Chapter 23

"Why don't we all tell Heddy what her first impression was like when she met us?" Leigh suggested.

We were sitting in the living room and just finished eating the caramel cake. I was sitting on the couch with Seeley and Leigh while the others found their comfortable seats wherever they could.

"No." I said without hesitation and everyone laughed.

"I think that's a good idea." Seeley teased me and I glared at him.

"I don't remember asking you."

"Good thing you don't need to ask me for anything." He winked at me and I had to turn away before the effect his words had on me would become visible.

"I second that idea." Casen spoke up. "I'd like to embarrass Heddy with a few things."

"And I'd like to strangle you while you're asleep." My eyes met his and a grin split his face.

"Kinky, I love it."

I shook my head while Leigh leaned forward and took a sip of champagne.

"I'll start then." Leigh said and cleared her throat. "On the first day of freshman year when we had to introduce ourselves and I was next, I started to feel dizzy. Back in those times, I wasn't a very good speaker in front of almost thirty people. I stood up but no voice came out of me. My legs started shaking and everything became blurry, so I ran out of the room to puke because I got nervous as hell. I heard the class laughing and making fun of me while I was running to the toilets. A few minutes later I heard someone coming in and I didn't even dare say a word until Heddy made sure that she was cool and wasn't there to make fun of me. She stayed with me until I felt great, helped me clean myself up, and walked me back to the room. I decided that day that I'd harass that kind and helpful girl until the end of my life."

We laughed as I smiled at the memories flooding through my brain. Four years ago I wouldn't have thought that Leigh, who was terrified to talk in front of many people, would change in a way where she'd do theatric performances in school. It took her a while but she overcame her fear and bring out the best of herself.

"It's my turn." Austin put his hand up and crossed his legs. "It was maybe the October or November of freshman year. I was held back by one of the teachers because they wanted to talk with me about my grades dropping so fast out of the blue. I didn't know at first what happened. I walked out of school when almost everyone was gone to get my bike. Heddy was hanging out with one of the seniors and was probably learning how to drive."

"Oh, God." I buried my face into my hands because I remembered that day as it happened only a few hours ago.

"Oh, God, yes." Austin narrowed his eyes at me. "Anyway, just when I was a few feet away from my bike, suddenly a car slammed into it. It didn't damage it as much as I had expected it because I still could use it, but I remember being in shock at first that I was just standing there while Heddy climbed out of the car and started to apologize which angered me even more. I made a note to myself that one day I'd get back at her for that. You know, I just kept avoiding her and she'd tried her best to make it up for me. She made me cookies or bought me chocolate. Little did she know that I forgave her two days later, the only reason I kept acting I didn't was so that she would make me more cookies."

I gasped in horror while the others burst out laughing. Up to this day I've been thinking that Austin was really mad that I almost broke his bike accidentally but now knowing his point of view on the situation, I felt betrayed.

"You, dog." I said, grabbing the pillow that was behind me and I threw it at him. "And you're only telling me this now?"

"We've all got secrets, Heddy." He laughed as he hugged the pillow. "Are you mad?"

"I'm furious, Austin."

Austin gave me an innocent smile then hid half of his face behind the pillow like a little kid.

"I'm glad you're not mad then."

I gave him a deadly glare while I tried to cope with the bitter feeling in my mouth after learning the fact years later that I had been played like a fool.

"Okay, so back to the storytelling." Emilia clapped her hands together. "I decided that this chick wasn't a spoiled cheerleader when I was shopping with my boyfriend at a weekend. We started to argue and he left me in the shop while I was trying not to break down. He was a real asshole, so I broke up with him afterward anyway. So, Heddy was inside the shop and probably heard everything because she approached me and asked me if I wanted to talk about it. When I said no, she just accepted it and helped me pick up a dress. Then we had lunch while she helped me distract myself from that jerk. I remember that I was really thankful and happy that she didn't judge me for being with a guy like that and tried to open my eyes to the unhealthiness in of our relationship."

While Emilia was talking, I felt Seeley's eyes fall on me. Little did Emilia know that I had a habit of trying to be a relationship therapist and help others open their eyes to see the dark side of their relationship and inspire them that they shouldn't stick to a person because they were afraid of loneliness.

"My story is kind of short and the opposite of yours, Em." Casen started it. "We were at a party when Halloween was around the corner and we just engaged in a conversation while getting drunk. By the end of the night, Heddy had helped me get a girl's number which made me decide that this girl just had to be my new best friend."

