Shop-fest, make-over, party time! PART II

I dillydallied home, and I went onto the computer to check if anyone was online.

When it was time to go, I got dressed into the clothes that Elle had bought for me and then I zipped downstairs.

I gasped as I almost knocked Natalie down.

Quickly, I hugged Natalie and I said apologetically, "Oh, I'm so sorry Nat; I was in such a rush..."

Natalie hugged me for longer, and though I really didn't want to but I had to, I gently prised her off me, and I said, "Nat, I have to go, I'll see you later okay? Tell Ari and mum that I'm gone."

Natalie shook her head and she said, "When are you comin' back Kellie??"

"I promise that tomorrow you'll see me!" I replied.

"But I wanna see you today!" She said.

"Nat, you'll be asleep by the time I come home-tell you what, if you don't worry about me then I'll play a game with you tomorrow." I told her.

Natalie's eyes grew big and she screamed, "YIPEE!"

Then she ran off-I rushed to the door-but just as I reached the door mum stopped me.

"Hold it, young lady." She said sternly

"Yes?" I asked.

"I want you to promise you'll be home before twelve." She said.

I hesitated, but then I replied,

"I promise I'll be home before eleven thirty, mum." She nodded and she let me go.

I went and fetched a cab, and then when I reached the seaside, I tore down next to the lighthouse, and I breathed a huge sigh of relief when I saw that there weren't many people there yet. I looked around, and I saw a few people from school. Then I spotted Greg.

Greg was standing near a bench talking with some blond girl; and I automatically assumed it was Katie, but then the girl flipped her hair back and I saw it was someone else. I wrinkled my nose in disgust.

The girl had pink streaks in her hair so it looked like she was an Avril Lavigne wannabe. She was wearing a black shirt with a white skull on it, and a pink miniskirt, topped off with black converse. I sat down on one of the other benches set up beside me.

I was so caught up in assessing the two of them that I almost fell off the bench when a deep voice and said, "Hey...you made it!"

I knew I was going to fall onto the sand which would have made a record of two humiliating "butt falls" in a day, but then two strong hands gripped me; one by my arm and one by my waist.

"Whoa, steady there!" He said.

I looked up into deep concerned hazel eyes, and I sucked in a breath.

It was Sam.

"It's just me!" Sam laughed, as he put me back onto the bench and he sat down next to me.

"You...you surprised me!" I exclaimed, still shaken.

He smiled and grinned as he replied, "I figured."

I looked away; still trying to figure out how his reflexes had been so quick...had he been watching me before I sat down? I heard a whooshing sound, and it sounded like relieved breathing. I glanced at Sam in confusion.

Sam smirked at me, and with indignation I realized that it was me who had let out the breath, I had been holding my breath ever since I'd almost toppled over...or was it since Sam had suddenly appeared??

"I'm really sorry about that!" I replied, trying to sound nonchalant.

Sam chuckled and he replied coolly, "No problem..."

"Hey can I ask you something?" He cut in before I could say anything else.

I nodded permission, and he asked, "Do you have a crush on Greg? You were staring at the two of them so intensely before I came up to you!"

I laughed uneasily...so now I had my answer; he had definitely been watching me!
I replied hesitantly, "Um...actually I was just wondering who that girl is..."

He explained, "That's Brooke, Greg's cousin."

"Oh..." I replied.

Sam looked at the thoughtful look on my face and he threw the question at me," You thought he was cheating on Katie?"

I replied too quickly, "NO! Um...yeah..."

He laughed soundly at me then he took a deep breath and he said awkwardly, "Hey...you want to help with getting the party ready...that's the reason you came early right?"

I nodded and then I said, "I should tell Greg I'm here first."

He smiled and he said, "Sure, go ahead...I need to help with the setting up and stuff anyway."

I returned the smile, saying," See you later!"

He nodded and both of us got up.

I ran across the beach to where Greg and Brooke were as he walked over to where some of the heavy equipment was and when I got near to Greg and Brooke I called out, "Hey Greg!"

Greg turned around, and he said, "Kellie! So glad you could make it!"

I nodded, and I said, "You probably want me to get cracking so...where is the artsy poster slash banner making place?"

Greg pointed in the direction of where there were several people sitting at tables, making posters, and he said, "Just head over there and try to help out."

"Who are you??" Brooke interrupted rudely.

I shifted to get a better view of Brooke and I said, "Oh, I'm sorry; I don't think we've met! I'm Kellie...and you must be Brooke, Greg's cousin?"

Brooke scowled as she said," How do you know that?"

"Uh-Sam told me." I explained.

Brooke's face softened suddenly and she waved one of her French manicured hands at Sam; who was somehow managing to keep an eye on Brooke, Greg and I whilst hauling a big speaker thing across the beach. He waved back at Brooke before he looked at me and grinned.

The scowl returned on Brooke's face and she said to me pointedly, "You better stay away from Sam. He has a girlfriend you know?"

Greg-who had been standing there listening to our conversation decided to butt in there, saying, "So...Kellie-wanna get started?"

I smiled at Greg and I said, "Sure!"

Then I walked towards one of the tables as Greg began to tell Brooke off for being rude, smiled to myself before I approached the table where I saw one or two girls that were in my class and I said, "Hey you guys, can I help?"

