01

Marylise

I look at my reflection in the mirror and doubt whether these clothes are the right ones. My body is wrapped in an outfit that doesn't make me feel completely comfortable, it's not something I would usually wear, it's something Dali would wear; of course, if she chose it and literally forced me to wear this.

I see myself and, I don't look like me. It's like she's someone else. . . it's strange; I look strange in this.

"Marylise, we're leaving" I hear Delilah screaming from the ground floor.

I let go of a wheezing and arrange my hair one last time before leaving my friend's room and going down to the living room, where she is waiting.

"How long were you up there?" She asks, pretending to be irritated.

"Nothing, I. . ." I breathe a heavy sigh and observe my body. "Are you sure this suits me?"

"Seriously, it looks great on you" She said, giving me a smile. "You look different" That's exactly what I think. "But no one will be able to realize that if you don't hurry. . . come on. . . " she wiggles her hand to the door to follow her as she walks. I let go of a whistle and follow her.

We left her house and got into her mom's car, where she was waiting for us to leave.

Delilah told me that the party started at seven, but that the best time to arrive would be at half past nine or ten. She said it's the time when it all really starts. I don't know how my aunt let us go at that time, said she wanted us in our respective beds at twelve o'clock, or else she'd come for us. Delilah had told her that a friend's father, Lilianne, would pick us up before twelve, but as far as I know, Lili's father is away, I think on some business, but I'm not sure. I hope your daddy comes after us and we don't have to walk.

We got to the party after several minutes and a few thousand red lights. We had bad luck with that today.

In the house where the party was, dancing music could already be heard, there were some boys and girls outside in the front yard, and all the others were inside and also in the back yard. It looked a little quiet, as far as I can tell.

We said goodbye to Dali's mom and started walking towards the entrance of the house. I was just a few steps away from entering when suddenly, Delilah stops me by the forearm.

"What's the matter?" I ask, highly confused by your action.

"Come, accompany me" She says pushing me along with her back to the sidewalk. "Chad and the boys are coming" Warn it, with a funny smile painted on her lips.

What?

Does she want us to wait for them to come in together, or what?

I didn't want to discuss anything else and I just waited by her side for a little while until a black car parked in front of us. The windows of this one opened and I could see Chad, Brent, Lilianne and also Lindsay and her boyfriend Alex. I'm surprised those two are still together. I didn't think anyone would last that long with Lindsay.

Alex is the driver, his girlfriend accompanies him in the co-pilot seat, and the others are in the backseat. Alex just turned eighteen almost two months ago and her parents gave him this car; Lindsay hasn't gotten off it since, literally.

Many things are said in school, the vast majority are just inventions or rumors created by the students themselves; and the other percentage are unfinished or manipulated truths. I've heard a lot about the two of them, people like to talk and create gossip, even them. I've learned, from their own mouths, that many of the rumors that circulate around the school about their relationship are created by themselves only to create controversy and grow their popularity; which is absurd, in my opinion.

Telling everyone that they've even slept in their parents' bed is overstepping the line. I don't think they did, although they say they did so as not to deny themselves to others. Although it's well known that Lindsay is not a born saint, much less the Virgin Mary of this century, I don't think she's slept with Alex yet. They only have, like, four or five months of boyfriends, and besides, she's barely going to be sixteen. And yes, I know they say it's the age when you start exploring and getting to know new emotions and. . . sensations. Still, I don't think I have, I shouldn't have done it yet. . .

"Come on, babe" Chad says to Delilah, winking at her and opening the door. She smiles at him and enter to the car, but I stay where I am, utterly bewildered.

Why is she getting in the car? Where is she going? Aren't we supposed to go to the party?

"Aren't you going in?" Asks Lindsay, but I don't answer. "Make space back there, guys" Turn her face to the backseat when she give the order.

"Come, Mary, this way," says Brent, stepping out of the other side of the car and waving his hand to get me closer. I breathe a sigh and go there. "You look beautiful" Release, in a murmur, while a sincere smile is drawn on his mouth.

A familiar and uncomfortable fire floods my cheeks at the moment he said the compliment, so I force myself to turn my gaze to my shoes so as not to look him in the eye.

"Do you think we can both fit there?" He asks, pointing to the small space left in the back seat. I look at it and notice that there's barely enough room for another person.

"If they don't fit then you get on his legs, as do Delilah and Chad" Suddenly suggests Lili, and I feel like throwing something at her head for saying that.

I can't sit on his legs, that would be. . . No, I can't.

I open my mouth to say something, but nothing at all comes out of it. I turn my gaze to Brent and he looks back as he squeezes his lips.

"If you want I can go on the roof" He offers, obviously joking, making me laugh and deny with my head.

"If you don't get in the car now, you'll both go there" Lindsay speaks now, in a tired and annoying tone.

"Of course not" She quickly denies her boyfriend. "Don't you see that it's new?. . . They will bark" I roll my eyes. "They'll go in the trunk"

"Brent's legs or the trunk, Marylise. . . , choose" Lili says, with a funny and malicious tone of voice, raising both eyebrows several times.

Why do I have the slight impression that they are doing this on purpose?. . . Of course they do it on purpose, all they want to do is screw up. Easily Lilianne, or even I, could sit in the co-pilot's seat; there's room for one more. Lindsay could share her seat with one of us, but no. All they want is to see me sitting on Brent's legs, like he's my. . .

I'd better stop thinking about it. Now is not the time to think about it. . .

"You first" I say to Brent, after a heavy sigh.

He scans my features for a few seconds, maybe to make sure I'm sure of it. I keep my eye on him as best I can and then, finally, he gets in the car.

I take a deep breath and also get into Alex's car, placing my legs next to Brent's and sitting on his lap.

This brings back memories I'd rather forget for now.

He's in charge of closing the door once I'm comfortable, and then Alex starts the car and we get out of there.

"Are you comfortable?" he asks, in a murmur behind my back. I turn my face toward him to look at him and sketch a smile, as I nod with my head in response. "Because if you're not, I can throw Lili out the window" He proposes, joking, making me laugh and provoking that I hit him with his elbow on the ribs.

Lilianne and Brent are cousins on their mother's and father's side, respectively, but it looks like they're brothers. They've always gotten along very well, but after the accident, they've become much closer together. Brent supports her as long as he can and has helped her out of her depression; I even think he was the one who convinced her to go back to school a month ago. She's been through a lot. I'm glad she's back, although I feel she's not the same as before

"That's fine" I reassure him, giving him a smile. He nods and gestures back to me.

I wonder what my. . . What would Harry think if he saw me now, riding on the legs of the boy he likes the most, and I dare even bet he hates him.

"You can talk to that child all you want, he can accompany you while I arrive if that's what you want, okay?. . . On the sole condition that you keep a distance of at least two meters between you"

I wish I could see the look on your face when I see you now. Then he'd pay me back one of the many he owes me.

Well, I guess I'm the least qualified to think that. . .