Cursed or Blessed

by A. L. Martin

  “Where do you want me to put my stuff?” Alexina asked, not taking her eyes off Kurt. I took the duffle bag out of her hand and started walking down the hall. “You can put your things in the family room with Sophie’s.”

  ****

  Emerson and Allison came into the kitchen, wondering if we were still going to the party then told us the time. We all flew off the couch and loveseat, bumping into one another. We ran upstairs to get ready for the party. Instead of having a good four hours to get ready, we were down to a little over two hours.

  Emerson sat me down in my vanity chair to do my hair while Sophie and Alexina used Emerson’s and my bathroom to fix their hair and makeup. Mom and Dad came home about fifteen minutes later. Dad stopped in my doorway on his way to their room to change out of his suit. Mom came into my room after she had changed out of her suit, and sat down on the bed for a few minutes, watching Emerson fix my hair. I knew Mom was enjoying the fact I had friends over and was going to a party. That was her biggest goal when we moved here, that I would make friends. I tried really hard to keep my distance from others, but I was tired of being alone all the time. Now that I had friends, I wanted to keep them and hoped they wouldn’t abandon me like most people did in the past.

  Mom asked if Alexina and Sophie ever showed up. I told her they came right after school and were in the bathroom getting ready. Mom gave me and Emerson a quick hug before she went downstairs to join Dad, and get dinner started for them.

  “Emerson, thank you for doing my hair for me,” I said, handing her bobby pins.

  “You’re welcome. Besides, I didn’t want you going to the party with your hair a mess.” She laughed. “What time are the guys supposed to pick you up?”

  “Braedon said they would be here around 8:30, but I want to be ready before they get here, if you can,” I smiled, looking at her in the mirror.

  ****

  “You look beautiful!” Mom said, getting up off the couch. “You look exactly like Belle.”

  “What about me?” Kurt said, walking up beside me.

  “Kurt, you look great, but who are you supposed to be?” Mom asked.

  “Mom, that’s sad.” I rolled my eyes. “Surely, you have to know who he is, just by looking at my costume.”

  “It’s okay, Aunt Jenna. I will tell you who I am. I’m Gaston,” Kurt smiled.

  “OMG! I can’t believe I didn’t know that.”

  Before I had a chance to say anything else to Mom about her not knowing who Kurt was dressed as Sophie and Alexina were on their way down the stairs. Alexina was dressed as a witch, and Sophie was a 1920’s flapper.

  Alexina’s costume was a sleek, vintage-inspired dress with organza, velvet collar, and matching witch’s hat. Sophie’s costume was a pink and black flapper’s dress with black fringe at the bottom and around the scoop neck. She wore a black headband with a feather on the right side, and of course, she had the ever classic black boa draped around her arms. Both of them had on black heels.

  My Belle costume was an off-the-shoulder, four-layer high low dress, with lace up the front, the famous pink rose, and yellow gloves. I went with gold heels for my dress. Mom took pictures of me and Kurt, then of me with Sophie and Alexina. By the time she finished taking the last picture, Braedon and Tyler showed up. Braedon was in his Beast costume, and Tyler was a gangster to match Sophie’s costume.

  “Wow, all of you look great! I need to get a few pictures of everyone before you leave,” Mom said, motioning her had for us to get closer so we would all fit for the picture.

  The guys looked great in their costumes. Braedon’s costume resembled the live-action movie instead of the animated version. His costume was a blue knee-length tunic with gold buttons and designs, a lacy collar, and matching pants. Instead of a mask, they used brown face paint to finish the look. Tyler was dressed in a black gangster suit and vest with matching fedora. Kurt’s costume was based on the live movie also. He had on dark gold pants, a bright red dress coat with white ruffles at the cuffs, lighter gold vest, and ruffles at the neck. He got lucky the foam boots fit over his shoes and were held on with an elastic band. Before we had a chance to make a quick getaway, Mom realized she hadn’t got a picture of me, Kurt and Braedon together.

