All I Need Is Love.

5

CATHY BLAKE

CATHY

The first day of lecture went like a blur and was basically uneventful, well except for the brief encounter I had with Jackson, the weird guy, nothing else happened.

As soon as the last lecture for the day ended, I grabbed my bag and walked out of the class. I would have waited for sometime and then tried to make some friends but not today.

I just felt so weak and since there was something about the school that I still couldn't figure out, my plan was to take a little stroll around it and try to figure out what was off about it.

I was just about to pass through the door when Jackson suddenly appeared in front of me with a smirk on his face.

"Where are you going, Newbie?" He called, his friends whistling behind him.

I turned to look at the guys behind me and turned to face Him back. For some reason, the way he stood in front of me with a smile on his face made me feel uneasy.

It was almost like he was excited about something and whatever excites him would definitely make me unhappy.

Weirdly enough, with the smirk on his face and his friends behind him, I got reminded of Williams back in Texas and I felt the same chills I feel whenever William was in front of me.

"Where else am I supposed to go?" I asked, immediately biting my tongue at the blunt way I spoke back to him.

It would really be a long time before I would be able to make any friends, especially with a sharp mouth like mine.

He laughed and turned to his friends who also laughed.

"I told you, right? that she's cute," He said to them in korean and I frowned.

Cute? Was there something I was missing?

The fact that he doesn't seem to show the slightest bit of annoyance at my bluntness threw me off guard.

Back in texas I would have gotten a punch or so to my stomach by saying what I just did.

"I like you, Cathy, you seem fun," He said smiling at me.

I couldn't help but feel a bit relieved as I gave him a small smile.

Maybe Mom was right, maybe this was the best school for me, with the way they don't seem to take offense at my bluntness.

"Thank you."

He laughed again and shared a look between his friends.

"What's that?" I asked.

"What? Oh...! Well, we were thinking whether we should invite you to the freshers introduction party tonight. You'll come right?"

I immediately wanted to say no, especially as I told myself that I won't be involved in anything social but this was the first time that someone was inviting me to a party.

It could be the beginning of my social life in school, the beginning of a friendship, or something more.

While I tried to act nonchalantly, like not having friends or being invited to parties doesn't affect me, it does.

Back in Texas, I would watch as people hang around with each other, plan parties or outings, have lunch together while I sit alone, as a loner.

Of course it bothered me a lot and because I grew used to it, I decided not to get involved in any social media.

The offer was tempting and I thought about it for a while before I finally spoke.

"Freshers introduction party?"

"Yes, we can also welcome you to our department officially."

I looked at him and his friends, thinking deeply. The class seemed to have gotten silent all of a sudden as they waited for my response.

It was too much pressure on me, i knew that if I rejected their offer, I would not only lose the chance of taking off the loser tag in my name but also gain a lot of enemies.

"Fine, I'll go. Where is it?" I asked him, smiling in an attempt to hide my nervousness.

They suddenly clapped and the entire class applauded my decision. It felt strange, the way they all seemed so happy that I agreed to go to the party.

"It's at the school's gym room. The time is by four in the evening so you can go home and then freshen up," He said after sometime.

"You can also do something to your dress," one of his friends added, winking at me.

I scoffed and then glanced down at my platform shoe and baggy jeans before sniffing.

He was right. I need to do something about my dress, even though I love wearing baggy clothes, I can't wear baggy clothes to a party of almost all the students in my department.

"Whatever," I muttered and glanced up at Jackson.

"Can I go now?"

He nodded his head at me, that small grin and hint of amusement still in his eyes.

I lifted my chin and walked out of the lecture room acting so carefree. It wasn't until I was sure that none of them could see me that I started panicking.

What would I hear? No, not that! Why did I agree to go to a party? What do I tell Mom?

A party like this would definitely be till late night, how do I break my curfew? not that I even have one.

I've never stayed out of the house once it was past five in the evening unless it was something related to my school project.

Realizing what was going on, I scoffed. Damn, I was really a nerd back in Texas.

Not anymore. I would not be a loser. If partying and spending time with those dorks would make me less of a loser and not a target for bullying, then I would party as long as I could.

Who knows I might end up enjoying it and becoming popular.

The idea excited me even though I hated being popular. It was just a small fantasy of mine, to have people look at me while I walk and then gasp in surprise.

I laughed loudly and stopped when I realized someone next to me in the bus was staring at me as if I was crazy.

When I got to my stop, I walked out of the bus, all feeling of excitement washed away from me as I got closer to the house.

Since we just moved here and there was still some things to do in the house, mom would surely be at home, that was no problem.

What bothered me was if my stepdad was around. I wouldn't be able to ask for permission from him to leave the house.

I've never gone anywhere else other than school and then back to the house, it would be strange to mention party all of a sudden and on my first day at that!

Nervously, I dialed in the door lock password and walked in with a heavy feeling in my chest.

The house was quiet as usual and there was no sign of anyone of them in the sitting room.

I was just about to go to their room when my eyes caught sight of a note on the fridge and walked to it

"Cathy,

Sorry, I have a lot of things to do. Your Dad and I went to work today and will be back by nine pm, find something to eat, okay?

Love, mom."

I saw the money she kept on the kitchen counter and immediately felt happy. No one would be back till it's nine pm meaning I was free to attend the party and do whatever I want!

Rushing upstairs with excitement, I pushed my closet door open and searched for clothes to wear.

Nothing! There was nothing girly or worthy of a party in it at all!

Disappointed, I was about to give up when I saw a blue floral top and picked it up. It was a gift from my grandparent.

I finally decided to wear it with a black jeans that wasn't too tight and decided to bathe.

By the time I was done, it was almost four pm and I hurriedly dressed up and after some seconds of thinking, lightly patted my face with powder.

I just felt so excited because it was my first party, besides it's a party for freshers, what could possibly go wrong?