***

The posters had been hung up and many people had flocked into the party. There was eating, dancing, talking, flirting, and making out going on everywhere I looked. I had been having fun-dancing and talking to random people, enjoying the party so much that I lost track of time.

When I finally looked at my watch I saw that it was eleven forty five, so I thought I should get home soon, but I felt really hot from being next to so many people so I walked to where Sam was, talking with Mariah, and I asked quickly, "Sam, is there a toilet somewhere here??"

He looked at me and then he exclaimed, "Kellie, are you okay?"

I nodded and I said, "Yeah, I just want to go wash my face-I need to leave soon."

He replied, "Sure, you can go to my house."

He gave me the directions to the house. Then I thanked him and I ran for his house.
When I got there, I went into the nearest toilet I could see, where I splashed my face with water thrice, before I washed my hands and then I looked in the mirror.

I looked fine. I grinned at myself, and then I unlocked the cubicle...and I fell into someone's waiting arms. I screamed, and immediately he cupped his hand over my mouth. In the pale moonlight I saw that it was some guy with bright blond hair whose teeth was gleaming in the darkness.

He stepped closer, and he said, "Hey missy, how about a little kiss?"

I shook my head and I said fervently, "No thank you. Would you care to step away from me?"

He grinned and he stepped closer, now his face was a breath away from mine.

"I like girls who play hard to get." He slurred

I shook my head more violently and I insisted, "I'm serious!"

I exclaimed.

"Acting innocent is we now?" He inquired with a devilish smile.

Then before I could stop him, his arms flicked up mine, and he pulled me to him. That was when I screamed. Blond haired dude disappeared suddenly, and I slid to the ground, shivering helplessly.

Then after what seemed like an eternity, Sam and some guy with silver hair appeared.

"Kellie; are you okay??" Sam asked.

I tried to smile but it came out wobbly. I was so thankful that they had arrived at the right time otherwise who knows what could have happened!

Tears of gratitude poured down my face and I whispered, "Thanks you guys..."

Sam knelt down close to me and folded me in his arms. I tried to pull away but I heard Sam's voice in the distance, "It's okay..."

I discovered that I felt warm and safe in his arms so I just buried my head in his chest and I closed my eyes as he said to the silver-haired guy, "Jason..."

"I've known Gold for a long time, but I'm not with him every second of his life, so how am I supposed to know what kind of guy he is now??" Jason replied.

"I guess you're right-but tell him to back off okay?" Sam said.

Jason nodded, and then I lifted my damp face off Sam's shirt, and sensing me move, he looked down.

"You okay now??" He asked.

Jason said, "I'm sorry about Gold...he took one step too far today!"

I nodded, and then I said, "It's...okay."

Sam said softly, "Jason, you should probably get back to the party...go have some fun."

Jason looked as if he were about to protest but then seeing the look on Sam's face he turned and left without another word.

That was when I looked out into the starry night sky and I realized that I was very, very late.

"Sam, I've gone past my curfew-I really need to go home!" I said, shooting up from my sitting position.

Sam nodded and he said seriously, "I'll drive you home. "

I replied, "But isn't Mariah waiting for you?"

Sam looked at me with the same look that he had given Jason so I just shut up and followed him out.

***

The house was deathly quiet when I got in. I sneaked a quick glance at the clock hanging on the wall and I whispered, "Holy smokes, it's definitely past midnight!"

I knew that mum would be waiting for me.

I walked upstairs until I reached mum's room, and I knocked on the door.

"Come in Natalie..." A stressed familiar voice said softly.

I pushed open the door, and mum was sitting at her desk, writing down something, and talking quietly on her cell phone.

She said, "Honey, wait a minute, I have to find your sister. She promised she'd come home by now she should have but she's still not here...."

She talked in her quiet stressed tone to someone on the phone. I recognized the voice on the other end as her best-friend because she was talking loudly.

Mum slumped on the desk, and I knew that the other person was comforting her. Then I saw tears sliding down her cheeks. Slowly, I crept towards her, and then when I was close enough, I said, "Mum."

In surprise she turned around, accidentally pressing the end call button. First she looked happy, and she said, "Kellie! Oh sweetheart, thank goodness you're home!"

But then her eyes narrowed and her whole body trembled as she said softly with venom, "I can't believe you did this to me! To me, to Aria, and most of all Natalie! How could you be late when you promised me you wouldn't?? You could have been mugged, raped, anything, you could have been with some pervert guy!"

So instead I said, "I was having a lot of fun...I just didn't realize what the time was...I didn't have a watch!"

It was half of the truth but somehow I couldn't tell her about what happened with the guy at Sam's house. I just couldn't. There are certain things that you can tell your mum and certain things that you just can't.

"Kellie Tanner. That is not a good enough excuse!" She said it as if she was trying not to shout.

I turned red and I said, "I'm old enough to take care of myself okay mum? I'm not a puppet whose strings can be pulled by people."

"I know that you're old enough! But you should have called! You can't just forget your responsibilities." She replied tautly.

I shot back, "I said I was sorry, and I'll never do it again!"

"It's not a good enough excuse. I am grounding you until you earn my respect." She replied uncaringly.

Having nothing else to say to me she said, "Get out."

"Gladly!" I replied haughtily, and I scooted off to my bedroom, tears threatening to spill down my eyes.

I opened the door to my bedroom, and then I collapsed on my bed, falling asleep really quick- too exhausted, angry, sad and confused to think.