Jolynn sat quietly in the corner of the room. No matter how many times or how loudly she claimed, she was not the life of the party. Sure, she loved the idea of a party. Jolynn would rant on and on about what was going to happen and what wasn't. She'd make extravagant plans with the hosts. But when the time came to actually interact with others...she didn't even want to think about it.
She wore a red dress and seemed to blend in with the walls. The room was cramped, and even without participating she felt the sweat tingle on her skin. There were too many people here. Jolynn went to the bathroom, her shoes pounding against the linoleum floor. She grabbed the paper towels and attempted to swab off the perspiration.
A mob of girls came in, not only talking loudly and drunkenly, but holding their drinks as well. Jolynn's eyes seemed to pop out of her sockets before she quickly exited.
Her friends didn't understand it. She was a loud, optimistic, confident, stubborn, funny, wild child. And here is this same woman, hiding in the crevices of the room. Jolynn didn't understand either.
Suddenly, Pete sat next to her, water bottle in hand. "Want some?" he asked.
She merely shook her head and bit her lip.
"What's wrong Jo? This isn't like you at all. Shouldn't you be dancing on tables and knocking drinks out of people's hands? I mean, shouldn't you be out there doing the same things you do everyday?"
"The scene's all wrong," she muttered.
Pete wrinkled his brow, not understanding. And usually, he was good at things like this.
He looked around, trying to find out what was "wrong" with the scene. And then something caught his eye, and he completely forgot about his initial goal.
"Hey, Jo? Patrick's here with...um..." he drifted off helplessly.
"Yeah, I see," she said monotonously.
It was then Pete had a mini-epiphany. "Stay here," he ordered, before standing up and walking off.
Minutes later, Patrick had taken Pete's spot. "Hi Jo," he said softly.
No response.
"Um, I need some help."
"So?"
"Well," he started, feeling the growing tension, "I was wondering if you could help me," he finished awkwardly.
"What's in it for me?" Jolynn questioned, and Patrick couldn't help but laugh.
"That's the Jo I know. Um, maybe...we can go somewhere less condensed?"
"I don't think so. I'm not moving anywhere Stump," she said, a hint of bitterness in her tone.
Patrick sighed, fiddling his thumbs. "Okay, okay. Just...hear me out?"
She looked at him exasperated. "Do you want the help or not?" Jolynn asked hotly.
There was a small pause. Patrick shifted his body so he was facing her. "I really like Sienna. And I think she likes me, but we haven't done anything. So...I need your opinion on something. It might sound kind of weird, and I understand if you...you know, don't want -"
"I wish you'd stop going in circles," she whimpered.
Patrick's "smooth" tactic was progressively going downhill. "C-c-can you tell me if S-S-Sienna would like this k-kiss?"
Before Jolynn had a time to react, his lips were softly placed upon hers. He leaned forward and placed a hand on her cheek. Instinctively, she grasped the back of his neck.
The room seemed to be lit on fire. Her body was shaking of dehydration, her mind melting in the high temperature. Everything felt sticky, like the heat had swept the room. Her heart was pounding dangerously fast.
And then, it was over. Patrick seemed to squirm uncomfortably out of her grasp, and she pulled away quickly, her face burning. Jolynn stared at her hands as they wrung themselves together.
It was quiet for a moment, before Patrick mumbled, "So...?"
"Yeah," she choked, "she'd like that."
She felt Patrick leave and immediately her hand flew up to her lips. She still felt the burn he left upon them. Blinking back tears, she stood up to leave, but then sat back down.
She came here with Pete, and for sure he'd be the last to leave.
And speak of the devil, Pete came and took Patrick's empty spot.
"What happened?" Pete asked, a tone of guilt in his voice. It was obvious he needn't ask this question. Any person with eyes would've seen what had happened: Patrick built her up and broke her down. All in under 10 minutes.
"I feel aflamed," she whispered, wiping her eyes with her wrists.
"Why did you do that?" Sienna asked heatedly.
"Do what?" Patrick asked.
Sienna stared at him, disbelievingly. "Just answer me this: do you like Jolynn?"
Patrick immediately looked down, fiddling with his belt loops. "Do you want a real answer?"
"Yes, I want a real answer."
He was silent for a moment, his lips pursed. He then looked Sienna straight in the eyes and said, "Yeah. I do. A lot."
"Patrick, I'm doing this for you own good. We..." she gesticulated towards him and herself, "are ohhhhhhhver."
And with that, she melted into the crowd.
Jolynn and Pete sat outside the club on the curve. It was late, it was dark, it was windy, and there just wasn't something right about the atmosphere.
"Jo, are you sure? I mean, I'll take you home -"
"Pete, I know how badly you still want to be in there. I'll be fine," she interrupted coldly.
"I'll take you home, Jo," a voice behind them declared. Pete and Jolynn craned their heads to find Patrick.
Pete felt Jolynn stiffen beside him. He stood up and whispered to Patrick, "Man, I don't know if that's a good idea -"
"Trust me," he whispered back. Pete shrugged, looked helplessly, and walked back in.
"Is there anything you want to say?" Patrick asked her as he lowered himself onto the curb.
"Yeah. A plethora of things."
"Like...?" he motivated.
"Like how I hate how introverted I am. And how obnoxious I am. I'm not a 'partier,' and nothing's going to change that."
Patrick's heart quivered; he had expected her to say something about him.
"And why did you hurt me? Don't you know how awkward it is for me to not only be out of my comfort zone by a party scene but to be forced into another level of uncomfortability when you kissed me? I mean, talk about a new low," she spat acidly.
Patrick opened his mouth, but she continued to charge on. "And then you just...leave. No explanation. I can't believe you even asked me that stupid favor. I bet you and Sienna had a couple of good laughs," she said, sounding suffocated. Jolynn stood up and took a step.
Patrick's face wrinkled with an internal pain. "I'm sorry I did that to you -"
"Sure you fucking are," Jolynn cut in acridly.
"Jo!" Patrick yelled angrily, rising to his feet. "I'm serious!"
"Oh shut up!"
"I'm sorry I hurt you, but don't you realize that it hurt me too? Why do you think I'm out here instead of with Sienna? We are fucking 'over,'" (here he used finger quotes), "because she knows I love," (at this word his voice strangled), "you. I'm just not extroverted like you are to tell you how I feel, goddammit!"
And with the last word he grabbed her shoulders pressed his lips against hers. She felt her hands fall around his neck again.
The fiery kiss of hot red slowly mixed into a soft orange and soft yellow and white. And soon their lips were no longer pressing together forcefully, but brushing delicately, like the soft finishing touches of a painting.
rest in results
Finally pulling apart, they awkwardly stepped back and stood in the lamplight.
Patrick shifted his footing and put a hand behind his neck. "L-l-look, Jo, I understand if you...if you..."
"Uh...P-Patrick? Ahh..."
The two fell silent for a while.
"I love you," Jolynn said lowly.
"I love you too," Patrick shyly answered.
Their hearts fluttered and secretly held hands, walking out of the cold night.
