Chapter Two

Chapter Two

I found myself standing outside of a 24 hour Taco Bell, on Tyler's back. I could just smell the sweet glorious smell of tacos cooking, and burritos. Oh god, I can't control myself. These taco-hormones are going wild. Don't even deny that taco-hormones aren't real, because they are. I will personally slap you if you do.

How I found myself here? That's a long story.

[at Emily's house getting ready for the party]

"Do it again," I glared at Emily, "I dare you. I'm not afraid to go karate on you."

Emily shrugged and put the tweezers back on her vanity table. "I'm sorry for trying to tame the beast," she rolled her eyes, indirectly insulting my perfect eyebrows. So what they're thicker than most girls, at least I don't have a monobrow.

"Maybe the beast doesn't want to be tamed," I poked my tongue out at my best friend. I love my eyebrows - I reckon they're onfleek. "Just hurry up, I can't sit in this uncomfortable chair for any longer," I whined like a little kid.

"Be patient," Emily hissed and got to work on braiding my bangs, "Beauty is time, beauty is pain. Repeat after m-"

"How about no."

"Beauty is time, beauty is pa-"

"No, your ass will be in pain after I'm done kicking the absolute crap out of it," I grumbled. I didn't have the patience to sit in one chair for two hours being poked, prodded, and pulled and makeover-ed.

Twenty minutes later and Emily and I were dressed to go. Emily looked - in my best friendly opinion - looked hot, with her busty black tank top and mint green skirt, along with killer black studded heels. I, on the other hand, was lucky enough to be wearing fully black high top converse, because Emily had said that if I wore heels, I would be higher than the guys and that is a bad idea. I'm pretty tall for a girl, but being 5'9 nearly 6' means that I can't wear heels.

Emily had insisted that I wore a short, tight dress to show off my "curves". So, she dressed me up into a blood red tight dress. It didn't match the best with my shoes, but I couldn't care less, this was already way out of my comfort zone. She left my hair down and wavy (she also attempted to make it less frizzy) and mainly did minimal makeup with just a bit of eyeliner and some tinted lip balm and concealer for those cute pimples - not.

I'm usually not into fashion at all - I just throw on anything in my wardrobe, which consists of barely flattering jeans and loose tops - so this was a huge contrast to what I usually look like.

"You ready to go show the boys how sexy you can be," Emily winked at me and we walked out of her house and out to her car.

"Hell yeah," I hollered even though I was nervous as all hell. I've gone to parties before, but I've never ever dressed up in like a tight body clinging dress. Shockingly. Yeah, the occasional unflattering dress that my mother has forced me into, but nothing like this. Plus, the other parties I've been to I have turned up with Nate and we would mainly just stick to the kitchen, where I would look after my poor, helplessly drunk friend. I'm his designated driver for parties, so when Emily told me that she was going to stay sober, I was surprised.

I'm not a keen lover of alcohol, but I will have a sip of it every now and again. I just don't like beer -euck. It's so bitter and foul, I don't know how people can stand to drink it.

Emily started her car and we started driving to Nate's house. Emily was the odd one out in our friendship, since Nate and I are beside each other and she is ten minutes down the road. Now, if only Tyler would swap houses with Emily, that would be perfect.

Ten minutes - of me hyperventilating (I get nervous) and telling Emily I didn't want to go - later Emily parked her car into my driveway since she decided to stay the night, even though we have school tomorrow.

"Oh you're overreacting," Emily had rolled her eyes at my nervous behaviour. I had managed to calm down enough to get out of the car, but I still didn't have a good feeling about tonight. I'm more exposed than ever and I didn't want Nate to get all annoyed with me because he doesn't trust the people around me. He does that - getting annoyed when I wear far too revealing clothes or anything, see he really is like a brother - and it's quite frankly, really annoying. I love him as a best friend and all, but there's a time when he's got to let me go live my life.