  “Mom, we have to get going, or we are going to be late.”

  “You have time for a couple of pictures, so get your butts back in here.”

  All three of us glanced at one another, knowing we had no choice but to go back in the kitchen for the pictures. Luckily, Mom took only a couple, and we were then able to leave for Natalia’s party. Alexina went with Sophie and Tyler, and Kurt went with us.

  Within ten minutes, we were at Natalia Brook’s house. Alexina and Sophie had told me about Natalia’s parties a couple weeks ago when they invited me. They told me how her parents let her have a few big parties throughout the year. The rumor is that she has caught her parents having sex throughout the house, and in return, they make it up to her by letting her have these big parties.

  We managed to park close to her house, which was a good thing because I didn’t know how far I would be able to walk in my heels. Her house was a big, two-story with an attached garage and what looked like a room or rooms above it. There were kids in the yard, coming in and out of the house. We saw Mickey & Minnie, a female cop and her prisoner, Velma & Shaggy from Scooby-Doo, and many others.

  I noticed the glances and whispers as the three of us made our way up to the house. Inside, the music was on the verge of deafening, but it was great! Kids were dancing in the hallway, living room, basically wherever there was a free space big enough to move in. We were about to make our way outside when Braedon stopped to grab his phone out of his pocket. He tried telling me something, but I couldn’t understand one word he said over the music. After a few minutes of standing there watching people dancing, I felt a soft tap on my right shoulder.

  I glanced over my shoulder to find Sophie, Alexina, and Tyler standing behind us. We squeezed through the crowds of people gathered throughout the party. Some were dancing, while a few couples were making out on the couches or in the corners of rooms. Drinks were all over the kitchen counter and island, along with four kegs of beer lined up in front of the refrigerator. Natalia’s house seemed to go on forever, and we weren’t any closer to reaching the patio door. The farther back we got the less the walls vibrated from the music.

  “Braedon, I can’t believe you didn’t come find me!” An unrecognizable female voice yelled.

  “Natalia. Hi.” He pulled me closer to him.

  “How long have you been here?” She yelled again.

  “Natalia, why are you yelling?” Sophie questioned.

  “Was I yelling? I’m sorry. I’ve been toward the front of the house too long, I guess. So, who is this?” she asked, as she crinkled her nose. She ran a hand through the ends of her hair. Her costume was a short red dress with black ruffles around the bottom. The top had a black corset sewn on with red hearts and a high black collar with red hearts. I assumed she must have been the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland.

  Braedon kept a hold of my hand. “This is Karsyn Alexander; my girlfriend.” He smiled, glancing at me.

  I looked up at Braedon, then over to Natalia. I could see the disgust in her eyes from the news of us being a couple. I tried not to smile, but I couldn’t help it. Those words were so nice to hear coming out of his mouth. I just hoped those same words would still be true months from now.

  “Well, I hope you enjoy the party. Braedon, I will see you at school Monday,” Natalia walked by, making sure to brush against his shoulder.

  “Sorry about her, Karsyn. She has been trying to get me to ask her out since I started school here. I have told her numerous time that I only wanted to be friends with her.”

  I squeezed his hand. “I’m not worried about her.”

  “I haven’t had a chance to tell you how great you look tonight. You make a beautiful Belle.” Braedon kissed me. Then we began our journey throug
h the house again in hopes of finding the patio door out to the pool.

  After another ten minutes of saying excuse me or pushing our way through the crowds, we finally reached the doors. I felt like doing a happy dance right then and there, without caring how stupid I looked. I glanced behind me but didn’t see Kurt anywhere around. He must have gone back in the kitchen with the kegs. I wasn’t worried because Kurt was always able to make friends quickly, no matter where he was at. Braedon held the door open for me, then followed me out after Tyler took his place holding the door open. The pool was lit up, with a little fountain in the middle. Off to the side of the pool was a hot tub encased in stone. He immediately took my hand and led me through the crowd over to an empty spot. He twirled me around, wrapping his arm around my waist. He leaned down slowly, his lips touching the soft of my neck. “You smell so good.”

