"Well you keep saying I need to socialize, how do you expect me to do that if I don't ever go out....and actually beeee social? I mean seriously, it's like you're mad at me for doing what you told me to do."
Normally Matt wasn't much trouble. He kept to himself a lot, did what he was told, and for the most part was the best blood drinking son that parents could ask for. Still, when he had come home with the announcement that he was going to a party his mother had royally freaked out! Now they were standing in the kitchen arguing about it. Matt was seated on a stool with his elbows on the counter and his head in his hands.
"Honey, I just worry about you that's all. I don't know that you're ready for something like this, and it's a school night and....."
"Marlena darling remember we talked about this?"
His father moved behind his mother and hugged her from behind while Matt rolled his eyes. Parents could be completely gross when they wanted to be.
"He's been training, and he has to learn sooner or later. Besides, didn't we get him a cell phone so that he could call us in an emergency?"
His mom was frowning at first, but then she seemed to relax back into his fathers arms. As the tension left her Matt saw his father wink to him and he knew that meant things were all going to be okay. Well, everything with his parents. Now he just had to worry about the party itself which was in some ways infinitely more frightening. Pushing back the shaggy lengths of his red hair he bit at his lower lip as he fretted over the possibilities.
"Alright, you can go...BUT I want you to drink at least two bottles of Synth before you go out and I expect your phone to be on the whole time you're gone. Do you understand me? If I try to call you I expect an answer."
"Go. Have fun."
With his father cutting in permissively Matt slid off the stool to go upstairs before his mother could really get going. Sometimes when she got heated there was no stopping her. Passing by the fridge he opened the door and grabbed the two bottles of synthetic blood his mother was requiring him to gorge on. Yick! The Japanese swore the stuff tasted like the real thing, but if that was true then Matt couldn't imagine drinking from the source. Talk about disgusting.
"Don't you want to at least warm those up?"
"Whatever, it'll be fine."
Matt didn't stop moving or she'd try to hold him up more. Like a runaway horse he tromped up the stairs taking them three at a time in his rush to get to his room. Once he was alone he kicked the door closed behind him and almost immediately hit the button to start up his stereo so he could drown out any parental interruptions with the sound of the Red Hot Chili Peppers new album. Setting one of the bottles of synth on the bedside table he twisted the cap off the other and flopped down on the edge of the bed to drink and ponder his wardrobe, wishing he had something that looked even semi-cool to wear to his first big party. No such luck.
One hour, two bottles of synth blood, and thirteen t-shirt changes later Matt was behind the wheel of his father's Range Rover wearing the gayest blue sweater of all time. At home he thought it looked okay but now he just suspected that he looked like someone in special ed who had picked out their own clothes. Pushing up the black elastic cuffs of the sweaters blue sleeves to his elbows he just tried not to think too much about it. A few door down and on the opposite side of the street was where Delilah lived. Slowing the car to a roll he pulled up at the curb.
As he was starting to climb out of the car and go to the door he heard her calling goodbye to her parents. Looking towards the house he saw her running out towards him. Lifting a hand he waved to her dad in the doorway as he ducked back into the car to wait for her. Del's dad didn't look happy, and he was just glad that he hadn't had to face that at the door. Matt was staring out his passenger window at Del's dad as the overhead light went on letting him know that Del had gotten into the car.
"Did they read you the riot act about going out? Or does your dad just hate my guts?"
Either option seemed possible under the circumstances. Heck, if he was Del's dad then he'd probably hate him too. Finally he took the car out of park and pulled away from the curb to head towards Andi's house where they'd been earlier in the day. Finally, he glanced over at Delilah as she messed with the stereo settings. Wow. She looked nice. Staring for a moment he almost forgot about the road and then blinked and looked back out the front window.
"You look.....really nice. Is this because Bobby's going to be there and you know what that means?"