Maybe that's why I'm so nervous about tonight. I never usually get really nervous, mainly just small bursts. I'm just not very fond of breaking the rules and defying expectations.

We walk up to Nate's front door, which was wide open with a grinning Nate holding it open. He shoots his a giddy smile which can only mean one thing. I look down at the Jack Daniels in his hand and roll my eyes. Of course, nine o'clock at night and he is already plastered.

"Hello my little lightweight," Emily squeezed his cheeks and he giggled. It was a hilarious sight to see and I nearly laughed at seeing their interactions, but resisted because that would only set Nate off. He thinks that laughing is contagious when he is drunk - he's a funny drunk and likes to crack nonsensical jokes - and he is just like Emily said, a lightweight. For being a big tough football player, you would think he could hold his alcohol. But nope, one can of strong alcohol will have him bleary eyed and giggle-y.

I by-passed Emily as she nurtured the intoxicated drunk, then made my way to the kitchen while avoiding sweaty dancers and bottles of liquor being thrown around the place and empty cans of beer on the floor.

Have fun cleaning this up in the morning Nate, I snickered to myself. Hell no am I helping him clean up this mess. He was the one that decided to throw a party on a school night; he can deal with the consequences. Gosh, I sound like my mother. But, it's true. I'm sure a lot of students will be calling in sick tomorrow, even though it's the second day back of the year.

Once I got to Nate's kitchen where only a few stray partygoers were settled and a mass of alcohol was stored, I breathe a sigh of relief for getting out of the large crowd. I chastised myself for being nervous in the first place. This is going pretty smooth - hey?

I saw Clark standing in the corner of the kitchen talking to Eli (another Footballer who I sit with) so I walked over to them after grabbing myself a bottle of some cherry flavoured vodka. It was better than beer, so I guess it will have to do.

"Hey guys," I say and crack open the bottle in my hand. Clark and Eli look at us with curious stares, and I knew the questioning would start right about ... now.

"What are you wearing?" Clark asked wide-eyed. They both looked me up and down with wide eyes and gaping mouths.

"Clothes, duh." I took a sip of the vodka. Hmm, not too bad actually. "What's so bad about what I'm wearing," I frowned and look down. The crop top wasn't even tight or revealing, but the shorts showed off a lot of leg. I do admit my legs are freakishly long, and I'm kind of lanky - it just adds to the charm ... not.

"You look ... different." Jake spoke up. Jake is on the football team and sits with us all at lunch. He's really nice but is kind of an airhead. He couldn't harm a fly and makes a fool out of himself quite a lot. He's also pretty attractive - alongside Clark - with his warm brown eyes and tousled brown hair, while Clark has light blonde hair and pale blue eyes.

"Yeah," Clark nodded. They were still surprised of how different I looked, I bet.

"Oh come on," I rolled my eyes at their expressions, "Is a girl not allowed to dress up?"

Clark gave me a flat stare, "No, it's just that you've always been so boy-ish. It's weird seeing you actually looking hot."

I bit my lip to stop myself from saying something bad. I hated it when the guys called me one of the boys, or a tomboy. They treat me like a guy, and it's horrible. I just wish that I'm not just seen as one of the boys and noticed as a girl.

"Well," I broke the silence, "I'm just going to go now." I turned on my heel and began to walk out of the kitchen, not forgetting to grab a few more of the cherry tasted vodka's. They taste good, okay? I pushed through the ever-growing throng of teenagers and finally reached the back door of Nate's fairly large house. I know his place like the back of my hand, but when it is filled with heaps of teenagers it's harder to navigate downstairs.

The glass sliding door had a sign on it saying 'NO DIRTY DEEDS DONE IN THE POOL THANKS' and I snickered at that. Of course Nate would put that up. He's a little bit of a germ freak and I know that if someone did, he would scrub his pool so hard that he dug a hole ten foot underneath. I think it's kind of cute that he's a germ freak (he's not overboard) but it's the little things like how he always brings around a hand sanitiser bottle and his room is forever clean. That, I do like.

