Pt 2 - 11

Alissa walked up the garden path, past the familiar preened firs and freshly cut lawn, towards the house of her close friend Raven. She bounced up several steps leading to the front door, taking two at a time. She was late, as usual, but that wasn’t the reason for her haste. It was the lack of noise and commotion causing her concern.



‘Isn’t there supposed to be a party happening here tonight?’ Alissa hoped she’d gotten her facts straight, otherwise, she was all dressed up for nothing.



She had worn white to show off her fresh holiday tan; cut-off shorts to showcase her legs—her best feature—and an off the shoulder pinstriped shirt that was not as revealing. Showing off too much skin was plain tacky, more Adrienne’s style. She still loved Adrienne dearly, despite her occasional bad fashion choices.



After knocking the door loudly, Alissa waited only three seconds before ringing the bell as well. Zach answered, sporting a goofy grin. I don’t get why everyone thinks you are so gorgeous, she thought, pushing past to get to her real friends. The party was a housewarming for Zach. He’d just moved here from some posh boarding school in France and Raven’s mother was determined that he become close with Raven’s friends, hence the party. Alissa had different plans. Having already decided to hate the guy, she wanted nothing to do with him. She hoped this wouldn’t stop Raven from remaining a part of her circle if only because Raven’s family was the only one with a swimming pool.



Zach followed her through the hall and reception room into the games room, announcing “Look who’s here,” with far too much enthusiasm.



‘Does he actually like me?’ Alissa wondered. It seemed unlikely based on their last meeting.



Matty was sitting on the faux fur rug by the coffee table next to Adrienne, opposite Libby and Raven. Kenny and Rhys were sitting against the sofa, talking animatedly about some boring console game while a couple Alissa recognised from school, but did not know particularly well, took up the two spaces on the sofa. None of the sub-groups paid attention to Zach’s cheery introduction.



“We’re playing truth or dare if you want to join?” Adrienne spoke up after a moment. She did not ask about Alissa’s holiday or even say hi.



‘They are acting so weird.’



“Really? What are we? Twelve?” Alissa screwed up her nose.



“It’s fun,” Raven insisted with a warm smile, “and you have to join in if you want to stay.”



“Fine, whatever,” Alissa sighed heavily, not making any attempt to hide her displeasure at their choice of entertainment. “Is there anything to drink?” She hated having to ask the hosts. An offer would have been nice.



“Beer, cider, some of Mums schnapps or the left-over Christmas brandy,” Raven offered. “It is all in the kitchen.”



“I’ll just get it myself then,” Alissa muttered to herself. She poured a good glug of the Schnapps into some lemonade, then poured in a little of the brandy for good measure. Why not?



“Am I allowed beer?” Adrienne was asking Zach as Alissa made her way back to the group.



‘What a weird way to ask for a drink.’



“Nope, beer equals calories,” Zach said with a smile. “Enjoy your gin and tonic.”



“It tastes like ass,” Adrienne complained with a pout.



“You taste like ass,” Zach teased.



Alissa took a seat by the table between Adrienne and Matty who hadn’t even acknowledged her existence. Strange, since he was usually all over her.



“You don’t want to undo all the hard work,” Matty leaned around Alissa to beam a smile at Adrienne.



“Yeah, I know. Who would have thought I had hips underneath those muffin tops!”



Adrienne cried, standing to examine her bare midriff. She had lost a tonne of weight, not literally, but maybe ten pounds or even a stone, and in just a week. Amazing really.



‘She looks prettier than ever.’



Kenny smacked her on the behind and she pushed him back, laughing. “You are looking fiiiine,” he practically drooled. Matty shushed him.



“Can I at least have a slice of pizza?” Adrienne turned to Zach, pouting and fluttering her lashes.



“Nope, but you can have carrot batons and homemade hummus,” Zach offered with a toothy smile.



