There were mostly adults at the party, but I was introduced to a group of teens around my age. Lorraine knew a couple people her age from previous parties her parents had taken her to and most of them had younger siblings for me to hang out with.
I was first introduced to a girl named Lacey who was wearing a tight red dress and thigh high boots. Her hair was pin straight and she looked confident and beautiful. There was also a dark haired guy named Andre with a cartilage piercing. I had a feeling that they had a crush on each other but neither of them had let on. I was also introduced to a girl named Zoe. She was wearing a low cut silver dress and had big curly hair. There were a couple other high schoolers there, but once I seemed okay with the trio, Lorraine disappeared with her university-aged friends.
Music was pumping throughout the house and dinner was served buffet style, so people could just eat as they pleased. Lacey, Andre and Zoe and I were hanging out in the finished basement with the other teens who were down there in scattered groups. Zoe grabbed a few wine coolers out of a mini fridge and passed them to Lacey and Andre. She handed one to me.
"Do you drink?" She asked.
"No, I'm not 19 yet," I replied, making everyone laugh.
"We aren't either!" Zoe laughed. "No one will care." She passed the drink over to me and pulled another one out for herself.
"To a new year!" Lacey cheered, raising her beverage. The rest of us repeated it in unison and raised our drinks before drinking some.
I quickly discovered that alcohol didn't have the nicest taste. The liquid had a fruity taste blended with something that tasted like how nail polish remover smells. However, I didn't want to be rude, and for once, I didn't want to be the loser. So, I kept drinking.
"Anyone want to play a game?" Andre asked. We were all compliant, so Andre continued, "Never Have I Ever? Or B.S?"
"Either one requires shots, and that my friend is in the cabinet!" Zoe grinned. I felt like whenever she had an idea, no good would be the result of it. Shots? Probably not a good result.
"Oh, I'm down!" Lacey cheered. Easily Zoe's enabler.
I shrugged. Why not?
We started with B.S. after finding a deck of cards. It was a game people usually played when they were really bored. Putting cards face down in a pile calling out the numerical order and hoping no one realizes whether you lied or not wasn't very exciting... hence why there were shots involved.
"Three Jacks..." I said, putting three cards on the pile. A guy named Max that joined our game two rounds in, eyed me.
"I call bullshit," he said.
"I think you just wanted to say it," I shot back. I flipped over the cards revealing three Jacks and smiled. He sighed, taking the pile of cards and then a shot.
It was a little unfair how good I was at hiding the truth. They didn't stand much of a chance in this game.
After the fourth round, Lacey rolled over, in a giggle fit. "Charlie! How come you never even get called?" She asked, pointing a finger at me.
"Because I'm a perfect angel who never lies," I replied with a wink. All of those were lies but it makes her laugh. Other than the first drink, I hadn't had anything else.
"You know what? Let's play Never Have I Ever," Zoe decided. See? Bad news.
"Drink if you ever!" Lacey yelled. Well, at least she explained it...
"Okay, I'll go first," Zoe started. "Never have I ever broken a bone."
"Wow, that felt targeted," I teased as I raised my shot glass to my lips. The strong smell reached my nose, and I hid the cringe and let out a breath before doing what I'd seen people do in movies. I knocked back the drink and swallowed it as fast as I could. It burned my throat and began to make my stomach feel warm and fuzzy.
Andre also took a shot. "I'll go next... Never have I ever tried to cut my own hair."
Zoe and Lacey sighed and took shots.
Then it was my turn. I smile mischievously, because the tiny amount of liquid courage in my tummy made me feel like playing matchmaker. If I couldn't fix my own problems, at least I could try to make someone else happy... hopefully.
"Never have I ever played Never Have I Ever with a person I have a crush on," I said.
Zoe bursts into laughter and looks at me. "Charlie, I never thought you could be a savage!" Andre and Lacey look at each other and each take a shot.
In truth, I was surprised at myself. It was probably the alcohol that was getting to me.
Author's Note: Hey friends! Hope you enjoyed this chapter so far!
Charlie drinking? *gasp!* What do you think will happen next? Do we like these new friends? Comment your thoughts!
Part 2 coming next week, so stay tuned!
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Nothing's Fine
Teen FictionCharlie Ross was a teenage runaway before she was rescued by a compassionate Linda Wilson. Three years later and currently in high school, life is only slightly less difficult as it was before. No longer running away from dangers outside, but she h...
