A Heart Still

5 Sleepover

“Hey honey, what are you baking?” My mom asked when she saw me in the kitchen.

I took the tray out of the oven and sat the cupcakes I was making on the counter.

“I am going to Molly’s house later on today, so I thought I could bring some cupcakes with me,”

I said, taking off the baking gloves.

My mom frowned and I knew what was about to happen. “Why do I hear about this just now?” She asked in a threatening voice and I had to roll my eyes but made sure she couldn’t see.

“I told you on Wednesday when I came back from school mom.”

“I think I would remember if you did.” She threw back at me. She was doing this all the time and it was driving me crazy.

“I don’t know what to tell you, mom, I told you and you said it was alright. Maybe you forgot about it.” I tried to calm her down, getting out the things I needed to make the cream on the cupcakes.

“I would know if you told me something like that. This is the first time I’m hearing it.”

I sighed, giving up. She never believed a word I said.

“Sorry mom, maybe I forgot to tell you. There’s a sleepover at Molly’s house today and they invited me. Can I go please?”

My mom looked doubtful but nodded her head after a minute.

“Fine, but tell me sooner next time.“ I tightened my hold on the spoon in my hand, trying to calm down a bit so I wouldn’t say anything. There was no point anyway.

“Where’s your brother?”

“He went to train to the playground again, he thinks they will let him play on Tuesday.”

“Really?” she asked cheerfully. “We’ll need to go early to get good seats.” My mom said.

I turned around to face her, leaving the bowl of cream for the time being.

“Actually, I’m not going.”

“What?” she asked, quite agitated once again. I don’t know why everything I did made her mad.

“You are going to support your brother.” She said.

“He won’t play mom.” I sighed but she wasn’t having it.

“I said you are going.” I rolled my eyes, I wanted to deny but I knew it was pointless.

“Fine,” I said, turning back to the work at hand.

Why did I need to go? I would love to be there for him if he would be playing, but that kid was awful.

It took me a good thirty minutes to finish the cupcakes, but they looked quite good and I was surprised with my culinary skills.

 I didn’t really want to go to the sleepover, but I needed something to take my mind off Claire.

I packed the cupcakes and my overnight bags. I usually wasn’t one to go to sleepovers, but Molly was a friend and she wanted me there.

The clock chirped at 7 pm and I walked to the living room, finding my mom watching TV.

“Hey mom, do you think you could give me a ride?”

She turned to me with an annoyed expression but stood up from the couch with a dramatic sigh. “Alright, but I want one of the cupcakes.”

I smiled at her gratefully and took three cupcakes out of the box, storing them in the fridge before we headed to the car.

The ride wasn’t long, as I said, it was a small town, but it was more comfortable to ride in a car than walk while holding a box of cupcakes and having a big bag on my shoulder.

I needed to give mom some directions because she didn’t know where Molly lived and we finally stopped in front of her house.

I thanked my mom and she drove off. When I turned around to look at the house, it looked like someone was already there.

Taking a deep breath, I walked to the door and rang the bell. At first, nothing was happening and I started to sidestep on the porch, but soon there was shuffling behind the door and Molly opened the door with a huge smile on her face.

“Oh, Rebecca.“ she said, opening the door wide. “Come on in.”

I smiled back at her and stepped inside. I could hear people talking and laughing.

“Hi Molly, I hope I’m not late.” I greeted, handing her the box with the cupcakes before I took off my coat.

“No, not at all, now we’re all here and the real fun can start.”

She smiled and led me to the living room. There were five of us in total. Me, Molly, Rachael, Gina and Dylan.

I didn’t know Gina would be here. She and Claire used to be good friends but Gina started to act like a b***h and they kind of drifted apart.

I never really liked her. She thought that just because she had big breasts and wore short skirts she could be bitchy and get away with it.

Dylan was the kind of guy who was friends with almost every girl in school. He was quite short and as far as I knew he dated the Italian guy from his class. He was a junior, unlike the rest of us.

I awkwardly waved at them when they turned to look at me. Rachel and Dylan smiled at me brightly. Gina seemed a little annoyed but she waved back.

“So, what are we doing?” I asked, sitting down on the carpet as the couch was full and Molly sat in the armchair.

“We were just talking. You all know each other right?” Molly asked, looking at each of us.

“Yeah, we do,” Gina said and leaned back on the couch.

I nodded as did Dylan and Rachael took one of the cupcakes from the table. “You made these Becca?” She smiled at me and I scratched the back of my head.

“Yeah, I did, but I’m not much of a baker.”

Rachael’s smile showed her white teeth and she assured me. “They look delicious.”

“You sure cupcakes are the best choice for you?” Gina said, making me frown at her. Was she applying I’m fat? How dare you b***h!?

“What are you saying, Gina?” I raised my eyebrow at her. “Nothing.”

Dylan coughed awkwardly and clapped his hands together, taking my attention off of Gina.

“How about we have a drink?” he said, standing up, coming back with a bottle of wine.