“What’s the secret ingredient? Crack cocaine?” Alissa thought out loud. Everyone ignored the cruel quip but Matty, who flashed her a dirty look. Adrienne said nothing as she took the snack gratefully from her newfound nutritional advisor.



“Let’s get on with the game. Whose turn was it?” Matty asked.



Alissa looked out of the window at the pool. It was lit up from beneath—a blue-green gem releasing wisps of steam into the night sky. She hoped the party would conclude with a midnight swim. The feeling of warm water on a brisk night while mildly intoxicated was beautiful.



“Libby,” Matty asked.



“Truth.” Libby decided after a moment of squinting and screwing up her nose.



“Do you think the sleepovers we used to have at your house stopped because Alissa decided your house was too old and creepy?” Rhys asked.



Alissa had been deep in a daydream until the mention of her name snapped her out.



“Honestly, I think Alissa hated not being the host.” Libby shrugged. “Until she saw Raven’s house at least.”



A hollow, humourless din filled the room as her friends forced out laughter. Apparently, the insinuation that Alissa was both a control freak and a flake was hilarious to them. But the exchange felt staged. Wrong.



“Matty! Truth or dare?” Kenny rushed on with the game as Alissa stood transfixed, trying to summon a response to the verbal attack. Matty chose dare and Kenny told him to kiss the hottest girl in the room. Everyone knew that Matty had a crush on Alissa. He had done for years, and she had always kept him on a string while dating older, more interesting guys. She tensed up, waiting for a kiss of some description, wondering if he would peck or go for tongue. As Matty leaned over to kiss Adrienne, the group whooped and cheered.



“Ah, young love!” Kenny cried, circling the kissing pair in his gangly arms. Nobody even looked at Alissa.



“It’s just a good thing you said hottest girl, or I would have had to kiss Zach!” Matty cried, earning a playful punch from Adrienne.



Zach turned to Alissa. “Truth or dare?”



“Dare,” Alissa whispered. Most people naturally went to truth, seeing it as an easier option. For Alissa, the dares given in the past had never been particularly daring.



“Okay, I dare you to eat this jar of mayonnaise,” Zach said. Everyone knew that Alissa hated mayonnaise. Everyone except Zach. They must have told him in advance.



Alissa felt her heart beating faster as the realisation of what was happening kicked in.



“I’m going,” Alissa walked with her head held high toward the door. The handle rattled uselessly in her hands. Locked. She sighed and hurried to the back door, hearing footsteps approach. She didn’t wish to speak to anyone.



The back door wouldn't budge either. She turned to find it was Zach who followed, presumably to unlock the door. Alissa waited a second for him to reveal a key as he stood, waving the white jar of disgustingness.



“Are you sure you wanna take the forfeit? Coz I would highly recommend doing your dare instead.”



“I am not doing anything. Unlock the door.” Alissa waited. “Now.”



“No. Do the dare first. Or take the forfeit,” Zach insisted.



“You can’t keep me here. That’s kidnapping. I’ll just call the police.” Alissa stood her ground. She didn’t want to play these childish games. When Alissa took her phone from its home in her clutch bag Zach plucked it from her fingers and threw it. The thousand-pound iPhone landed in the sink with a plop, splashing grey dishwater onto the work surface.



“Oops,” Zach smiled, upturning his palms. “I am such a butterfingers.”



“Oh my god, are you mad?” Alissa shrieked as she ran to retrieve her phone, but the damn thing wouldn’t switch on. She ran past Zach into the games room.



“Let me borrow a phone,” Alissa demanded. The faces of her friends were blank and disinterested.



“We don't have a landline. Mum got sick of cold-callers,” Raven said without looking up from her slice of pizza, dripping cheese and green pepper clumsily onto her paper plate.



“Then lend me your mobile,” Alissa urged, panicking as all the friends she had grown up with made excuses or ignored her outright.



“Fuck you all,” Alissa cursed.



“Shall we make her do the forfeit?” Zach asked.