ear startling me.

I recover with a sigh not hiding the fact that I was checking both guys out. "I don't know."

Lou sees me first and he blinks, slanting his head a little to the side to look me over like he can't believe he's actually looking at me. His behavior makes Sky turn, his eyes meeting mine immediately. He slowly looks me over and I look away, staring at my feet at my face burned.

"Israel look at Danny," Darcy says, grabbing my attention away from Sky's scrutinizing eyes and over to a classmate who was trying to a backflip while drunk. Darcy breaks into a laugh, "he doesn't even know his back or front."

I am about to say something but a pat on my shoulder, makes me jump, intentionally grabbing back the attention that was taken away. My eyes meet the sparkling grey ones of Sky Hunt.

"Hey handsome."

-----------------------------------------

to be continued...

Vote and comments.