He just kept going. He didn't say shit to her.
Maybe Kira is wrong. He doesn't like me.
“Tsk, tsk,” Sandy says, clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth as she leans against the locker next to mine. “When are you going to learn, Dalia? When will you finally learn that you don't fit in here? You don't fit in anywhere. I know you like my brother. I've seen the way you look at him, but you need to understand something. . .” Pausing, she lifts her hand to her face, and starts picking at her long, pink nails. “You're garbage, you're trash, you will never, ever, be on our level. My brother and I, we're out of your league, and you just need to stay where you belong. Face down in the dirt.”
Gritting my teeth, I veer my stare. “Your brother helped me; I don't think he sees me as trash.” My voice isn't as a strong as I want it to be, but I'm proud of myself for not staying silent for once.
“My brother only did that to make himself look better. He's the captain of the football team. He wants to keep it that way. But don't be fooled by his help, Dalia. His kindness only goes skin deep. He'll never like you because he's better than you. The sooner you realize that, the better.”
Sandy starts to walk again, crashing into my shoulder on purpose, and slamming me into my locker on her way by.
She's right. I know she's right.
Sandy and her brother live in a different world than me, with completely different lives.
But it's not because they have money or because she's the head cheerleader and he's the captain of the football team. . .
We live in different worlds because I will never be as cold or self-centered as them. I will never let money rule my life, or let it define who I am.
I will always do what's right.
Because that's who I want to be.
“Come on, Dalia, don't be a prude. It'll be fun. Forget about what happened earlier today, it doesn't matter.” Kira grabs my arm, tugging it in against her cheek. “Please?” She looks up at me and bats her lashes. “Pretty please?”
Grimacing, my lips fold down. “I don't know. You know I'm not really into those types of parties. Everyone gets all shit faced, and acts stupid—”
“Exactly, that's the best part!” she blurts out. “Dalia, it's our senior year, we need to make it to at least one party. Just one, that's all I ask.”
“Yeah, but are we even invited? Did anyone ask you to go? Because no one asked me. Won't it be weird if we just show up?”
Rolling her eyes, she groans, “Dalia, you're killing me.” Hanging her head, she drops my arm, and throws herself back on my bed. “You don't get invited to these things, no one gets invited. Word spreads, and people just show up. Poof! It's party magic.” She wriggles her fingers like she's just thrown sparkles into the air.
Sitting down beside her, I fold my hands in my lap. The idea makes me uncomfortable. I've never been a party kind of girl. Why should I start now?
Kira rolls onto her stomach, resting her head in her hands. “Lyle will be there. . .” she says, drawing out his name. Pouting her bottom lip, she gives me puppy dog eyes. “Please, pretty please.”
“Why don't you just go? You don't need me with you.”
Pushing herself up, she grabs my hands and squeezes. “I'm not going unless you come with me. That's how this whole best friend thing works. You have my back, I have yours. You know, connected at the hip.” Kira gives me a smile and scoots a little closer. “Look, I promise if it's weird or awkward, we'll leave. Okay?”
Letting out a slow breath, I nod. I sit quietly, just holding her eyes with mine. She's still pouting her bottom lip, cupping her fingers together to beg.
“Okay, okay,” I finally say, cracking. “I'll go.” Pressing my hands into the tops of my knees, I groan. “But if shit gets crazy, or I get uncomfortable, I'm out.”
Kira jumps up to her knees and squeals. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” She drives herself forward, giving me a big hug. “This is going to be awesome! I swear, it's going to be so much fun! You have no idea!”
Giggling, I push her off me. “Yeah, well I hope you're right. Or this friendship. . .” With an open hand, I wiggle it side to side.
Kira giggles, latching back on to hug me harder. “You'll never get rid of me, sorry.”
When we arrive at the party, we park halfway down the street, directly behind a row of cars. Kira locks the doors, tucking the single key into her pocket. Walking side by side, she's smiling wide.
“This is going to be fucking awesome. I'm so excited. Are you excited?”
Shrugging a shoulder, I try to muster some excitement. “Yeah, this should be really cool.”
The music starts to pound as we get closer, and I can hear laughing and yelling. We turn up the driveway of Todd Stanson's house, and there are kids everywhere.
Todd is one those kids whose parents are never home. They travel to their country house almost every weekend, leaving open range for their son to throw parties. It's like they hit their late forties, sent their two older kids to college, and figured fuck the last one, he's on his own.
I've never seen any other kid have the freedom Todd Stanson has.
The front door is open, so I follow Kira inside. There are empty cups and beer cans strewn about the room, with drunken kids dancing and laughing.
She smiles at people from school, and we make our way deeper inside. There's a keg in the kitchen, so she grabs two cups, and fills them. Passing me one, she takes a big gulp from
