that was then*
chapter 10
The car ride continued for about 15 more minutes. Tim and Dora fake flirted back and forth the entire length of the journey, making Josh the tiniest bit remorseful that he hadn't snagged the back seat as well.
"Here we are, kids!" Bryce chirped as he parked his car on the lawn of a huge frat house...all the legal parking spaces were already taken.
Tim and Bryce were the first to dash out of the car and race for the open front door. Josh on the other hand, stayed with Dora. He met her on the brownish green grass on the passenger side of the car. "Nervous?" he asked her with a slight nudge in the ribs.
Dora stared out at the mass of dancing, and obviously drunk, people prancing around in front of her. "More scared than nervous really."
He let out an amused sigh. "They're not as bad as they seem."
"How do you know? Are you friends with all these people?"
He shrugged. "I know most of them."
"Well, aren't we Mr.Popular?" she joked.
"Come on." He grabbed her hand for a split second to tug her out of the protective bubble she had made for herself.
They walked casually up the front cool grass, and Dora couldn't help but feel a little self-conscious when she noticed the females walking around. They were all dressed in fancy miniskirts and tops, with size 2 waists and flowing hair. She looked down at her faded jeans with ripped knees and her signature boots. Her black button down top didn't leave too much to the imagination either. She found herself taking in a soothing breath of air. At least I'm not unoriginal, she thought to herself.
"Oh, my God, I can't believe he brought her," Amber said, pushing Bryce's body from hers in order to catch a better glimpse of Josh and Dora.
Tiffany's head turned in the direction of Amber's outstretched finger. She clenched her teeth and forced a smile. "I don't really care. If he wants to ruin his whole life, let him."
"Aw, come on, Tiff, she's not that bad," Bryce whined as he took Amber's drink for himself.
She slammed her drink onto the floor, and marched over to meet her ex and his new friend at the porch steps. "Hi, Josh." She flipped her blond hair nonchalantly.
"Tiffany," he said solemnly, averting his direction to walk around her.
As Dora passed by her, Tiffany put her arm out to stop her. "I'm sorry I didn't catch your name."
Dora looked quickly at Josh, and then back into Tiffany's cold eyes. "It's Dora."
"I didn't hear you, the music's too loud. Whore-a is it?" She looked back at Amber who had filled her usual position by her friend's side.
"Yeah, it's a family name actually," Dora played back, standing up straighter.
"By any chance is it the Adam's Family?" Amber shot, cocking her head to the right.
Dora look over to the new conversationalist. "I'm sorry, were you saying that to me? I couldn't hear you over that hideous shirt."
Amber looked down at her bright purple tank top. "At least I don't dress like a fucking homeless person!"
Josh turned to look at Dora, and didn't find her behind him. He could've sworn she was there. He looked out the door to see her engaged in what seemed to be a pre-fight chat with two other girls. "Shit," he cursed to himself.
"Are we gonna have a problem here, or something?" Dora asked, furrowing her brow at them.
"Maybe," Tiffany spat with a twist of her neck.
"All right, all right," Josh said calmly stepping in between them. "Why don't you two go bother somebody else, OK?"
"You better tell your girlfriend to stay with her own kind," Tiffany cautioned as she walked back inside, Amber trailing her heels like a puppy.
Josh turned to Dora. "Sorry about that."
"It's fine. I read somewhere it's healthy to get within 10 seconds of a rage induced heart attack."
"You look sexy when you're angry," he played with a wink.
"Ha ha, keep walking." She turned his head in the other direction, and followed him inside.
Inside the house, it was nearly impossible to walk without bumping into a keg or someone experiencing its effects.
Dora couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. It wasn't like she had never been to a party of this caliber before, but the fact that she only knew 3 of its 700 attendants made her stick to Josh like glue...she was sure he didn't mind.
After hours of walking around, talking, and giving scornful stares to Tiffany, Josh and Dora decided it was time to call it a night. They strolled back into the front yard to find Bryce's car gone. Before either of them had a chance to think, Tim tapped their shoulders.
"Bryce says he's sorry, but he had to take his car to take Amber home. She was sick or somethin'," he slurred.
Taking into consideration that he and Dora were probably the only sober people there, Josh figured it would be smarter to just walk. It wasn't too far anyway.
Dora agreed, and seconds later they were on their way home.