No Pads… No Helmets… Just Memories!

The past month and a half had gone by so smoothly it was almost surreal. Cass and Rian were basically a thing, and I was working my magic to yes, get my brother to finally grow a pair and officially ask my best friend out. Call me crazy! But I wasn’t worried about them having any drama and messing with the group or anything like that. Both of them were chill and easy going and I saw the way they looked at each other. It wasn’t even in a way that made me want to blow chunks, it was cute. While Cass was off with Rian I had often found ways to be with Andrea and even wiggled her into almost every group event or get together and everyone loved her, I mean how could they not. She and I were two peas in a pod and her and Jack were beyond hilarious together. Alex and I were on good terms, with the kiss behind us and unspoken on, a good vibe was going through the whole group, and Marc and I were as close as ever.

The whole group was just as excited about the Halloween party as I was, and I couldn’t wait. Only 15 more minutes and id be sprinting out the door of that history room to find Cass and Andrea. There was one issue floating in the waters of everyone’s minds and I could feel it, everyone was wondering how the party was going to settle into the actual demeanor of everyone’s attitudes and for two reasons. The first being, giving a group of lug nuts like ourselves alcohol is not the greatest idea on the planet, but consuming said alcohol in a house belonging to Riley MacKay is a whole other story. I should have known I was asking for trouble, but Riley seemed so sweet and was insistent that I go. I made the agreement with him, that all my friends came or I didn’t and he agreed, willingly, even to Alex’s attendance. That alone made me believe that maybe he wasn’t this bad guy that Alex had made him out to be at all. But there was only one way to find out, and maybe I had to learn the hard way.

The final bell sounded and I shot up from my chair, darting down the hallway. I had time to hit my locker after lunch so I headed down the junior connector, past my locker, and towards Cass’s. when I neared my friend I could make out her leaning against her locker giggling as Rian stood beside her talking about who knows what, but it was probably something about drums or some stupid card trick he’d been working on. As much as I was all for the two of them being happy, it didn't mean I needed to hang around the two of them while they drooled over each other. I shot a glance to the other side of the hall to see Andrea bounding towards me with her million dollar smile.

“Are you excited for tonight?” She squealed upon reaching me.

“Actually…” I started re-adjusting the straps of my backpack, “I think I am. and as much as I hate to peal the two love birds apart,” I smiled placing a hand on my friends shoulder, “Cass needs to get ready, and Rian not only do you have band practice but you're our ride home so keep it in your pants!”

****
Cass had managed to peel herself from Rian long enough for him to be pulled down stairs by Zack and Jack and for Andrea and me to drag her upstairs. Riley was throwing one of those classic high school Halloween parties where every girl there was practically going to be half naked and throwing themselves at any boy they saw. Cass and Andrea had attempted to shove me into every slutty story book character costume in existence, but I refused. It wasn’t that I was “prude” but have you ever tried one of those on? Their beyond uncomfortable and far too… breezy, for my liking. I had managed to refuse so many costumes, and managed to push off choosing for so long, I was not resorting to a homemade costume. We had taken an old white tee, cropped it to Andrea’s liking, cuffed the sleeves and splattered the entire thing with both red paint and fake blood from the party store. Pairing that with a pair of Nike pro spandex shorts and Cass’s old red converse, I would have fun just telling people I was hit by a car of some sorts.

Andrea was curling my hair into loose curls and was going to pull the front sections back and tie it with a white ribbon which I was opposed to seeing as though I shouldn't look cute if I was hit by a car when there was a knock on my bedroom door. “Everyone descent?” it was Marc.
“Yeah Marcy come on in…” I laughed as Andrea grabbed my head turning it straight so she could continue working.

“Hey Marc!” Cass boomed from her position hanging off my bed.

“You ladies almost done up here?” he questioned.
“Yeah I’ll be done with Jasey’s hair in like 15, is everyone else here?” Andrea countered.
“Yeah think so, were just waiting up for you guys and Vinny cause Matt isn’t coming so he has to walk here.”
“Why not?” I questioned not moving my head to look at the boy.
“Not sure, probably his senior project or something…” Marc said.

“Watta buzz kill!” Cass giggled. “Well we will be down in a second.”

With that Marc retreated from my bedroom to rejoin the group that was clustered downstairs and I sat fidgeting till Andrea finished my hair and stood me up to praise her work. “Jasey you look freakin’ adorable, Riley will be all over you!” Cass giggled. I forced a smile and a phrase of agreement, but I wasn't sure if that was what I wanted. Yes I agreed to go to the party, yes Riley was mad attractive and seemed to mean well, but could I really just ignore the fact that he was in some sort of relation with Tammy. I could almost feel my hands growing clammy at the thought of being in the same room as her outside of school. The witch had transferred into my math class the second week of school but was thankfully placed on the other side of the room, but that didn’t stand in her way to successfully slur any and all hateful words that popped into her pea sized brain. I just wasn't sure that I was ready to face her if she would be there that night. The two girls giggled and rushed out of the room as I stood adjusting my shirt and folding the spandex band a single time to expose the gray side and altering the shorts fit on my hips. I slid on the red converse that didn’t quite match the red of the blood but looked good enough and stepped out into the hallway.

“Jasey let’s go!” I heard Rian whine as I reached the top of the stairs.

“I’m coming, I’m coming” I shouted skipping down the steps, “Jeez don't get your panties in a twist.”

I reached the bottom of the steps to see everyone’s eyes plastered on me and I instantly grew uncomfortable, great I looked ridiculous.

"Jasey, you look..."

"Alex, if you even finish that sentence, I will break your arm!" I pointed my finger at my friend as Rian and Zack grabbed their keys and we spilled out the door.

Notes