“A Dinner Party? Are you actually joking? A dinner party, me?”
My mother sighed. “Schaefer, calm down. It’ll be fine. You can bring Mattie. You’ll fit in. Besides, it’s your father’s wealthy clients- the Royce’s, so it will be very nice.”
I gritted my teeth, digging my nails into our wooden table. A Dinner Party? This was the last thing I needed after a sloppy show day. Sure, I did end up getting champion on Goodie, but I couldn’t get over my elimination on Odin. Chalino went thoroughbred on me again, and I had tiny mistakes with Sol each round. Besides, I wasn’t exactly a social butterfly, but maybe with Mattie it could get better.
“Fine. I’ll give him a call.” I said with a sigh.
I marched upstairs, now having to deal with the stress of finding a fancy dress and preparing in only two hours for the millionaire, if not billionaire clients of my father’s. My phone was laying on my bed, so I picked up it and ran my hand along the touch screen. It was cool to the touch, and I punched in Mattie’s number.
There was a ring on the other line for a bit. I waited, tapping my fingers on the edge of my bed. If Mattie didn’t pick up, I was screwed. There would be no way I could last this Dinner Party alone. But to my lucky, I heard a clatter and Mattie’s voice echoed into my ear.
“Hey, beautiful.” I heard him say.
I grinned. “Don’t know what you’re talking about. Anyway, you up for a fancy shmancy dinner party?”
“Oh Schaefer, but it’s true!” Mattie called from the other line. “But yeah. Totally. I’m in. You ready to see Tractor Boy in a tux?”
“I think I am.” I smiled so hard my cheeks began to hurt. “Want to come over in an hour and a half?”
“I’ll be there.” He said next. “Ok, gotta run and get ready for our excursion. See you soon, gorgeous.”
“See you, Mattie.” I hit the end call button.
How did I come to deserve someone as good as him?
Ugh. Perfume. There was nothing wrong with a little bit of the stuff, but being in a giant house filled with old ladies who smelled like they went swimming in it sickened me. I dared not to breathe through my nose, and I had to fare it alone since Mattie had momentarily left to use the restroom.
One particularly strange looking lady walked by me, and that was it. She reminded me of poultry, with big plump cheeks and a hooked nose. She had red lipstick lips, and wrinkles shriveled her entire body. Clad in some sort of peacock themed dress, she reeked of lavender and instantly I felt the shrimp cocktail I had begun to come back up. Yeah, I needed to get out of here.
I began to weave through people with their trays of expensive snacks, caviar, punch, and wine. The meal hadn’t even started yet and I was already finished. I would get Mattie; see if I could last any longer. If not I would kindly ask my parents if I could walk home with Mattie, or more so jog to escape the fray.
The restrooms were on the other side of the mansion’s banquet hall, and I would instantly go there to snag Mattie. There were several big name wealthy good-for-nothings in my path though, and it would be difficult to weave through. I took a deep breath, taking a hold on my cocktail dress, and plunged through. Instantly I felt myself bump into a very tall businessman, and I didn’t even have the heart to apologize or gaze into his eyes.
I was making good progress, that is, until I instantly felt a large and clammy hand on my shoulder. I whirled around, finding none other than my father who had stopped me. He was beside my mother, and they were talking with a younger looking couple. I recognized them straight away as the Bartelsons, some family friends that came over for dinner every so often.
“Oh, look, it’s Schaefer!” My mother exclaimed. Well no duh. “Hun, say hello to the Bartelsons.”
I wrinkled up my nose. I wasn’t going to fall into these games my parents wanted me to. I gazed up at them, not showing an extra amount of happiness or sign of care on my face.
“Hello.” I said in return dimly.
“You know, Mrs. Bartelson is having a child.” My mother told me.
I sighed, rolling my eyes. “Congrats on the sex!” I yelled before hastily running off.