Turning a little red at paying the compliment they soon erupted into laughter about the reference to earlier. Oh crap, what in hell were they getting themselves into? It didn't take long to get to Andi's house since they were all in the same school district and as he pulled up to the curb this time and parked he gave Del a pleading look.
"Will you go to the door this time? Cause of....her parents or whatever?"
+Felix’s room was disorganized ode to technology from the 50 inch flat screen mounted above the small fireplace to the dual screened computer console. The floor was littered with discarded clothes, the surface space stacked with books, gadgets, and the occasional spatter of melted candle wax. There was a window nook on one side where he sat idly smoking a cigarette and looking out at the garden below. His iPhone was tucked between his shoulder and his ear as he listened to his father’s voicemail box pick up.+
+His father traveled a lot on business, so much so that Felix sometimes felt like he lived alone in the big Garden District Victorian. If it weren’t for the maid that came in to keep the kitchen stocked and the house clean then there would be no adult supervision to speak of. Independence, that’s what his father preached. Frustrated he hung up the phone, and crushed out his cigarette on the window sill. There was no point in leaving another message that wouldn’t get answered. Pushing up from the window seat with fluid grace he pulled the window panel closed and flipped the lock latch to secure it.+
+The pack of cigarettes, lighter, and phone were held in his hand as he picked up his jacket off the seat and began tucking the items into his pockets. From the stereo came the rowdy hysterical sound of the Ramones, quickly silenced by the touch of a button. As he left his room he slipped into the black leather coat, turning up the collar just a bit at the back as he descended the stairs of the deafeningly silent house. There was no need to leave a note or tell anyone where he was going because there was no one there to be bothered with the information.+
+His Porsche was parked in the garage, a gift from his sixteenth birthday that had earned him enough speeding tickets to qualify for the Indy 500. Slipping into the black leather interior he hit the button to open the garage door and turned the volume up on the stereo as he pulled out. The roads were slick from a recent drizzle and the slick of water shined red and gold reflecting the Christmas splendor decorating the houses he drove past. In his pocket he felt the vibration of an incoming phone call and pulled the phone free to have a look. Laurens picture flashed across the screen looking delicious in her bra and panties, but he hit cancel and slid the phone back inside his pocket.+
+Lauren probably wanted him to pick her up, wanted to arrive at the party together to try to compete with Sylvia and Bobby in some way. Too bad he had no intention of playing in her game. Truthfully he didn’t even feel like going to this party, but it was just what you were supposed to do. You went to the parties, you drank with the others, and you played normal for the eyes watching you. Tonight though, he could do that without listening to Laurens prattling beforehand. She could find her own ride to the party, industrious girl that she was.+
+When he finally pulled up to Sylvia’s house there were already more than a dozen cars parked on the street. The girls oversized house was lit up like Times Square and the noise from inside echoed into the street where he was sitting in his car with the window down. Taking a drag from his cigarette he watched the people making their way inside past the black wrought iron gates and towards the white house. They looked like sheep to him, tasty slow moving herds of useless fodder. With a final exhalation of smoke he hit the button to draw his window up. Keyless entry meant his keys were already tucked into a pocket as he opened the door and climbed out, broodingly following the others towards the house, a predator playing sheep for the night. Baaaaa.+
Trina wasn't going to go to this party since well she wasn't invited to it in the first place but she had to pass it when she left the book shop where she worked so why not? It wasn't like she was going to hurt anything or anyone. Maybe she go walk around the house dance a bit get a drink and leave since she did have a good amount of school work to catch up on. So finally being able to leave the book store she would head in the direction of the party which she heard someone give the address to in the hall of the school before she left. Good brain for remembering things.
Trina had made her way down the street toward the house hearing the music from the end. She was glad she wore her sneakers and had brought along some dress shoes. Her feet would be killing her by now.
Tugging the leather jacket that Daniel gave her around her a little more as she pull the messenger bag around to pull out the flat black dress shoes placing them on the ground. Then would untie her sneakers and slide her socks off to slide them into the dress shoe before stuff her sneakers in her bag.
