Coulda Woulda Shoulda

We walk into the kitchen where Chloe, Jason, Marissa, and Eliot are seated at the table. Jason and Eliot are both eating pizza, while Chloe and Marissa each only have water. Why doesn't that surprise me?

"Hey guys, pizza's on the counter, help yourselves." Jason says, gesturing to the two pizza boxes on the counter.

We walk over to get pizza. Hmm…cheese, or lots of semi-unidentifiable meats? I think I'll play it safe.

I get a plate and a slice of cheese pizza. I turn to the table to see that Paul and Jen have taken the last two seats. Jen sees my problem and looks apologetic.

"Oh, Emily, I'm sorry, we didn't mean to not leave room…"

I shake my head, waving it off. "Don't worry, it's fine, I'll just sit at the island." I walk over to the island and sit at a stool there.

"So, Jason, where are your parents tonight?" Marissa asks conversationally.

He shrugs. "Dad's on a business trip and Mom is probably out sleeping with her tennis instructor or something." He seems pretty indifferent about it.

I wonder how they can just talk about something like that with such ease. It's like it's just a regular occurrence with them or something. Well, actually, maybe it is, with the way they talk about it. Still weird though…

I take a small bite of pizza, chewing carefully. It's already almost six-thirty. I wonder how many people will be at the party. Probably a lot. That's not good. I've never done well with big crowds. Oh, well. I'll deal.

I take the time sitting at the island by myself to observe the others.

Chloe seems to be trying to get Marissa and Eliot together. She keeps trying to direct the conversation to the two of them, trying to get them to talk. Marissa is cooperating, but Eliot doesn't seem interested. He looks perfectly content just eating and talking to Jason.

Jen and Paul are off at the end of the table, in their own world. Their heads are bent together, and they're talking quietly. They're so cute together. Adorable, really.

When it's about a quarter to seven, Eliot and Jason start moving coolers out onto the deck facing the beach. They fill the coolers with ice and beer. I guess that if the party is in front of Jason's house, he has to supply the beer. I hope there's soda or something gin the fridge. I know it's kinda goody-goody, but I don't drink. I just don't like the taste of alcohol. Plus, during and after the divorce, I dealt with Mom through many hangovers, and let me tell you, that experience does not seem a very pleasant one.

After getting out and filling the coolers, the boys get the rest of us help them to move driftwood from the pile under the house out onto the beach.

"Have you ever seen a driftwood fire?" Eliot asks, walking next to me out to the pile.

I shake my head. "No, why?"

He grins. "Watch the fire after we get it lit. The salt from the ocean makes it turn different colors."

I grin, too. "Sounds cool." Maybe Jen was right. Maybe Eliot isn't like Chloe and them after all. Maybe.

After a little while, people start arriving. Chloe walks around greeting everyone, checking to see who's here and who isn't. Someone must have brought a CD player or something, because bad rap music is playing from somewhere. People start dancing, all in a big group.

I sit with my book a few yards away, up on Jason's deck. My book just sits in my lap, through, as I stare out at the group of teenagers. It's weird to me that people can be enjoying themselves like this at an outdoor party in late April. Back home, it would be in the 50s and raining. Not much fun at all.

"Want to dance?" I look up, and Eliot is smiling down at me.

I wrinkle my nose. "I don't dance."

"Aw, come on." he says. "Just for a while?"

I shake my head. "Nope, and no amount of begging is going to get me out there, either."

He shrugs, looking a little put off. "Whatever you say, Ems."

He turns, walking back to the group. He only laughs when I call "Don't call me Ems!"

I sit back in my chair, watching the bonfire. The flames are blue and green, just like Eliot said.

I start school on Monday, and today is already Saturday. I'll have to get all ready tomorrow. God, I'm tired. This is so weird. Back home, it's already like, ten o'clock. My internal clock is three hours ahead of the one on my wrist.

"Hey, Emily." I look up. It's Jen, walking up with another girl our age. "What's up?"

"Eh, nothing really. Just sitting here. You?" I reply.

"Basically the same." Jen says. She pokes the girl next to her as they sit down next to me. "This is Sarah."

This new girl, Sarah, has short, layered hair, and I can't tell if it's dark blond or light brown. Her clear blue eyes are full of laughter.

"Hey, Sarah. I'm Emily, but you probably already know that." I say.

"Hi Emily. So, as Jen tells it, you don't really want to be here?" Sarah asks.

I shake my head. "Nah, I really should be unpacking. I'm going to have a lot to do tomorrow."

Sarah grins mischievously. “Who votes we blow this popsicle stand, get some Taco Bell, and go to Emily’s house?”