Why You? [Brandon Arreaga]

9 | coffee obsessed

Events are something that everyone has to go to or organise which occur quite frequently in our lives. Some being assemblies, special masses, conventions, festivals, weddings and funerals.

Out of all of the events I attend to, parties were not one of them. And even if I did go to one (like the compulsory family parties I go to every few months), I stay for an hour maximum and then leave after awkwardly petting the host's pet and having a bit of small talk here and there.

So as you could tell, parties and Beth do not mix.

It's not like I don't get invited to them, I just don't particularly like going when I'm comfortably fine spending the evening by myself instead of trying to socialise. And though I would love to work on my social skills and become a lot more confident, I know I can't enter a social situation without thinking of all the possibilities and slightly freaking out when conversation dissipates. Besides, with all the hectic school work I have to cram at home and now taking care of both my brother and mother (with my dad always frantically working so we can keep a roof over our heads), I couldn't afford investing my time in such frivolous affairs.

However, while already having attained this knowledge, Kayla still tries to persuade me to come to a party.

"C'mon Beth, pretty please?" She pleaded in an annoying, child-like voice.

"Nope." I replied nonchalantly as I folded my clothes into a wooden drawer that stood opposite the single bed Kayla was sprawled out on.

"It'll be fun!" She threw her hands up in the air for emphasis.

"No it won't. You'd probably leave me alone after the first five minutes and be the social butterfly you are."

She thought for a second. "Yeah I probably would," As I gave her a pointed look, she carried on, "But I would introduce you to people before I leave you. Make sure you're comfortable. I'm considerate like that."

I raised my eyebrow at her to show my doubt but all she did was mischievously grin back. After a moment, I looked at her dead in the eye and said, "Have you seen people's Snapchat stories the morning after? That stuff is embarrassing!"

"Yeah okay, but you don't have to get drunk or anything so nothing embarrassing would happen. It's. Just. One. Party."

"That I don't wanna go to."

"Pleeeeeeeease."

I rolled my eyes at her immaturity. "Ugh you sound like my brother."

"Your brother's cooler anyway. He sounds like he'll be a real party animal when he's older." She untucked her long legs and let it dangle from the edge of the bed - well, more like sort of rest over the edge because her legs were long enough to reach the floor.

"Eugh, don't say it in that tone. In fact, don't say that at all. You sound weird and creepy."

"And you sound boring, staying at home on a Friday night. And fangirling. And studying."

"Yeah, so I can get good grades," I paused. "Speaking of, shouldn't you be doing your art?" I smirked after seeing Kayla's reaction to the mentioning of her unfinished work.

Kayla smiled sheepishly. "I can take a day off of schoolwork. Anyways, back to the point."

I rolled my eyes again in response, hoping I could divert the subject but Kayla was determined.

She sat up and faced me. "You do so much work nowadays - you even managed to get me to do a lot of work in our library sessions! And even at home with you basically having to take care of the whole house. So, don't you think you deserve a break?"