Making sure her blue dress did ride up to much an brush it down. Fingers would reach up to slide through her slightly damp hair from the rain. To make sure it looked ok. Then headed toward the entrance of the party an would slide into the entry way to lean against the wall for a moment making sure she stay away from the radio . Then would slowly began to make her way toward the kitchen area knowing the drinks would be that way. Keeping her head low for the time.
-- Edited by ALASTRINA LAMBERT on Monday 26th of December 2011 04:06:46 PM
"So I'm not sure if your father will be able to make it back in time for Christmas, but he wanted me to let you know he's so proud of you honey."
Sky-blue eyes flicked up to her mother's face as she finished explaining how her father's latest business meeting had been pushed back by two days. How it had thrown off his entire travel schedule, as well as throw every plan and party her mother had planned to attend into an uproar. Kyla gave a solemn nod, and flashed a half smile of her lips, thankful of the extra-strength migraine excedrin she'd popped the minute she'd gotten home. Her headache had abated enough to let her get through her homework in record time.
Then she'd started getting ready for the party, curling her hair and putting it half up with a dainty barrette. The dress was a little more daring then the outfits she usually wore to such things, but it had been an early Christmas present, and seemed fitting for a night of wild adolescents partying. A pearl necklace and teardrop earrings adorned the ensemble, finished up with a pair of calf-high suede boots. Her face was left fresh, no make-up save for a hint of sparkling lip gloss painstakingly applied.
"I'm sure everything will work out mom. Now, I'm going to Sylvia's party. Not sure when I'll be home, I may just stay the night with one of the girls." She gave her mother a small smile, not really surprised that she was more preoccupied with how to fix this latest holiday crisis. Grabbing her jacket from the coat rack, she belted it tightly at her waist, hiding away her outfit from the elements and prying eyes for the moment.
The ride to Sylvia's was rather uneventful, until she received a frantic call from Lauren about how she didn't have a ride and her boyfriend wasn't answering his phone. Rolling her eyes, but too nice to really refuse to go pick her up, Kyla ended up altering her course to pick up the stranded girl, bringing her with her. A frown tugged at her lips when the moment Lauren got in the car she started changing the stations and whining about how horrible her life was. "Well, maybe you need to find someone who appreciates you more? I mean I know you've got a thing for tall, dark and mysterious, but do you really want to be treated like this?"
It was all Kyla would say on the matter, and when Lauren kept just lamenting the situation, she quickly decided to just tune her out and focus on the road, every once in a while giving a nod when appropriate. By the time she pulled up in Sylvia's drive quite a few people were already there, and if the noise coming from the house was any clue, the party was already getting into full swing. As she put the car in park, Lauren was already jumping out, flashing a few people in her too short skirt, while she just watched, shaking her head in slight disbelief. Sometimes she wondered why she tried to be so nice to people?
Getting out of the car, she hit the button to lock the doors, the alarm giving a small chirp of compliance, letting everyone in the area know not to touch her baby. She'd worked hard to be able to afford her own car. Her eyes scanned over the crowd of people heading towards the house before settling her hands in her coat pockets and making her own way up the drive. The front door was wide open, and from the loud shouts coming inside, alcohol and other substances were already being used and abused.
Walking in, Kyla slowly unbuttoned and unbelted her coat, letting the material slide down her shoulders easily before hanging it up on one of the hooks on the wall. She heard a small shriek and then had to smile as she got bum-rushed by Sylvia and caught up in a screaming hug. "I told you I would probably be a little late," she offered happily when asked what had taken her so long. A cup of some mixed concoction Sylvia had come up with that was just absolutely delicious was placed in her hand and she took an obliging sip, giving a small cough when the alcohol stung at the back of her throat, making her eyes water just a little. "It's awesome!" She replied before dislodging herself from Sylvia's embrace, letting her friend wander off to play dutiful hostess while she wandered around, talking to people here and there, making her rounds.
