CHAPTER 22
“Just because a friendship or relationship ends does not mean that the other person is a bad person. Nor does it mean that the other person is crazy. Nor does it mean that the other person never cared about you or any of those things we often say. It simply means that it wasn't meant to work out and though it is horrible and unfortunate and sometimes heartbreaking, it's not the end of the world. Other friends will come along, other boyfriends and girlfriends will come along. Sometimes things just aren't meant to be. And that has to be okay. It has to be okay because otherwise what do we have?” Samantha Mott
“It’s a back to school party,” said Bob.
“Isn’t it a New Year’s Eve party if it’s on New Year’s Eve?” asked Elizabeth.
Bob looked deep in thought. Elizabeth tried not to act annoyed. All she wanted to do was lay in Jack’s arms. Her emotions were confusing. On any given moment she could change her mind about what she wanted. She was absolutely positive that she liked Jack, as more than just a good friend. However, she wasn’t sure that she wanted to be in a relationship with him. It was all too confusing to her. The bottom line was that Elizabeth was sure that Jack’s feelings for her were just platonic. It was an impossible battle between her head and her heart. All she knew was that she wasn’t going to tell Jack how she really felt for fear of changing their friendship.
“Yeah, well, it’s at my house, so I can call it what I want,” defended Bob. Elizabeth nodded at him. It was hard to converse with him. He could be so animated about the smallest things while avoiding things that were significantly more important. “Does it sound stupid calling it a back to school party?”
“Nope,” answered Elizabeth. “I was just checking.”
“Checking why?”
“Bob, it doesn’t matter what you call the party,” she smiled. “It’s your party. You can call it whatever you want. You can crank up the heat, move in some sand, and fill a kiddy pool if you want and call it a beach party for all anyone cares.”
“A beach party,” he was deep in thought. Elizabeth crossed her legs and tried to unscramble the celebrity name on the movie theatre screen in her head while Bob thought about what he wanted to name the party. He had given her a UNC Charlotte t-shirt and sweatshirt for Christmas telling her that when she wore them it would be for one or two reasons. The first was that her absolutely gorgeous boyfriend was going to UNC Charlotte and the second that was that she was going there with him. The second was never going to come true, but Elizabeth wasn’t going to crush his dreams. She was a dreamer not a dream killer. “You’re spending the night, right?” She nodded. “Good. Do you want to sleep in my room or my parent’s room?”
“Don’t you think it’s creepy sleeping in your parent’s room?”
“Better than strangers hooking-up in there.”
“Well, Angela and Kate are staying, too, remember?”
“Yeah, but not with us,” Bob said putting his arm around Elizabeth. “Look, Kate can stay with Nick somewhere and Angela
can hook up with someone or pass out where she wants. It’s not my responsibility.”
“They’re my friends,” said Elizabeth. “I’m staying where they stay.”
Bob openly rolled his eyes. “There’s a small computer room off my parent’s room. They can sleep there.”
He leaned in for a kiss. Elizabeth closed her eyes, hoping it would be quick. She heard the previews begin playing in the background and pulled back. “No kissing during the movie,” she quickly said.
“The movie hasn’t started.”
“I like the previews,” she admitted. “It’s part of the movie.”
“Do you intentionally try not to be close to me?”
She shook her head. It was something she had tried to figure out so often. There was nothing wrong with Bob, other than he was arrogant, self-centered, and egotistical. From day one, Elizabeth did not like him, but she continued to date him for reasons she couldn’t begin to comprehend. Part of her thought, if she continued to date Bob, the relationship would end naturally, and by that time, she would be over Jack Bennett.
Elizabeth pulled her long brown hair up above her head before letting it fall past her shoulders. She put a dark brown rubber band on her wrist next to her watch in case she changed her mind about wearing her hair down. Bob had taken Elizabeth up on her suggestion and decided to throw a beach party in his parent’s house instead of the back to school party he had originally thought of. She had spent the last day, helping him purchase plastic pink flamingos, beach balls, pool rafts, and colored umbrellas for drinks. Against her advice, he purchased bags of sand and dumped them on the basement carpet for sand volleyball, thinking he could vacuum the sand up before his parents ever found out. Elizabeth was worried the sand would stick to people and end up all over the house. Then again, she didn’t care that much so she let him do whatever he wanted.
“This is such a stupid idea,” said Kate stretched across Elizabeth’s bed under the comforter. “It’s forty-five degrees outside, right now and your window’s open. Am I supposed to wear sweats over my bikini to the party and then change into my wife beater, straw skirt, and flip flops when I get there?”
“Looking good baby,” the girls heard from out the window.
