“You’re coming, k-bear. No way to get around it.”
“No, seriously, guys. I can’t.”
“We’re not taking no for an answer,” Noah states.
“You probably won’t even notice if I’m there or not!”
“Amelia, seriously. You’re coming. It’s for your own good.” Mason stands his ground.
“Who will give the children candy?” I say.
Noah shrugs. “Obesity in youth is a growing problem.”
“Aiden, tell them I’m not coming,” I say, hoping he’ll back me up since he probably doesn’t want me there anyway.
Aiden looks up from his book at me, then looks behind him at Noah and Mason.
He shrugs. “It’s Noah’s house.” Then he turns back to his textbook.
The one time I depend on Aiden’s hatred for me he doesn’t come through . . .
“You can bring Charlotte! Chase invited her anyway, but you guys can come together!” Mason pushes.
“Yeah, Chase will be there!” Noah adds.
“I don’t know,” Maybe if I can convince Charlotte to come with me, it won’t be so bad.
“Amelia, if you don’t come, I’ll follow you around making obnoxious siren noises all day at the top of my lungs. And believe me, I’m incredibly annoying and I know how to make quite the scene,” Noah says with a spark of mischief in his eyes.
“He wouldn’t actually do that would he?” I look at Mason for confirmation, but he just smiles triumphantly.
I look back at Noah as he takes an audible inhale of breath before: “WEE OU WEE OU BEEP BEE—”
“Okay, okay! Stop! You win—I’ll come!”
A few students look over at us quizzically before returning to their work, and the teacher gives us a disapproving glare. I wait a minute before I turn back to the boys.
Noah and Mason high-five in victory and grin from ear to ear. “Being the most annoying person in the room never fails.”
“I don’t know what’s worse: the fact that you have no shame or the fact that it doesn’t seem like it’s the first time you’ve done that in order to coerce your friend,” I say to Noah.
“Hey, no pain, no gain.” He winks.
4
Today is Friday. Meaning it’s been almost a full week since I made my return to school. Also meaning it’s Halloween, and Noah’s party. It wasn’t as hard to persuade Charlotte to come to the party as I thought it would be. With Chase and I both pestering her, she gave in pretty quickly.
My phone chimes and I read a text from Charlotte: Be there in 5 :)
I take a calming breath and try to push my mom’s words out of my head. When I told her what I was up to tonight, she did not take it well.
You promised, Amelia, she lectured. You’re not supposed to be out partying and drawing attention to yourself.
It’s just one night, Mom. I’ll be on my best behavior.
She shook her head, not believing me. Fine, go, but this is a bad idea. You need to be more responsible. People around you get hurt, and it’ll be your fault if they do.
Pushing her warning out of my mind, I grab a small purse to put my keys, gum, and phone in, then run downstairs.