I was sure I would end up getting scolded on my manners later on, especially that vulgar comment, but whatever. You only live once. Besides, I needed to find Mattie. This place was getting hot and I couldn’t take it. It wasn’t that I was antisocial or wanted privacy, but there was something- uncomfortable about being in a giant room of old people.
I shoved past a few more people, teeth gritted. I had to find Mattie. I had so much to tell him, like how my ride on Marvel was and how things went on Odin. And, couldn’t believe I’m saying it, but I could use a good kiss on the lips.
I had almost made it to the restrooms when I got tapped on the shoulder. I turned around to see none other than my Mattie. Just as he said, he was dressed in a perfect tux. His body was the perfect shape for it, and it made him look even greater. His hair was neatly done, not in the somewhat scruffy style it usually was, and his blue eyes were as vibrant as ever. I got shivers, instantly beginning to melt just looking at him.
“Hey sweetheart.” He said with a grin. “You look a little flustered.”
“Err, yeah.” I replied. “Can we go somewhere else?”
“I’ve got just the place!” Mattie leaned in, whispering the words to me. “Come on.”
I nodded in reply, and followed the boy as he skillfully managed to weave around the herd of old people. He had much more success than I did, looking back to the mass bumping I went through. I thought he would take us out front, but instead he waited for me besides an abandoned staircase. Based off of the playful glint, I knew exactly what we were doing.
“Up we go?” I asked, raising a brow.
“Yeah, fast.”
The two of us whipped up the stairs fast so nobody would catch us in their eye. I nearly tripped over myself with the heels I wore to match my light pink dress. Mattie grabbed my hand, and instantly getting up the stairs became a much easier feat. They spiraled, but were covered, with many windows going up. I suddenly felt a breeze. But why?
That was when I looked up and saw the night stars. Well, how interesting. The stairs ended up leading out to a spacious desk with two chairs and a lit candle. The candle was the icing on the cake- how romantic. Mattie lifted me to my feet and I looked into him smiling. There was no old person smell, no overstuffed rooms, and no ‘friends’. This was perfect.
Mattie took a seat in one of the seats, and I did the same. He stretched out completely, gazing up at the moon. I sighed, eyelids beginning to drop from the night sky that tired me. I rubbed my fingers together in attempt to awaken. If it weren’t for Mattie speaking, I could have dozed off.
“Is this nice?” He asked. “Took me a while to find it.”
“It’s perfect.” It really was.
It’s perfect? That’s it? Really, Schaefer? I thought to myself. I never actually started anything. Mattie was much more outgoing than I was and I almost relied on him for everything. However, I was sure I wouldn’t do it this time. I would not ruin such a perfect moment.
“The stars sure are bright, huh?” I said, looking up and pointing to some constellations.
“I could gaze at them all day. You know, I have cousins in Arizona. In spring I would always go visit them and lay out in their backyard. You could only imagine how bright the stars would get. You could try to count them but lose track because they are so beautiful and vast. You remind me of a star.”
“Yeah. How I’m just like the rest of them.”
“Not like that.”
I drew in a long breath, blinking my eyes closed. I could hear Mattie breathing beside me, and crickets chirping. There was a faint breeze that ruffled the palm trees below us, but other than that- silence. It was little while before I opened my eyes again, but when I did, Mattie was looking at me with glittering eyes.
“You shine, shine, shine.” He whispered just loud enough so that I could hear. I stood up.
“Well if I’m a star, then you’re the moon.” I grinned. Mattie approached me on foot.
“Then let’s be a constellation.”
Before I was aware of what was happening, Mattie had stepped forward and his lips planted on mine, however, this time there was something more. There was this electric energy that made my heart go static. It was harder, more vibrant. One electrifying kiss.
And suddenly, I found that I had whipped my arms onto Mattie’s neck, raising my left leg as we turned into one. He whipped off the thin little jacket I had over my dress, and I moved my arms to unbutton the jacket on his tux. He pulled away for a moment, but only to take a breath. He plunged right back in to our little kissing session.