Angela walked over to the window in her bikini top and jeans. “Nick,” she called through the open window. He was dancing in front of Jack’s window.
“Angie, where’s my girlfriend?” Kate never openly admitted she was in a relationship with Nick and she never referred to him as her boyfriend but over the course of the last month rumors around school started that Nick was slumming it, giving even the geeks belief anyone could break the social barriers down.
Kate walked over to the window smiling. “Hey, baby!”
“We should drive separately,” suggested Angela.
“Why?” asked Elizabeth. “You can’t drive if you’re drinking. Besides, Liam Coyne is definitely staying overnight and you have a thing for him and he has a thing for you.”
“He has a thing for me?”
“According to Bob, but it’s supposed to be a secret.”
“I thought Liam and Jamie were together now?” asked Kate. Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders.
“Nope, she’s all over him depending on who’s around but she wants Jack because he won’t give her the time of day,” he answered.
“No, not true,” Jack yelled in the background being modest. “She doesn’t want me. She just thinks she does.”
“Did you tell Bob I thought Liam was hot?”
“No,” she said offended that Angela was questioning her loyalty. “I wouldn’t tell him that. Even I think Liam is hot. And, you know I don’t even care about Bob.”
“Who do you care about?” Nick shouted through the window.
Kate was dancing and pointing towards Jack’s window. “Kate!” she snapped.
Bamboozlement overcame Nick’s face. “I don’t get why you’re pointing at me?”
“We’re closing the window now,” hollered Angela. “This is stupid. We’ll see you in less than ten minutes.”
“Keep the blinds open if you’re not done changing,” Nick said as Angela closed the window and let down the blinds.
Elizabeth threw her toothbrush and toothpaste in her bag on top of the pajamas and clothes for the following day which were already packed. She wasn’t excited about the party. Staying at home, watching a movie, by herself was more appealing than partying with people she didn’t know that well and her boyfriend who intended on getting drunk. She threw her Betsey Johnson overnight bag over her shoulder and walked downstairs, leaving Angela and Kate to finish getting ready. Dropping her bag at the front door, she went to find her mom to tell her they were leaving. Leighton was sitting at the kitchen table writing Colby’s dinner and bedtime for the babysitter that would be arrivi
ng soon. Elizabeth sat down at the table in her grass skirt. Her fake pink hibiscus lei hung around her neck over her white tank top.
“Are you leaving?” Leighton asked suddenly turning her attention to her daughter. “You can’t walk out of the house like that.”
“Mom, I told you it’s a beach party,” answered Elizabeth expecting that her mother would comment on her outfit. “All the girls and guys are dressing the same. That’s the whole point to a theme party.”
“I know what a theme party is, Elizabeth. Put a jacket on or something. What time are you coming home?”
“We’re sleeping at Kate’s house, remember?”
Leighton shook her head. “You’re driving to the party?”
“No, mom, Nick’s driving us to the party and then to Kate’s house after.”
Elizabeth could feel her mother’s eyes staring right through her. Did her mom believe her? Elizabeth knew she wasn’t going to do anything her mom would disapprove of, but it was the point of actually admitting they were going to spend the night at a house full of drunken idiots. She was aware that this year she had become a disappointment in her mother’s eyes, but she had rebelled against her controlling mother, and was starting to feel better. The last few weeks things had been relatively peaceful, so Elizabeth did not want to rock the boat.
“Isn’t Kate’s car here?”
Elizabeth tried to remember if Kate’s car was outside. “No,” she answered quickly. “She came with Angela.”
“No,” corrected Leighton. “I distinctly remember Angela being here first and then Kate showed up at least a half hour later.”
“Mom,” stalled Elizabeth, “Kate did come with Angela, she just…was…she went next door to see Nick before she came in the house.”
“Hey Mrs. B,” echoed Angela and Kate walking into the kitchen.
“Kate, where’s your car?” Leighton asked.
“My car?” asked Kate confused. She quickly looked at Elizabeth.
“Mom,” said Elizabeth panicked. “I told you, her car is at her house so she can drive us home tomorrow morning.”
“Yeah, that’s the plan so my car is definitely at my house,” answered Kate. Elizabeth looked at Angela with wide eyes and Angela slowly backed out of the kitchen.
“I could have sworn I saw your car in front of my house,” questioned Leighton.
Kate laughed uncomfortably. Elizabeth needed to stall. She knew her mother all, too, well. “Okay, so we’re leaving now and we’ll be at Kate’s tonight and she will drive me home tomorrow.”
“Do you girls have jackets? It’s cold outside.”
“I think I left mine upstairs, I’ll be right back,” said Kate. “Wait here for me.”
