8 - That Most Important Thing

I had almost been too nervous to respond to Eli's DM last night, but my number one thing I was trying to do was make new friends, so after staring at it for a while, I did respond.

He had asked me to sit with them at lunch, and I said sure, which didn't get a response.

So today, I was standing in the lunch line, nervous and wondering if I could gather the courage to walk to where the boys were sitting.

Luckily I didn't have to ponder too long because Taylor had found me and guided me to the table where they all greeted me warmly.

I couldn't help but grin anytime Eli said anything.

I think he was pretty clear about how I felt about him. I was never the one to be subtle.

The classes this week were all going well because I was a bit more comfortable with my classmates. I was surprised that almost all of the teachers were pleasant too, except for my English teacher, who seemed to care more about the way her hair looked than the books we were reading, but seven out of eight isn't bad!

My Maths teacher was very understanding about me missing the classes that I did. She said that moving was a significant change, and she was impressed that I had even taken the time to talk to her about it.

The other significant change in class this week is that I was now sitting in between Eli and Kyle. I was still a bit confused at how I had managed to get myself in this predicament, but one class I arrived and Kyle had been sitting in my seat, and the two boys were grinning at me.

"Just trying to make you feel welcomed," Kyle had explained.

My Bio teacher had also commented when he noticed that Kyle and I had switched seats. "This is good! Maybe I won't have to worry about those two bothering each other now!" Little did she know that I was the one who was probably going to be even more distracted now.

Eli knew it too. He would lightly touch my arm or leg in class, and my heart would flutter, and my stomach would get butterflies. I would get flustered every time, and Eli and Kyle would laugh until Kyle would tell Eli to stop being such a jerk, which would make my face burn an even brighter red.

I was used to the boy I liked ignoring me. I wasn't sure if being ignored or being teased was worse.

---

On Thursday, we were all sitting at lunch when Taylor's phone buzzed.

"Oh! Georgia is having a party tomorrow night!"

Jones grinned, "Her parties are always great! Are we all going?" There was a collection of happy nods at the table. Then Taylor looked at me.

"You're coming too, Betty!"

"I am?" I asked. I didn't even know Georgia, and it felt a bit strange to crash her party in the second week of school.

"Everyone goes," Eli said from beside me. I looked at him, and he smiled, "well, mostly just our grade - however, I think we can make an exception for you."

I blushed at him, and Kyle smacked him. "Shut up, Eli, everyone goes. There will be lots of Juniors and Sophomores too."

I was thrilled. I was thinking about what I would wear. "Okay, but I don't think I'm going to drink."

Taylor pouted, "aww, I wanted to meet crazy Betty."

I giggled, "don't worry, you'll meet her. Just not tomorrow."

Eli smiled, leaning closer to me, "I guess I won't drink tomorrow night either - just to give you a friend. I'll pick you up around eight."

Eli got up from the table, and Kyle and Jones followed his suit. I looked across the table, and Owen and Taylor were grinning at me like morons.

"Oh, shut up," I said.

---

Friday night, I got ready alone.

Taylor had invited me to get ready with her friends, but I knew they would be pre-drinking, so I declined, saying Eli had already offered to pick me up. She had laughed, telling me to have fun with Eli.

I curled my hair and threw it up in a high ponytail. It was unlikely for me to wear my hair down, even if it was for a party. I put on slightly more makeup then I would typically wear and put on a dark green romper. There was no way I was going to wear light colours to a highschool party.

My friends from Arizona never went too crazy. The drinking was fun, but it only added to the night - it was never the most important thing. However, there was always spilled beer on someone by the end of the night.

I was excited for Eli to pick me up and to hang out with my new friends. Maybe things would work out okay this year. Throughout the week, I started to allow myself to feel like I had accomplished something big. I had actually made friends! Sure, this would be only the second time I was not hanging out with them in school; however, they made me feel welcomed.

So when I had gotten home from school today, I had done something prominent. Put a big checkmark next to my number one on the list. Make new friends done.

---

I was waiting outside when Eli arrived. He stopped at the edge of my driveway, and I ran down to get in his car.

"I would have come to the door." He said.

I grinned, "I know, that's why I was waiting outside." He rolled his eyes and started driving us towards the party.

"Did you party a lot back in Arizona?" Eli asked, his eyes staying on the road.

"A bit yeah. Sometimes there were more exciting things to do and sometimes not. Drinking can be fun, but it was never the most important thing."

I saw Eli nod, "ah, so a boyfriend, then."

I did a double-take. Was Eli asking if I had a boyfriend? "I... what?"

"Your boyfriend... that most important thing."

