“How was your day then, sweetheart?" she looked at me with that always slightly worried face, which I used to get annoyed about, but now just ignored. It was easier.
“I have a party to go to this evening. Is that okay?”
I hadn't actually considered asking for permission, so it came as a bit of an afterthought. I hoped it was fine to go.
“Whose party is it? Will there be alcohol and are the parents there?”
I rolled my eyes at mum and sighed.
“It's at Sophie's. Her dad will be there, and I suspect there will be alcohol, mum. Don't worry though, I'll be sensible!”
It was mum's turn to sigh.
“I'd rather you didn't drink at all, Eliza. You know it can trigger bad things in you. Is Kas going?”
I chose to ignore the first comment and nodded. I knew she was alluding to last summer when I'd drunk half a bottle of vodka at a party and worried my friends sick by hallucinating I was kidnapped and that my mum was not my real mother. I got myself into such a state that I hid away and lashed out to anybody coming near me, convinced they were out to get me. Everyone thought I had lapsed into a mental break down and ever since, understandably, mum was extremely nervous about me drinking any alcohol. I wasn't that worried. I had been fine the next day, I'd just been drunk.
“What are we having for dinner?" I said trying to change the subject.
Mum got up from my bed and muttered something about pasta, and left me alone.
“Hey Eli, you look amazing!" Bella gushed when she opened the door for me.
“I love your eye make-up! You so got to help me out, hun!”
Her room looked like a bomb shell had gone off. Clothes were strewn across the floor, bed, chair, in fact, everywhere I looked!
“OMG Bella, really?!" I laughed sarcastically.
“I just don't know what to wear!"
She gesticulated wildly and pulled a sad face.
“And I think Jimmy will be there and I have to look good! I have to wear something I haven't worn before!”
Her desperate expression made me laugh again.
After about an hour of trying different combos on, we finally settled on a little dark blue dress with some funky heels, which showed off her figure perfectly. I could see Bella felt good about herself in it, which made me happy.
“Come on Bells, let's go. I'm sure the boys will be there by now!”
I started pushing Bella gently towards the door. Her mum waved us out with a string of 'be carefuls' and 'look after each others' as we walked up the road. I felt quite excited now, and was glad I'd decided to go.
When we got to Sophie's house, the party was already in full swing. I spotted Kas and Jimmy with a group of girls and a drink in their hand. Bella and I approached them and were met with hugs and kisses.
“I thought you had changed your mind Eli! What took you so long!" Kas exclaimed, only a touch disgruntled.
“However, you look absolutely gorgeous. Worth the wait!" I glanced at Bella and whispered in Kasper's ear.
“It was Bella's fault, she couldn't decide what to wear. She really has got it bad for Jimmy!”
“He would have liked her had she worn a plastic bag!" he laughed.
“Let me get you a drink Eli, what would you like?”
“Cider for me, thanks." I said with a fleeting thought of my mother's warning and dismissing it straight away.
A girl has got to have some fun right, I convinced myself.
I stood people watching for a minute whilst waiting for Kas to return, when the guy's face appeared out of nowhere with those eyes that had slightly unnerved me earlier in the day, looking straight into mine.
“Hey." he half exclaimed.
“Fancy bumping into you here. Your arm okay?" He looked at me inquisitively.
“Yeah, fine." I mumbled.
I knew pretty much all of Sophie's friends and he definitely was not one of them. He must have seen my confusion as he started to explain his connection to the party.
“I know Joe, he mentioned the party the other day...”
I didn't know Joe that well so that would make sense.
“Who are you here with?" he asked, looking around to see where my friends were.
“I..uh.. sort of know most people here but I came with Kas, Bella and Jimmy. Do you know any of them?”
I couldn't keep myself from staring at his beautiful face. He had near black, thick eyebrows and very dark blue eyes, not a colour I'd ever seen before. When I saw him last I could have sworn they were brown, but having had a close look now, they were definitely blue.
I saw him looking at me questioningly, expecting me to say something but I had missed his answer completely!
“Oh, sorry didn't catch any of that...the music, too loud!" I blabbered.
“Never mind, I think either Kas or Jimmy is here with your drink." he said looking over my shoulder.
I looked up and saw Kas approaching.
“Oh yeah, that's Kasper." I breathed a sigh of relief.
Kas handed me my drink and looked inquisitively at the rather imposing stranger.
“Thanks Kas, this is..." I realised I didn't know his name, but he didn't leave me hanging.
“Zack," he paused a second.
“Nice to meet you.”
CHAPTER 4
I shook Kasper's hand whilst looking at him with wide open friendly eyes. I knew perfectly well he thought I was hitting on his girl, but I also knew all the signals to emit to say I was no threat. I had noticed though, that Eliza had not introduced him as her boyfriend. I wondered if Kasper had noticed that too. It didn't look like it, as he visibly relaxed whilst I made some casual conversation about the food, the drinks and commented on some of the girls who were walking by, paying little attention to Eliza. Then I left them to it with an excuse to find Joe and his mates, but not without
