6, Teenage Fever

"I’ve been looking for you”, the person slurred. It wasn't anyone I know, but I'm assuming Kylie did.

She grabs me into her arms and forcefully hugs me before I could speak. She was pretty, not too pretty and also drunk. Very drunk. The smell of vodka stung immediately it hit my nose and I start to cough.

I wiggle my way out of the hug. "I'm not Kylie. Sorry, I'm her sister Kelsie”

“We need to go now. Before we run out of time”, she continues 

“You didn't hear about what happened to her, did you?"

"I know it's you Kylie", she laughs drunkenly, whispering to herself. “Don't worry. I won't tell him that you're here"

"Tell who?”, I ask. “Who are you?”

"Maya May!", a voice called out, "what the hell are you doing here? Drunk! Maya May, you will be the death of your poor old grandma!"

"Oh, I'm so sorry for her behaviour. She's just mourning your sisters loss alot differently.”

“No, it’s fine”, I smile lightly

“I promise this will never repeat itself my dear"

I watch the stranger walk away with whoever I'm guessing was her grandmother. Leaving me confused. More than before atleast. Maya May. I remember that name from Kylie’s diary. Maybe she knows more about Kylie’s death than anyone will give her credit for.

"Hey? Are you okay? I saw what happened", Kiara rushes up to me

"Yeah. I'm fine", I shrug, still looking at Maya being dragged out by her grandmother

“Uh...Did she know Kylie?”

“Yeah. They were practically best friends”, she says, “I could introduce you if you want”

I nod.

"Well, mom's already paying. Do you wanna stick around with me abit longer? Or go with my mom?"

"What're you staying for?"

"A few of my friends are picking me up. We're going to some bonfire thing in about an hour"

I pinch my lower lip in between my teeth and take a breath. This is exactly the type of experience Miss Nadia would force me to jump on. “I guess I could stay with you"

Her face lit up. "Awesome. I'll go tell mom"

***

It had been almost 30 minutes since Kiara's mom left her and I behind at the mall. We sat outside the front entrance, waiting for Kiara's friends to show up. I was pretty anxious if I'm being honest. The thought of hanging out with a bunch of kids who don't know me at all is kind of scary.

When the car finally pulls up, Kiara gets up and runs towards it. I walk timidly behind her, catching up.

"Hey y’all”, Kiara smiles. There was three people total in the car. Two in the front and one in the back. 

"Uh...this is my sister Kelsie.”, she starts

“Half sister”, I correct

“Right. Sorry”, she continues. “This is my half sister Kelsie. Uh, Kelsie, that's Ashley, her boyfriend Cameron and in the back is Rachael"

"Hey", I faked a smile. So did they.

Ashley was sitting in the front passenger seat with so much soft leather around her. Her boyfriend Cameron looked far too unsober to be driving but, who am I to say anything?

I followed Kiara into the back of the car and crossed my arms. Trying not to get in the way of their banter.

Cameron drove like he could barely hear the 389 horsepower, 6-liter engine. If it wasn't already obvious, I know a few things about cars. One hundred thousand pounds worth of German engineering. This was a car that sneered at speed limits.

"So Kiara’s half sister, where are you from?", Rachael asks in a dead attempt to make conversation. I could barely hear her over the loud Travis Scott music filling up the car

"I live in Yellow Oak with my mom and my older sist...uhm. I live in Yellow Oak with my mom", I stutter 

"Oh cool”

"Is this like your first time in Echo Creek?", Ashley screamed from the front seat

"She grew up here before my mom met our dad", Kelsie answered

"So like, your dad screwed both your moms? Dope", Cameron laughs.

I ignored his gross comment partially because I know he's not sober, but also because if I did, I would end up choking the little prick to death. 

We finally arrive at the bonfire site and everything wasn't what I thought it would be at all. On the ground were spilled drinks and broken glass. The thick stench of teenage fever was more than distinct and obvious.

"Looks like the party has arrived!", a group of drunk boys said, coming up to Kiara. She welcomed them all with open arms, hugging and high-fiving them.

"And who is this?", one boy asks, referring to me 

"Oh, she's a cutie", another added

"Yo Tyler, come check out the new girl. Hey lil mama"

"Shut up you guys, that's my sister, Kelsie", Kiara answered on my behalf and handed me a blue plastic cup. “I mean...my half sister”

“Fast learner”, I tease her

"They're just messing around Kelsie, don't worry", Ashley says. "These little turds are harmless"

I nod.

Not long after we all got abit more comfortable and the party gets louder and more intoxicated, I spot a white pick up truck, with a dent on the side,parking across the site. Within minutes, Noah's intoxicating scent was all that filled the atmosphere.

