Since St. Vincent was a prep school, they highly, highly pressured their students to push for post secondary education. Especially top schools like Lumiere Erudit. Even though it was local, they had some of the best programs in the country. It was a good option if you didn’t want to travel far for Ivy Leagues. Regularly Liz, Lisa and the others would work on and help each other with their studies so they could all attend together next year. 

Tonight, Everyone excluding VJ and Elizabeth, now including Jefferey, who had apparently just come from teaching some sort of freshman girl's lacrosse lesson, had gone to the Langerak house. Their home was much more understated than the Ecochards and a lot more modern. Their main hallway was full of awards engraved with Parker, Kaylynn and their parent’s names. She could see their living room was huge and out the back of the house she could spot a gorgeous pool. They clearly loved to entertain.

"I'm gonna go change. You wanna come?" Lisa asked Kaylynn. She stood at the bottom of the stairs, 

She nodded, glancing over her shoulder, “Yeah, You coming Holly?” 

Lisa shook her head, “She can stay down here with Parker.”

Lynn hesitated a minute, joining Lisa by the stairs, “I guess…just if we’re both going upstairs, I wouldn’t want to leave her down here alone–”

"She'll be fine. Let's go." Lisa grabbed Lynn's hand, pulling her up the stairs,

Lisa’s laughter trailed up the stairs behind them, leaving the lobby quiet. Holly fiddled with her fingers as she looked around the house awkwardly. 

Parker smiled down at her, “I’ve actually gotta shower. But make yourself at home. Jeff can show you around if you want.” He raised his eyebrows, “Only show her around, J.” He said jokingly, but pointedly,

She nodded, turning to Jeff as Parker footsteps faded up the stairs behind the girls.

   "You look nice." Jeff smiled,

   Holly nodded, this might have been the first time she was talking to him completely sober, "Thank you."

   "Well... Follow me." He led her down the hall, 

"Hey, old man." Parker said as he brushed by his dad in the hallway. This time of day he was probably on his way out to the golf courts with Lisa’s dad or some other middle aged man activity.

Dustin lifted his chin at his son, smiling, "You have Elizabeth over?"

Parker chuckled, stretching his arm across his chest, "Nope. Just Lisa, Jeff and a new girl. Elizabeth is on a date."

  Dustin raised a brow. He’d seen Elizabeth there enough over the summer, always laughing, lingering on Parker’s words a little too long, always just a little too close on the couch, “Are you two not dating?”

Parker still smiled, slowly shaking his head, “Not exactly.”

Dustin cleared his throat, "That seems messy.”

"Yeah... Well..."

There was an awkward pause, Parker looked up at the ceiling. Not exactly the conversation he wanted to have with his dad.

”I liked you two together." Dustin said, breaking the silence, "You should have fought a little harder for that." 

Parker smirked, shrugging, “Sometimes you gotta know when to call it quits.”

“And that’s the backyard.” Jefferey pointed outside to the pool as they passed the big glass door, “Parker threw the best parties out there last year. You would have loved it.”

Holly nodded, following a few steps behind. She’d never been to a party before. At least, not one thrown by a teenager. “Uhm. Cool.”

“You like to party?” His eyes lingered on her as they walked to the living room,

She shook her head, hiding her fingers in her sleeves, “I’m…not sure.”

Holly watched as Jefferey eyed her up and down. She crossed her arms uncomfortably, shifting her weight from foot to foot, 

"So Liz did your makeup?" He stopped in the doorway, waiting for her to catch up,

She nodded, “I–is it too much?”

He tilted his head, studying her, “Not as much as half the girls at St. Vincent. But you have the face to pull it off. You look…ready for attention”

She smiled, though she wasn’t sure if that was a compliment, “Oh.”

“Come sit with me.” He took her hand, tugging gently and guiding her to the couch, 

He flopped down, patting the cushion beside him, “Who'd you get dressed up for?" 

She shook her head as she sat on the other end, “No one. I guess. Me. Maybe?”

"Come on.” He scooted a little closer to her. “Girls don't get all made up like that for no reason. You weren’t hoping to catch Parker’s eye, were you?" He placed a hand under her chin, lifting it to look at him,

"N-no, I-"

Before she could finish talking, Jefferey’s lips were on hers, pulling her closer to him,

She recoiled, raising her hands, “Wait, this is too–”

  He kissed her again, pushing her down onto the couch. Panic erupted in her chest as she felt Jefferey’s hands in where they shouldn’t be. Her heart pounded rapidly while she tried to figure out how to get out of his grasp. She pushed him, but he only kissed her more aggressively. 

Feeling a tear roll down her cheek, Holly bit his lip as hard as she could, shoving him off of her. She covered her mouth, gasping for air as he rubbed his bottom lip, seeing blood on his hand. 

"What the fuck? You're the one dressed like a whore." He said under his breath.

Holly’s breath was short and ragged as she stumbled to stand up and leave the room. The hall way to the front door felt like it was spinning. She looked at her phone. It was 6pm. She could probably still get an Uber…

And then she paused... 

What was that? Did he just try to do what she thought he did? That was her first kiss. Didn't he have a girlfriend? Her hands were shaking as she wiped the tears from her eyes. Jefferey’s words cut just as deep as his touch. She didn’t think she looked inappropriate. Did she somehow invite him to do that? 

