A Heart Still

12 Unforgettable party

The music was blasting through the forest and someone even brought some disco lights, making the trees around shine in all colours.

“Are you having fun?” Todd asked, leaning closer to my ear. The guy had been too close for my liking.

“Yeah, could you get me a beer?”

He nodded and headed for the pickup truck, where the barrel was.

They did these parties as soon as it started to get warmer every year but I usually didn’t go. I went to one last year, but that was because Claire forced me and I didn’t like it very much and today wasn’t any different.

There were a few cars at the edge of the forest, keeping the place lit up a bit. However, it was still hazy between the trees.

I was glad we weren’t that deep into the woods and I wondered if the people living on the outskirts would complain about the noise. I hoped they didn't mind.

“Here you go, babe,” Todd said, handing me a plastic cup.

“Please, don’t call me babe,” I said and gulped half of my drink in one go.

“So, what should I call you? Honey, sweetheart, princess,…”

I stopped him before he went any further. “Becca is fine.”

He frowned a bit but smiled again right away. “Do you want to dance?” He asked and I wanted to say no, I wasn’t drunk enough for that yet but Molly saved me.

“Becca!” she squealed and rushed right to me.

“Hey, Molly.”

“I didn’t think you would come, but you did! And girl you look hot.” She rabbited on.

I couldn’t help but blush and fix my jacket, getting a little self-conscious.

“She does, doesn’t she?” Todd said, putting his hand on my shoulders.

Molly frowned at him a bit and took my hand to take me from him, which I was grateful for.

“I’m gonna borrow her for a minute, ok?” she didn’t wait for him to say anything and dragged me through some group of people to stand in a little calmer spot.

Did she see the face I made when he put his arm around me? Or why was she saving me?

“Why are you here with Todd? You don’t seem like you like the guy.” She furrowed her eyebrows at me.

“Yeah, I don’t think I do. He has been asking me out for some time now and I guess I wanted to get it over with.” I said, a little uncomfortable. Truth to be told, I wasn’t a hundred per cent sure why I was here.

“Alright, so…. Have you seen Ethan yet?” I frowned at her smiling face. She was looking around, trying to find him. I mean get a grasp on yourself girl. I get it he’s mysterious and tall and hot and tattooed and smart and kind of funny and ….and …..where was I?

Anyway, just as I was about to tell her I didn’t see him, the sound of a bike was heard and I rolled my eyes. He had perfect timing, as always.

“Oh, cool bike,” Molly said and immediately started walking in his direction. The music was getting quieter the further we went and I could see him taking off his helmet.

“Hey, Ethan.” I greeted, standing next to the bike with Molly by my side.

“Hey, Grayson.” He threw me a smirk and put the helmet down. “Why did you bring the bike? Aren’t you gonna drink or are you leaving it here for the night?” I asked curiously and Molly threw me a weird look.

Oh, right. Sorry girl, I’ll introduce you in a minute.

“Neither. I’ll just drink the right amount.” He joked and I could see Molly was going to lean on his bike but he turned his head, glaring at her. “No touching.”

She immediately took a step back and looked at me expectantly.

“So…Ethan, meet Molly. Molly, this is Ethan.” I awkwardly said. I wasn’t really great at introducing people.

Molly smiled at him but he just nodded and looked back at me. “So, you actually came.”

“Yeah, I realized, why the hell not?”

“Anyway, where do I find the booze?” He asked, making me point in the direction of the barrel.

He passed us, murmuring a low thanks.

“He isn’t very nice.” Molly sighed and zipped up her jacket.

“I guess he just has a bad day,” I said and turned to walk back to the centre of the party, Molly following right behind me.

“Hey, isn’t that your little brother?” she said, pointing to a group of younger kids. They were cheering and two of them were gulping down beer the fastest they could.

Oh, come on Jake. I didn’t want to babysit you, but you don’t leave me much choice do you?.

I walked to them and patiently waited for them to finish whatever they were doing. I was going to tell him off but not in front of his friends. I wasn’t that cruel.

When he gulped down the last of his beer and threw away the cup, the guys around him started to cheer even more. He was having fun. That was good but I didn’t want him to overdo it.

“Hey, Jake. Can I talk to you for a moment?” I asked making him look at me.

He nodded and I led him a little further from his friends with Molly still right behind me.

“Look Jake, I know you’re having fun but please be careful, ok? Don’t get too drunk. I promised mom I would keep an eye on you.”

He sighed, rolling his eyes. “I’ve got this. You know me, I’ll be responsible.” I smiled and tapped his shoulder. “Good,” I said and walked away with Molly.

I was ready to start dancing with the group of already drunk people in the middle of the forest now. I just wanted to have fun.

As we walked, I saw Gina heading our way. She moved to walk past us, saying a quick hi to Molly, but I could swear I saw her throw me a sly smile. What now?

I gulped down the last of my beer and decided it was time to dance. Dragging Molly to the music, we started swaying in the slow rhythm of the music with the group of other people. It was kind of fun.

I loved dancing, although I wasn’t really good at it. I didn’t care though.

We danced for a while, laughing and Molly started to fool around with some guy, getting all touchy and stuff.

I went to get another beer, feeling a little thirsty and dizzy from all the dancing. Time seemed to pass by quite fast when one was having fun.

Gulping some of the bitter liquid, I felt someone touching my lower back and quickly turned around.

“I’ve been looking for you. Where have you been?” Todd asked, invading my personal space again.

“Just dancing with Molly, talking. “

“Do you want to dance?” he asked, sliding his hand up and down on my back but it didn’t really feel good.

What was I doing? I didn’t like that guy. “Not really.”

“Do you want to go somewhere more private for a bit?” he asked me, leaning closer. “No, Todd. I think you got the wrong message. I just don’t like you in that way.” I finally said out loud, but this guy was persistent.

“Oh, come on. I’m sure you do.” He pushed but I prayed his hands off me.

“No Todd, I don’t. Have fun.” I said, walking away from him and he surprisingly let me be this time. I didn’t really get far before a couple of people ran towards the party from the woods.

The girl was shouting something in a hysterical voice and the guy behind her was as pale as death, his eyes distant.

I couldn't see them very well because of all the people around but suddenly the music stopped and I could hear the girl’s cries.

“She’s, she’s there….just…” she sobbed. It was hard to know what she was talking about, but she was pointing in the direction they came from so some people went to take a look.

I was going with the crowd. People started to turn on flashlights, looking around while murmuring something.

Suddenly someone stopped and shouted that he found something. All others started to gather around and I squeezed myself through the crowd.

What the hell was going on?

And then I saw her. We were still quite far away but I knew the jacket and I would recognize her light brown hair anywhere.

I dropped the cup I was holding to the ground and a piercing scream filled the forest.

I screamed at the top of my lungs, ready to run to her, but someone caught me before I could reach her.

I struggled against the strong arms, desperate to run to my best friend, who was lying on the forest ground, leaves half-covering her body but he wouldn’t let me.

“Rebecca, don’t. Don’t look at her.” Ethan said and turned me around to trap me in his embrace. My legs gave out and I collapsed on him, making him hug me tighter.

Only hysterical cries left me as he pushed my head to his chest with his hand, shielding me from the scene but it was forever imprinted to my memory.

Claire’s body was lying there on the cold ground, not moving. Her face was shielded with her hair and she was all covered in dirt but I recognized her immediately.

She was my best friend and now she was just lying there, in the cold. Her heart still, never to beat again.