A Kissed

My parents were ecstatic when I asked them about the party. Apparently they were excited that their youngest daughter was finally being social.

The next few days went by and soon it was the afternoon of the party and Riz was currently ripping through my closet.

"I was just going to wear jeans, Riz."

Riz tsked me and started going through my skirts. "No. You're going to look pretty. Azrael is probably going to be there."

I sighed. "I'm probably just going to be standing in the corner befriending the dog. Even if he were there, it's not like he's going to talk to me."

"You never knew."

"It's highly unlikely seeing as how I have never had an actual full conversation with him before. Why would he start talking to me now? I can't talk to him either because it would seem a little weird if I started to talk him out of the blue with no reason or anything."

Riz laughed. "You're just overthinking things. How about this?" Riz held up a blue and white skirt I got for my birthday last year. "If I can find a top... Aha!" She pulled out a lacy white tank top. "If you wear your American flag converse it will be so cute!" She looked pleased with herself.

"Riz I'll be cold!"

"Oh, Thariah, it's 87 degree out and you'll be standing around a fire. Go it put it so I can do your hair."

The skirt was shorter than I remembered. I thought it went down to my knees but in reality it reached a little over halfway down my thighs.

I walked out of the bathroom pulling at the back of it. Knowing my luck I'd accidentally flash everyone with my green polka dotted panties because the wind decided to flirt with my skirt. "It's too short."

"Thariah I can assure you that will not be the shortest skirt there." Riz sat me down and started to brush through my mane. "Your hair is so thick and pretty."

I let out an unladylike snort. "You can take some it if you want. I don't need all of it." The hairbrush caught a snarl. "Aw! Good gravy, don't rip my hair out I was kidding!"

Riz wracked me slightly with the brush. "Quiet. I'm almost done."

She finished brushing, then took a piece from the front and pinned it back, pulling my hair out of my face. "Done!" She sounded giddy, as if I had offered her a piece of chocolate cake. She pulled out her make up bag.

I shook my head. "That's where I draw the line."

She gave me a face. "Are you sure?"

"Yes." I didn't like the feel of makeup. It made me feel fragile, like I was porcelain doll that had to be put up high on a shelf so as to not break. It made me feel... fake.

"Alright, if you say so." Riz proceeded to paint her face then touched up her hair. She had already gotten herself mostly ready so she could spend the rest of the time tackling me and my beauty problems.

"Thanks Riz... for everything."

She smiled at me in the mirror. "No problem. You've helped me on numerous occasions with my grades and studying. It's what friends do."

"Come on, we best be going now."

Ryan's party was exactly what I had expected. Twelve minutes in and I had already settled myself down in a camp chair with the family black lab, who I learned was named Bax. In my hand I was holding what I thought and hoped was lemonade, unless some nitwit had spike it. Whenever it appeared someone was approaching me or looked like they might want to communicate, I'd pretend to drink and bend down to rub Bax behind the ears.

Riz had gone off somewhere after I had insisted that I needed some time to ease into the congregation and that I'd join her later. I can't believe I let her talk me into this. I don't think half theses people even know my name, even though I've gone to school with them for years.

The smell of everything but the meat hot dogs sizzling on the grill wafted toward me and made me realize how hungry I was. I wasn't about to leave my camp chair through, for the food was all the way across the highly manicured lawn and if I got up, I would surely be confronted into conversation.

Ryan had been throwing a party at the end of the summer for years. Apparently his parents had a lot of money and didn't care what he did so long as there was no drugs or alcohol involved.

Then I saw something or rather, someone that made my breath hitch. Azrael Montenegro, one of the most popular guys in our grade, heck even in the school, and the guy I'd had a crush on for years, was standing a few yards away, laughing and talking with his friends. He had a great smile. It was genuine and contagious, and a full on, ear to ear, toothy grin that was usually paired with a laugh. It wasn't mean or an arrogant smirk like most of his friends or acquaintances, his laugh was never jeering or mocking. Just happy.

Wow, I sound like a creeper. I don't really ever talk to the guy, but I'd kind of like to.

Suddenly a pair of green eyes catch my hazel ones. I immediately dropped my gaze and did the best to hide my face. He had caught me staring.

When I dared to breath again, I chanced a glance back at him but he was back to talking and laughing with his friends again.

A sigh left me in a whoosh and, deflated, I turned my attention back to Bax the dog, scratching under his chin and telling him he was a good boy.

I didn't feel the first few raindrops. Soon few turned to many and everyone started rushing inside, a few girls squealing about their hair. I followed a little slower, because I like the rain, but mainly because inside I'd be in closer quarters with these people I'd never really talked to.