Party Crashers

Ding dong.

Hearing no one else in the house getting the front door after the bell rang, I pulled myself up from my comfortable position on the living room couch to answer it. I was even surprised that I was even home tonight to answer the door and had been looking incredibly forward to a night of relaxing in front of a nice, violent hockey game on television. First one of the season for me, unfortunately. But, as Fate would have it, my plans drastically changed for the evening, right from the moment I open the door and my mouth dropped wide open.

"Oh... my... God." I stared at who was on the front step, my mouth still hanging open.

"Well, are you going to let me in or just stare at me all afternoon?" She asked me.

"JoAnn!!" I screamed loudly, leaping forward and wrapping my arms around her tightly.

"Yeah, it's me." She hugged me back. "Woah, you've gained quite the set of muscles since I've been gone, haven't you?"

"Hardly." I snorted in response. "What the hell are you doing here!?"

"Just dropping by for a visit." She replied coolly, taking a step back and examining me critically. "Now, are you going to let me in already?"

"Yeah, of course, come on. My parents are gonna freak when they see you." I moved aside and let her walk into the front hall.

"Actually, you're the only one here that didn't know I was coming." She grinned triumphantly. "I called them last week and arranged to come for the weekend behind your back."

"Damn.." My hand flew to my head, where I ran my fingers through my hair. "I've been so busy this week, I've barely even seen my parents. You're amazing, Jo."

"All part of my charm, I know."

"And I don't have practice tonight, either."

"I know that too."

"And I don't have to work!" Now I was starting to get just a tad bit excited.

"I know that one too. And, more importantly, we need to get ready."

"What are you talking about, Jo?" I asked, taking a seat on the stairs and looking questioningly at her.

"We have a party to crash tonight." She grinned at me, her violet eyes gleaming.

Damn, is it good to see her again.

"Tell me everything, JoAnn." I begged her.

"Okaaayy, my new school really sucks. A small little hickville town, filled with people who've all known each other since they've been in diapers, same old, same old. I'm still attempting to date Greg long distance-wise. That's how I found out about the party tonight."

"About that party though.." my voice trailed off hesitantly.

"It's Samantha's." Although I'd barely been around, even a social dunce like me had heard of her party by this time. Didn't hurt that she'd talked about nothing else in Math class too.

"If you're saying anything that contradicts the fact we're going, save it." She replied firmly. "Now, what are you wearing?"

"I've never been to a 'real' party before, so I have no clue even where to start." I confessed, stretching my arms open to the closet in front of us. "You're welcome to look though."

"Hmm.." JoAnn's eyes roamed over my clothes briefly, before she shook her head. "Don't you own anything.. girly?"

"Girly?" I made a face at the word. "C'mon, this is me we're talking about here."

"I know, but I figured you'd at least have one dress." She replied in exasperation. "Even I own dresses."

"But your dresses are cool." I objected, delving into the back corner of my closet and returning with a dressbag in my left hand. "The only thing I have is reserved for church and I sure as hell ain't wearing this to any party."

"Ugh, put that thing back." JoAnn replied when she saw the layers of thick, purple velvet. "You wear that thing in public?"

"Unfortunately, yeah." I hung it back up in the back of my closet. Fortunately, it only surfaced it's ugly head on days like Christmas and Easter.

"Boy, you are lucky that I'm here." She rummaged through the bag she'd brought, whose contents were currently strewn all over my bed. I couldn't even see my comforter anymore, she'd brought that much clothes. Her fingers snatching up a light green shirt and black pants, she tossed them over to me.

"Here, put these on."

"Ummm..." Like I have a choice anymore, I realized. Not wanting to get undressed in front of her, I exited my bedroom and walked down the hall to the bathroom, the clothes now in my hands. Running my fingers over the soft, stretchy material of the pants, I flipped them over to check the size.

There is no way I'm going to fit into these.. I dreaded the final result as I shut the bathroom door behind me, particularly when struggling to put on the pants. Stripping out of my gray sweatpants and matching oversized sweatshirt, I immediately noticed the different in attire when putting on the shirt. Suprisingly enough, it fit.

What a wonderful feeling. I smiled at my reflection. It faded when I realized it was now time to try the pants. Sucking in my breathe, I slowly lowered the pants and stuck my left leg through the hole and slid it up halfway.

