Party Games

by Whitney Lyles

  Showing up to Dakota’s palace in the Zebra was like walking into prom wearing sweats and a T-shirt. The dilapidated car didn’t really fit in with the massive canary palms and bubbling fountain in Dakota’s yard. She wondered if the neighbors would call the police when they saw the Zebra.

  Sara had totally forgotten that the passenger side door was busted until she was halfway around the car and she noticed that Ian was still inside. “Is there a trick to this?” he called. He fiddled with the door handle.

  She rushed to the door. “Sorry, I have to let you out.” It was kind of funny in a bizarre-first-date type of way—like she was the guy opening doors. His arm brushed hers when he slipped out, and it felt warm and sunkissed.

  Dakota’s house was like a hotel. Sara felt like the front door alone would swallow her. It would be so un-Dakota to answer the door. Sara figured she’d have to make some kind of remarkable entrance a half hour after everyone arrived. Her friend, Cassidy, let them in. Sara had sat next to her in biology last year. She seemed a lot nicer than Dakota.

  “I’m so glad you came,” she said to Sara. “I need to throw a party and I could use your advice.”

  Sara nodded. “Of course.”

  Dakota came down a massive winding staircase. She wore a long strapless sundress with a wild brown-and-red pattern on it, and she held a tiny white dog. Her hair was loosely thrown into a high ponytail.

  “Hello, hello.” She glanced out the window. “You brought Allie Bernstein’s car? Where is your new car?”

  “It broke down. Long story. Sorry we’re late, by the way.”

  “No worries.” Then she turned to Ian. He’d been quiet ever since they’d entered the castle.

  “I’m so glad you made it! I can’t wait to show you the guitar. Everyone is in the other room.”

  Approximately fifteen of Dakota’s friends drank beer in a large room that looked like a French palace. Ornate gold and white woodwork covered the walls, and a huge crystal chandelier hung over the pool table. Massive French doors opened to a large patio where a gigantic flat-screen television hung above a bonfire pit. Exquisite-looking patio furniture and a large black-bottomed pool with waterfalls took up the rest of the yard. A few empty beer bottles sat on the edge of the fire pit. Sara felt slightly underdressed around Dakota’s friends. They all seemed like they’d stepped out of a dressing room with Nicole Richie’s stylist. She had imagined an informal poolside barbecue and had dressed accordingly. All she could think was that Dakota’s family had a flat-screen television outside? And inside? Two different shows were going on at once. She remembered what a big deal it was when her father had bought his first flat-screen TV, and it was half the size of one of Dakota’s.

  A couple of girls sitting near the pool whispered something about the guitarist from On the Verge being at the party. Sara was happy for his success, but she couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like if his band wasn’t played on local radio stations. Would they even care about him? Would Sara and Ian even be here?

  She’d been too busy looking around to notice that Dakota and Ian had wandered off to a far corner of the game room. Aside from Cassidy, she didn’t know a soul. She was about to head to the bathroom when Cassidy reappeared. “Hey, do you want a beer?”

  Sara shook her head. “No thanks. I’m driving tonight.”

  “So you’re the party planner?”

  Sara nodded.

  “Well, I’d like to throw a big party to get back at my ex-boyfriend. I’m sure you heard all about the drama that happened to me…”

  Actually, Sara hadn’t. Occasionally she got some juicy gossip from Allie, but for the most part, she was really out of the loop. She’d heard some time back that Cassidy had been dating an actor who made occasional appearances on some TV show. She wasn’t even sure which show, and she’d never be able to identify the guy in a lineup.

  Cassidy explained, “After the whole breakup, he ran off to St. Tropez with this girl who’s an actress too. You may have heard of her. I want to have a huge party to get back at him. Maybe we could even call it a breakup party.”

  Sara wanted to listen to her, but her attention kept wandering back to Dakota and Ian. She couldn’t help it. Her eyes were fixed on Cassidy, but her ears were perked toward Ian.

  She tried to hear what he was saying. “…this guitar is amazing…an original…How long did you say your dad has had it?…Where did he find this?”

