Shades Of Blue

Chapter 9|Pools and Parties

I've only ever been to a few parties and they always end up the same; Mere drunk out of her mind, Eleanor tearing up over Beck and me, trying hard not to fall asleep.

The last party I attended was Mere's 17th birthday in January. It was a pool party and I 'fell' into the pool but, I know it was Beck whom had pushed me in. That day I had also been on my period.

Yeah. Not a very pleasant day.

To top it all off though, I only wear pads because well... I am scared of tampons.

Yeah, not very pleasant at all.

As I stare at myself in the mirror, I can see the highlights within my black hair and my blue eyes shine under the light on my ceiling.

"You look gorgeous, Ela" Eleanor says as she walks into my room with a duffle bag.

"I don't know..." I reply, sliding my hands down and over the curve of my hips, "I feel like a clown in this outfit"

She smiles softly as she stands beside me with her hands on my shoulders, "the prettiest clown to ever live" we share a laugh as she continues, "now, come on, what about moi?"

She poses and makes the 'duck lips' as I pretend to think. I squint taking in her appearance and fake distaste as she gasps.

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding, you're gorgeous as ever, Leanor. Beck would be crazy to think otherwise"

She smiles and my phone rings, "Yello? Oh, Mere hey, what's up?"

"Hey, Ela are you guys ready? I'm pulling up in a few" her voice is heard over the speaker phone, "also we gotta talk strat"

I roll my eyes as Eleanor nods in all seriousness.

"Alright, let's go"

-

"All I'm saying is that pools and parties are never a good idea, especially with dumb drunken teenagers, it's disgusting"

I feel the eye rolls of my wonderful best friends as we arrive just down the street of the location to Beck's party. Despite living next door to the Carter's, his parents had strict rules when it came to the pool and well... the entire house.

Strictly; No Parties.

"Okay so, tonight's objective is to make sure Eleanor gets a dance with Beck... or else" Mere says.

"Or else what?"

"I- I don't know" Mere shrugs as Eleanor and I share a look of confusion.

"Then why'd you say; 'or else', hm?" I ask.

She pauses as she contemplates, "well, I don't know, I just added it for effect, I guess" she replies, unsure while we hum in question.

"Anywhoooo, let's go shall we"

As we step out of the car and make our way down the street, Meredith complains that her feet hurt already.

We hadn't even walked 5 metres.

"Why did you wear heels then? I mean, you look drop dead gorgeous but, Mere you know how you are at parties, crazy" Eleanor rambles as we approach the doors.

Mere huffs, walking ahead of us to ring the doorbell.

No-one answers, as expected so, she rings it again. And again. And again.

Still nothing.

I sigh loudly as I push the doors open, she looks back at me and raises an eyebrow, "what? No-one was answering"

Mere first, followed by Eleanor and then me.

Wow.

Talk about party.

I cringe at how loud everything is, not just the music but, the lights and colours and people and just the entire atmosphere.

It was Beck's most energetic party yet.

I can't lie. I'm actually a little bit... impressed.

"My favourite girlssss" screeches from the lips of, one, Beckinsale Carter as he nears us.

He hugs Mere then Eleanor as she stumbles with cheeks as red as Rudolph's nose. They shout a happy birthday in sync as he smiles, "Thank you, thank you!"

Before he can hug me I ask, "are you drunk?"

He pauses for a second, pretending to think before smiles and immediately hugs me before I can avoid it, "Beck, gross, you smell like teenage hormones"

"What? No, happy birthday, Laine?" I can feel his smile on my shoulder before he pulls away.

I roll my eyes, playfully, "yeah yeah, happy birthday, Beckinsale Carter"

He gasps dramatically placing his hand on his heart, "my full name, Laine? I'm flushed"

I raise a brow and he smiles as we're finally interrupted by Mere coughing to bring his attention back to Eleanor and I'm grateful.

As he makes small talk with Eleanor about the gift she had gotten him, Mere shoots me a look and I tilt my head in question. Confusion.

"Meredith, you're here, dance with me, girl" shouts Krista Delane, Beck's best friend and behind her follows the rest of his friends and to no surprise, my brother.

Mere disappears with Krista onto the dancefloor and I see my brother trying to get Eleanor to dance with them, to which she gives in with a wide smile and once again, I'm left with the birthday boy.

Gosh. So annoying.

"So..."

"Do not even ask me"

"Okay"

For some reason, my heart is beating out of my chest but, I can't think of any reason why as I rack my brain. I'm not cold, I'm not shivering. It's quite humid in here with so many dancing bodies. I'm not nervous or anything. I don't know.

"Elaine..." Beck's voice comes through in a soft tone and I almost didn't hear him.

"Yeah?" I ask as I turn to see him already looking at me.

"I've been thinking a lot about just... stuff but, there's one thing that's been on my mind since well, forever and after next year I probably won't even be able to get the chance to bring it up but, I-"

"Is this about Eleanor?" I ask.

His face twists in confusion and he asks, "why would it be about Eleanor?"

I frown deeper in confusion and face my entire body towards him, waiting for an elaboration.

Just as he's about to speak up, Mere and Leanor crash our conversation, "heyyyyy, El come danceeee" screams Meredith as she takes hold of my hands pulling me toward the crowd.

As she pulls me, leaving Eleanor behind with Beck, I can't help but, keep my eyes locked onto his still wondering what he was talking about.

.｡*♡✧*。