“Where did Angela go?” Leighton asked her daughter. Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders. “Well, go get your jacket out of the closet.” Elizabeth could feel her mother on her heels as she slowly made her way down the hall to the foyer. In no hurry, she opened the closet door, touched her black North Face Fleece jacket and turned to her mom.
“Do you think I need a hat and gloves?”
“It’s not snowing, Elizabeth. But it’s not bikini and grass skirt weather. Just get the jacket.” Angela walked back in the front door just as Kate was making her way back down the stairs. “Good, I’ll walk you girls out.”
Elizabeth swallowed hard. As soon as her mother opened the front door and saw Kate’s car sitting in the street behind her Jeep, it was going to be all over. She wasn’t sure why they hadn’t planned this out earlier or why she hadn’t been smarter about the location of Kate’s car. She held her breath as they walked outside. Nick was standing on the front porch picking up the girl’s bags. Leighton walked right past him to the middle of the lawn. To Elizabeth’s delight Kate’s car was gone from the front of the house.
“Told you,” said Elizabeth with attitude. “That was so unnecessary.” She marched across the front lawn behind Nick with her friends following closely behind. Jack ran down the driveway to Nick’s car as the girls were filing in the backseat one at a time.
“How did you pull that off?” Elizabeth asked.
“Angela came out and said we had to move Kate’s car a street over before your mom came out,” answered Jack.
“Drop me off at my car before Elizabeth’s mom calls the neighborhood watch to search for it. I’ll just drive separately so I can legitimately drop the girls off tomorrow and nobody has to lie about it.” Kate looked at Elizabeth. “Your mom so knew. She’s got some sort of radar or something.”
“Did you guys eat yet?” asked Nick. “We’re starving.”
“I’m in a grass skirt,” complained Kate. “I’m not going to dinner.”
“Put pants on,” suggested Angela. “No, we didn’t eat, but we should.”
“Drive thru or sit down,” asked Jack laughing at the girls in the back.
“I don’t want fast food,” said Elizabeth. “Let’s just go to that old diner or something. Every place is going to be crowded.”
Kate got out of her car and followed everyone to the old diner five minutes away. Elizabeth was trying not to feel self-conscious about the grass skirt she was wearing. She pulled her fleece jacket down as far as it would go. Both Jack and Nick were wearing board shorts, wife beaters, flip -lops and sunglasses. They received as many stares as the girls, which helped Elizabeth feel less awkward.
After dinner, it was difficult finding two parking spots near Bob’s house. Elizabeth couldn’t believe how many people were already at the party. Elizabeth walked in the house behind Jack. Bob was standing in the living room, shirtless, talking, while beer was spilling out of the top of his cup. She darted into the living room to grab his cup before he made a bigger mess than he already had.
“Hey,” she said taking his beer. She noticed his unusually flushed face. “Are you okay?”
“No. I’ve been waiting for you for hours.” Bob snatched the beer out of Elizabeth’s hand, threw the full clear plastic cup over his shoulder and tackled her to the ground. He tried to kiss her, but
she wouldn’t allow it. She turned her head and pushed his face back as far as it would go.
“Stop,” she said. “You’re drunk. Get off me.”
“Oh, come on, stop being a baby,” he laughed. She could hear laughing from all around her, including Bob. “You’re my girlfriend,” he whispered into her ear. “I can be on you whenever I want. I want you right now. Let’s go upstairs.”
Elizabeth saw Jack walk into the living room out of the corner of her eye. She extended her hand towards him. Without hesitation, he ran towards her. Jack grabbed Bob’s arm and lifted him off of Elizabeth, dropping him on his side. He took Elizabeth’s shaking hands and helped her up. She stood behind him, holding on to his shirt.
“That’s crap!” shouted Bob standing up pointing at Jack. “I was just fucking around with her.”
“She didn’t look like she wanted to be fucked with.”
“She’s my girlfriend,” yelled Bob. “Stay out of my relationship.”
Jack nodded. “You’re drunk, Bob. Nobody likes a stupid drunk.”
Elizabeth let go of Jack’s shirt and walked out of the room. She didn’t want to see or hear Bob right now. She walked into kitchen, grabbed a blue Jell-O shot off the table, slammed the shot down and threw the miniature plastic cup on the ground. Elizabeth had no intention of helping Bob clean up. Kate was dancing in the family room with Nick. There was no sign of Angela. Elizabeth took two more Jell-O shots and walked out to the backyard through the sliding glass door. The cold air immediately hit her bare legs.
There were several people outside smoking on the patio. Elizabeth stepped off the patio and made her way to the side of the house across the damp grass. Her toes were almost numb by the time she found a spot alone where she was sure nobody would find her
on the side of the house between two windows. She inhaled profoundly after she lit the cigarette trying to obtain a state of calm.