  “I think he got it from an old roadie that worked for some really famous band in the sixties,” Dakota said. “I couldn’t tell you who….”

  How could lying come so easily for her? Sara wished she had the nerve to blow Dakota’s cover. Instead, she kept her eyes on Cassidy, politely nodding and smiling while she shared her ideas for the party.

  “Why don’t we take it somewhere more quiet?” Dakota asked. “It’s so loud in here…better to hear it upstairs.”

  She couldn’t hear what Ian said, but she saw him from the corner of her eye. He carried the guitar as he followed Dakota from the room.

  She wanted to groan out loud. That was it. They’d be doing rated-R things by nightfall. They’d be engaged by the sweet sixteen.

  “So, I was thinking a weeknight might be kind of fun. Being summer and all. Everyone just wants to go to Mexico or LA on the weekends. What do you think?”

  Sara realized that Cassidy was still talking to her. Her voice had become like white noise in the background. It took Sara a second to mentally hit rewind and try to figure out what Cassidy had just asked. “Oh, um, yeah, sure. I can check my schedule and get back to you on that one. But a weeknight should definitely work. We’re actually booked a lot of weekends this summer anyway.”

  “Perfect. I really want it to be at the beach. Do you think we could do that?”

  “I think so. As long as you don’t want a band or anything.”

  “How much do you charge, anyway?” Cassidy smiled. “I forgot to even ask you.”

  It didn’t really sound like something her mother needed to be involved in. Why not just do it for fun? Hang out with some people from school for a change.

  “Well, maybe we can just plan it together. Just as something fun.”

  “Really?” Cassidy’s eyes lit up.

  “Sure.”

  She liked Cassidy. Cassidy seemed genuine and happy. Sara actually really liked the idea of a breakup party, too. Turning something negative into something fun was always worthwhile.

  “Here’s what I’m thinking. Just right off the bat,” Sara said. “And you can tell me if you don’t like my ideas.”

  Cassidy seemed excited as she waited for her to continue.

  “I think we should play only upbeat breakup songs, like that new one by Fergie. Nothing depressing or slow. Then we should have a big bonfire pit—oh that just made me think of something else. We shouldn’t even call it a breakup party. We should call it a move-into-the-future party or a new beginnings party, and everyone will have to throw something from their past into the bonfire. Because, I mean, do you really want your ex to think that you care about the breakup that much?”

  Cassidy shook her head. “No.”

  “If he finds out that you’re having a breakup party over him, he’ll probably just be flattered. It might be best not to even let him know you’re thinking about him. Do we even want guys at this party? I’m thinking it might be nice to have a girls’ night. And it doesn’t even have to be specifically about breakups. Some people might want to throw clothes from their old crappy jobs into the fire.”

  “I love all this!” Cassidy clapped her hands. “This is all fantastic! I’m so excited. When can we start planning?”

  “Call me this week.”

  They discussed the party for a few more minutes before Cassidy went to greet a new arrival at the front door. Sara thought of Ian and Dakota upstairs and felt her heart sink. She was surprised by the pain and tried to tell herself that she really had no right to be annoyed or sad if he was hitting it off with D
akota.

  She made a mental list of reasons as to why she needed to get over it and be happy for Dakota and Ian.

  Ian was an acquaintance. Nothing more. It’s not like there had ever been anything between them, except for a few good conversations at events they’d worked together. He had every right to like Dakota.

  And why wouldn’t he like Dakota? He had no idea that she was a spoiled, manipulative, guitar-bidding nutcase. He’d only seen her pretty, fun side.

  Sara knew one thing for certain. This was the last time she was helping Dakota with Ian. And it wasn’t because her feelings for Ian came into the mix. It was because she didn’t want to feel used again. This wasn’t part of the sweet-sixteen party plan. As she sat on Dakota’s game-room couch, she felt like she’d just been a means to an end. Sara had been a way for Dakota to get Ian to her house.

  Sara sat on the couch for a few minutes, trying to figure out ways to make it look like she’d chosen to be sitting on the couch by herself. She scrolled through her text messages and was happy to see Allie in her inbox.