"It seems Heddy either helps people to break or hook up." Leigh shrugged with a smile and we laughed.

"Have you considered being a therapist?" Casen asked me. "You could make tons of money just telling people honestly that it's time to break up or not."

I laughed and inhaled sharply.

"I might consider it after this summer." I joked and crossed my legs, pressing them together which was something I've always done when I was sitting in a dress.

"When I first met this girl, I completely startled her with my rant about the previous teenager employees at the hotel." Marina was next. "Her face gave it all away. So, I spent almost all day trying to convince her that I'm not a Karen of her generation."

"And you did a perfect job from what I've heard." Perkyn murmured and I smiled at their interaction.

I turned to Zera who was gripping her glass tightly.

"Zera?" I asked softly. "Would you do the honor of embarrassing me in front of my friends?"

Zera stared at me for a second before noticing how everyone was looking at her, waiting for her answer. She dropped her gaze to her hands.

"I'm sorry, uhm…"

"It's okay." I tried to reassure her. "It's enough if you laugh at my friends betraying me."

She gave me a thankful smile and nodded.

"Will do."

Perkyn gave me a proud smile for not pushing or forcing Zera to speak up which made my cheeks warm up.

"Atta girl." Perkyn smiled then stirred in his seat. "It was the day of her job interview with our manager, Caleb, when I met Heddy. He doesn't do job interviews in person but he had to substitute a colleague for that day. Caleb told me to go after her until it wasn't too late and try to help her loosen up because according to Caleb, she looked a little scared after the interview. So, I ran after her and caught up with her outside. Honestly, I didn't expect her to be this beautiful and her face made me completely forget while I came after her. I wanted to tell her that we could meet up before work and I'd show her the hotel. But I was too distracted that the first thing I said to her was asking her for her number, just like that."

We started laughing at Perkyn's awkward smile as he dropped his gaze to the floor.

I remember our first encounter with Perkyn and his awkwardness from that day still made me smile. It was both something refreshing and adorable after my friends who were mostly known for their confidence.

"At first I was convinced that he was a stalker." I laughed and Perkyn rubbed the side of his jaw. I only now noticed that he shaved his stubble.

"I could see that. Your face was both disturbed and shocked." Perkyn said.

"What a cute love at first sight." Leigh placed her jaw in her palm and I tensed.

If Perkyn also did, it wasn't noticeable, his body language stayed the same as he turned to Leigh.

"It wasn't love at first sight." Perkyn enlightened Leigh. "But it was definitely a crush at first sight."

Casen and Austin whistled while I tried to hide my childish grin. I could scream into a pillow from Perkyn's confession and from the look that he just gave me.

"I say the same to my chicken nuggets when I get them." Casen blurt out and we laughed.

"Oh, the power of beautiful girls." Austin let out a dreamy sigh.

"And men, huh?" Emilia teased him.

"I'm not the one to pick." Austin said. "I'll take what I can get."

I loved how open but also somewhat mysterious Austin could be about his sexuality. I wish we all could be this cool about it someday.

"Now, it's Seeley's turn."

"Oh, yes, the silent boy." Casen clapped his hands together excitedly.

I was also somewhat excited about what he would tell us about the first impression I made on him and how he felt afterward but I didn't want to show it.

I remained calm and silent as Seeley clicked his tongue and leaned back, his arm grazing mine over the process.

"The only reason I even started to talk with her was that she became my lab partner." Seeley shrugged and the boys laughed.

"Typical."

"You wanted her notes, right?" Austin teased him.

Seeley let out a dry laugh and cracked his fingers.

"Something like that." He nodded. "She was really annoying at first."

"Well, that took a turn." I said, baffled while my friends laughed at my face.

Seeley touched my wrist while laughing which I tried to ignore but it was hard when Leigh was staring at Seeley's hand then gave me a questioning look.

"She was a typical lab partner who kept complaining about everything that I'd done. In the end, she didn't even let me touch anything on the table and then gave me glares because I hadn't helped her."

"Women." Casen said.

"I was almost a hundred percent sure that she hated my guts because whenever she saw me in the breaks or in the hallway, she just turned away, so she wouldn't need to look at me." Seeley continued.

It surprised me how well he remember almost every detail from before we became close friends.

"She annoyed me so much that when we had to make caramel in class, I ruined it on purpose." He continued and I couldn't help but laugh.

So, this might be the reason why he brought me a caramel cake. The thought hadn't even crossed my mind an hour ago.

