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.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS715f6j4C8
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.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqj8tsigWe
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.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OO9FKalSO
“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.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrHKObecx1
“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.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52dauHzJLB
“I think lip stick makes my lips look chapped. You don't?”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTNi3cn0PC
“I like that lip stick is less glittery than lip gloss.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGN2eTlaVgO
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?”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazmvYA0whT
“I guess. Since I don't have anything better to do.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfIETFIqT4
“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.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaheufGieAl
“I thought that you broke up with Gavin.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdD9IAmXDKg
“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.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcLcB9tKqJ
“I think there are many hot boys, you have just dated all of them already.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtCR9L7lGI
“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.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChhiS1Cklj
“You have a lot of competition then.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnCbxwH9Zv
“Where are they? I don't see anyone worthy of calling competition.” 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPr3A6z93q
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.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc85t2WMc8E
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.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhHnjZAod7
“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.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9Wjh9hZHk
“I don't want a boyfriend.” If it isn't Adam. 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguFqWIO699
“Come on. He's totally checking you out.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzIJfiHoXH
“No, I think he's looking at your butt.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjGgHwPpr6
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.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhtqoSTeZD
“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.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gT9IodU7W
“Gee Carmen. Is that how it works? Guys only notice me if you point out they might like me?”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdeCqdpvtt
“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.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumpfDI5kzB
“Let's just stick to buying lip stick.” I tried to remind Carmen why we had come here but her mind was set.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fhcP269kA
“There is no point in looking pretty if you don't have a guy Liz. Come on.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5JcpgtY5G
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.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5x4f4sr1uW
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.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXFHe4xqhp
“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.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOFRzg7ebq
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.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbFMrX7WoK
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.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEuJ2VVmlR
“Sure. We will wait for you inside the pub.” The guy whose name I didn't even know but was suppose to date said.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1FDpco5bF
“Lets go.” He said to his friends, grinning. Then he turned to me. “Liz, right”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewiIS1vCCC
I nodded, not knowing what to say.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWk6DFzbKBe
“Come on then. Our car is parked in the back parking lot.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdJg7pOZql
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.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRC4L9G9kQu
“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.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MyJh7CuRA
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.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGyNsI12On
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.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoTX7U35zQ
“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.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuxR2KFJKM
“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?”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5Po4mLe0z
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.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLjeq3yaxN
Steven did what she asked without complaint.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlZ7oIx5g0
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.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8ymdmXyWX
My cheeks turned scarlet. “Penny, leave the poor kid alone.” Ben said.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilb9OPlzF0
“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.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUQdiB2hYo
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.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKjauQ1Oo1
“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.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAf03RdVQQN
“Ups, sorry Mid.” She smiled innocently. “That was your name, right?”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvLHaSiiCl
My head throbbed but I think I managed to conceal it quite well. “Actually it's Liz.” I corrected weakly.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9EkcyazB5
“That's what I said.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EVJo2Ry1I
“Play nice you two.” Steven said warningly.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwrWwUJyy3
“I don't know why you are taking her side.” Pen replied.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFIHCJm5RT
“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?”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0SVpjWgn0
“Carmen,”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSU57dMBC0y
“Then, Penny, be polite to both Liz and Kar.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOIw1zsmwd
“Like you were nice and polite to me when I started dating Ben.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZKMTs9Xl3
“You don't do nice. You never have.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgwiwuM8XE
“He's got a point, babe.” Ben said slowly.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTNseu0yy6
Penny threw her cigarette out of the window. “Give me a beer, will you Ben.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcK3l2XvyW
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.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BfSjOuV3p
“Where then,” asked the boy sitting in the passenger seat and had stayed quiet until now.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKZK9lkT3Y
“Let's just grab a burger. We still have a bag of beers left to wash it all down.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXpU3TwzVi
“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.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsewkk8cQO
“Can't you call her?” Steven suggested.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2BegTHsNg
“Yes, L, do call her. We wouldn't want to disagree with Pen she can be quite scary when she is angry.” Ben said.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVW2mfGB4R
I threw a quick glance in Pen's direction. She was silently drinking the rest of the beer and didn't object.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9rCEpDkAH
I took out my phone and dialed Carmen's number. She picked up. “Hey, Liz. Are you living the dream yet?”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8aEvP3x30
“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?”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdN6Zgf35wJ
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.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1H7UpTXKe
“Carmen, meet us on Burke Lane. We are going to stop by McDonald's too. What do you want?”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXvFthZVui
“Just get me anything and don't hold back with the guy I selected for you. Bye Liz.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyummqBz3Hw
She hung up before I could say another word.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HD6pK3WdG
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.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNgN5MJcv6
“Whatever you say,” Jackson responded dully while opening the bottle.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIddXGYXBPy
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.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTz6ZxFk7Qr
“Steven should you be drinking?” I asked uncertainly even though I knew the answer.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkyoV7Cjay
“Don't worry 'bout it.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGU8QI5fcT
“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.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsR9zNQAS3W
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.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtIyp2ud4w
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.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLROcWwzmC3
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.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYRrKfoZ0C
“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.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMhwNjg0w9
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.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5avYHRYPn
“Liz, I don't think we are going to meet up with Carmen tonight.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGHY1F9FNA
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.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivYllvpehu
“Sure. Can you give me the phone number.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNUrMbKSpE
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.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2ixexow6i
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