-- Edited by KYLA BANKS on Monday 26th of December 2011 09:52:58 PM
"Surprise surprise. Look who has some new friends," Sweet words uttered not so sweetly from the eldest daughter in the Ambrose house when the youngest arrived home from school after being dropped off by Matt & Delilah.
"Marcie," just a single word, that was all it took for Mom to say and yet there were layers and layers of censure, enough that even Marcie had the grace to look embaressed. "Did you have a good day Andi?" The greeting was given to the youngest as she entered, Mom in the never-ending process of trying to keep the house clean. It was a challenge, staying ahead of 7 daughters and a husband.
"Hey Mom," Marcie was given barely a glance, refusing to let her big sister ruin the way that her day was going, she had enough stress with the party coming up. "Mom," sidelong glance was directed Marcie's way before she lifted her chin, determined to ignore her. "There's a party, everyone's invited and I have a ride. Matt is going to pick up me and Delilah. Its ok, right?"
Marcie snorted at the news, shaking her head. "That's Sylvia's little get together.There's no way..."
"Marcie, will you run and see if your sisters are done with the washing machine?" Mom deftly interrupted, raising a brow at her eldest until Marcie gave another snort, shaking her head before making her way to the laundry room where they twins were supposedly folding clothes.
Andi breathed a sigh of relief when Marcie was dismissed, looking up at her Mom with a hopeful smile. "Its alright, isn't it? Matt and Delilah seem really cool. Kyla is one of Syvia's friends and she made a point of inviting us. Matt has his dad's car." The words came out in a rush as though if she kept talking there would be no chance for a denial.
"I see no problem with it as long as your father agrees." A warm smile accompanied her benediction before Mom moved to the fridge. "Marcie, the twins will be in for dinner. Its your turn to set the table."
Andi restrained a squeal, throwing her arms around her Mom before darting off to head upstairs. "OK, I'll be down in a bit! OHMIGOD what do I wear?!?!?" Frantic much?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Being the youngest of seven girls and the most petite of them all meant a large portion of her wardrobe was hand me downs. Now that meant that she did have some interesting fashion choices now and then but in general, all the best clothes had been worn by someone else. The key was taking those best bits and trying to wear them in a bran new way.
She dug her way through the closets, muttering under her breath the entire time before finding the white tiered dress. Who knew who's it had been originally but it was obviously modified from its original design. She scowled at it a moment, holding it up before grabbing some scissors. There had been another longer layer... well that was gone quick and someone had already trimmed off the straps it had at one point. Then there was the bow.... which just had to go. Perfect! Slipping it on along with a pair of jeans it was just the sort of different she needed. She studied herself in the mirror, slipping into a pair of heeled clogs that gave her an additions couple of inches (always a good thing!).
She gathered her purse, phone and keys and rushed downstairs in time to hear the beginnings of the conversation in progress.
"...think this is a good idea? She's still seeing the doctor once a week." The sound of her father's voice made her pause on the stairs, fingers tightening in their grip around her purse.
"She'll be fine. Didn't the doctor say that part of her problem is her isolation? When the last time she socialized with anyone from her school without being forced into it?" Mom's voice was calm, soothing. "Drink your tea dear." Andi had to grin then, if Mom made tea for Dad that meant she had him well in hand. No one argued with Mom's tea in them, it was just that soothing.
She bounced the rest of the way downstairs and into the big kitchen, giving a little twirl to show off her attire. "What do you think?"
Dad looked over his glasses at her, settling down the cup he was just sipping from. "Hmph, you need a jacket or something."
She rolled her eyes, "I know Dad, my shrug is in the living room." She leaned to kiss him on the cheek. "I have my phone."
He hmphed again, taking another sip of his tea as Andi moved to give her Mom a kiss on the cheek, whispering softly, "Thanks Mom."
She could hear the sound of the car outside and the last thing she wanted was for Matt and Delilah to get caught up in parental interrogation. "That's probably my ride, see you later!"