So far, so good. I thought with surprise. Slipping the them over my right leg, I sucked in my stomach even more and got a sudden pain right in my upper torso. Not sure of what had caused the pain, I glanced in the mirror for an explanation. Reaching my right hand up to the sore area, right below my left breast, the right side of the pants slipped back to the floor and I frowned.

That's my rib, I realized the source of my pain, rubbing the area tenderly with my fingertips. Why the heck does it hurt?

"Lindsey, does everything fit ok?" JoAnn pounded on the door loudly, shaking me out of my confusion.

"Yeah, be right out." I said quickly, pulling up the right side of my pants and ignoring the pain in my rib as I sucked my stomach in again and slid the pants over my abdomen effortlessly. The first thing I noticed, and hated, was how tightly they clung to my body.

I can see every curve, every bulge..

What the.. I stared, utterly amazed, in the mirror at my reflection. Cupping my hand underneath my chin, I still felt the soft fat stored there. Sliding it slowly down my neck, I still also barely felt the lines of my collarbone underneath the layer of fat still over my chest. Quickly, I snapped my left hand around my right wrist: still my middle finger hovered a few millimeters away from my thumb.

I'm not different at all. I thought, frowning again. So why do these clothes fit me?

"God, you take longer than my mother in a clothes store, Linds." JoAnn banged on the door again, louder this time.

"Ok, ok, I'm done." I flung it open quickly, smiling meekly at her.

"Wow, Lindsey.." She whistled loudly at me. "You look so good!"

"No.. No, I don't." I replied honestly, following her back to my room. Once there, she pointed at the floor area in front of my closet door for me to sit on.

"Yes you do. He won't know what hit him."

"He who?" Immediately my defenses flew up as I took a seat in the designated area.

"You'll find out.. Trust me."

"JoAnn, that's so unfair." I whined. "At least give me a little time to cope with what you're throwing me into."

"All right," she relented, grabbing my hairbrush off my dresser and ripping off the scrunchie that held my usual bun on top of my head. I watched as layers of curls fell off the top of my head and bounced softly against my cheeks. I hadn't noticed how long my hair had grown with the passing time either: it fell halfway down my back now.

"Greg has a friend of his that knows you. And likes you." She continued in a teasing voice.

"Wait.. someone likes me?" I squeaked.

Never heard that one before.. it must be some really cruel joke.

"I don't know who it is though, before you ask me. Now.. it's your turn: you've gotta tell me everything, now." JoAnn insisted from her position standing above me.

"Umm.. ok. I've been really busy, that's about it."

Someone likes me? I couldn't get that idea out of my head. Must be a mistake.

"No shit." She replied, tugging slightly on my hair as she attempted to run a brush through it. Notice I said attempted, I doubted she could actually make an improvement to the unruly mess that sat atop my shoulders.

"Ouch." I winced as she tugged a little harder.

"Sorry Linds." She said apologetically. "When was the last time you didn't wear it back though?"

"Good question." I grinned at her reflection in the mirror in my closet, where I was seated in front of. "Just remember, it was your brilliant idea to try doing something differently to it."

"Wouldn't hurt, ya know." Was all she replied. "Anyway, you're the hardest person in the world to get ahold of- what the hell have you been up to?"

"Do you have any clips or anything other than these scruchies?" She held up the one I normally wore.

"Nope." As I shook my head, a few of my curls loosened and relaxed.

There's a bit of an advantage having longer hair, I thought, momentarily glancing in the mirror.

"Damnit, Lindsey." She dropped the brush and walked over to my bed again. After rummaging through her makeup box, she decided to carry the entire thing back over to where I was sitting.

"What exactly are you planning on doing with that, JoAnn?" I eyed the box warily.

"Putting the icing on the cake, my dear."

"Ok, we're here." I said nervously, glued to JoAnn's side as we stood in the luxurious front hallway of Samantha's house. "Can we go now?"

"Of course not." She replied with a scowl.

"I'm assuming the party's outside." I pointed to the end of the hallway, hearing the slight boom of bass music.

"Well, let's not stand around here anymore, we have a grand entrance to make." God, I wish I had at least one ounce of JoAnn's strength.