I cringed. "Um no, I just meant sometimes it was more fun to do the activity then drink. My friends were the most important thing. I...I've never had a boyfriend." It felt almost embarrassing to admit. It felt awkward to admit to a boy who had done quite well with the girls from his reputation.

From what I had seen, he was a lot more of a gentleman than people said, but that didn't change what he did with the girls.

He smiled at my confession, though. "Oh," he said.

I blushed and looked down at my hands, nervously.

He glanced at me, "I kind of get it. None of my girlfriends ever lasted that long."

I scoffed, oh great, was he going to go on about his multiple hookups? "Hmm, I've heard."

He laughed, "That is not what I meant, Betty. Actual girlfriends, not hookups."

I giggled. "Does that make it any better? How did they last? A week?"

He snorted, "sometimes not even that long."

"Great," I said, feeling my chances of falling in love with him fading.

Eli parked along the side street, and I followed him to a house that was already loud even though it was only 8:15 PM. Eli motioned for me to follow him inside, and there were still more people than I was expecting, even with how loud it was. This place was packed. I guess everyone does come to these parties.

I saw a group of girls that I recognized from my Chemistry class, and they waved at me. I waved back and then felt my hand being grabbed mid-air. I was spun in a circle and pulled into a hug by an already very drunk Taylor.

"Hiiii!" She screamed. It was loud in here, but she's obviously already been having a lot of fun.

I saw Owen from across the room mouth 'you got her?' I nodded, and he ran off behind Kyle, Jones and a few other guys. I heard Kyle scream "SHOTS" as they went into the next room. Eli chuckled from beside me. I almost jumped. I forgot he was there.

We moved to sit down on some couches at the side of the room. Eli and I sat in the middle of a large sofa. Taylor sat beside me, and another girl sat beside Eli. Two of the girls sat on a loveseat close to Taylor and me.

"Hi! I'm Abigail!" said the one sitting closer to us. She had a big grin on her face, and her nose was slightly red. She was one of the most beautiful girls I had ever seen, only rivalled by the other blonde sitting next to her.

"Betty," I said with a smile on my face. The other girl introduced herself as Savannah, and they happily chatted with Taylor and flirted with Eli as I sunk further into the couch, feeling very sober and very self-conscious.

The girl next to Eli, who had not introduced herself, was playing with his hair. "So, is this party going to be like last time?" She said suggestively.

He grinned at her, "your drunk, Chelsea."

She giggled, "get on my level, bad boy."

Even though I had only known Eli for two weeks, and I had no right to be jealous, I felt that familiar feeling settled in my stomach.

"I am going to get a soda!" I said to no one in particular and took off towards what I think was the kitchen.

Before I even made it fully into the kitchen, I bumped into three girls from my Bio class. "Oh, hi, Betty!"

I said a soft hi and went to move around her. "We saw you come in with Eli!" another one said.

I paused, still not facing them. "But now I see he's with Chelsea. He's like that, you know. Can't trust that boy for a minute. Likes to play girls, have a little fun with them, you know?"

I turned around, feeling a little sick.

The third girl spoke up, "I dated him for a bit last year. Kind of a hump and dump kind of guy, but at least he is good for the ride." she winked at me.

The first girl ran her hands through my ponytail, "I just hope you're safe with him. He doesn't have the best reputation. Not really from the right side of town if you know what I mean."

I tried to thank them and move away when they formed a blockade. "Were just trying to look out for you. Since you're new and all." She said, gazing at me with fake sympathy.

"Your hair is so pretty... Oh NO Betty, there is gum stuck in your hair!" said the girl, who was still touching my hair.

"Oh crap, I'll go to the bathroom to get it out," trying to use this as my escape.

The girl yanked my ponytail a little harder than necessary. "No, it's good, let me fix it!" she grinned at me and pulled a pair of scissors from her back pocket. I looked at her in horror as she snipped a chunk of my ponytail off. "All Better!"

They quickly left the kitchen, cackling like witches.

I grabbed my ponytail. The girls had not cut the tip off but a huge chunk out of the side of it.

I look at the hair down at my feet, and my eyes started to blur. What do I do now?

That all happened so fast.

I stood in the middle of the door, and drunk people walked around me, confused. No one noticed the hair at my feet.

A minute passed, and I heard Eli in front of me. "Hey, Betty, where have you been?"

I didn't look up, but he followed my eye line and noticed the hair at my feet. "Betty..." he said softly.

A teardrop fell from my eye onto the hair.

---

2018

"I know it's been a week

I know it's not been long

But I'm already past the point of no return" - Bastille

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