“Right,” I blurt, pulling my hands from my pockets to tuck my hair behind my ears. It just slides right back into my face, the curls making it more unruly. “Aunt Mildred, this is Connor Lopez, Kaleb Ward, and-- yeah, uh, the other guys we’re meeting at the party,” I fumble, forgetting my aunt can’t see or hear Felix. “Guys, this is my Aunt Mildred.”
Connor nods his greeting, while Kaleb holds out his hand to shake my aunt’s. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“The pleasure is mine,” she replies, taking his hand.
I catch a slight tug to her eyes and brow in her profile, but it’s quickly smoothed away before I can decipher her feelings.
She turns to me, petting my hair, and continues in a pleasant voice, “Now, don’t stay out too late and be safe. If you need anything, call me.”
I nod, chewing on my lip. “I will.”
“Good,” she smiles. “Now, go have fun.”
I slip around my aunt, and she closes the door behind me.
“Callie, your…” Connor starts but drifts off from his low murmur.
Looking up, I notice Connor and Kaleb are wearing matching surprised expressions.
“What?” I fret, looking down at my clothes. “Is this not okay?”
Kaleb regains his senses first, swallowing heavily, and stutters, “Uh, no… I mean yes, what you’re wearing is fine. Better than fine. It’s…” He releases a deep breath, calming himself. “You look lovely, Callie.”
“Smokin’, pretty girl,” Felix chimes in, his eyes giving me a once over. “You look smokin’.”
Connor makes a throaty hum in agreement.
“Thanks,” I reply with a small smirk, both pleased and embarrassed by their compliments. There’s a chill to the air, and I zip up my jacket. “Well, uh, let’s head out.”
“Yeah, about that,” Felix says, rubbing the back of his neck. “Cars and I don’t always get along with the whole potential of falling through them, so I’ll meet you guys there. Nolan doesn’t live too far from where the party is, so he and Donovan should be there by now.”
“Okay, see you there, Casper,” I confirm with a small wave goodbye.
He returns it before popping away.
“Would you like the front seat?” Kaleb asks as we walk towards Connor’s car.
“No, the backseat is fine,” I assure him. “I’ve got short legs, so I don’t really need the space.”
He nods, and when we reach the car, he opens the door for me. Again, right before I’m about to reach up to climb in, Connor picks me up with a muttered, “Watch your head,” and deposits me onto the back seat. I’m starting to wonder if there’ll ever be a time I get into his car on my own.Outlook: Doubtful.
The party is on the other side of town, and the drive takes over twenty minutes. Kaleb and I idly chat about an English paper coming up, and I thank him again for picking up and bringing over my books earlier today. I’d forgotten to retrieve them after all the stuff in the parking lot on Friday.
Connor parks a block away from the very nice house that must have every light on with how much it glows, and possibly every teenager that goes to our high school in attendance, if the crowd on the front lawn is any indication. As we’re making our way over, the music audible even from this distance, I realize I have no idea whose house this is.
“So, where are we exactly?” I ask, glancing at both Connor and Kaleb, whom I’m once again walking in between. Not that it bothers me, but it’s a little odd that I’m always in the middle.
“Bree Whitaker’s place, she’s a cheerleader and her brother, Brett, is on the football team,” Kaleb answers, his gaze strangely focused on the front lawn.
“Will they mind that we weren’t officially invited?” I question, trying to also figure out what has Kaleb’s attention.
He finally looks down at me, his face softening, “I doubt they’ll notice, but if it helps, I always have an open invitation to these things. Captain of the team and everything.”
I bite my lip and nod, that nervous energy coming back.
Once we reach the house, we find Felix sitting on the curb, leaned back on his elbows and staring up at the night sky. When he sees us approach, he jumps to his feet and shouts, “Oh thank god, you’re here. When I showed up, I ended up on the dance floor andina couple grinding on each other.” He shudders. “It’s so packed in there, Donovan didn’t see me even though I was a few feet away. Thought it’d be easier to find you guys and not become one with some of my old classmates if I waited for you out here.”
“Don’t worry,” I comfort. “This place looks pretty big, there’s got to be somewhere we can find some space.”