"Umm.. sure."

You could probably fit our entire living room in here, I noted as we made our way down the hall to her backyard. Surprisingly enough, I knew my way around the mansion, having been dragged here (nearly kicking and screaming, trust me) to Samantha's birthday parties back in elementary school. I have to admit, her parties certainly have gotten more lavish than the traditional cotton-candy pink balloons that had covered the ceiling, I noted, taking in the colored layers of streamers blowing toward the entrance to the pool area. Large paintings adorned the stark white walls and I couldn't help but wonder how much they were actually worth as we passed by them, the next more hideous than the ones before it.

"With all their money, I'd hope Samantha's family would have a little more taste in art." JoAnn nudged me slightly. It took a lot to suppress my giggles, and I found myself unable to look at the paintings any longer. Glancing sideways, I had to admit that she looked like a knock-out, her all-black outfit contrasting her white-porcelain skin. She'd used eyeliner to bring out the brilliance in her eyes, a beauty secret I knew I would never understand.

"I just can't believe all of this." I confessed.

"What do you mean?" She looked at me curiously.

"Me, here at Samantha's party. Most of all, with you." I smiled, wrapping my arms around her shoulders in a rough side hug. "I mean, you were gone out of my life and bam! Here you are again."

"What can I say? I'm a softie for surprises. Oh, God.. " She patted my arm before screeching loudly:

"Greg!!"

"Here we go," I laughed as she tore down the hall at the first glimpse of her boyfriend, ignoring the curious stares from those around us. I was content to sit back, smile, and stand awkwardly by myself.

"JoAnn!" I heard Greg call loudly and I grinned when he enveloped her in his arms. Quite a few inches taller than her, Greg pretty much towered over the rest of the student body. But then again, everyone was tall to me- being barely over five feet even myself. As soon as their lips met in a kiss, I knew it was time for me to turn in a different direction out of respect. Who did I nearly run into in the process, but-

"David?" I stared at him with wide eyes.

"Hi.. Lindsey?" I took the fact that he barely recognized me as a good sign, especially when his face broke into a wide grin.

"Yeah, it's me." I reassured him. "The handiwork of my best friend."

"You look really great." He replied. "Green is your color."

"Oh... thanks." I knew at this moment I was blushing furiously.

"You're welcome."

"So, umm.." I stared at the floor, unable to think of anything else to talk about but why he was here. After all, he didn't go to the same school as us. "How do you know Samantha?"

"I don't, actually." He admitted, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "That's why I called you, since I knew you're the only other person I know who goes to Tulsa High here."

"Oh! I'm so sorry I forgot to call you back." My hand flew to my mouth as I remembered the message Mom had given me. In the midst of my frantic writing of that history paper, I'd completely forgotten about calling him back. At least the mystery was solved of why he'd called in the first place though.

"That's ok." He replied with a smile.

"So who else do you know here?"

"Greg's my neighbor." He explained. "We grew up playing basketball together.. He sort of dragged me here."

"I know the feeling." I glanced sideways in JoAnn's direction. "Samantha's not what I would exactly consider a friend of mine."

"Am I sensing a bit of pent up hostility there, Lindsey?" David laughed.

"Just a tad. I've known Sam for years." I pretended to laugh along with him.

Boy, if only you knew the truth.

"Is that him?" JoAnn poked her boyfriend in the side, looking at me and David talking.

"Yup, my scaredy-cat neighbor Dave." Greg replied with a laugh. "He wasn't too enthusiastic about coming here, I'll say that much."

"Lindsey wasn't either." JoAnn's eyes twinkled mischievously.

"I've go to ask, since you're her friend- what happened to her?" Greg asked. "She looks so different.. it's amazing."

"Tell me about it." The twinkle disappeared immediately as JoAnn replied with a deal of concern in her voice.

"I mean," he continued. "It's great that she lost so much weight-"

"Greg," JoAnn cut him off quickly at the mention of that subject. "Have you seen Zac around here?"

"Glued to Samantha's side all evening, the poor guy." Greg pointed to the dance floor, where the two were intimately involved, to say the least. One of them didn't look particularly too happy about it either.

