So, I’m trying to do the whole come out of my shell thing so I decide that I was going to go downtown and just mingle. And since I was going to mingle I wanted to make sure that my breath was fresh.

“So fresh and so clean, clean,” I sang around a mouthful of foam. “Ain’t nobody dope as me…” Dancing around the bathroom I spit in the toilet, my god mom would have a fit if I spit in the sink, and then tossed on my favorite outfit, headed for the door. I was stopped by Donna racing around my feet tripping me up.

“Donna!” I shouted as my shoulder hit the wall.

Every since she’d gotten pregnant she’d been a real B-i-t-c-h. Chewing on random stuff(she ate up a good pair of my socks!) and just being a holy terror. Even Roy was avoiding her. Of course, he’s always been a punk around her. As tiny as she is compared to him she’s the boss in their relationship. Nudging her away from her focus on destroying the trash can I headed out.

I drove around for a bit, just trying to find a place that seemed interesting. I finally stopped when I saw a full parking lot. Squeezing into a space I went inside. It was loud. Like seriously loud. There was music playing, guys shooting pool, TV’s blaring sports and people shouting back and fourth. This was a great place.

It wasn’t long before a few guys came up and introduced themselves to me.

“Hey! What’s up? I’m Hale.”

“Alice.”

“I haven’t seen you around here before have I?”

“Is that they best you can do Hale?” I asked with a laugh. He grinned and my stomach tightened. He wasn’t hot but he had tats. Hello! Tats!! Not saying that I was going to hook up with him. He was probably in college, if not older, but it was kind of shocking to me that he would even come to talk to me. Although maybe he thought I was easy pickings. Or whatever it’s called.

“Hey,” he said with a laugh. “That’s one of my best lines.”

“Then you really need to work on them.”

He looked shocked for a moment before he grinned. “I guess so. Just how old are you?”

“Old enough.”

“Old enough for what?” the guy behind me said with a leer.

Okay, how is he going to leer wearing that outfit? That’s just wrong. Shaking my head I looked between the two of them. “Old enough to say no way.”

They were cool though. I think they realized that I was younger than them so we went outside and played around out front. It was kinda cool. I had fun.

A LOT of fun.

I think I had more fun then Hale did that’s for sure. He couldn’t dodge a water balloon to save his life. Poor guy.

I did get my dance on. I just really cut loose and danced my heart out. And I was happy. Really, really happy. Can’t you tell? The photographer caught that cheesy smile on my face. It’s sort of embarrassing really. Who goes around grinning look a fool? Not me. I got the whole serious face thing going on ya know? Or at least I usually do. Tired I headed home with Hale’s number shoved in my glove box. I don’t know if I’ll ever call him. I’m really not even thinking about dating right now. Even if I was it would be a guy in my school. Someone closer to my own age.

I heard whispering coming from Val’s old room and I figured that my parents were discussing finally changing the room. My hand was on the doorknob when I heard familiar sounds. Lip smacking sounds. Slapping my hand over my mouth, I don’t know if it was to prevent myself from throwing up or from laughing, I stepped away and headed into the kitchen to grab something to drink.

If I ever was going to date, I wasn’t even thinking about marriage yet, I would want to have a relationship like my parents. Except without all the drama that happened in the beginning of their relationship. Or any drama whatsoever.  Popping the top on a soda I settled down in front of the TV…and ignored my parents sneaking into their room.

Freaks.