Chapter 8

‘So then Reynolds’ face was running like hell to the toilets. And I swear if he wasn’t about to blow in his pants he would’ve strangled me,’ said Tom and took a swig of beer. A whole group of people were surrounding him listening to his story. He struggled to be heard above the loud music that was playing behind him. Tom continued ‘I told him that I had locked all the toilet cubicles in the school but one and he had to find it,’ he grinned. ‘But of course, I was lying. They were all locked.’ Everyone laughed and clapped.
‘Who’s that,’ said a guy and pointed behind Tom. Tom turned around and his smile dropped.
‘Excuse me,’ said Tom and left the group. He pushed through many people and in-between couples to make his way to the girl that had just came through the door and was accompanied by Shah who was tied around the waist of some dodgy looking guy with a goatee. Tom grabbed her wrist and pulled her aside.
‘Emma, what are you wearing? Wait, no, let me rephrase. Why are you wearing that?’
‘Shah,’ she sighed and knew that that was all she needed to say. Tom looked around nervously, feeling the need to protect Emma from other gazing eyes. He unzipped his jacket and draped it over Emma’s shoulders. ‘You shouldn’t be wearing this sort of stuff when you come alone to a party, Emma,’
‘Tom, quit it you’re embarrassing me,’ she complained and took the jacket off.
‘Fine then just hold onto it at least and don’t leave my side.’
Emma rolled her eyes.
‘Let’s just get this over and done with so I can go home already. Where is she?’
He smiled and pointed past the crowd to the direction of the outdoor pool.
‘Swimming in the pool in her bikini. She’s getting out now! Come on guys or we’ll miss the show.’

Shah, Carlos Emma and Tom headed to the pool and there was the new girl from California, she didn’t bother to dry herself off with a towel as she got out of the pool. Tom nudged Emma towards her. Emma almost fell over from the impact.
‘Okay, I’ll wait over there on the other side of the pool pretending to do my own business,’ said Tom
‘You go girl!’ yelled Shah supportively.
‘Hi, I’m Emma. So, Lacey right? You know the boy over there who keeps asking you to the prom…’
‘…’
‘Tom…Wilkinson?’ said Emma
‘Right. Did you want something or what?’ she said, seeming uninterested while looking at her nails. She wore her heels and headed over towards the punch. Emma followed, taking some punch for herself as well.
‘Well, I just think you should give him a chance. I mean I’ve known him since I can remember and he’s really a great guy. He plays for the soccer team and plays the guitar and um, is really really good.’
Lacey looked over to Emma with her fierce eyes, she was intrigued by Emma’s interest in helping this boy.
‘If he’s so great, then why aren’t you into him?’
‘Er…because-because,’
‘Unless,’ she took a step closer to Emma, towering over her in her seven inch heels ‘Unless you are.’
Emma didn’t know what to say. This was totally not going to plan and so she turned around and retreated back to Shah and her date.
Emma explained to them what happened.
‘She’s one of those girls,’ said Carlos, whose arms were wrapped around Shah.
‘Expand.’
‘She likes men who are wanted by other ladies.’
‘She’s a home wrecker. Is that what you mean baby?’ said Shah. Carlos nodded. Happy that they were on the same wavelength they started kissing. Emma shifted her weight, finding this incredibly awkward.
‘Wait Emily,’ said Carlos breaking from the kiss.
‘It’s Emma.’
‘If you really want to help your friend, you’d make her believe that he was wanted…you get me?’ he said. ‘Me and Shah will be upstairs. It might be a while.’ And they were gone.