Chapter 12: Party of the Century.

Sunday.

Day 3.

Issa.

I end up waking up today at a bad time again, still feeling off about actually being back. It was surreal.

I reach for my phone and see Lectra had added me into a group chat with her and Wes, rightfully named 'weirdos'. She was texting me non stop wanting me to come over. I was happy to already feel welcomed into the friend group just like before.

It was almost 4 and I was laying in bed, still wanting to do nothing but sleep. Last night felt like I didn't get any sleep at all. My mind kept going back to George. Everything about him made me miss him, even if he wasn't real and just my imagination. 

He had cheated on me in my dream and for some reason, I wasn't angry anymore. I didn't feel like I needed to be, afterall, it was only a dream. All I wanted was to see him and hear him once more. But that clearly wouldn't be happening anytime soon.

Knowing it would just be Lectra, my phone buzzed again, so I finally told myself I was going to get up to shower then leave. Jo still wasn't home, just the way I liked it, so I'd have at least some alone time today.

I pick out an outfit from my closet and headed over to the showers.

I'm halfway to the locker rooms when I see another familiar, but unfriendly face. It was Lizzy. I knew out of everyone, that I'd see her again, but hoped I wouldn't. I didn't realize how creepy I was staring her down until she sees me and jolts away. 

Did she absolutely hate me in this life too or was that just my dream? I then started thinking, what if I actually had slept with her boyfriend at the party the other night?

I didn't really care and I wasn't about to find out now. She was the reason for everything going to shit in my dream world. It felt so weird to say that to myself, talking about it as if it were real at all. Maybe I was going a little crazy after all.

•••

I took my shower and got dressed. I was wearing a black mini sundress. It was a nice hot day out and I was actually feeling good about today after I was all cleaned and feeling better. I arrive at Lectras place, hoping I wouldn't see her brother again, but ultimately knew I probably would.

Lectra lets me inside and we sit in the living room. This time there were only a few others here, rather than a whole house full, but they were out enjoying the pool leaving the two of us be. Lectra must have seen me watching the small group because she suddenly says;

"Wanna go swimming? You can borrow a suit. I've got about a million." As much as I wished it would just be Lectra and I swimming alone, I agreed anyway. It was a hot day and I felt like I needed to relax after everything that had been happening. I nod to Lectra so she shakes her hands at me excitedly, then she takes me up to her room to change, pretty much dragging me along.

•••

Lectra was going through swim suits while I sat down on her bed once we got up to her room. I sat there watching her and I couldn't help but smile at her. It was still so weird that she even existed. I had never seen her in my life before the dream but now she was a big part of it.

I had been inside her room before obviously, but it was like I was finally actually seeing it fully. I look around her room and it was just as you'd expect it to look like. She had posters with bands hanging up with a bunch of computer stuff on a desk. She wasn't a complete nerd though, she also had a pink fuzzy bed sheet and a rainbow lamp next to it on her nightstand. Her whole room was kind of a mess but it was weirdly relaxing.

"So why do you even live with your brother Lectra?" It was a very random question and I honestly had no idea where it came from, but from the look Lectra was giving me, she didn't mind the prying. She stops searching for the outfit in her drawers then rotates to look at me. With a curious look she says;

"It's still so weird that you know that specific nickname. No one ever calls me that anymore." I half wondered if I should start calling Lectra her real name until she states;

"Keep calling me it though. Makes me remember just how much of a lunatic you really are." With a sarcastic wink she turns back around to find a suit. I'm glad she didn't really feel that way. At least entirely, as far as I knew.

"To answer your question, I'm only here for college. Me and my brother don't get along what so ever, if you couldn't tell." Then she takes in a deep breath and says;

"Plus, our parents died a little bit ago in an accident. Ever since, he's taken me in. Now he acts like he's my dad sometimes. Gets annoying." That was something I actually didn't know about Lectra. She never even mentioned not having parents. I guess it's not something you just tell people all the time.

As if we weren't just having a moment, Lectra shoots up from the floor holding a bikini, shaking it at ne vigorously.

"I found it! Wear this one-now!" She throws the pair at me. It was a bikini, but could almost classify as a one piece, depending on how you looked at it. The top section was a deep red with a long strap piece that wraps around your waste leading down to the, also red, bottoms.

The swim suit was a little more low cut on my chest than I'd like, but with Lectra being so excited, I went with it. I put it on then procede to look in her mirror. I wouldn't be surprised if someone flat out thought I was just wearing a thong if they saw me. The bottoms were showing so much, I could wear an actual thong and no one would know the difference.

Lectra gets dressed in a blue bikini with black bottoms, also like a thong. She walks next to me in the mirror and poses in it. She looks down at my suit and starts whooping and cheering me on.

"I knew that was made for you. Too bad there's not gonna be alot of people here yet to see it."

