The party…
“I need Chloe’s phone number.” Mom was very insistent that she should have Chloe’s number after I mentioned I was keen to go to her party on the weekend.
She had wanted to call Chloe’s mom, but that was just so embarrassing. I’m not in middle school anymore. She treats me like a child. Seriously! She’s such a control freak!
“If I have her number, then I’ll feel more at ease. And by the way, pick up time will be at 10:30.” She seemed adamant that there was going to be no compromise regarding the time.
“10:30? Seriously, Mom! The party will only just be starting then. Can’t we make it 12?”
I could not predict my mother’s responses anymore. She seemed to be all over the place. One day it was as though she hardly cared what I did and the next, she was back to her old controlling ways. But to be honest, I think I preferred it when she was preoccupied. At least then I could do pretty much what I wanted!
But my pleading look must have won her over because after a moment’s hesitation, she relented. “Alright, 12:00. I'll be waiting out the front. Just make sure you’re there!”
I was so glad that I’d been able to convince her to extend the curfew. 10:30 was way too early and my prediction had been correct. By 10:30, the party was only just getting under way.
When I first arrived, I’d felt pretty awkward. Getting a ride with Lisa had seemed a good idea at the time but as soon as she saw her friend, the senior from Wesley High, she left me to go and join him. I hadn’t expected people from other schools to be there and there were a lot of unfamiliar faces, some of them definitely seniors.
Feeling totally awkward standing on my own in a corner, I decided to head for the bathroom. An attack of nerves had taken over plus I didn’t want to be looking like a loser with no one to talk to. I hoped that if I killed some time, others from our group might arrive.
When I eventually returned to the party, there were a lot more people and I was very relieved to spot Beth, Suzy and some of the others. With a sigh of relief I walked over and joined them. Almost instantly I realized that there was definitely something peculiar going on.
“Juliaaa! It’s so good to see you here!” Beth was drawling in an odd manner; I’d never seen her act or speak that way before. Then I noticed her gripping something in her hands, but in the darkened room I couldn’t be sure what it was. Taking a closer look, I spotted a dark colored drink flask, but I suspected that it contained something much stronger than water or soda.
“Oh, do you want a drink? Here Julia, have a drink!” she giggled uncontrollably and this just set the others off. Within seconds, they were all in fits of laughter but I had no idea what they were actually laughing about.
“I’m ok!” I replied shyly, feeling uncomfortable and slightly on edge.
The only time I’d tried alcohol was at Christmas a couple of years earlier, when I drank several glasses of fruit punch, only to find out afterwards that it had been provided for the adults and was laced with some type of strong liqueur. My dad found me asleep on the couch later in the day, and when he woke me up I had a throbbing headache.
But the girls would not allow me to be the only one amongst them who wasn’t drinking. “Come on,” Beth insisted. “Just have a sip!”
Reluctantly, I took the bottle from her and lifted it to my lips, tentatively taking a small taste but without warning, it was brusquely titled upwards. Glancing sideways, I could see that Beth was literally pouring it down my throat. Gasping for breath, I looked towards her.
“A tiny sip won’t do anything, Julia!” Laughing, she took the bottle from me, had one more swallow herself and then leant against the wall for support.
“Hey, there’s some cute guys here!” indicated Suzy as she scanned the room. And just as she said that, Blake walked in. Following along closely behind him however, was Sara who had a firm grip of his hand.
Her air of confidence as she took in the scene around her was brimming with the self-assured manner that she was renowned for. Dressed in a gorgeous white skirt that showed off her amazing long legs, she caught the eye of every guy in the room. She had such a great figure and always looked so good. Her sequinned blue top was low cut and set off her blue eyes and complexion perfectly. And I looked on with envy at the cleavage she was flaunting. No wonder she had the attention of all the guys in the room! It was so unfair! Why was I still so flat chested? Without a padded bra, I’d look like I had absolutely nothing in that department, which was pretty much the case anyway.
“OMG!” breathed Suzy. “She is so up herself!!”
“I can’t stand her,” Beth said, full of contempt. “Blake is such a nice guy, I seriously do not understand what he sees in her!”