"If looks could kill, I would have dropped dead in class." Seeley laughed. "She pretty much hated me for a few weeks until I grew on her. It was hard to melt her heart but eventually, we became friends after."

"How adorable." Casen said with a grin.

"Don't you just love it when your classmate ruins your work and gets you a bad grade?" Leigh asked. "I'm sure Heddy had some explaining to do that day."

"I did." I continued laughing then hiding my mouth. "I'd listened to my mother for hours before she let me go upstairs into my room. She even said I shouldn't bother coming out for the rest of the weekend."

"No wonder she doesn't like Seeley." Emilia commented and Seeley shrugged.

"Well, what can I say?" He asked briefly. "I've always been good at first impressions, especially with parents."

I finished my champagne, and my body slowly heat up from the inside. Thankfully the champagne didn't let me overthink anything at that moment.

"Now that we are done embarrassing Heddy, we've got a tradition to live up for." Casen pushed himself up and grabbed my hand.

When I realized what he was planning on doing, my eyes widened.

"No, please." I shook my head but even Seeley took his side and pushed me up while Casen was pulling me toward him.

"Yes, please." Casen grinned.

"What tradition?" Marina asked.

Seeley looked at Marina with a wide grin.

"Whenever we are celebrating someone's birthday, we make a glass of alcohol to the person from multiple drinks and they have to drink it in once."

"I love that." Marina nodded deeply.

"Tell you what, since we have three other guests in the house, you have to drink another glass of what they pour to you." Casen pointed at Marina whose face brightened.

"Awesome." She jumped to her feet right away, then pressed her palm against her forehead when she felt dizzy from the sudden movement– probably.

"I'm going to get into a hospital." I whined as Casen pulled me into the kitchen.

"Sounds like my eighteenth birthday." Casen stopped to think for a second before shrugging. "You'll be fine."

"I'll be surrounded by eight drunk people, that's not very convincing." I said as he grabbed a glass from the cabinet.

"We'll pass out together, I can promise you that." Casen winked at me as the others made their way to the kitchen.

Suddenly I felt small and vulnerable while everyone's eyes were seated on me like they were sharks.

I turned away and stared at my friends instead of watching Casen getting my deadly drink mix ready. As I listened to him pouring the drinks into the glass, I felt goosebumps running over my hands.

"I'm done." Casen said and I carefully turned back. He held a glass of dark drink that he almost spilled because it filled the glass fully.

"Do I really have to?" I asked.

"We don't break the rules, right?" He asked, handing me the glass which felt cold and heavy in my hand.

I sighed as Casen leaned on the table.

"Don't rush it, we can wait."

I shook my head and then inhaled deeply before drinking whatever Casen has given me. I closed my eyes as multiple burning tastes ran over my throat, warming my stomach.

I slammed the glass on the table while I gripped the edge of the tablet o steady myself as the after effects started to appear. My sight was blurry for a second and it felt like my body was on fire.

"That's one!" Casen exclaimed and clapped his hands together.

"Wait a little…" I put my finger up and he stopped.

"Are you okay?" Seeley asked, leaning closer to me.

I bit my tongue while my mouth was still burning.

"I'll be just give me a minute."

"We won't rush it, if you don't want to drink the second one then you don't have to." Marina put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "We do it when you feel like it. I don't want you to throw up all night. It's your birthday after all."

"But that's the point of birthdays." Leigh said and Marina narrowed her eyes.

"If you want to see your friend get sick all night then feel free to grab the thrope of friend of the year award."

Leigh crossed her arms.

"Best friend." She corrected sharply. "Not just a friend like others."

"Just drop it, girls." Perkyn said softly. "I know that we drank a little too much but don't lose our heads now."

I sighed and wiped my wet hair out of my face. I started to feel a little better but I wasn't sure my balance worked perfectly.

I didn't want to disappoint Leigh or the others, so I bit into my lip and lifted my face high.

"Give me the other one."

Marina eyed me carefully.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, she is." Leigh answered and cleaned the glass that I had just drank from and gave it to Marina. "Your turn, snowflake."

Marina shared a look with Perkyn and then started to pour my drink when she saw my determined face.

When she finished it, she gave it to me and I drank it in less than five seconds. The previous dizziness sieged my body twice as bad now but I managed to stay on my feet.

"It's only fair if you also drink, not just me." I exclaimed while I started to get hot from the alcohol burning my veins.

And they did. We were drinking so much that I was sure that we will remember nothing from that night. And I was fine with that.

For a moment I didn't want anything else just forget.