"What do you mean yet? There's gonna be another party?" She nods, looking disappointed. I exhale in disappointment along with her.

"Mhm. Brooks acts more like a 21 year old than an actual 21 year old. Throws a million parties every week." Great. I was going to have to sit through yet another party with creepy guys and drunk people. At least I knew Lectra would be here tonight to keep me entertained enough. She starts walking out of her room as she says;

"It's pretty cool that I get to throw parties whenever I want though. So that's a plus." I agree with her then we make our way down the stairs to the pool. Lectra and I get downstairs and quickly see that a load more people had already arrived. I open my phone and realize it was already 5. How was the time passing by so fast?

Lectra looks at me with just as surprised of face as I was making and says;

"I guess more people will see that swimsuit after all!" I think she could tell I was gradually becoming anxious because she adds;

"Don't worry, I'll stay with you all night." Feeling so greatful for Lectra being here, I hug her. She hesitates but hugs me back.

"I'm still drinking though." She pulls away from me and nudges me with a smirk. That was the Lectra I knew. There was no way she wasn't about to drink tonight. Anywhere there was alcohol, she was bound to drink. I learned that quickly.

I laugh at her and we head to the pool.

•••

After a long while of being in the pool, Lectra and I finally decide to get out. I look around and notice everyone else here was also wearing swimsuits too.

"Did I miss something?" Lectra turns to me just as confused. Then as if on cue, Wes walks up to us out of literally nowhere and says;

"Brooks changed the party to be a pool party last minute. Didn't you get my texts?" I grab my phone that I'd been ignoring all day to see he had been texting us for awhile. At least we were already in our suits.

"We've been swimming dude. Of course not." Lectra says this to Wes while shoving her towel in his face which ends up messing up his hair. He quickly grabs her, picks her up and runs for the pool.

"Wes! I just dried off! Stop it!" Without hesitating, he tosses her high in the air causing her to land in the water with a huge splash. Everyone around and in the pool cheer at them, then they all take a drink of whatever they happened to be holding at the moment. 

Lectra emerges back from the pool shaking off and looking mildly annoyed with Wes.

"You suck." He juts at her suddenly and says playfully;

"I'll do it again. Watch yourself." She covers herself with her towel and pouts.

"Gross. You guys are that couple that gets thrown into the pool at a party." Realizing I was right, they both gag and Lectra says;

"Oh no. You're right. And we're not even a couple."

"Not yet." Wes says to Lectra with a wink. She rolls her eyes then grabs my arm, pulling me into the house, leaving Wes alone by the pool. I turn and see he had jumped into the pool making everyone around him drink again. I then wondered if Lectra felt the same about Wes here, since she had a crush in him in my dream.

"He's a child. Kinda annoying sometimes." Lectra says finally. I'm drying off my hair with my towel following Lectra when we see a huge group of people gathering in the kitchen. I look at Lectra for an answer of what the hell was going on, but she just shrugs and says;

"Probably just a stoner session. I wouldn't worry about it." I take her word for it and we go to the living room. In just a couple seconds on entering the room, Lectra was screaming. 

"Beer pong! We're playing!" She yanks me towards the table and announces to the people already playing;

"We are up next!" The guys at the table look Lectra up and down then to me next and says;

"Well you ladies can go right now. As long as we play against you." The guy who spoke was eyeing Lectra like she was candy while the other guy did the same for me. Lectra walked up to him getting inches away from his face, poked his chest, then said with an alluring tone;

"It is so on." The people watching around us throw out small 'ooh's' at the guys, then we start playing. I was going to tell Lectra that I was absolutely horrible at beer pong but decided not to. Maybe drinking would give me some better luck? Definitely not how that worked, but I was about to pretend it would anyway.

Lectra throws the first shot and makes it. Of course she was amazing at it, she has so much time to play it, what with all these parties going on all the time.

Next up was the guy flirting with Lectra. He also makes it. His team cheers over dramatically and they decide I should drink the cup. Lectra pats my back as I throw it back. Ugh I hated beer. This time it was my turn. I give Lectra an 'I'm sorry' look and shoot my shot. Surprising no one, I miss. 

It hits a guy in the arm miles away and they all laugh at me. It lands back on the table and in a flash, Lectra grabs it, letting us make another shot. She throws and makes it again.

"That was for you baby girl!" She shouts to me, even though I was right next to her. I laugh and say;

"You drink!" I point to the guy who made me drink before and he basically inhales the beer. Feeling impressed at how fast he drank it, I applaud him. He bows and his friend throws the ball. He makes it and tells Lectra to drink. She chugs it faster than the other guy, making him yell across the table;

"Show off!" He smiled at Lectra, clearly still flirting.

"Says you." Lectra yells back over the music. It was becoming more and more clear that Lectra didn't have a thing for Wes anymore by how much she was flirting. Maybe there were more things that were different about the dream world and this place than I first thought.

