Playing With Fire

Andrea- age 16

Andrea- age 16

I was driving to school on a Friday during the spring. We were close to the end of the school year, about 2 months out. We just won the state championship for field hockey for JV and the baseball team won their sectionals, so one of the popular girls, Tanya, was planning this huge party for all of us.

I honestly couldn’t stand Tanya. Not because she is popular, f**k, I am too. Not because she has been trying to beat me at everything and it has always been a battle between us, but it’s because she is best friends with Cindy.

Cindy has been a thorn in my side for as long as I can remember. She is up there with Tanya. Last year, she made captain of the volleyball team and rubbed it in my face. She was the type of girl who thought she was above everyone else. Once she became the cheerleading captain, she acted like she owned the school.

And that was one thing that Jay and I hated. Cheerleaders. They thought they ran the school and could do whatever they wanted. Just because they can spit out some stupid rhymes and do a couple of flips. Okay, so maybe I cannot to the gymnastic part of it, but hell I am a damn good athlete, making MVP in every sport that I play. To be honest, it could have been the fact that Cindy has been dating Liam since we were 14 years old. I heard rumors a few months ago that they broke up, but I didn’t believe it.

The images engrained in my mind as I saw them having s*x in his bedroom, making out in the back yard, even her sucking him off when his parents were downstairs making dinner. It sucked having our bedrooms face each other. Needless to say, my blinds were shut the majority of the time over the past 2 years.

We obviously have crossed paths. We had a couple of classes together, so there’s that. There have been times where I went to his football and baseball games, not because he was there, but because with football it was a school thing and Jayme was dating a guy on the baseball team and dragged me to all the games. He was at my volleyball and field hockey games. Not for me, but because little miss fuckin sunshine was also on the team.

I say those were rumors because I would still see Cindy and Liam together. They were nowhere near as handsy with each other as they were in the past. She always had this look in her eyes, begging him for something and he just looked angry, but they would probably make up.

Fuck. If I told you he didn’t grow up to be someone very cute, I would be lying. He was starting to fill out in his muscles and he was handsome as ever. The times we would have family dinners, which were every Sunday, I would try to sneak glances at him without him noticing and I think I’ve done a pretty good job. Although, it did hurt my heart a bit when he started to bring her to the dinners. Once he started that, I stopped going, making excuses about school, sports, or anything for that matter. My mom saw right through me so she didn’t push it. My dad didn’t understand. He still saw me and him getting married in the future. Uncle Evan thought so too.

Anyways, I was sitting in study hall doing my math homework one day when Ryan asked me about the party.

“Hey Andy. You goin’ to the party?”

“I don’t know. I don’t think so. Maybe.” I shrugged, trying to finish my math homework that was due next period.

“Well, I think you should. We can have a good time, dance a little, drink a little, kiss a little if you’re up for it.” He winked at me, making the redness appear on my cheeks.

“Um…I don’t know.”

“Oh, come on Andy. Make me a happy guy and meet me there. I promise you will have a good time.” I could sense the cockiness in his eyes as they waited for my answer. At this point, I was just getting uncomfortable and wanted him to leave me alone, but I know if I don’t say yes, he will just keep bothering me.

I don’t know why I am saying I don’t know anyways. I already planned on going. I know for sure Jay would make me anyways. She lives for these things. All I could do was nod to give him his answer.

“Sweet, save me a dance.” He winked at me and left the room. I went back to my math homework when a few moments later, a large hand was slapped on the sheet, blocking my view.

“Belmont.” I said with distaste. “What do you want?” We haven’t had an actual conversation in years so the fact that he was bothering me now was just aggravating.

“Don’t go to the party.” He snapped. I looked up at him, raising an eyebrow, daring him to continue “Just…don’t give me that look Andy, just don’t go to the party.”

“One, why should I listen to you and two, you do not have the right to call me Andy, Belmont. Its Andrea or Kingsmen. Andy is for those that care about me.”

“Damn it, Andy, just listen to me for once in your goddamn life. Don’t go to the party.” The bell range and I packed up my things, aggravated that I didn’t get a chance to finish my math homework.

“Leave me the f**k alone Liam. Go back to your little slut of a girlfriend. I’m going to that party and I am going to have a good time. f**k off.”

When it came to the party, to say that I wasn’t trying to drink away my problems would be an understatement. When I say problems, I mean drinking away Liam and his hero complex that suddenly came over him. I honestly don’t know how much I was drinking all I know I was having fun; I think. I went into the kitchen to get a beer from the keg when I spotted Cindy and Liam in the corner. He looked upset and she had her hands on his chest. The scene pissed me off. How can he try to tell me what to do, acting like he gives a s**t and goes to Cindy? What the hell am I thinking, Liam never cared about me.

I drowned myself in alcohol. Well, not really that much, I’m a light drinker, but enough to let loose and have a good time. I was dancing with Ryan and he was getting a bit too handsy for my liking when all of a sudden he was pulled away from me by Liam. We ended up having a huge fight that night. A blow up. Almost the start of World War Three.

When I mean almost, I mean that is the night we started dating.

Weird right?

Come to find out, he and Cindy did break up a few months ago and he always liked me but we were too stubborn to say anything. Well, let’s have this be the start of the new us.

When I told mom what happened that night, after giving myself some time to wrap my head around everything, she was beyond ecstatic that we were together. Apparently, all of our parents always imagined that we would get together.

Well, damn.

And that was the same night my mother gave me the talk. That was beyond awkward.