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The Party
By: PeaceKarmi

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"Now remember children. I know it's a three day weekend, and I would like for you all to have fun. But please remember to do your assignments. I don't want to have to give out any zeros when you return."

Sure, the teacher was speaking, but there weren't very many teenagers in her class listening to her. Most of them were talking about the upcoming party at Sandy's house. Sandy was the girl whose parties you had to get invited to. If you didn't, you practically were a nobody. Everyone was going. Well, everyone who was a someone. Anyone else didn't matter. Not to Sandy, and especially not to her friends. And most definitely not to anyone else who was invited.

One of those people who were invited was Josh, a sixteen-year-old baseball player for the school who had a level head on his shoulders. Why he was invited? Because he likes sports, he's good at them, and to a lot of girls, he's a cutie.

Only problem with him getting invited is that his best friend, Miranda, also the same age as him, cannot go. Why? Quite frankly, she wasn't invited. That was due to the fact that she's a science nerd who actually likes doing the chemistry experiments in class.

So, while he's talking to other people about the party, she's gathering her books, sitting quietly at her desk and making sure everything is in order before she goes. Looking around the room, she wonders if Josh is willing to give her a ride home like he always does. Why wouldn't he? Doesn't he always? She smiles at the thought, shaking her head of any doubts she had. Sure, he got invited to a party by the greatest girl is school, but that doesn't mean he's going to turn into one of those bubble-brained boys.

Right?

The bells rings. School's over for that long weekend. Everyone is rushing out, trying to hurry up and get to their cars and things so that they can start getting ready for the party, even though it's not until Saturday night. They have one more day before that to get ready. Miranda shakes her head, not really understanding what's so important about some stupid party anyway. She doesn't care about it that much. After getting all her stuff together, she searches the room one more time, but to no avail.

He's already gone.

A sadden look crosses her features, but she shrugs. He's just waiting for me outside. Waving and bidding the teacher farewell, she strove out of the room and down the hallway. There were a lot of kids in the hall, getting what they needed out of their lockers, and some of them just being plain ridiculous. She shook her head, heading to the double doors that led outside of the school. Everything she needed for this weekend's assignments, she already had. She was just hoping her buddy was outside to help her get home. It was either that, or walk, and a mile and a half wasn't really what she wanted to do at the moment.

Once she'd climbed down the marble steps and to the front of the school, she looked around the parking lot now for her friend. He was no where in sight, and she began to wonder it he'd already gone. Without me . . . ? Usually, Miranda is a very independent girl who gets things done herself. But, it's the end of the school year. The only reason why the teens are excited is because it's the last three day weekend before school ends, which means they have a week left. Josh just got a car a few months ago, and she has yet to get one herself. So, that's really the only thing she depends on him for is a ride, other than just being a great friend all around.

She sighed, deciding she would just walk home then. Maybe he had something to do, and just forgot to tell her. Her shoulders came up, went back down, and she began trekking down the street, her footsteps making soft pitter-patter noises against the cement of the sidewalk.

"Hey Miri!"

Her eyes lit up at the sound of her nick-name being called, and the only person who called her by such a name. Turning around, she saw Josh there standing behind her, that goofy grin plastered on his face. She held her books tighter to her chest, smiling right back at him.

"Hey! Oh I'm so glad to see you. I thought you'd left already or something."

He laughed at her then. "Without you? Come on now Miri. I'm not that forgetful." He held out his hand, and she took it, smiling, and walked with him to his car. She saw some of the other kids staring at them, and immediately felt uncomfortable in their gaze. Was it because of Josh, being seen with this nobody? She really hoped he didn't care about all that.

"Don't worry about them Miri."

His reassuring words gave her confidence. With a deep breath, she slipped into the front seat of his car. He turned the key in the ignition, backed out of his space, and drove out of the parking lot and away from the school.

It was only five minutes later that they arrived at her home. Her parents weren't home; she guessed they were at a neighbors house, her mother showing off another one of her famous dishes. He walked her to her door, and she once again thanked him for the ride home.

"You know you don't have to thank me every time I bring you home. It's an impulse type of thing. I just do it." Josh shrugged. "So, what are you going to do Saturday night?"

Miranda looked at the ground, thinking, before putting her attention back on him. "I don't know, probably read a book or something. I'll keep myself occupied."

He smiled, placing a hand on one side of her face and staring down at her for a moment. Josh didn't really take into account what he was doing, and Miranda looked up at him too, her eyes sparkling. She wondered just what he was thinking at the moment, and he wondered the same about her. Just when he thought he could get a little closer to her, his phone rang.

The moment was lost.

Miranda gasped, taking a step away from him in a hurry. He sucked in a breath, taking it out of his pocket and sighing. A slight blush was on his cheeks. He smiled at Miranda and said, "I'll talk to you later?" She nodded, and he left, answering the call and getting into his car. She watched him as he drove off, and sighed, wondering why he just couldn't stay with her.
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Saturday night was finally here! Josh was more excited than ever for this night. There would be guys to talk to about girls, girls to talk to about whatever . . . He especially had his sights on Sandy, the girl who just broke up with her football player boyfriend. He always thought that she needed a baseball player in her life. They were at least a little more stable . . . well, those that didn't take steroids.

