Chapter 9 – Thea

And so, I had a date with Will Benedict. Unreal.

On the bright side, it was to go out and drink, something which I excelled at due to my many years of practice and cultural background. However, I have been told on countless occasions that my tolerance is very high, which when you're sixteen, you're proud of, but as life carries on and you come face-to-face with self-image concerns and the fact that because you're a woman it's not classy to drink as much as men.

Fair.

However, if drinking was a way to promote equality among the sexes, so be it. I am proud to be a candidate.

Will had rang me on Wednesday to ask me to go out with him tonight. The plan was for him to pick me up from mine at ten and then head to his friend's house for 'pregame', as he called it, before heading out. I was a bit nervous about meeting his friends and was completely unsure of what to wear.

At home, it really just depended on where you were going. In a smaller place, you could go out as casual as you wanted and no one would notice, but if you were going into town, you had to look your best. However, a small town in Ireland is the equivalent of a village in the States.

I looked at the time and groaned. I had started looking at my clothes at seven o'clock and it was eight now. 'For God's sake Thea, just pick something', I thought to myself.

I grabbed my leather pants, a red off the shoulder top and because God is good and made Will a tall lad, my favourite pair of strappy heels. I usually had to refrain from wearing such things as I was at a fairly tall 5'10 stature and other lads weren't much taller, but thankfully Will is about 6'5.

I put my clothes on but decided to opt for my ridiculous hedgehog slippers that completely enveloped my feet while I did my makeup.

Thankfully my summer tan was still hanging on and I could use my darker foundation. I don't usually wear a lot of makeup going out as I tend to just sweat it off, but this was a date so I put on a hint more than usual, including lashes and lipstick which matched my top and complimented my tan.

Once my makeup was finished, it was finally time for the worst. My hair. I have always been completely and utterly useless at it and the best thing I could do was throw a few curls into it and hope for the best. Which is what I did, but the best is not what it was. I ran my hands through the curls and loosened them into some acceptable waves and sealed them with hairspray. Not that it would help much. My hair was so straight that curls did not usually last long.

I looked at myself in the mirror while I put on some golden jewellery. I sighed, 'I suppose it will have to do', I thought to myself. I checked the clock and it was only nine o'clock. I wasn't really sure what to do with myself for an hour.

Walking into the kitchen I could feel my nerves starting to grow and instead of walking towards the couch, I found myself going to the fridge and taking out the vodka and sprite. I flicked on the speaker and sang along with ASAP Rocky as I poured my vodka dash.

Versatile had just come on when my buzzer went off and I pressed the intercom.

"I don't know how this thing works but I hope I'm buzzing you in right now!" I shouted pressing all the buttons on the pad.

"It's Will, I'm on my way up", Will replied laughing.

I smiled as the butterflies flew through me. I felt like I was back in school and the best-looking lad in the year had just asked me for a pen.

'I need to calm down', I thought to myself and in order to do so I downed the rest of my vodka before putting the bottle back in the fridge. I didn't want Will to think I was some alcoholic who drank on her own.

The doorbell rang and I quickly looked in the mirror and flipped my hair before going to the door. I grasped the handle, took a deep breath and opened the door.

'Wow', I thought, 'this boy can clean up well'

He stood smiling in black jeans and a matching fitted shirt, that nicely showed off his athletic physique.

"Hey", he said looking me up and down, "you look amazing"

I smiled, "Thanks, so do you"

"I especially love the slippers"

Shit

I looked down at the hideous hedgehogs that covered my feet and went bright red.

"Oh my God", I said putting my hands to my face, "These are my hedgehogs, would you like to come in while I hide them away for no one to ever see again?"

He laughed, "Don't do that", he said walking through the door, "They're cool, you should wear them out"

I laughed "They're more comfortable than the shoes I'm planning to wear anyway. Speaking of, am I overdressed or is this ok? Should I lose some jewellery or something?"

"Don't change anything, you look amazing. If I wasn't trying to be such a gentleman, we wouldn't be leaving this apartment"

I could feel my cheeks starting to warm up, I don't know what's happening to me. I'm never like this around a lad. I'm gonna have to be careful around this boy.

