Fast Times at Clairemont High

Just as I started applying my eyeliner, the opening chords of American Idiot started blaring through my bedsheets. I rummaged through the sheets trying to find my phone. Finally feeling the metal on my fingertips, I yanked it out and swiped the screen to answer.

“Yo,” I didn’t even check the number, but I had a good feeling who it was.

“Hey, um, Ellie?” a tentative voice spoke on the other end. “I changed my mind after all.”

“Nice,” I grinned. “What’s your address, so I can pick you up?”

She quickly recited her address and I told her I’d be there in 10 minutes. I didn’t bother finishing with my eyeliner, we’d have to come back anyway. The party didn’t start for another hour.

By habit, I grabbed my skateboard and starting trotting down the stairs until I realized I was picking someone up. We had flown in from San Diego just yesterday; it was going to be hard transitioning from California life to New Jersey life.

I hopped into the black CGI Lexus SUV that my parents got me as a “present” for complying to moving. Honestly it was more of a bribe because who would willingly leave Southern California for New Jersey?

Programming Cara’s address into my iPhone, I quickly found my way to her house. She was already standing outside, her faced illuminated by the light of her phone. I guess she could hear blink182 from inside the car because she immediately looked up and flung open the door. I turned down the music.

“Hi,” I grinned to which she gave a small smile. “So we’re going to have to swing by my house first so I can finish getting ready. The party doesn’t start for another hour anyway so…”

I trailed off expecting her to fill in the silence that had now settled between me, Cara, and Mark Hoppus.

“So what’s it like moving around from place to place?” I ask while just barely getting past a yellow light.

“Shit,” Cara answered. “Can’t really make friends, settle down, or enjoy the town because as soon as we think we’re doing fine my dad is up and running again.”

“Your dad?” I hesitated.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” she responded curtly. I nodded.

We finally pulled up to my house. I groaned upon looking through the windows. My parents had said they were having a cocktail party with their rich ass friends. I was still in plaid and cut-off shorts.

“Umm okay…” I switched off the ignition. “My parents are having this cocktail party, so we kind of need to, ah, not be seen.”

I looked over at Cara who was ogling at the size of my house. Snapping my fingers in front of her face brought her attention back.

“We’re going around the back. Just follow me,” I got out of the car and started making my way to the back gate. Many detours and two floors later, we were up in my room.

I headed straight for my bathroom to resume the eyelining.

“Make yourself at home,” I called out to Cara.

As soon as I finished with my makeup, I shuffled into my closet.

“Whoa,” I heard Cara whisper behind me. My closet was a large walk-in with more shelves and clothes than I needed. So yeah I guess it was a ‘whoa’.

I glanced at Cara’s t-shirt and jeans.

“Hey, if you wanna borrow something, feel free,” I started looking through my tank tops.

“Oh no, I’m fine,” she leaned against the door-frame, still taking in the closet.

“No, dude, really,” I raised my eyebrows at her. “Here, I’ll pick something out for you. We’re about the same size.”

After a few minutes I came back with some clothes that I thought would suit her.

“Are you sure?” she asked before taking the clothes.

“Positive,” I smiled and let her change in my closet. I got into my own outfit in my room.

Cara finished and stepped out of the closet.

“You look great!” I smiled and started searching for my car keys. It seems like I lose everything.

“Thanks,” she mumbled. “Are you looking for these?”

She held up my car keys.

“Yes!” I took them and proceeded to start looking for my phone.

“Your phone is in your back pocket,” she giggled as she pointed to my butt.

“Thanks,” I laughed and checked the time. 8:53. “Okay, the party started 20 minutes ago, so we’re all good. Let’s roll.”

I grabbed my skateboard. Again.

“Damn,” I muttered under my breath.

“Still living in the Cali mindset?” Cara piped up as she walked ahead to the staircase.

“Yeah,” I sighed. “Every kid has a skateboard or longboard in SoCal, so I always just assume.”

We managed to slip past my parents and their fat-headed socialites.

A 20 minute car ride was all it took to give Cara and I the title of Friends. I understood why she was so reluctant to make friends what with the moving and all. But you have to live in the moment, as I like to say. You can’t live life happily dragging your past with you or getting stuck in the clouds of the future.

“I can’t imagine how many hot surfer guys there are in SoCal,” Cara pouted at me in the rearview mirror.

“A shit ton, I can tell you that,” I laughed. “90% of my friends were surfer guys. They seem totally attractive and amazing, but the truth is that most of them are douches. They know they’re hot and they know they can pick up girls like picking flowers. But if you stay on a friend level with them, they’re super rad.”

“Super rad,” Cara poked me.

“A side effect of hanging out with surfers,” I grinned. “Their slang makes its way into your speech.”

As we made our way onto the street the party was supposed to be at, there was no doubt which house it was. You could already hear the loud music and see the neon lights bursting out of the windows of the three story house. Probably some rich kid’s.

I parked two houses away and got out. Cara kept pulling at the sleeves of her cardigan.

We entered the house and I texted Jaime.

To: Jaime Preach It Out Oh
‘yo we are here’

‘great i’ll find u’

Sure enough, a head of spiky hair started making its way toward our area.

“Jaime!” I tried shouting, but it was just too loud. I started strategically shoving my way through people with Cara close behind me. She was practically clutching the belt loops of my shorts.

Suddenly a sticky wave of cold swept over me. I froze and looked down as I watched presumably beer drip down my body. I looked up at the culprit of the spillage. He towered over me and, though it was hard to tell with the dim lights, was fairly attractive. At least until he opened his mouth.

“What the fuck?” Jesus Christ he’s British too. “Watch where you’re fucking going! Now I have to go back and get more!”

“What the hell?” I fumed. “You’re the one who should be watching where your pissed ass is going.”

“Piss off, wanker,” he glared.

“Get the fuck out of my face right now,” I raised my hand in front of me. “Just take your tiny British dick to the beer.”

I grabbed Cara’s arm and dragged her on the path to where Jaime was standing. He looked like he was having a seizure.

“You okay, man?” I looked him up and down.

He took a breath. “You just told off Joseph Bishop.”

Notes

Hello, lovelies who are actually reading this! Hope you like the story so far and make sure to leave a comment with your thoughts! Thank you for reading!
~christi ellie