"Geez, I leave for a few weeks and everyone goes to hell." JoAnn narrowed her eyes at the couple. "How long has that been going on?"

"You're asking me?" Her boyfriend held up his hands defensively. "They're your friends."

"You're right." She smiled at him briefly. "Sorry.. would you mind getting me something to drink?"

"Now that I can do." Greg disappeared into the crowd of people, relieved to be out of the gossip scene. JoAnn decided to immediately make use of the time he was gone, and boldly marched onto the dance floor.

"May I cut in?" She tapped Zac on the shoulder. She reveled in the shock in his eyes as he turned around and recognized her.

"JoAnn!" He cried happily, wrapping his arms around her in an embrace.

"Hey yourself." She yelled into his ear over the loud music. "So, can I cut in or what?"

"Yeah." He yelled back, then turned to Samantha. "Sam, I've gotta dance with her for awhile."

"JoAnn." Samantha spoke crisply to her, frowning at the idea of her dance partner being taken away. "Fine. I've got things to check up on anyway." She brushed a lingering kiss on Zac's cheek before rubbing the lipstick away with her thumb. JoAnn watched the entire interlude with amusement, particularly at the annoyance Zac tried to hide.

"So.." JoAnn wrapped her arms over Zac's shoulders as a slow song came out the speaker system.

"What are you doing here?" He asked her.

"Just visiting.." She replied with a knowing smile. "And I brought a friend."

"Greg?" My God, this boy is so dense. She rolled her eyes.

"No. Lindsey."

"... " Zac didn't know how to reply to that, so he chose no response at all.

Lindsey's here!? was his first thought though, as his eyes searched the room for me.

"Am I sensing a little friction between you two?" JoAnn asked casually.

"Why? Did she say anything?" JoAnn noticed Zac's eyes didn't stop searching the room when he replied.

"Nope. Nothing at all, actually."

"Then sounds about right." Zac sighed. "So now you know as much as I do: nothing."

"Oh, come on." JoAnn sighed impatiently, reaching her arms around Zac's neck, pretending to strangle him. "What are you two fighting about?"

"We're not fighting." He replied quickly. "We're.. just not talking much."

"Does this have anything to do with your new girlfriend, miss Suzy-blonde-Sunshine over there?" JoAnn pointed to where Samantha was talking to a group of her friends. It didn't take a rocket scientist to tell who they were talking about, for every few seconds one of them glanced over at her and Zac dancing together, a highly-pronounced pout placed on Samantha's lips.

"Lindsey's too busy to be my friend anymore." Zac continued in a soft voice. JoAnn could barely hear him, so she leaned closer as they continued to sway to the music.

"B.S." She whispered in his ear. "You don't actually expect me to believe that shit, do you?"

"Well, it's the truth." Zac snapped, pulling away from JoAnn. "I've tried talking to her, she blew me off."

"So you're just giving up?"

"What else can I do?"

"This is such a great party, Samantha." Although the words of her friend were kind, she barely heard them. All her concentration was focused on one thing: her boyfriend dancing with JoAnn.

What the hell she'd doing here, I have no idea.

JoAnn was one of the people Samantha really didn't trust, besides me. Something about that girl's upright attitude made her somewhat of a challege. Sam had been more than elated to hear that JoAnn was moving to another school- it fit all too perfectly in her plan.

Speaking of which, I've worked way too hard to let it all slip through my fingers, she thought, eying the couple on the dance floor.

"Everyone here's having a good time." Samantha glanced at her friend and gave her a fleeting smile. "And more importantly, everyone's here."

"Thanks Courtney."

"I mean, look around." She continued in a bubbly voice. "Even Lindsey Williams."

"Lindsey!?" Samantha immediately snapped her attention to the girl's words at the mentioning of my name. "Where?"

"Umm, over there, by the front hall." Courtney pointed tentatively in my direction, alarmed at the harshness in her friend's voice. "Why?"

"Because she certainly shouldn't be, that's why." Samantha snapped over her shoulder, heading off toward me.

"You're kidding, right Sam?" Courtney called, following her. "I mean, leave the kid alone."

"Stay out of my business." She whirled around and glared at her friend. "This is my party and I don't want her to ruin it, that's all. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to remove the trash, so to speak."