  The next few hours were spent dancing and having a few drinks.

  We were pros by now when it came to making our way through the house to get where we needed to go. Within 45 minutes of being there, we lost Sophie, Alexina, and Tyler. I still hadn’t seen Kurt either. Just as we were about to head back outside to the patio, Alexina yelled for me to wait from across the room.

  She pushed her way over to us, practically knocking down people in her way. “What the hell is up with your cousin, Karsyn?”

  I paused, trying to read the expression on her face. I couldn’t tell if she was pissed or shocked. “Something wrong, Alexina?” I regretted asking the minute the words escaped my mouth. I knew whatever was to come next wasn’t going to be fun to deal with.

  “Does he think he’s too good to go out with me? I tried asking him if he would like to go out tomorrow night and do something. He told me I wasn’t his type! That was rude as hell if you ask me. I’m cute!” She motioned her hands from her head to toes.

  I had to keep looking over my shoulder so I wouldn’t be tempted to laugh, which I knew would make the situation that much worse. I waited a few minutes for her to calm down before I told her. “I should have told you sooner, but I didn’t think I would have too.”

  “OMG! He’s got a girlfriend!” she yelled. “No. He doesn’t have a girlfriend. He’s got a boyfriend back home.”

  “A boyfriend? Oh…that explains the not my type comment.”

  Chapter 8

  “Wow…Is it really true what you told Alexina about Kurt?” Braedon asked.

  “Yes, it’s true. Let me guess, you have a problem with him being gay?” I took a step back, crossing my arms.

  “No! I didn’t know if you made it up to make her feel better about him brushing her off, or if it was in fact true. I didn’t mean anything by it.” Braedon reached for my hand.

  “Sorry, I get tired of people judging him because he has a boyfriend. It shouldn’t matter who you love. It doesn’t define the type of person you are. Kurt is a good person, and that is what matters.”

  “You are right, it shouldn’t matter. It doesn’t matter to me. I think he’s a great guy and fun to be around.” Braedon pulled me closer. He kissed me, and when I stepped back for a minute, I saw the meadow over his shoulder. I hurried up and closed my eyes. Braedon was asking me if everything was okay, but I was too scared to open my eyes, and I wasn’t ready to lose him yet. I opened one eye to see if the meadow was still there, or if Natalia’s house was back. “Sorry, I think maybe I’ve had too much to drink,” I told Braedon, looking around me.

  “If you aren’t feeling good, I can take you home.”

  “No. I’m okay. Besides, I am having too much fun.”

  We finally made it back out to the pool area, weaving through kids dancing and grinding up against one another. I stood there in the middle of the crowd looking around, watching everyone enjoying themselves without a care in the world. Braedon squeezed my hand, pulling me into him. Over his shoulder, everything seemed to be moving in slow motion, and the horrible thought that any one of these girls could be the one in my vision. We were beginning to join in with the rest of the kids around us dancing and having fun when I barely heard my name being yelled off in the distance. I took a step back, glancing over my left shoulder, and I could see Sophie, trying to make her way over to me. I let go of Braedon’s hand and took off towards her. The closer I got to her, I could see her mascara and eyeliner were smudged under her eyes.

  “Karsyn, can you and Braedon take me home? Please?” she asked in between sobs.

  “Yeah, sure. First, tell me what is wrong?” Before I could ask her anything else, I heard a muffled scream through the music.

  “Don’t turn around! Can we please go? I don’t have anything to say to either of them!” Sophie yelled, pulling on my arm.

  I knew she had to have been talking about Tyler, but I didn’t know who the other person could have been until I turned around.

  “What in the hell did you do to Sophie?” I yelled at Alexina. The music quieted down for a few minutes to where we didn’t have to scream over it to talk to one another.

  “Don’t yell at her,” Tyler said, walking up behind Alexina.

  “She can yell at her all she wants, you fucking prick!” Sophie screamed.