"Maybe next time", I said laughing, "would you like a drink or anything before we go, or would you prefer if we just went straight to prinks?"

"Prinks?", he said

"Oh sorry", I laughed, "Ye say pregame don't ye? Well, at home we say, 'prinks' as in 'pre-drinks'"

"That makes sense I suppose, we could have a drink before we go?"

"Perfect", I said, "There are drinks in the fridge, help yourself while I go and grab my shoes"

When I got to my room, I did a quick makeup check and dabbed on more powder and a dash of lipstick. Whilst rubbing my lips together I tried to make myself calm down. I ran my hands through my hair, 'why was I so nervous'.

I did a quick body shake, put on my heels and went back into the kitchen.

Will looked up from pouring the drinks.

"I just grabbed the vodka, I hope that's ok", he said, handing me the drink.

"That's perfect", I said while taking a swig, "Here let's sit down at the table"

We sat opposite from each other at the table and I was delighted to see that he had brought the drinks with him.

"So", Will began, "Who sings this song?"

Just at that moment in time, I realised we were listening to Ketamine by Versatile. Probably one of the weirdest songs in my repertoire, but I love it.

I laughed, "It's called Ketamine. It's by these Irish lads. They're big enough at home, it's full of Irish slang, I wouldn't be surprised if ya didn't like it"

"I've never heard anything like it", he said turning his head towards the speaker.

"You can pick a song, if you like? My phones just on shuffle", I said typing my password into the phone and handing it to him.

He looked at the phone and then at me.

"What?", I asked

"Literally no one I know would just hand their phone over to someone", he said laughing, but taking the phone all the same.

I laughed, "Fair, I guess I have nothing to hide"

Will kept scrolling through my music, "Oh, I like this playlist", he said as a heavy bass took over my apartment, his head nodding along with the beat.

I laughed as I took a swig of my vodka.

Will looked at me and said, "finish that drink, this is music that needs to be danced to".

I looked at him with a half-smile, wondering if he was joking or not. Then, he downed his drink, stood up, walked to my side of the table and offered me his hand.

"C'mon Thea", he said wiggling his fingers and eyebrows, "you know you want to"

I laughed, downed my drink and took his hand.

Will then twirled me around, put hid hands on my waist as we danced. I laughed and jumped to the beat as he attempted and failed to do the moonwalk.

He made his way back over to me and put his hand on my waist again. I put my hands on his shoulders as we swayed to the music together.

I looked up at Will and our eyes locked. He licked his lips while glancing down at mine. My breath hitched as my lips parted. The music suddenly faded and the only thing I could hear was my quickening heartbeat in my ears.

My eyes closed as Will leaned in.

Then, his phone rang.

The sharp ringing jerked us both back into a reality as we stepped back from each other.

Will smiled apologetically at me while he answered, "Hey Jared…. Ya I'm at Thea's now… Cool, we'll be right over"

"We should probably get going", he said smiling at me.

"Ok, sound", I said, "let me just grab my things".

"Sound?", he asked looking at me confused.

I laughed, "Sorry, Irish slang. It's kind of like 'ok' but it really depends on like the way you say it or so on"

He laughed, "that's so weird"

"Only if you've never heard it before", I said smiling.

"I guess you're right"

I put grabbed my bag and just as I was about to pick up my drink, Will stopped me.

"You don't need that, there's drink at the apartment"

I looked at him confused, "But do ye not bring your own as well?"

"No, whoever hosts, supplies", he smiled.

I looked at him with disbelief, "That's crazy, in Ireland, we bring our own and no one touches anyone's drink"

"Well, we can save your vodka for next time", he said with a wink.

I put my vodka back in the fridge and made my way to the door, with Will following behind me.

I was about to lock the door, when Will says, "Hey you forgot your jacket"

"It's like 20 degrees, I'll be fine, this is like summer to me"

He laughed, "Well, if you're sure"

He took my hand and pulled my along, "c'mon, let's go have a good time".