He sighed, looking at himself in the mirror before heading out the door. He told his parents that he would be back late. His mother cast him a worried look; his father smiled, telling him to "have fun." Josh planned on doing just that. Probably not the kind of fun his dad might want him to have, no he had no intention of scouring tonight. He just wanted to warm up to Sandy and maybe even get her to like him. To be with a girl like her would cast him forever in the highest chain of popularity at their school, if he played his cards right and made sure their break-up, if that happened, wasn't too messy.

Josh hopped into his car, turning the ignition and picking up his phone to check the time. He almost expected to see a text message, but remembered that Miranda was probably reading a book or something. Keeping herself occupied. Right . . . Saturday nights, if they weren't hanging out together, they text each other all night. He was almost upset to not see one, but shrug it off and drove away from his home. He just hoped to get there on time, or at least at a decent enough time.

The house was huge. The music poured out of the windows, the open doors. He was surprised the cops hadn't been called on this place by the neighbors yet for being loud and disturbing the peace. There were teenagers scattered around the house, in the lawn, the porch, along with beer cans and plastic red cups. He sighed. Just what did I get myself into? His mind left this house and went to that of his best friend, wondering what she was doing. He found himself thinking about her a lot lately, and shook his head. No, tonight, his prize was Sandy.

A few guys greeted him at the door, laughing and joking around with him. Josh could tell that they were on their way to being a bit drunk, and luckily for him he wasn't going to get into any of that tonight. He still had to drive home. Josh walked further into the house, seeing a lot of people from school, most he knew, many he did not. He felt a sudden feeling of the party being incomplete, and he thought of Miranda. How much better he would feel if she were there with him. He shook the thought away at the sight of Sandy, who looked gorgeous in the dress she was wearing that night. It was flashy, albeit a bit revealing.

She spotted him as well, whispering something to her girl friends before leaving them and coming over to him.

"Well hello there handsome," she sighed flirtatiously. "I wasn't expecting you to come."

He raised an eyebrow. "Why? I love parties."

She giggled, grabbing his hand and toting him through the house. "Well do I have a nice surprise for you."

Her bedroom was nice, he thought. Most of the things in there were pink, which was something he expected. Pink, and fluffy. This was nothing like Miranda's room. She was really into the color green. And, while most people might expect her room to be cluttered with papers and books and things, it was actually pretty neat. Posters on the walls of saving the environment and the animals. Her closet with her clothes hung up neatly and her shoes arranged nicely. He shook his head again. Why do I keep thinking about her tonight?

Sandy sat down with Josh, her hand still in his. She sat rather close, and Josh could smell the gum she was chewing on. It was minty.

"So, did you come here for me pretty boy?"

He shrugged, smiling. "I guess so. Why?"

"Oh, I would so date you. But I need you to promise me something first?"

He nodded. "Sure . . ." Her deep blue eyes were starting to get to him.

"Well, if we're together, it would be a problem if you kept hanging out with that nerd. I mean, she's a nobody, and that's why she's not at this party. What is her name again . . . Mirow? Mirany?"

"Her name is Miranda," he said sharply, pushing her away from him. "And, if that's the consequence of dating you, then you're really not worth it." Standing up, he walked to the door and paused. "She's my friend. Do you honestly think I'm going to let her go for the girl who sleeps with every guy in my gym class?" He laughed at her then. "I don't think so."

"You are making the biggest mistake of your life!"

"I know! I should be over there having dinner with her instead of here with you!" With that, he left, closing the door with a slam. Everyone saw him leaving and most of the guys knew that she hadn't given up so easily. One even asked him on his way out if she had. Josh simply answered that she hadn't and that he was in the wrong place.

Hopping into his car, he backed out of the long driveway before speeding down the road. He had to hurry up and get back to make up for lost time.

Meanwhile, Miranda had her head stuck in a rather interesting book. It was about a lost mythical world that was just found by humans. She not reading about how the inhabitants of the mythical world were trying to defend their lands against the human race, who wanted to overrun it. She shook her head. Why are we forever the bad guys? She looked down at her phone and sighed. She wasn't expecting to get any messages from him, but she didn't lose hope. Maybe he'll tell me about it when he leaves . . . but I'll probably be asleep by then. She sighed, returning to her book.

"Miranda!" her mother called. She looked up, and her door opened. "Miranda, there's someone at the door for you."

The girl stared at her mother for a brief moment before getting up and walking out to the foyer with her. She wasn't expecting anyone, especially not tonight. Everyone was at that stupid party, the one all the somebodies were invited to. She stuffed her hands in her pockets, taking off her reading glasses, and sighed. When she got to the door, she said, "Okay what do you want?"

Instead of getting a verbal answer, she received a kiss. Her eyes snapped open and she saw that it was Josh. Miranda wanted to push him off and slap him, but then again she didn't. When he finally pulled away she gasped. "Are you drunk?"

He shook his head, smiling. "Only with recognition."

Her eyes brightened as she took his hand and led him in. Her mom greeted him, once again, and she said that she was going to talk to him. Once her room door was closed she asked, "I thought you were at the party?"

He shrugged. "I was. But then I thought about something, and I was wondering why I was at that stupid party instead of with my best friend like I am every Saturday."

Miranda giggled, then wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him again. She had this feeling that she had never had before, and it made her so happy. He made her happy. "Let's go see a movie."

He took her hand and led her out the house. In his car they went, and away they drove.