"Babe!", Kiara ran over. She jumped onto him and they hug each other tightly.

"You've met Noah right?", Rachel asks me

“Yeah.”

“He was really close to Kylie"

"What makes you say that?"

"Well, I'm only telling you this because I feel like I can trust you and also, I am very drunk”, she whispers loudly, “Well, mostly the second part”

I smirk

"...one day, I sort of heard Noah and Kylie talking about something top secret", she slurs

"What do you mean?"

"Well, it was at a party and like, he was mad or something... I don’t really know”

Noah and Kiara join us.

"Hello", Noah greeted

"Oh, I can’t stand the accent”, Rachel whines 

“Looks like someone’s already drunk”, Ashley says, sitting on her boyfriends lap

The entire experience was pretty boring. Well, for me atleast, everyone else seemed to be having the time of their lives so I thought I'd call Mr. Burklin.....I mean, my dad, to come and pick me up. I’m ready to call it a night.

I dial the number and place the phone to my ear. "Poor signal", the little service provider woman tells me.

"Ugh. Great", I sigh and stand up 

"Where are you going?", Kiara asks me after taking a break from devouring Noah's face.

"I'm gonna try get a better signal. It sucks here", I respond

"It is quite dangerous out here. You should go with someone", Noah says and wipes his lips with his pink knuckles .

"You should go with her babe", Kiara comments. 

My eyes widened at the thought of going far away from a group of people with someone I barely remember who, by the way, has banged both my sisters.

"It's cool really, I don't think I'll go too far", I say, trying desperately to avoid the soon to be awkward situation.

"Kelsie, please just go with him. You'll be safer"

Noah looks at Kiara then at me.

"Alright, fine”, I give in and walk away. Not waiting for him to catch up.

"Wait a minute please", he pants as he finally catches up with me

"So, how do you like the bonfire?", he asks. I ignored him. “Hello? Can you hear me?"

"Are you angry with me? Did I do something to offend you?" Once more, I ignored him.

I grab my phone from my back pocket and hold it up in the air in a dessperate attempt to get my network back up.

"Ugh. Come on!"

"May I?", Noah asks me and holds out his hand

"May you what?", I ask passively

"May I help you?", he asks, looking into my eyes. His rugged, grammatically correct voice sending unwanted and unexpected shivers down my spine.

While handing him my phone, I clear my throat and shake the thought of him turning me on out of my head.

He tapped away at the screen then hands my phone back to me. "Thank you", I murmur 

"Of course it is my pleasure. Shall we head back now?"

"You could. I think I'll stay here for a while and call Kevin”

"Why?", he seems genuinely worried 

"No reason", I lie

Noah furrows his brow. “I know you are lying"

"I'm not lying"

"Yes you are. You are lying again infact"

"...Okay well, since you're so curious, this bonfire sucks"

He seemed offended. "This is the MOST anticipated party every week"

"Wait, you do this every week?", I mock

"Yes actually we do and we quite like it" , he pouted. His little accent came out much stronger this time

"Oh my gosh", I laugh, "what exactly do you and your friends think is a party little British boy? Because this is the lamest party I've ever attended"

"First of all, I am not British, I was born here in Echo Creek and second of all, you have hardly stayed at the party long enough for you to enjoy it"

"I know a good party when I see one and believe me, this is not a good party"

"Okay, well what would make it a good party then?" He sits down on some bench. So did I, as I began to talk.

"For starters, you cannot call it a party if there's no music. Secondly, your alcohol is trash. I mean, who brings boxed wine to a teenage party? c'mon"

He laughs at my comments and critique.

"Oh also", I continue. “Almost everyone is having conversations"

"Well what is wrong with that?"

"It's a party! We're all supposed to be too stupid drunk to carry on conversations"

He smiles, genuinely amused.

"You have a pretty smile", I compliment 

"Thank you. Do you?"

"Do I what?"

"Do you have a pretty smile"

"....i don't know. Doubt it though"

"Let us see.", he says and stands up, "Give us a smile"

"..uhm, no thanks"

"I am not joking. Give us a smile"

Before my response could come out, my father's car drove up.

"Hey", My father called out from the window. He exchanged banter with Noah while I got into the car. 

The car ride was short and quiet. Most of the time the thought of going back home tomorrow was on my mind. Honestly, I'm tired of Echo Creek already.

THE NEXT DAY came by pretty quickly, the weather was warm. I liked it better that way. I managed to make it to school just on time and was welcomed by Ryder when I walked into my first class

"You have no idea how bad I've wanted to come back here", I sigh, hugging her. She didn't hug me back 

"What's wrong?", I ask

"I kinda have something to tell you.” A pause. “It's about Kylie"