"Whatever," Courtney mumbled, still trailing after her friend with the rest of their group. After all, this would be interesting.

"Look at her and you tell me what you're going to do about it." JoAnn dropped her hands from Zac's neck and pointed to where I was still standing and talking to David.

".. Where?" He asked, searching the area she was pointing to.

"Right there. Talking to the guy with brown hair."

"That's Lindsey!?"

"Yes, that's her." JoAnn rolled her eyes.

"She looks so.. Wow." Zac blinked in amazement, staring at what looked like a complete stranger. "See, I can't even recognize her anymore."

"You're not the only one," JoAnn muttered under her breathe. "Anyway, can't you tell she looks miserable?"

"Doesn't look too miserable to me," Zac noted as they watched me laugh at something with David.

"She's miserable, trust me. So go talk to- oh, shit." JoAnn had noticed the group of Samantha and her friends had noticed me too and were making their way in my direction.

"What?"

"I've gotta go."

"What? I've talked to you for like, five minutes JoAnn."

"Umm.. Greg's waiting for me. Yeah, that's it." She managed to fumble that lie.

"Ok. Thanks for the dance then."

"Yeah, no problem." She called over her shoulder as she made her way through the crowd of couples that stood between her and me. All of the sudden, the music changed to a faster beat and everyone around her crowded around, dancing wildly. As she got shoved back and forth, JoAnn found herself being slowed down even more.

"Oh.. shit." She repeated outloud.

"So, do you want to dance?" David asked me uncomfortably as we heard a slow song come on.

"Oh," I replied shyly. "I-i wouldn't want to step all over your feet."

"Don't worry about it." He laughed a little.

"Nah, I think I'd rather watch for right now." Forcing a smile, my eyes searched the room for JoAnn. Was I ever surprised to see her dancing with Zac.

Of all people.. for some reason I found it hard to keep my attention off them and on to my only other friend here.

"Lindsey Williams, what the hell are you doing here!?" A shrill voice interrupted us. Hanging my head slightly, I didn't need to even look up to know it was the hostess herself. Upon seeing her and her friends approach us, David got the right idea and politely excused himself. If only I could do the same.

"I-i'm sorry."

"You.. were not invited here." She continued to walk towards me, until her face was a few inches from mine. Swallowing slightly, I didn't have a response to that comment. We both knew she was right: I had no business being here.

"I don't care if you actually look respectable now, Lindsey." Her breathe smelled like cherries as she spoke down to me. "But I want you to leave. Now."

"Fine." I muttered softly, glaring at her and taking a step towards the hall. Instead of letting me go, Samantha grabbed my arm and pulled me back in her face.

"What the hell did you actually think you were going to do here!?" Her yelling was drowned out by the loud music that had replaced the slow song, but I certainly could still here her.

"Is it Zac?" She continued with a sneer, her eyes blazing with amusement. "Did you actually think he would want to talk to fat, stupid, ugly slob like yourself?"

"Stop it," I covered my hands over my ears, feeling tears well up in my eyes.

"I said get outta here!" Samantha yelled one last time, shoving my shoulders roughly. Loosing my balance, I tumbled to the floor. Not wanting to cause a scene, I picked myself up and fled to the exit as quickly as I could, unsuccessfully trying to block out the laughter and shouts that I heard behind me.

"Lindsey!" I ran past all of the ugly paintings, wishing I could just reach out my arm and knock all of them down onto the floor.

"Lindsey!" The view of the exit in front of me became blurred with hot tears as I continued running. Almost there.

"For God's sake, stop!" JoAnn's voice called frantically from behind me. I finally did stop, collapsing into a shaking fit on the stairs in front of her house. Sitting down on the cool marble, I buried my head into my arms.

"Oh, Lindsey." I felt the warm touch of her hand on my violently-shaking shoulder, and jerked it away. Pity was the last thing I wanted right now.

"Just get me the hell out of here." I didn't even raise my head to tell her that.

"Don't you understand?" She said forcefully, staring deeply at me. "You leave now and Samantha's won."

"No, you don't understand." In a voice barely above a whisper, I struggled to hide back the sobs that were aching to be released, too pride to ever let them fall in a place like this.

"She already has."