Chapter 11

“Shotgun!” I called as I walked towards the car and Adrian walked around to the passenger’s side and opened the door but quickly let go of the handle. His hand was soaked in syrup and I snorted. I can’t believe it lasted that long!

“Really? You did this door, too?” He gave me a flat look. I smiled innocently as he rolled his eyes but walked inside to wash his hands. He came outside with a glove and a sponge. He put on the plastic glove and used the sponge to rip the syrup packet out from under and he washed the side of the car and under the handle before he threw out the glove and sponge. He opened the door for me and I sat down.

“Who are we picking up?” I asked nervously. I fidgeted in my seat. His friends would probably laugh at me. I suddenly had the urge to unbuckle my seat belt and crawl inside of my house.

“We’re making one stop to Chase’s house. Trent and Logan are there, too.” He explained, smirking at me as he turned on the AC. He must’ve seen my discomfort as we drove in silence towards the boy’s house. I learned something new about boys, today: they get ready in groups, too.

When we stopped at a medium sized cottage-like house, Adrian honked the horn twice. Through the tinted windows of the car, I saw three boys escape from the house and I locked the door. I heard one of them call ‘Shotgun’ and they began approaching the car. I sunk in my seat. I felt as if I didn’t belong. Adrian shot me a smile as I felt my stomach drop towards my ankles. Someone attempted to open the passenger door.

“Ocupado,” I awkwardly replied. Adrian snorted as the backdoor was whipped open and two boys piled into the car and one of them reached forward and pulled up the small stub that locked and unlocked the door. The passenger door opened and the kid unknowingly ducked under to sit on me but I screeched. “I said ‘Ocupado!’” I cried out.

The kid quickly retracted his bottom and turned to look at me. He quickly looked at Adrian who was quietly scrolling through his phone. He gave me a questioning look as he brushed away his brown hair.

“Who are you?” A kid from the back asked. I coughed lightly before turning and introducing myself.

“I’m Fiona.” I quietly announced. They stared at me like I was wearing all black on the hottest day of the summer. What a great analogy. I totally get your point. 

“Oh yeah, I forget to tell you guys. Fiona’s going to be driving with us.” Adrian simply replied, starting the car up. The boy just stood there with his arms crossed, watching me.

“Get in the car, Chase.” Adrian looked at the boy, who I’m guessing is Chase.  

“Tell her to get in the back seat.” Chase demanded. I raised my eyebrows.

“I called ‘Shotgun’ first; therefore your argument is invalid.” I crossed my arms childishly.

“That’s not fair. Adrian, tell her.” Chase cried out, pointing at me.

“She did call ‘shotgun’ first, so deal with it and sit in the back with Logan and Trent.” Adrian informed. The boy glared at me one last time.

“I don’t like you.” He sneered. I smiled innocently before replying.

“Have fun with that.” I slammed the door shut, barely missing him. Adrian smirked at me.

“I apologize for Chase’s rude behavior.” Trent spoke from the back seat as Chase snorted while looking out the window.

“I’m used to it,” I said, looking at Adrian with a pointed look before turning back to Trent with a smile. “He’s the worst neighbor ever.”

“I would hate to have him as a neighbor.” Trent said, smirking at Adrian.

“Trust me, she doesn’t mind that much. She’s a Peeping Tom.” Adrian winked at me. I glared at him.

“I am not; you change with your window wide open!” I glared at him. "You're lucky I'm not a 6 year old girl or else you would have been arrested weeks ago!" 

“You like it, though.” He teased and I groaned, placing my head in my hands. I felt my face getting warmer. Not now.

“I don’t!” I whined, staring out the window. Before he could talk, I turned on the music. A loud song came on and I sighed in relief.

When we arrived at the party, the guys in the backseat dived out of the car, slamming the doors shut and Adrian followed after them. I would’ve been out of the car and searching for Jessie but instead, my purse decided to get stuck under the seat. 

When I finally managed to fish my purse out from between the seat and the floor, I looked up to see my door being opened by Adrian. I felt my stomach drop as I heard people gasping and waiting for me to step out of the car.

“No, go away.” I hissed, trying to scoot away from him but there is only so much space in this car. He smiled and shook his head ‘no.’

"Just take my hand.” He informed me and it was my turn to shake my head. Why would I commit such social suicide by stepping out of the car with this popular, hot god? I, myself, am just a nerdy fool who is surprising herself by attending parties as often as I have been lately. “Ice cream bar.” He spoke in a hypnotic tone. I felt my shield weakening but I stood my ground.

“Why? No.” I said, trying to shoo him away with my feet. We were definitely the life of the show now.

“This is what I want for giving you the ride.” He smiled dangerously.

“My eternal embarrassment?” I sneered and he nodded, snatching my hand and yanking me out of the car with surprising strength. I'm surprised by head didn't go hurtling into the top of the car.