Students I recognised littered his back lawn, some were intoxicated, others just coming out for a breather. I looked to my left where the pool was, and saw two seniors smoking. I wrinkled my nose in distaste. I dislike smoking entirely - the smell, the fact that it slowly kills you and how it just reverts a solid 9 to a 5.

To my right was Nate's mom's favorite garden bed, which was full of extravagant colourful flowers that she treated like her children. Lucy, Nate's mom, would probably cry for days if it was wrecked, so Nate had covered them with a translucent tarpaulin so that nobody could see nor wreck them. How generous of him.

I didn't feel like going back inside, so I lie down in the middle of his lawn with my friends beside me. Friends as in alcohol. Geez, I'm an alcoholic already. I took my phone out and sent a text to my mom, telling her that I was bored as hell.

Yes, I text my mom when I'm bored. She's probably the most insane mother you will ever meet or know of. She approves of me going to parties, saying that it's good for me to get out and experience life. Momma Lockhart is kind of a hippy, but we love her anyway. Austin and I never really see her much which sucks, because we have both always been momma's boy and girl. Our dad is troublesome and makes our lives hell at times. I'm surprised my mother hasn't divorced him yet, but since they work together and are always out travelling most of the time, it would be bad for the business.

Once I finished the first drink, I felt a lot less tense and much mellower. I sat up and took the cap off the next bottle and started drinking it. Half way through the bottle, with me laying down looking up at the stars, I felt a presence beside me. I tilted my head to the side and saw a guy lying down next to me. I raised my eyebrows in surprise when I saw his face.

What is Tyler doing here?

"Having fun," amusement danced in Tyler's intoxicating green eyes as he picked up one of my empty bottles.

I smiled sheepishly, "I didn't plan on drinking. It just...happened."

"That's what they all say," he smirked and started drinking my last bottle.

"Hey!" I tried to snatch it from him but he held it out of my arms reach. "You're an ass," I pouted, lying back down with my now empty bottle. Damn, they tasted really good.

"And you're tipsy," he pointed out. "So, what are you doing out here all alone Cupid?"

"Firstly, don't call me Cupid," I'm not all too fond of my job of playing matchmaker after all, "And secondly, you sound like a creep. Please, don't kill me," I mocked. "I'm out here because I don't fit in. Partying just isn't my scene."

As much as I hate Tyler, when he's being sufferable, I will bite my pride and be a good chicken back to him, otherwise. He cops it.

"Me neither," Tyler sighed. I pinched the bottle back off him and gulped a huge bit of the pink drink. "Easy there tiger," he chuckled, "Wouldn't want to wake the beast."

"My eyebrows," I furrowed them.

"Wait, what?" He looked all cute confused, with his brows furrowed and lips apart.

"Noooothing," I sing-songed and sat back up. "Let's go to Taco Bell."

"Now?"

"No, later," I rolled my eyes. "Yes, now. I want tacos. I'm hungry and I'm bored and my tacos-hormones are tingling. There's a 24 hour Taco Bell down the road, it won't take long to walk there."

Tyler agreed, so there I found myself outside Taco Bell, taco-hormones tingling and hanging off Tyler's back - I wasn't bothered to walk and he complied - which was a much better alternative to being at that party.

I hopped off Tyler's back and we walked into the mini restaurant. I could smell the tacos and burritos and I nearly died of excitement there and then. Nate never lets me go to Taco Bell with him because apparently I get a little bit hyper. Oh well.

Okay, let me rephrase. I get really hyper over tacos. Like, to the point that I'm bouncing off the walls and climbing up trees I'm that excited. I can't help it, it's like this thing is triggered in my brain and I just go crazy.

"What do you want Nova?" Tyler asked me. I realised that we were already at the counter and he had ordered.