I turned to Molly. “Your parents won’t mind us drinking?” I asked, confused.

“They are not here and even if they were, they wouldn’t mind a little wine.” She smiled mischievously and I nodded. A glass of wine was fine with me.

“Oh, Dylan. You know I don’t drink.” Rachael said sadly, and Gina scoffed. “Of course you don’t.”

I glared at her but no one said anything, so I kept quiet too.

Molly stood up, disappearing to the kitchen before she came back with four glasses. “I will have some.” She said and sat the glasses on the table.

When the wine was poured I took a sip and it was strong but tasty.

I liked the bittersweet taste on my tongue. “So, do you want to play a game?” Molly asked excitedly.

“What kind of game?” Gina asked, her glass almost half empty.

“Truth or dare,” Dylan called excitedly. Molly seemed to think for a while before saying. “Sure but what do you want to dare us to do here?”

“Good point,” he said, humming from how he was thinking. “We can play just the truths.” He suggested and I took a huge gulp of my wine.

“Why not,” Molly said and looked at everyone.

“I’ll start.” Gina chirped in and looked at me. Oh, I didn’t like how she was looking but she turned to ask Dylan instead.

I couldn’t but let out a mini sigh of relief. Who knew what she would be up to.

“So Dylan. What’s up with you and Marco? Are you serious?”

Dylan scratched the back of his neck when she asked. He looked so adorable. “Ummm, I hope we are.” He said, blushing a little.

“Have you f****d him yet?” Gina asked and he just stared at her for a moment.

“You have just one question, Gina,” I told her, making her glare at me, but I didn’t care. Dylan looked relieved.

“So, Rachael. You and Denis are dating forever, are you sleeping together?” Dylan asked her and she squirmed in her seat.

“No, I wanted to wait after I’m married.” She said and averted her gaze.

“Is he okay with it? I mean he’s a guy and guys can get pretty handsy.” Gina asked again. This isn’t how the game is played, Gina. I thought but Rachael didn’t seem to mind.

“He understands and wants to wait as well.” She said but didn’t really meet her eyes.

“So Molly.” Rachael trailed off. “Are you into someone right now?” Molly giggled and poured more wine into her glass.

“Well, not exactly, but I would do the new guy.” She giggled right after saying that.

“Yeah, he’s yummy,” Gina said, licking her lips.  Why were they talking about Ethan?

“What is he like Becca?” Molly asked the next question. What was he like? How would I know?

“I don’t know him,” I said. “Yeah, how would she know?” Gina asked, narrowing her eyes at me a bit.

“She’s doing some project with him,” Molly said, her head spinning a bit.

“Oh, s**t. I would do any project with that guy.” Dylan said and raised a suggestive eyebrow at me.

“Same here,” Gina said and they high fived. “So, Becca. What is he like?” Dylan repeated the question and I sighed.

“As I said guys, I don’t know. He’s kind of quiet.”

Gina scoffed and leaned back against the couch. “Right, why would he even talk to you.”

I gasped, offended. How dare she say something like that. “Hey, you don’t have any right to talk to me like that.”

I told her. “Oh please, you wouldn’t even know what to do with a guy like him. I’m sure you're still a virgin.”

I glared at her. I wasn’t a virgin but that wasn’t the point. The point was she was acting like a b***h for no reason.

Rachael coughed, making me look away from Gina. Why did I even come here in the first place?

“Why don’t we calm down and get back to the game?” Rachael suggested and I took a deep breath. It was my turn.

“Sure. Tell me Gina, when was the last time you dated a guy and didn’t just f**k him.” I asked and she glared at me but replied. “Two years ago”

I couldn’t even say anything before she asked.

“How many people have you dated Becca, hmm?” This b***h. I wanted to slap her, but I wouldn’t. I would play whatever this game was.

“One.” I snapped angrily and shot right back. “How many guys told you they would call you after you f****d them and never did?”

She looked a little hurt and I could see the others looking at us with shocked eyes but I didn’t care.

“Nine.” She spat and threw the next question.

“Where’s Claire Becca?” I stilled, staring at her and the silence in the room was deafening.

No one moved for a good minute before she continued. “I’m sure you know where she is. You’re best friends right?”

I wanted to shout but I just didn’t have it in me. She did it. She won.

“Gina,” Dylan said, giving her a look. It was clear she went too far. I looked at the others and they were silent. Molly was looking to the ground and when I looked at Rachael she just stood up and walked out of the room.

Gina sighed and downed the rest of the wine in her glass.

Why the hell did I even come here? I didn’t need this. Standing up from the couch I looked at Molly and tried to smile a bit but I was so mad at that moment...

“Thanks for the invitation Molly, but I think I’ll better get home.”

Molly frowned but I think she understood and nodded her head.

I glared at Gina one last time before going to the door. I grabbed my bag in the hallway and stepped out of the house.

Now I had to walk home this late at night. Stupid sleepovers.