I snap out of that thought and notice around us more people were showing up watching the game. Now it was my turn again. Feeling anxious now that a bunch of people were watching, I hesitate to shoot. I was finally about to throw it when I hear a familiar voice. I turn to search for the source but see nothing.

"Shoot!" Someone yells so I do as they demand. It hits a different guy but this time it bounces off of him and lands inside the cup. Everyone around me was jumping up and down screaming at my clutch. I don't care because I was still searching for the voice I heard. I turn to Lectra and say;

"Have someone else play for me. I'll be right back." She nods and I leave the game. Feeling anxious now, I walk towards where I heard the voice. Part of me was hoping it wasn't who I thought it was. I hear the voice laugh outside and follow it. I look around scanning the yard for him frantically. Finally I see the back of his head. 

He was standing next to a couple girls, talking to them. Not wanting him to turn around to confirm who it was, I start taking steps backwards to go back inside, scared to see his face. Wondering if it was from the alcohol or from shock, I start feeling dizzy. I can hear him laughing with the girls when a third girl approaches him and hands him a drink.

The man turns then I finally see his face but I can barely understand what I see. When it eventually sinks in as I stare him down, I finally gasp at the sight of Cam standing in the yard before me.

I never thought I'd actually see him in real life. I knew he was real, but I had thought the Cam I was seeing was just a made up version I created because I had no clue what he really looked like in real life, as he never showed his face. But it was really him. It was really Cams face I was looking at.

Cam took the drink from the girl and took a sip. I wondered if these girls knew who he really was. He was pretty attractive as hard as it was to admit, so they probably just wanted to get with him. And for all I knew, he wasn't even Cam, just a look alike. He was probably just some random guy and not Cam at all. He says something to the girls and they all simultaneously say 'aww'.

He then starts walking away from them, in my direction now. Before he sees me I walk back inside. I look over at Lectra and see she's still playing beer pong. I walk over to the kitchen which is now empty. Expecting to smell weed from the earlier session, I'm surprised when I don't. I wonder what was happening in here earlier that everyone was crowding it for?

Not really caring at this point, I ignore that thought and open the fridge. It was huge and had so much food inside. I didn't really have a reason for going into the kitchen at all, besides my mindless freak out wandering from seeing Cam, but now that I was here, I realized just how starving I really was. I grab out some eggs and start making them on the stove. I'm scrambling them when I hear someone walk in and also open the fridge behind me.

I don't bother turning around until he talks.

"Never heard of someone making eggs at a pool party." Scaring me, making me jump a little too much, I accidentally drop the pan on the floor then finally turn around to look at Cam standing there drinking straight from the milk carton. He also jumps then almost chokes on the milk as he says;

"Woah-! Didn't mean to scare you!" He walks closer then stops and starts sweeping up my eggs with his hands. Well, even if I still was going to eat them, I sure as hell wasn't now.

I bend down and start helping him, whoever him really was. I secretly study his every movement. Everything about him was the same as in my dream. He had the same green eyes that could draw anyone in. I look down at his hands and notice he even has the rings he wore all the time, but no peircing in his ear this time. I look back up at him and see he was now staring at me too. I flinch and fall backwards. He tilts his head at me slightly then laughs.

"You really are something-um?" Clearly wanting my name, I reply hesitantly;

"Issabelle. Just call me Issa." He nods and starts saying;

"Issa. Hello, I'm-" I inturrupt him without a second thought and stupidly blurt;

"Cam?" He freezes not saying a word. I was hoping I would be wrong and he wasn't actually who I thought he was. I dreamed up Lectra and Wes, so why wouldn't this also be real too?

"How do you know that?" He says now changing his tone. I don't answer him, I can't, I simply get up and rush out of the kitchen. I hear him calling after me but I eventually lose him. I go outside to get inside my car but on my way out I realize I should text Lectra to tell her I was leaving, despite just wanting to get the hell out of there.

I pull out my phone and lean against my car, feeling on the verge of a panic attack. I start texting an apology to Lectra for ditching her when I hear Cams voice again. This time he sounded upset. I scan the area until I see him walking onto the balcony on the second floor, loudly talking to someone else now.

"That's different. She knew my name! How would she even know who I am?" Then I hear another voice speak up saying;

"I told you we shouldn't come out tonight. I didn't want to go in the first place." Those words were enough to let me identify who was talking to Cam. The other guy steps out onto the balcony letting me see him officially and I can barely breathe at the sight of him.

Cam then speaks up again;

"Well you weren't exactly keeping it low-key. Everyone noticed you right away." Now realizing what the commotion in the kitchen was, I open my car door and don't hesitate to drive away at last. 

I'd never driven through so many stop lights in my life and I'm surprised I never got pulled over. I arrive at my dorm and try to forget that not only did I see Cam tonight, but I also saw George with him.

They were both real.