"Uh-um," I fidgeted. I stared up at the menu and hopped from foot to foot to try and make myself hurry up and choose. "Could I get five Crunchy Tacos please," I told the girl manning the register. She looked tired and like she didn't want to be here. I don't blame her though; it would be tough working at a 24 hour Taco Bell with a customer like me.

"That's $10," she spoke in a monotone and bored voice, snatching the note Tyler handed her. "Your order will be ready soon," again with the monotone voice.

I nearly screamed at her to be happy. I would be over the freaking moon to work at Taco Bell and get discounts. Discounts, free tacos. Oh god, here comes the taco-hormones again.

Or...maybe it's just the three Vodka drinks I downed within half an hour. Okay, yep. It's probably them (mixed with a little taco-hormone because everyone gets them).

"Thanks for paying," I grinned at Tyler who rolled his eyes in reply. I finally got a good glimpse of what he was wearing due to the bright lights inside the restaurant. He looked super hot and super sexy in his tight-but-loose blue jeans and black shirt that showed his clearly defined muscles.

Man, this must be a dream. I just got Taco Bell with a hot guy (who also paid) and he has abs. Do I need to repeat it, abs.

Abs. Abs. Abs. Abs. Abs. Glorious abs. So, abs probably comes after Meowncé (my super fluffy and cute cat) because they are incontestable compared to tacos and Xbox. I lead such an exciting life.

"Order number 438," the girl at the register sounded like she was on the verge of falling asleep.

Tyler and I walked up to the register to get our order. I thought we would be eating in store, but Tyler obviously had other ideas. He started walking out the door and when he realised I wasn't following, he turned his head to the side and did that super-hot guy nod thing. "You coming or not?"

I nearly melted. Nearly. I speed walked to catch up to him. We have about the same stride so it was no trouble keeping up with him. That is one perk of being horrendously tall.

"Where are we going," I skipped with joy alongside him. I've got tacos for dinner, tacos, and tacoooooooooos. I could make the best song out of that, I bet. It would be a sell-out. Much, much better than Miley Cyrus, so y'all better make way for me.

"To eat." He spoke bluntly with a smirk.

"Oh god." I whispered loudly, "You're going to kill me aren't you? I'm glad my last meal was tacos."

"Who said you were going to eat the tacos?" His smirk grew and I nearly fainted.

"You wouldn't," I glared at him menacingly - well as menacing as a tipsy and taco-hormone crazy girl can muster up.

He shrugs, "You never know. I happen to like tacos."

I was about to break Tyler's neck after we kept walking for ten more minutes. My taco is probably cold by now! Then, I felt his hand over my eyes and I screamed. Oh god, oh god, oh god, oh god. He is going to smuggle me. I DIDN'T EVEN GET TO EAT MY TACO.

"Shh," he whispered and lead me along some grassy place. I could tell it was a hill and I was ready to bit his hand and samurai kick his ass to the point that it hangs out of his mouth. Never, ever come between me and my tacos.

Then, we stopped and he dropped his hand off my eyes. My eyes widened at the site in front of me. It was a medium sized grass field, with mowed grass. It was dark, so I couldn't see anything other than the grass and the beautiful stars.

Oh god. Stars, tacos, a hot guy who paid for my dinner.

I have done well.

"Ta-da," Tyler slapped my shoulder to snap me out of my reverie. "You seem to like stargazing and this is the best place to do it."

"Oh my gosh," I whispered, "You are going to smuggle me."

"What?" Tyler frowned, "What is it with you thinking I'm going to smuggle you?"

"Well you said it's the perfect place to do 'it'," I whispered in horror. I don't know why I was whispering, but it felt like it set the scary mood.

"I meant stargazing," he face palmed.

"Oh."

"Just eat your goddamn taco."

And that is how you ditch a party to go eat tacos and stargaze with a super-hot guy. Oh, and did I mention he's hot?

Just checking!