When I finally ripped my hand away from his, I began moving away but he stopped me.

“When are we going to meet back at the car?” He asked, smirking. I shrugged, unsure.

“Well, what time is your Aunt supposed to be home?” He asked, speaking to me as if I was a child.

“She said she’d be back at around 2 or 3.” I replied calmly, trying to steady my pulse while everyone watched us like the News when a storm warning was on.

“Are you good at keeping time?” He continued smirking as if he knew something I didn't. Was there something on my face? Or worse, my back? I shrugged again before he laughed as if I’d said something hilarious. Is that the effect popularity has on people? Uncontrollable bursts of laughter?

“Can I see your phone?” He asked, taking me by surprise. I felt my eyes widen as I began to shake my head. I wonder what the onlookers think we’re talking about.

"Just for a second, please,” He confirmed. I gave him a suspicious look before I handed him my phone. He turned the phone so I couldn’t see the screen, which annoyed me to no end and then handed it back to me a few moments later. He took his phone out and checked something before nodding. “Keep your phone on, okay?” He asked and I nodded, rolling my eyes. Why would I turn it off?

After we parted ways, people separated and created a path for me. I began making my way through it; I stopped at a shocked, wide mouthed Jessie. She looked at me and then in the direction where Adrian and I had just been standing. I grabbed her arm, whispering about how I’ll tell her about it in a second.

I realized that I had a lot of explaining to do and that the ice cream bar was the perfect place but what I didn’t realize that the ice cream bar was an actual ice cream bar. It was a small shack with about 20 seats along with a counter that stretched across. Coolers that held varieties of ice cream and drinks were lined along the back of the narrow shack, creating a small area for the worker to race back and forth between guests and now they were conversing with guys who were sitting there. And those guys were Trent and Logan. I’m guessing that Adrian wasn’t far. And Chase's absence didn't even bother me in the slightest.

“I’ll be right back. Can you order for me? The usual, of course.” I smiled innocently at Jessie. She nodded as I walked over towards the two boys and they smiled at me.

“Hey.” I spoke, smiling as I slid into a seat that had a bowl of untouched ice cream in front of it.

“That’s Adrian’s seat, what a coincidence.” Logan teased, smirking. I rolled my eyes and looked at the ice cream and saw that it was vanilla. And by the small sticker on the bowl, it was lactaid which means that it’s okay to be eaten by people who are lactose intolerant.

“Where is he?” I looked around. I tried not to sound suspicious as I spun around his bowl of ice cream. I slowly peeled the sticker off as the boys looked around, in search for him.

“Last time I checked, he had to make a run back towards the car.” Trent furrowed his eyebrows. The waiter made his way over to me and I ordered a vanilla bowl of normal ice cream. The waiter nodded and quickly came back with my ice cream. Luckily, the bowls were the same color. I placed the Lactaid sticker onto the normal ice cream and made off with the lactaid ice cream after waving to the boys.

Passing by a trash can, I tossed the lactaid bowl of ice cream inside of it just before seeing Adrian sit at the stool and take a large bite of the ice cream. I smiled deviously. Jessie turned around just as I reached her. She handed me my bowl of chocolate chunk brownie ice cream and I smiled happily.

“So what happened?” She asked and I explained the story to her, including the latest trick I pulled.

"Oh that’s just plain cruel.” She shook her head with a playful smile on her face.

“He shouldn’t have made such a big scene or did what he did with the aerosol.” I shrugged, biting into my ice cream.

“But still, I mean- he gave you a ride here.” She smiled happily as she looked over at the beach. We were seated on the mini dock that was above the water.

“I know.” I grinned as I looked down at the water. We heard shouting and turned to see a girl being chased by a guy. She playfully giggled as he caught her and kissed her. I groaned but Jessie watched, with a small smile on her face.

“Don’t tell me that you’re into that love stuff.” I groaned, rubbing my forehead. How could I lose my best friend to such simple, stupid things?

“It’s cute. Don’t tell me that you don’t want that!” She accused as she finished her ice cream.

“I do, I just don’t know anybody who I’m worthy of affection from.” I responded, shrugging. She rolled her eyes.

“Ethan obviously likes you.” She shrugged and I snorted.

“Yeah, right. Besides, I don’t like him in that type of way. How’s Nicholas?” I asked, changing the subject. I already get harassed on the topic of ‘Ethan’ enough by Adrian.

“He’s good. We are planning our second date,” She said, smiling at me widely. I nodded, encouraging her to go on. “We’re going skating next Friday. So I can hang out with you on Saturday on your last day of partying.” She continued.

I nodded, feeling my phone vibrate in my pocket. It was a continuing vibration and I knew it was a phone call. I prayed that it wasn’t Aunt Cherry. When I took my phone out of my pocket, my eyes widened slightly. Oh no.