  Hows it going?

  Xo,

  Allie

  Sara thought of all that she wanted to write back. I feel really used. Ian and Dakota seem to be hitting it off. I wish you were here, or better yet, I wish we were hanging out anywhere but here. Cassidy is planning a move-into-the-future party, and I feel like it really applies to my life right now as well.

  However, she kept it short. While she wanted to look busy, she also didn’t want to look like the weird chick who was obsessed with text messaging all night. At some point she was going to have to socialize. She was “the party girl.” It shouldn’t be that hard.

  Im never doing this again.

  Sara

  Ian and Dakota reappeared forty-five minutes later. Sara didn’t think it was a good sign that they were laughing. She’d kept busy by playing pool with three guys she’d just met. They were now playing doubles, and she’d teamed up with a tall guy named Marco who went to a different school. Her team was winning, and Sara had sensed surprise from her new teammate when he realized that she was pretty good with a pool cue. She was on her third Diet Coke and wondered how long it was going to take her to come down from her caffeine high. She felt wired, which only resulted in more anxiety over the whole Dakota and Ian situation.

  Even though Ian still held the guitar, she hoped he was going to say that he was ready to go home. However, something about the guitar made him magnetic. Everyone in the room had requests for him.

  Ian barely had a chance to wave to Sara before he was thrust into the opposite corner of the room to jam with Dakota and her friends.

  Sara and Marco won the pool game, and as soon as it was over, she headed for the bathroom. Her bladder felt as though it were going to burst from all the Diet Coke. The bathroom that adjoined the game room was bigger than her bedroom at home. The ceiling seemed headed for heaven, and her footsteps echoed every time she moved.

  She took a moment to primp in the mirror. She’d left her blush and lip gloss in the Zebra, and she wished she had it now. The moist beach air made her look washed out. She’d watched Gone with the Wind in her history class when they were studying the Civil War, and she thought she remembered Scarlett O’Hara pinching her cheeks to make them brighter. She went ahead and gave each cheek a few pinches. When she opened the bathroom door, Dakota was waiting.

  “Did you fall in the toilet or something?” She laughed.

  Sara was surprised by the question. “No.”

  “You were in there forever. Why are your cheeks so red? What were you doing in there?” She raised her eyebrows.

  “Nothing. I was just—”

  Dakota squeezed her arm. “Things are going great with Ian,” she whispered through a gritty smile. “I totally think he’s in for the party.”

  Sara tried to conceal her disappointment. “That’s great. So you asked him?”

  “Well, no. But I will. I can tell he’ll come though. He’s been flirting with me all night. He told me he’d teach me to play the guitar if I wanted.”

  “Really? I mean, wonderful.”

  She was about to walk away when Dakota grabbed her arm. “Wait. I have to talk to you about something else.”

  What did she want now?

  “So, when are my parents surprising me with the car? I mean, at what point in the party can I expect the car to roll up? I just want to be prepared to put on my best surprised face.”

  Sara was speechless. Dakota knew about the car?

  “I’m not really sure I know what you’re talking about. What car?”

  “Oh quit. Please. I know my mom called you. My little sister has been spying for me for months now. All I have to do is take her to the mall with me and my friends every other week, and she’ll hide under my mom’s bed and listen to everything she talks about. I know I’m getting the car. I just don’t know when.”

  “Honestly, we really haven’t decided on when.” It wasn’t a lie.

  “Well, I want it to show up early in the party. Like maybe that should kick off the party. I want to be able to drive it in front of everyone.”

  “The decision isn’t really up to me,” Sara said.

  A sly smile crinkled Dakota’s eyebrows. “If you ever need anything forged, let me know. I have the best report-card guy,” she whispered.

  “Yeah, how’d you do it?” Sara couldn’t help her curiosity.

  “You know that dweeb, Glen Oldsmund?”

  Sara vaguely remembered a skinny guy with thick glasses and Lord of the Rings stickers covering his binder.

