Nic whistles. 
“Wow, so you’re going to be spending an entire week with Alex.”
I look at Nic sideways while I fix my hair. We’re preparing for the party we’re going to tonight. It’s the last party of our class, we don’t go to a lot of these but we’re about to graduate so Nic and I agree to go.
“Not just with Alex, but our whole family.”
We’ve done this kind of vacations before, not this long though and the last time we did this we were like twelve.
She grins at me, “I bet your parents will leave you two alone so you can get along.”
I shrug, “Probably.”
She smiles wider.
I roll my eyes, “What? Why are you smiling like that?”
She walks backward and sits on my bed, “Oh nothing. You know, it’s pretty cool for your parents to do this,”
“You’re probably going to the beach; you’ll be wearing your swimsuit, he’ll be showing that athlete bod of his.”
I slowly turn around and face Nic, “What the hell are you saying?”
She shrugs and looks over my open window, Alex’s blinds are closed and the lights off so I think he’s not there.
Nic sighs, “I’m just saying. Sometimes hate turns into passion you know?”
My eyes bug out of my head, “What? Have you gone insane, Nic?”
I turn back around to face the dresser and I remember an image of Alex shirtless while swimming in the freezing cold lake. I shake my head.
Nic chuckles, “Care to share what you just imagined there?”
I glare at Nic’s reflection in the mirror, “I did not imagine anything, Nicole.”
She laughs, “Ohh! She calls me Nicole! She only calls me Nicole when she’s embarrassed.”
I put my brush down, “I am not -. Wait, why are you referring to me as ‘she’?”
She chuckles, “She is also deflecting.”
Right now, I’d prefer Alex’s company than Nic’s. She’s getting on my nerves.
Mom pops her head in the door, “You girls should get going, you know you have a curfew.”
I smile at Mom mainly because she interrupted Nic’s crazy talk.
I give up on my hair and check out my reflection in the mirror one last time.
Nic and I decide to wear ripped jeans and cropped tops. Nic flaunts her curves and I grab a jacket so I can wear it when I get uncomfortable.
We run downstairs and I give Mom a kiss on the cheek before we head for the door, “Bye Mom!”
Dad is standing by the door and I grin at him, “I’m a responsible teenager. You raised me right.”
He nods his approval and I give him a kiss on the cheek.
We leave the house and get into Nic’s car.
She grins at me, “Let’s party shall we?”
I smile back, “She approves.”
We laugh and Nic drives off.

#
Well it seems like we’re not really missing out on these parties after all. The house is full of drunk or tipsy people. The door was wide open when we arrived, plastic cups littered the lawn, the floor is sticky, the music sucks and there’s no food. 
We don’t even know half of the people here.
Come to think of it, I don’t even know whose house this is. All I got was an address.
We nod at some of the familiar faces as we make our way to the backyard.
“We should’ve just gone to Taco Bell,” Nic whispers and I snicker.
We walk outside and we see some students sitting and just talking.
I sigh, “Well, this looks better.”
Then we see a couple making out on the couch near the door where we are, and Nic laughs, “No. Still awful.”
I laugh with Nic and we walk towards the big tree with swings on it. Might as well stay here a while, though there’s no way in hell I’m drinking in this party. I might catch something from the mess in the kitchen.
I look at Nic while I swing, “This is the lamest party we’ve been to.”
She chuckles, “We haven’t been to a lot though.”
I nod.
Nic and I agree that our young life is best spent sober and awake. Besides my prank war with Alex, I’m a pretty good kid. That’s why my Mom and Dad trusts me to make good decisions.
Nic asks, “So, do you think you’ll finally meet someone you’ll like in College?”
Nic has had boyfriends before, but she breaks it off when the guy’s being annoying. She says she’s never fallen in love with anyone, probably because she’s too picky.
I on the other hand, haven’t had a boyfriend yet. I guess I’m not that sociable and I get freaked out when guys ask me out. I don’t know how to react so I just bluntly tell them I don’t like them. Nic calls me harsh; I just think I’m doing them a favor by not stringing them along.
There was a rumor in school that I was gay and that I had a thing for Nic, we laughed it off because it’s so not true. I like guys, I have had crushes but I wasn’t brave enough to do anything about it.
I look back at Nic and shrug, “Maybe.”
She rolls her eyes, “You’ll be out there on your own and you’ll be meeting new people. You should at least try to be friendly.”
She stops swinging, “Okay, promise me you’ll say yes to the first guy who asks you out when you get to College.”
I frown, “First guy? Can’t we make it like third or something?”
She shakes her head, “You’re so weird. Fine, third.”
A car alarm sets off and Nic immediately stands, “Shit. That’s mine.”
She runs off, “Wait here. I’ll be back.”
I nod to Nic and keep swinging.
I think about going to College and probably meet someone there. I don’t know why but I always feel weird thinking about getting to know guys. I’ve never been tempted to start a relationship with anyone, maybe because I don’t feel right about it.
I’ve been asked out before but I’ve never dated, it felt weird and it shouldn’t feel that way. I guess I’ll know when I meet the guy.
Well, the third guy now. I chuckle.
Out of nowhere, a guy pops out of the tree near me, “Hey.”
He looks drunk. He can barely stand.
I stop swinging and I nod, “Hey.”
He slurs, “Are you with anyone?”
I look behind him to the door where Nic went, “Yes. My friend will be back here in a minute.”
He grins, “Well, I’ve got a minute to spare.”
I feel pinpricks on the back of my neck and I immediately stand so I can run if this guy tries anything funny. But before I can decide what to do I feel a hand on my elbow. I yelp but relax when I see who it is.
Alex puts his arm around my shoulder as he stares at the guy who smells like a dive bar, “Who’s your friend?”
Okay, Alex and I avoid physical contact as much as possible. We physically repel each other, but in some cases where we need to be close, it’s fine. This however is unusual for him since he has never ever made it seem like we’re friends, but tonight I welcome the save – just this once.
I wrap my arm around his back and I look up to him. His jaw ticks.
I squeeze his back so he looks at me as I say, “He’s just leaving.”
The guy huffs and walks backward almost hitting the tree.
I don’t move an inch until he’s out of earshot and I breathe a sigh of relief.
Instead of letting me go Alex pulls me closer to him, “What are you doing here, Allie?”
My brows furrow, “I told you we were going to a party.”
He looks around, “Not much of a party though.”
I purse my lips as I take in the view. It’s a sad view.
I chuckle, “Yeah.”
We’re quiet for a minute and I look up at him.
He’s looking at me weird. I just now realize that we’re still side hugging each other so take step back and put my arms behind my back.
I point to the direction where the drunk guy went, “Thanks for that.”
I lift my right hand, “I was planning on giving him the Karate chop. Or drop kick him or something.”
I bite my lip. That sounded stupid.
He just sighs and looks away, “Yeah. Sure.”
I’m still looking at his face when he turns serious, he looks back at me and points to the house, “I think your friend’s leaving.”
I look at the house and see Nic giving me a big wave and running back to the house.