"Where are you going?" 

Holly jumped, spinning around, Parker stood behind her. He was holding a can of some drink Holly didn't recognize.

"What's wrong? Did something happen?" He asked as she continued to wipe her tears, completely ruining her makeup.

She shook her head, hugging herself tightly, "I just want to go home." She turned back to the door.

He put his can down, "I can get you there."

Holly nodded, staring at her toes.

After dinner, VJ rented a whole ass boat to take Elizabeth out to sea. He was trying basically everything he could think of to impress her on their first date as a couple. 

VJ was a new student last year. He had seen Elizabeth around school but hadn't spoken to her until he kept noticing her watching him during one of the basketball away-games. Thankfully, the Selle Francais, St. Vincent De Paul’s team, won the game and Elizabeth and her friends came to the after party to congratulate them. Lots of guys seemed to give their attention to her and her friends. But she didn’t really pay them any mind. That’s why once he had her attention, he knew he had to shower her with everything he could to keep it. Boxes of pink roses, expensive dinners, Tiffany’s pendants and Hello Kitty plushies. Now rides out to sea. He had told his parents back in Cambridge that all the money he borrowed was for school trips and extracarriculars.

The water sparkled as the moon shone down. VJ looked back at Elizabeth, the moon also shone down on her. Her nose, her cheeks, her neck, chest… Before, she wore a black hoodie covering her dress, but once they left the school she took it off, revealing this short, pink ruffled dress with tiny, black bows and lace detailing. It kind of drove him crazy. It almost looked like lingerie. Was she teasing him on purpose?

“You look too good.” He said quietly.

Elizabeth titled her head, playing with a curl from her poofy pony tail, “Is that a compliment or a warning?”

He laughed, “Perhaps both?”

He offered his hand, helping her up as the boat rocked gently. 

“This is really beautiful. No one’s ever done anything like this for me before.” She rested her head on his arm. 

Yes! He thought.

“It’s so nice to get out of Sunset sometimes. I always feel like everyone’s watching everything we do, you know? There’s so much pressure to always be something. Out here it’s just us.” She continued,

The silence settled between them as they looked at the city lights in the distance,

"So what teenager rents a boat for a date." She teased, nudging his side with her knee,

He grinned sheepishly, scratching the back of his head "The kind who knows he's got a lot of competition."

"Oh please."

"I'm serious. It's like I'm with the royalty when I'm with you.” He took her hand, leading her to the back of the boat. “Some guys in the dorm call you and your friends 'the princesses.' it's quite cute actually." VJ's cute accent had her beaming from ear to ear.

They sat down on the leather seats that wrapped around the back of the boat.

"I guess it's flattering." She crossed her legs,

"You just seem to be conscientious of everything. To the very last detail. it's admirable." He chuckled “Not butters like some of the other girls.”

“Butters?” Liz asked, “What's that?”

“Butters.” He looked at her,

Liz shook her head,

“They don’t say that here?” He asked, putting an arm around her,

She laughed, “No?”

VJ’s eyes flashed over Elizabeth again. Her smile was magnetic. He couldn’t help himself, leaning in and kissing her. She kissed him back, but when he tried to draw closer, she gently pulled away.

“It’s getting kind of late.” She almost whispered, smoothing her skirt and shifting to her own space,

VJ paused, looking a little puzzled, “Uh. Yes.”

“I guess we should go home. We’ve got a lot of homework.”

“Bet.” 

Parker had driven Holly across the city to her house. The two of them had been sitting in her driveway for a while now. She was still crying and for some reason she didn’t want to go inside yet. He had asked her a few times what happened, but she wouldn’t budge.

“Do you need a hug?” He asked awkwardly,

Holly sniffled.

  "Are you going to be alright?"

She still didn't speak,

“Do you want like…A drink? Or a slushie… maybe?”

She sniffled again, but the tiniest laugh came out as she wiped her tears, shaking her head,

He grinned, relieved for a minute, “Oh there’s the smile. You’ve got a beautiful smile.”

“Thank you. Thank you for inviting me over. And for driving me home. You’re so nice–”

“Damn girl, you talk too much.”

Holly’s jaw dropped, “I- um. Sorry.”

He rolled his eyes, gently nudging her with his elbow, “I’m just playing. Nice to hear you speak a whole sentence.”

Holly blushed, biting her lip as she smiled. She turned away, staring out the window,

He watched her for a moment, then his voice softened, “You don’t have to talk. But the way you’re crying is making me worried.” His voice was barely above a whisper,

She nodded, She couldn’t even really process how she felt. Stupid? Or invaded? Was that just normal things girls dealt with if they decided to dress up? Did they just move on in silence like it was nothing?

“If you're not too upset, wanna hang out tomorrow? Catch a movie or whatever?”

She almost forgot Parker was there, “Sorry, what?”

“Do you want to see a movie with me? Maybe get some food?” His smile was so gentle,

 Her smile briefly returned, small and grateful. She was still hurting, but the gesture was kind so she nodded,

He relaxed a little, leaning back against the headrest,“ Cool. I’ll pick you up at seven.”