  “He’s one of those straight-A people and apparently a whiz with forgery. Don’t ask me how he does it, but the whole thing cost less than my last pair of jeans. And don’t tell anyone.”

  “I won’t.”

  When she returned to the game room, her teammate was waiting for her. Another pool game was in the forecast. Since they’d won, they were up to play the next pair. This time it was Cassidy and another girl from school, Brittany. Most of the party had drifted over to Ian’s half of the room. Sara made the shot, then glanced at her watch. She had to be home by midnight. It was ten thirty. That meant the latest they could leave was in a half hour.

  As she finished her game, she listened to Ian take requests in the background. Someone would ask him to play a song, and he’d be able to just strum it out, without sheet music or anything. If he couldn’t remember a song, then he asked them to hum it for a second so he could refresh his memory. His talent amazed Sara, and she hoped that Dakota appreciated all his wonderful qualities.

  Sara also hoped that he would get tired of playing before she had to interrupt. The last thing she wanted to do was be the big geek with the curfew who interrupted the jam session. Luckily, he made eye contact with her. “You ready?” he asked.

  “Yeah, sorry to break up the music, but I have to get home.”

  It was hard to miss the annoyance that flashed in Dakota’s eyes, and Sara wondered if anyone else had noticed it.

  “I can give you a ride,” Dakota said to Ian. “I mean, if you don’t want to leave with her right now.”

  Ian thought for a moment. Was he mentally whipping up an excuse to get out of there? Or was he wondering how he was going to politely tell Sara that he didn’t need a ride home? Sara felt like everyone was staring at her, like she was the only dork with a curfew and a shady minivan in the driveway. The sudden sound of light rain seemed to engulf her, and at the same time, her neck felt much lighter. In a nanosecond everyone in the room pointed to her. It seemed like slow motion as she watched her summer of love necklace come down like sleet from her neck. Blue beads scattered in every direction. The sound of Dakota’s laughter muffled out the rapid fire of beads pinging against table legs and the floor. For the first time that night, she wished her cheeks wouldn’t turn rosy. Her face felt hot, and she knew she was turning three shades of crimson.

  “My necklace,” was all she could think to say. She went from emb
arrassment to annoyance to sadness almost as quickly as the necklace had snapped. The timing couldn’t have been worse. And it’s not like she’d provoked it. She’d just been standing there, motionless. It shouldn’t have been that embarrassing, but Dakota’s laughter made it worse, and the smirks from her friends were nerve-wracking. Sara forced herself to laugh too, even though she wanted to disappear. For a moment she felt like tears were imminent, but she suppressed the urge to cry. She had to keep it cool.

  The only people who displayed any signs of empathy were Ian and Cassidy. Ian looked disappointed. “That’s a bust,” he said. I bet we can pick them all up though. I’ll help you.” He leaned over and started collecting beads from the floor.

  Sara dove down next to him, immediately scooping up the beads. “That’s okay. Really. I can do it. You can just go on playing the guitar if you want.” She was babbling now, which only added to her shame.

  Cassidy joined them on the floor. “I’m sorry your necklace broke, sweetie. It was cute, too.”

  “It’s okay.”

  It seemed like it took forever for the three of them to pick up all the beads. Sara delivered them to a nearby trashcan. “You sure you don’t want to save those?” Ian asked.

  “Positive.” As if she was ever going to make another necklace as long as she lived. The next necklace she made would probably break while she was taking her diploma at graduation. This couldn’t be a bigger omen. Her summer of love necklace had shattered in front of Ian and Dakota. How symbolic was that? Cosmic forces had sent her a huge sign, and it wasn’t in her favor.

  “I promised I would be at the studio early in the morning, so I should probably head out.” He handed the guitar to Dakota. “Tell your dad it plays great.”

  “I’ll walk you guys out.” Dakota’s tone was chipper, but Sara knew that underneath it all, she was fuming. She wondered if Dakota had asked him to go to the party. If so, what was his response?

  The temperature outside was much cooler since they’d arrived, and Sara wrapped her arms around her chest as they walked to the Zebra.