School became something I looked forward to. I was trying my best to keep the promise I had made myself but it became increasingly hard. I saw Adam from afar and I wanted to go over and talk to him, find out what he was like. But I never had the chance. When Adam wasn't with other boys he was surrounded by girls. They all liked him. It wasn't hard to tell. But even though Adam seemed polite to them, he didn't show any interest ether. I didn't want his fake politeness. I wanted him to actually like me and be my friend. I wanted to know why he had wanted to jump off a lighthouse, but I understood that it would be a touchy subject for a long time for Adam.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzLAd13B3o
Carmen was the only girl in our class, besides me of course, who hadn't literally thrown herself at Adam. All though she was using even more makeup than usual and her clothes were always stylish and as revealing as the school rules allowed. Her tactic was to be pretty and to make Adam come to her. As far as I could tell her plan wasn't working out that great.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjspqGZJvp
I wished Carmen would leave Adam alone. She could have any guy at our school and she had to choose the only one I cared about. Of course I was not going to tell her that. She was still my best friend even though I didn't tell her everything like we used to.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6XX5hMe8n
“Liz, hello.” Carmen waved her hand in front of my face and I realized I must've been spacing out again. “Seriously, what is the matter with you? You have been spacing out like, every five seconds lately. I just asked whether you think lip stick or lip gloss suits me better.”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqB76hLhgD
“Oh, I think you rock them both.” I said half heartedly. Carmen didn't seem to notice. She noticed a lot less about me these days. In seventh grade she could tell what grade I got for my tests just by one glance in my direction.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwmWsBEa06
“I think lip stick makes my lips look chapped. You don't?”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnllNmo29Y
“I like that lip stick is less glittery than lip gloss.”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesJpM9OqMj
Carmen looked through the makeup kit which she always had in her bag. “I don't have any pretty colored lip sticks. Wanna hit the mall later?”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9MwLsz6XD
“I guess. Since I don't have anything better to do.”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSFP6ei9Vm
“We ought to get you a boyfriend. Then you would have something to do when we aren't together. We could even go on double dates and I could show you how to kiss properly. People think it's easy but in reality kissing is an art. It would be hard for you to perfect without my guidance.”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1tpgfJ95I
“I thought that you broke up with Gavin.”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIj4o25YAPz
“Gavin was a pig. All he wanted was food and sex. Anyway don't you worry about me. I could get anyone to date me. Shame we don't have a lot of hot boys in the school though.”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFOApklh05
“I think there are many hot boys, you have just dated all of them already.”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WOzBH8Cik
“That may be true. That's why it's always nice when new boys come to this school.” She threw a quick glance in Adam's direction. “I'm going to try dating him next.” Carmen said confidently.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ajKcgW0or
“You have a lot of competition then.”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYxqgG5VIy
“Where are they? I don't see anyone worthy of calling competition.” 816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUefvIA4ypP
Carmen didn't notice how much her last remark hurt me. Of course she was probably right and she didn't know that I had taken an interest in Adam too but still. Hearing her say those words out loud hurt more than I would have thought.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrYtHDCfRN
Of course, I thought bitterly, she can get any guy she wants and I am just here to tell her she looks great. Such a great friend Carmen is.
The mall was buzzing with students like us. Carmen went straight for the makeup store with me trailing behind her. A lot of teenage guys I didn't know were catcalling Carmen. She didn't spend a single second of her time on them.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQpnkBRVRx
“So, Liz, what do you think of the guy with the red t-shirt standing next to the fountain. He looks like a good match for you.” Carmen asked, pulling a strand of her hair behind her ear and pointing her head in the direction of the guy.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9AI6kqNYQ
“I don't want a boyfriend.” If it isn't Adam. 816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2glCLw5P6s
“Come on. He's totally checking you out.”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUmpPAG0Az
“No, I think he's looking at your butt.”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIZ6q4Krcr
Carmen stopped abruptly. I noticed for the first time that she was about four centimeters taller than me. Last year we were the same height.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bm9M3KoQb
“There's nothing wrong with that. He likes me, you are my friend, I think that he might like to take you out on a date. Scratch that, I know he will.”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZSQtCcxeS
“Gee Carmen. Is that how it works? Guys only notice me if you point out they might like me?”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifqAnj3XTX
“Guys are easy to figure out. They like the first shiny thing they see. That would be me. It might be a little …hard for them to notice you right in the beginning.” Carmen looked like she was explaining a simple concept to a small child. “But don't worry. You put on some makeup, you kiss him good, and he will be yours for the taking and dumping if he turns out to be a jerk.”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0p8lRs90np
