The picture book

I wasn’t sure what to expect but I really wasn’t ready for the reality of this party I was going to. I walked in the door, and people were smoking and drinking. There was also a couple of people that were making out in the corner. So these were the people that Denise hung around with? And think that I always had been jealous that she had a lot of friends and I did not. I looked over the room in distaste and peered in the cups that they were drinking wondering if it was beer. “These are your friends? They seem to be a bunch of druggies. I am sure mom wouldn’t approve of them at all.”

“Come on Ayita, be cool. Your not going to make any friends if you badmouth everyone.” She snags a cigarette from one of the girls and hands it over to me.“Here, have this. Relax.”

I raised an eyebrow. ” I thought you weren’t going to take drugs anymore”

“Cigarettes aren’t drugs silly.” She grabbed herself a drink then sat down on the couch next to some guy and smiled over at him. “Hello there cutie.”

“I hate to tell you this, but they are. And what is that your drinking?” I leaned over trying to get a whiff of the drink.

The guy on the couch lowered his sunglasses to get a better look at me. “Hi there Denise, good to see ya. How’s kicks. Who’s the preacher here? I thought you would know not to bring those types of people here.”

“That’s my sister. She just doesn’t know the facts about drugs. Cigarettes aren’t drugs. And this drink is just some cola that is all.” She took a big drink of it.

I picked up a glass full of what was supposed to be soda and eyes it, taking a small sip of it just in case my sister was lying. It tasted really bad. “Ugh, this is beer isn’t it? What are these kids doing drinking beer for?”

The guy on the couch stood up “Your whack, I don’t believe your the sister of Denise. If you don’t like beer I suggest getting out of my party!”

“You guys are all underage. I have a mind to call the police on you!” I put my hands on my hips, staring at the guy.

“Sis, I thought you were here to make friends, not make trouble. Stop worrying about the beer. I think the age limit on it is ridiculous. We are all mature enough to drink responisbly.”

“Yeah? Then explain that!” I pointed at someone who was obviously drunk.

Denise didn’t look concerned. “Even adults get drunk. Come on, stop being such a pill and have a little more to drink. I am sure you will like it after a while.”

“It just tastes nasty. I don’t know how anyone can like that stuff” I made a face.

“Your no fun sis, your right. You shouldn’t of come to this party. Your not like anyone else here who just wants to have a good time.”

A mousy looking girl with glasses stood up, speaking in a small squeaky voice. “We don’t really need beer in order to have fun. What if the police find out there is underage drinking here? Then we will all be in trouble.”

The rest of the group all stare at the girl who just stood up. “They won’t find out. Why don’t you two get out of here and to somewhere you belong? Like Chuck E Cheese’s or something like that.”

“Yeah let’s get out of this place. Let’s go somewhere more fun where they don’t need alcohol to have a good time.” I linked arms with the mousy girl and we headed out of the party together.

“So where should we go? My name is Ayita by the way.” I gave the girl a smile, it seemed I did connect at someone at the party. I was going to have to tell mom that Denise was going to parties that served alcohol. I knew mom wasn’t going to be very happy espesially since she knew she was also taking pot. I had no idea my sister was doing stuff like this. I had always thought my sister was perfect. Boy was I wrong.

“Uh well not Chuck E Cheese’s.” a snort and a laugh. “My name is Bertha. I was only there because of my brother. He was trying to make me mingle with the cool people to make me be cooler or something like that. I don’t think hanging around with those kind of people is going to make me be cool. Abusing drugs, just isn’t cool at all. It just gets you into trouble. I would think my brother would be smarter not to get involved with a crowd like that.” She looked like she was going to say more, but she got really quiet all of a sudden.

“I just don’t believe my sister is so stupid to think that cigarettes aren’t drugs. I just wonder what else she is doing. I had no idea that her friends were that lame. I always knew they were jerks, but not into that kind of scene.” I walked along, shaking my head a little bit kicking at a rock.

“Sometimes you find out things about somebody that can surprise you. Anyways, onto a more cheerful topic. Just where do you go to school?”

“Uh Franklin high, why?”

“That’s where I go to school too! I think I seen you around, but I never had the nerve to say hi. Most people won’t talk to me because. Well...I am kind of a nerd.” She pushed up glasses and blushed a deep red.

“Well you’re too cool to do drugs, and that isn’t nerdy to me. Perhaps we can be friends?”

“But...being friends with me might ruin your chances with everyone else.” She looked down at the floor and shufled her feet.

“I don’t have many friends myself, and the friend I do have...I am pretty sure will want to be your friend too. Hey! Why don’t we go over to her house so you can meet her?”

“Um. I don’t think that is a good idea.”

I scratched my head. “Why not?”

“I am sure she wouldn’t want to be friends with a nerd like me.”

“She’s friends with a nerd like me, why wouldn’t she want to be friends with you?”

“Your not a nerd, your pretty. I am surprised you don’t have a lot of friends.” Her face was red, it seemed this girl needed confidence too like I did.

“Well growing up was kind of awkward for me. A lot of the older kids teased me, and I believed them. You can’t believe the negative things people say. You just have glasses, that doesn’t make you be a bad person.”

“You might like me, but I am not too sure about your friend. Are you sure you want to risk your friendship with her by introducing her to me?”

“If she doesn’t like you, she isn’t worth being my friend. I don’t like people who judge others on looks.” I smiled at her, trying to calm her down.

“Wow, your the nicest person I ever met. I hope your friend is as nice as you.”

I headed over to Laura’s house, about to knock on the door but there was someone else at the door. It seemed to be an ill kept man who was knocking at the door. He turned over to look at us, taking off his beanie cap from his head. “Ladies.” Then he gave a closer glance at me, then started to cough furiously. “No, it can’t be...” He started to take a step backwards, when the door was opened. Laura’s mother was looking out of the door.

“Peter, you know your not welcome here! Get out!” She didn’t seem to notice me.

The man, whom I assumed was Peter started to shove his way into the house. “I need to get the rest of my stuff, let me in!”

Bertha started to back away nervously. “Uh, maybe we should come back some other time.”

I didn’t know what was coming over me, all of a sudden I felt myself grabbing for the man and taking a latch on to his arm. ” I wouldn’t do that if I was you”

“Olivia...how...how is it that you are alive?

“I am not..” All of a sudden I felt a blow to my head, and everything went black... © 8 years ago