Instinctively, she turned to peer through the window in the living room wanting to ensure that Bob was still in there. The moment she looked, Elizabeth knew her curiosity was a mistake. Bob was in the middle of the living room grinding up against Jamie Johnson. She was running her long, thin fingers through his light blond hair, as she flipped her own perfect hair and laughed. He held on to her tightly caressing every inch of the back of her flawless body. The window was a magnet sucking Elizabeth in to watch his public display of cheating.
Elizabeth sank to the cold ground, her legs outstretched in front of her on top of the freezing grass. She lit another cigarette. Instead of smoking it, she held it between her frigid fingers and watched as the orange glow slowly burned towards her hand. The salad she had eaten for dinner churned in her weak stomach. Elizabeth drooped forward, dropping the cigarette on the ground. She lingered there, wavering slightly but suddenly she lurched herself backwards throwing all her weight into the brick house behind her. The pain from the back of her head seared down to her lower back. Elizabeth groaned while the salty warm teardrops streamed down her face. She gained her composure and struck the wall again with her head and back. The feeling was all too familiar. She repeated the motion several more times.
“Stop!” Elizabeth heard Jack say from a distance. She pulled her knees up to her chest and rolled over into fetal position. “No, no, don’t do this! You can’t hurt yourself every time you get upset.”
“Jack, I can’t stop,” she heard him sigh between her muffled cries. She couldn’t bear to look up at his face. She was sure he was disappointed in her actions. He sat down next to her and lifted her head and shoulders until he had positioned himself under her. She wrapped her arm around his leg, feeling the warmth of his jeans under her face. He covered her bare legs with his blue North Face Denali fleece jacket and rubbed her back to calm her down as he leaned against the cold brick house sipping on his beer. Elizabeth tried to control her crying. Jack didn’t say anything else to her. He just continued to rub her back with his now chilly hand.
“Jack Bennett!” Elizabeth sat up abruptly. Jamie Johnson was walking towards them in her gold shimmer tank top and dark wash jeans. Jack didn’t move. He didn’t even turn to look at her. “Come here,” snapped Jamie. “Come here, now.”
Elizabeth slowly stood up, extending Jack’s jacket to him with her delicate arm. He took his jacket back but he didn’t stand up. Instead, he took a long gulp of his cold beer. Elizabeth wanted to go back in the house, but she was hesitant. There was something different about Jamie; she wasn’t the strong, confident girl she usually was. Her face was red, her hands were shaking, and she was visibly upset, very upset. Nervously, Elizabeth started running her long fingers through her dark hair.
“Are you going to get up or just sit there in the cold?” snapped Jamie.
Jack was on his feet immediately. For the first time, Elizabeth saw his teeth clenched together as he passed her. Beer sprayed through the air as he threw his cup against the house. Jack hustled to Jamie in a fury, stood in front of her for a minute, shook his head and started walking towards Elizabeth.
“Come on,” Jack said to Elizabeth linking his arm around hers. “We’re going.”
“Don’t you dare leave!” screamed Jamie after them. Elizabeth paused, scared to be in the middle of an obvious fight between them. Jack immediately dropped her arm and turned back around.
“You bitch!” he said, his teeth gritted together once again. Elizabeth took a few steps away from Jack doubting whether or not she should get in the middle. Jack had, after all, come in between her and Bob tonight.
“What did you just say?” Jamie angrily started walking towards him.
“Stop,” said Elizabeth calmly, stepping in front of Jack. Jamie seemed surprise that Elizabeth had spoken up. “Look, I don’t know what’s going on but we’re leaving.” She reached behind her until she felt Jack’s leg.
“You can leave but Jack is staying,” Jamie said, her confidence suddenly back.
“What were you doing with Bob?” yelled Jack. “You’re such a lying slut!”
“You’re the liar!”
“It doesn’t matter,” said Elizabeth turning to her friend. Towering over her, she could see his eyes shooting icicles directly at Jamie. Instinctively, Elizabeth reached for Jack’s face. She touched his smooth, dark, perfect skin, holding his cheeks in the palms of her hands. “Jack,” she whispered, “She’s not worth it. I know you’re upset right now but you’re too good for her. I won’t ever hurt you, I promise.”
Jack slowly lowered his eyes breaking his cold stare. Elizabeth suddenly feeling self-conscious lowered her hands to her side. “I’m ready to go,” Jack said nodding. “This party sucks anyway.”
Elizabeth smiled up at Jack as they walked away, leaving Jamie Johnson standing in the cold screaming for Jack to come back. Friendship could be so simple and so complicated. There was nothing complicated about her friendship with Jack Bennett.