“Let's just stick to buying lip stick.” I tried to remind Carmen why we had come here but her mind was set.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHYLF8f0Ur
“There is no point in looking pretty if you don't have a guy Liz. Come on.”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXipMLmCcwj
She dragged me over to the guy wearing a red t-shirt and standing by the fountain. I pushed my heels against the ground but the floor was made from a quite slippery material so it didn't help.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEm84UKp77
Carmen stopped in front of the guy. There were two other guys and a girl standing next to our 'target'. Carmen ignored them and talked only with the red shirted guy. “Hey handsome.”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqB0l6rKAw
“Hi,” The guy was looking Carmen over from head to toe and obviously liked what he saw. “Do you want to hang out. We were about to go to Sweet Rose.”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhePWMchPR
Carmen patted her eyelashes. “Sorry. I'm in a bit of a hurry right now but maybe you and my friend Liz here could go and I will catch up with you in about an hour.” She touched the guy's arm.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWUXy3O0ne
He turned his gaze to me. I could tell he expected me to look more like Carmen. I knew there wasn't anything special about my dark brown hair or my stormy greenish blue eyes. I wasn't wearing a lot of makeup ether, only mascara and a bit of light pink lip stick. My blue jeans and boots that had once been black weren't glamorous like Carmen's high heeled leather boots and mini skirt ether.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42UYIX7pWr
“Sure. We will wait for you inside the pub.” The guy whose name I didn't even know but was suppose to date said.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5afPctk4HA
“Lets go.” He said to his friends, grinning. Then he turned to me. “Liz, right”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3qsEgc51V
I nodded, not knowing what to say.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mf6avOxxw
“Come on then. Our car is parked in the back parking lot.”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOBqgEyc7S
I nodded again, not knowing what else to do. How was I going to get out of this one? At that moment I hated Carmen. How could have she done this to me? She knew I had never dated a boy in my life.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12sjj5nQ7S
“Have fun Liz.” Carmen said as she walked away in the direction of the makeup store. “At least exchange numbers.” She whispered when she walked past me.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKu21kmd9v9
And she was gone. Carmen left me alone with some guys and a girl we met in the mall and whose name I didn't even know.
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I was squeezed in the back seat between the girl and one of the guys. My 'date', at least according to Carmen, was driving.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSkX75kONW
They had a window rolled down and all of them were smoking. The guy sitting next to me reached forward and turned on the radio. A song by a band called Script came on. I quite liked the band but the driver obviously didn't.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ979lVK4Jsc
“The shit is this?” He asked and changed the station. Now the thing playing wasn't so much of a song than it was yelling. “Listen and learn shithead Ben.”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMNPtRJzTC
“Who you calling shithead, shithead?” Ben slapped the back of the driver's head. “Hey Pen,” He turned to the girl sitting besides me and smoking. “Do you see any shitheads around here?”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2mYJylUOS
She blew out a ring of smoke. “That's an excellent question Benny and the answer is: I don't see anything because of all this goddam smoke.” Pen averted her gaze from Ben to the driver and snapped. “Steven, open the rest of the windows.”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwnaQepXel
Steven did what she asked without complaint.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ghRUkPcmG
Pen seemed satisfied. She turned to look at me. “Sorry you had to hear that, hon.” She patted my head. “Try not to listen to adults talk. It might rub off on you.”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsxLcfEUDJ
My cheeks turned scarlet. “Penny, leave the poor kid alone.” Ben said.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFDAPaSAgW
“Leave her alone, you two.” Steven interrupted. “Don't worry about them, Liz. Penny is just jealous because she isn't as young as she used to be.”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1o67GS0U1m
I looked at Penny and didn't know what they were talking about. She was wearing even more makeup than Carmen did and Pen's was darker. That made it a bit difficult to guess her age. She looked to be in her early twenties but since Ben and Steven seemed to be about nineteen I guessed Penny was about the same age.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwjJmBMw5f
“Steven, I swear to god if you don't shut up I will beat you to a pulp.” Pen swung her fist around and my head got in her way.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRg3EwWFbSG
“Ups, sorry Mid.” She smiled innocently. “That was your name, right?”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQsDrlSM0G
My head throbbed but I think I managed to conceal it quite well. “Actually it's Liz.” I corrected weakly.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7dg9NdAX4
“That's what I said.”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpwsRrjxcm
“Play nice you two.” Steven said warningly.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWv7rObPfTW
“I don't know why you are taking her side.” Pen replied.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZicX0RJmG
“Because her friend is coming soon and I don't want your manners to get in our way. Liz, what's your friend's name again?”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nZNjWd9C2