  “Wait a minute! What the hell is going on here?” I screamed, throwing my hands up in the air.

  Then everyone started in again, screaming and threatening one another. All I could make out was How could you do that to me, you were my friend, and it’s not what you think. I looked around and saw a gate back toward the house. Braedon helped me push everyone toward the gate to get them where we could figure this all out. I had to yell at them a couple of times to quit screaming at one another on the way to the front yard. It was even more crowded than when we got here. Classmates were dancing, a few were leaning up against trees kissing, and a screaming match broke out between Olivia and some girl I didn’t recognize. I knew Blair would show up soon to defend her minion from a bellowing Alice in Wonderland. I started pushing them across the street, away from more drama. I figured if we went across the street and down a few houses, we might be able to hear better and not be shouting to be heard. Except Sophie and Alexina didn’t understand that concept and proceeded to keep yelling at one another. I pointed my finger at both of them and through gritted teeth told them to shut the hell up. I told Sophie to tell her side of the story first.

  “This bitch over here stole my boyfriend instead of finding a single guy!” She lunged at Alexina. Braedon pulled Sophie back, while I reminded them that we were supposed to be talking, not screaming at one another. I asked Sophie if she could tell me what happened, without yelling or trying to rip Alexina’s hair out. She shook her head yes after a few minutes of glaring at Alexina.

  “Alexina was upset about Kurt turning her down for a date tomorrow night, and took off looking for you. Tyler went to get us some drinks, and when he didn’t come back right away, I took off looking for him. That’s when I came across them together in each other’s arms.” She stood there tight-lipped for a few minutes. I then told Alexina it was her turn to tell her side of the story.

  “I was upset that Kurt turned me down for a date. I ran into Tyler when I was trying to find you and Braedon out by the pool. He asked me what was wrong, and he gave me a hug when I started crying. Nothing happened.”

  “That’s BULLSHIT! You are such a damn liar!” Sophie pushed me to the side, trying to get to Alexina. “I saw you! I saw you kiss Tyler!”

  I was able to push Sophie a few feet away from Alexina. I turned slightly to my right to look back at Alexina, and even then she kept her eyes on Tyler. She had no remorse in her eyes for hurting her closest friend. Her eyes finally met mine, and I turned my back to her. I felt betrayed and it wasn’t even my boyfriend that she kissed. I was afraid to open my mouth because I knew I would start yelling at her. I tried to get Braedon’s attention, but he was busy talking to Tyler.

  I texted Kurt real quick to let him know we were leaving the party. I made sure Sophie was okay before I went to get Braedon away from Tyler so we
could leave and take Sophie home. I saw Kurt walk out the front door, and I could tell he wasn’t happy about leaving by the way he stormed across the yard.

  “I was talking to a hot guy. What in the hell could be so important that we have to leave so early?” he snapped.

  “Sophie caught Alexina kissing Tyler tonight. She asked that we take her home. Besides you have a boyfriend back home that loves you! What is with you people tonight, cheating on your boyfriends and girlfriends?” I yelled.

  I pushed Kurt in the direction of Sophie, and I managed to pull Braedon away from Tyler. I was done with people tonight, and I wanted to get the hell out of there before something else happened. I didn’t move fast enough. When I turned around to head back to Sophie, I saw her standing there screaming at Alexina. I quickly threw my heels off and ran across the street, not looking to see whether any cars were coming. By the time my foot had hit the curb, Sophie was throwing threats at Alexina. “I have every right to kick your ass up and down the sidewalk! You are nothing but a stupid WHORE!” Sophie threw a punch at Alexina.

  I grabbed Sophie and pulled her away from Alexina. While I was trying to calm Sophie down, Braedon told Alexina to take her ass back across the street. We started walking down the street with Sophie in the middle, and Kurt trailing a few steps behind us. I didn’t want to drop Sophie off at home, so I told her she could stay the night with me at my house. I was afraid Alexina would show up at Sophie’s in another attempt to try and talk to her again.