She rushed to the living room to find the white shrug, slipping it over her arms and shoulders before making her way to the door, yanking it open before anyone reached the door to rush out. Gods know she didn't want to give Dad a chance to change his mind!
"Hey guys!" A wave as she hurried to the curb before sliding into the back seat. "Are we areally doing this? We can pretend and just go to a movie or something..." Now that she was actually out of the house panic set in. Was she really going to Sylvia's? She'd lost her damn mind.
It had been like an hour or so since Matt had dropped her off from school. Mom had been off saving someone or other at the soup kitchen. It wasn't easy when your parents were always giving to the rest of the world. Not that Delilah ever wanted for anything. Be it affection or understanding. Her parents were always there for her. It wasn't a bad life really.
"Deli!" Her dad called from downstairs. She had been in her room finishing up the Math assiment that was due tomorrow.
"Yeah....?!" Was the call back. "I'm doing homework!" She answered before her dad thought it wise to call her down. Hearing the thudding sounds of someone climbing up the stairs. A few minutes later he peeked his head into her room.
"Mom said she's going to be late tonight." Then he gave her the sad puppy dog eyes. Delilah held back as long as she could before laughing. "You want me to make you speghetti?" He gave her a slow nod still holding the sad expression. "Oookay. Can you get the water boiling? I need to finish this last problem and I'll be down." And in her dad's manner he clapped his hands, turned around and shook his butt in what he called his happy dance.
During dinner, Delilah had dropped the bomb. She was going out tonight. In fact Matt was going to pick her up. Her dad gave her a look that completely said he didn't approve. It changed when she gave him the sad puppy eyes and her lower lip pouted cutely at him. He melted soon after.
Rushing up the stairs she turned on her pirated copy of Lana Del Rey's singles. Video Games played from her small mp3 player. Looking though her closet she frowned. There was two dresses in there that she hadn't worn before. One was because it was all black and it reminded her of funerals. And the other she really liked but had been scared it might be to short.
Grabbing the colorful shorter dress she placed it on the bed. After a shower, and fussing with a little bit of make-up she looked down at the dress again with a brave smile. Delilah pulled the dress on then she put on a pair of her mom's shoes. Since all she had normally were flats. After curling the ends of her hair she gave herself a once over in front of the mirror.
A sweater was pulled of her rack and was slipped on. She knew Dad wouldn't approve if he saw the length of the dress.
Glancing out her window she saw a pair of headlights that belonged to Matt's Rover. Perfect timing! Grabbing her purse on the way out of her room she rushed down the stairs and headed towards the front door with her Dad nearly at her heels. "I'll be okay, I have my cell! BYE DAD!!!" She called out to her dad as she climbed into the car.
Smiling as she messed with the dials and stopped when Foster the People came on. She loved this song, 'Pumped up Kicks' it was so dark with such a poppy beat.
"Did they read you the riot act about going out? Or does your dad just hate my guts?"
"No... I gave him the sad puppy eyes." She turned to show Matt the look that had won her Dad over. "Dad melts when I do that. Plus I made him spaghetti for dinner." A shake of her head to his second question. "I think he has every guy that comes near me. I'm his little girl, you know?" A giggle followed.
"You look.....really nice. Is this because Bobby's going to be there and you know what that means?"
They both laughed at the comment of Bobby being there. A shake of her head looking to Matt. He was so cute! At times Deli just wanted to wrap her arms around his shoulders and hug him tight, like she did with her stuffed monkey Mr. B. Bananas. When he pulled up to Andi's house she took that moment to say "It's because you were going" she said loud enough for him to hear before getting out of the car to go to Andi's door, only to have andi rush into the car the second that Delilah opened the door. Glancing at the door, she figured Andi was running from over protective parents. She got back in the car. Laughing at what andi was saying. "We'll be fine"
-- Edited by DELILAH MORGAN on Tuesday 27th of December 2011 01:20:41 AM