“Have a look at that body!” exclaimed Abbie, who had just joined us. “What do you mean you don’t know what Blake sees in her?”
Turning away in disgust, the girls searched for their flasks and continued drinking. All the while I discreetly took in the scene around me.
Blake and Sara had disappeared into the kitchen and I was glad that they were no longer nearby. Although, I could feel that I'd become pretty relaxed and wasn’t even really bothered about them being there.
I spotted Lisa, sitting on a comfortable sofa in a corner along with her friend, the senior from Wesley High. The two of them were completely oblivious to the crowd of people around them, evidently way too focused on other things and it seemed they couldn’t keep their hands off each other. There were several other couples who appeared to be similarly preoccupied but when the music was abruptly turned to what seemed like maximum volume, it was like a magnet attracting everyone’s attention. Then one after another, people began to dance. Grabbing hold of Beth's bottle, I took another large gulp before joining her and the others on what had become the dance floor.
In my own little world, I moved to the sound of one of the latest hit songs. The party was raging and I felt totally at ease in the fun atmosphere surrounding me. I couldn't remember when I'd last felt so relaxed, and closing my eyes, I swayed my hips to the rhythm of the music.
Dancing had always been one of my all-time favorite things to do. That was until horse riding took over. I remembered vaguely, the dance competitions that Millie and I had entered and the prizes we'd won. Hip hop was my preferred style and at one point I'd been aiming for a national title, but then we'd moved to the country and dancing had gone by the wayside.
Everyone started singing and the noise level rose to a deafening roar. The party was certainly a happening event and as I looked around, I realized how much fun I could have if I just went with the flow and enjoyed myself.
Without warning, I felt a pair of large hands on my hips, moving my body to the rhythm of the song. However, music was in my soul and it felt completely natural to be dancing that way.
The hands belonged to someone behind me, I had no idea who, but I was so engrossed in the music and the atmosphere surrounding me, that I felt unaware; the scene was almost surreal. The caressing of my skin as fingertips began to explore under the lower edge of my fitted top, was like a rhythmic massage.
Tuning into my own little world while I danced and moved, completely carefree, created in me a sense of ease; a state I had not enjoyed for quite some time.
Creeping steadily up my torso, the hands continued to grope but when I felt the unwelcome sensation of heavy breathing in my ear and against my cheek, I was rapidly brought to a level of somewhat conscious awareness.
The invasion of my personal space was not his for the taking. I had not invited this person to grab hold of me and I was irritated and uncomfortable about his close proximity and familiarity with my body. The smell of alcohol on his breath began to turn my stomach and I felt nausea rise in my throat as I tried to push the unwanted hands away.
“Hey, what's up?” I could hear the slur of a strange voice in my ear.
I wanted to escape. I needed fresh air and I needed to get outside.
“Leave me alone!” I demanded.
But the rough hands were insistent, and he did not want to let go.
“Baby, just dance with me!”
“Get lost!!” I yelled in frustration and struggled once more to break free from his grasp.
Just then, I saw the hands of another boy. They came from nowhere and abruptly grabbed the shoulders of the guy harassing me. Roughly pulling the offender away, I heard Blake's voice over the din of the music.
“Hey, leave her alone!”
I stared at Blake then, in shock and disbelief that he had stepped in to help me. With a last glance towards him, the surprise and confusion evident on my face, I turned towards the front door and raced out into the darkness of the night. I needed to hide away; to find a space of my own.
Why was he in my life? Why did he still have such a strong effect on me? How could I ever get over him when he always seemed to be nearby?
The fresh air hit my face and my head started spinning from the alcohol. I slumped gratefully down on the stairs that led from the tiled veranda to the garden below. Leaning against the railing for support, I breathed in welcome gusts of fresh night air. I knew I hadn't had that much to drink but it had obviously found its way straight to my head and I wished that I'd taken my mother's advice when she suggested that I eat something before going out.
Lost in my thoughts and trying to control the spinning sensation I’d been overcome with, I was
Julia Jones - The Teenage Years: Book 1- Falling Apart - A book for teenage girls Page 9