“Carmen,”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytfOKNRAqF
“Then, Penny, be polite to both Liz and Kar.”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MXgcWpsZS
“Like you were nice and polite to me when I started dating Ben.”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyB8o7vo5A
“You don't do nice. You never have.”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2A4Ij7aq3
“He's got a point, babe.” Ben said slowly.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJPP3QSvyW
Penny threw her cigarette out of the window. “Give me a beer, will you Ben.”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlj6LReWT70
Ben rummaged through his bag and threw Pen a beer bottle. Penny opened it at once and drank a big gulp of the liquid. “Ah, that's better. Now I can think again. And I think I don't want to go to Sweet Rose anymore.”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzePi7YgZ01
“Where then,” asked the boy sitting in the passenger seat and had stayed quiet until now.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAHHrGvMyJ
“Let's just grab a burger. We still have a bag of beers left to wash it all down.”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0OH7AuyyC
“Carmen won't know where to find us.” I said. I was starting to panic. I was in a car full of young adults who drank alcohol and smoked in the car. I didn't know any of them and if Carmen didn't know where we were she couldn't come to the rescue.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswkPLhEVt9
“Can't you call her?” Steven suggested.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhBQHHCJje
“Yes, L, do call her. We wouldn't want to disagree with Pen she can be quite scary when she is angry.” Ben said.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlJaav9DqT
I threw a quick glance in Pen's direction. She was silently drinking the rest of the beer and didn't object.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FyLbcF010
I took out my phone and dialed Carmen's number. She picked up. “Hey, Liz. Are you living the dream yet?”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZ4GcX0JaH
“Carmen we aren't going to Sweet Rose. Can you meet us at…” I wasn't sure which burger place we were going to. “Steven, where should she meet us?”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7tjFw4bb4
Steven didn't even have to think before answering. “We are going to stop by McDonald's and then stop on Burke Lane to eat. She should meet us there. Ask her what she would like to eat.”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIHwewPTHY
“Carmen, meet us on Burke Lane. We are going to stop by McDonald's too. What do you want?”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoN4fc8fd1
“Just get me anything and don't hold back with the guy I selected for you. Bye Liz.”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPQMxLZWdq
She hung up before I could say another word.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPeBaFbmCK
Ben was giving beer bottles to everyone in the car. When he gave it to the guy sitting in the passenger seat Steven said. “Don't overdo it, Jackson. If you throw up again I won't be the one cleaning up the fucking mess.”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxF555Y7lX
“Whatever you say,” Jackson responded dully while opening the bottle.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FeoYGSDd2
Ben handed me a drink too. I held it but didn't open the bottle. Everybody else was drinking, even Steven who was the one behind the wheel.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNuo5wsMXo
“Steven should you be drinking?” I asked uncertainly even though I knew the answer.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLDvmRfPFL
“Don't worry 'bout it.”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHWOuz5rrs
“Chillax, Liz. You have been blessed by our company. Enjoy it.” Penny's words were a bit slurred. She was on her third bottle of alcohol.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSD44M3CD3L
We didn't go to McDonald's. We just drove around the outskirts of the city. At one point we stopped because Jackson hadn't listened to Steven and drank past his limit. Thankfully he held it in until he got out of the car.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhp5Umz4tMW
It was dark outside and the street was deserted. Steven only opened his door but didn't get out. Ben held onto the car for support and he had his hands around Penny's waist to hold her upright. I still hadn't opened the bottle of beer Ben had given me.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24vBMfC4Kh
Penny released a shrill laugh. She tried to take a step away from the car but lost her balance. Ben was the only thing keeping her on her feet now. She was definitely the most drunk.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhmKddzj2Z
“Benny boy, hold me tighter I might fall otherwise.” She said flirtatiously. Ben did what Penny asked with pleasure. The girl pressed her lips on Ben's and hopped into Ben's arms. She wrapped her legs around his middle and Ben leaned against the car to stay on his feet.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV255mEZ1CG
I sat back into the car. Jackson was still throwing up, Ben and Penny were making out and I was alone in the car with Steven.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1uE84sp81
“Liz, I don't think we are going to meet up with Carmen tonight.”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlQwO1DRTZ
This had not played out how I had thought it would in the beginning. I didn't think even Carmen had wanted the night to turn out like this. I was ready to go home now. “That's okay. I think I should get going now.”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1g376KkGsc
“Sure. Can you give me the phone number.”816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbtKpWExbv
I wasn't interested in him but I didn't want Carmen nagging on me so I scribbled my phone number on a piece of paper and gave it to Steven. Carmen's mission: accomplished, sort of.816Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjStCBG4HiI
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