I wake up to the painful sound of a pot being hit with a wooden spoon. "Wake up!" Olivia yells over her banging as Sarah jumps on my stomach. I hold my ears and wince.
"Go away," I groan.
"Get up. We gotta get clothes by six," she stops yelling and making so much noise.
"And that made you murder my eardrums?" I shove my pillow over my head.
"Right, you have better hearing. Sorry," she snatches the pillow away as Sarah hops around me.
"I'll get up if you get out."
"If you're not showered and in the truck within the next hour." I wave her off and rub my eyes as she closes the door, throwing the pillow back at my face. Sarah barks as I sit up. I sigh and pet her before getting up and showering. After putting jeans and a t-shirt on, I brush my teeth and go back to my room. I find Sarah sitting on my bed with her tongue hanging out of her mouth as she stares at me.
"Have fun waking me up?" I pet her for a few seconds before grabbing what I need and leaving my room. I feed Sarah and throw my shoes on before going to the truck where Bree and Olivia are waiting.
"Dad took the bag of clothes when he left for work so we just have to find half-decent outfits," Olivia says as Bree starts driving.
"If you try doing what you did last time, I will never forgive you," I warn my sister.
"What'd she do last time?" Bree asks.
"She tried getting Dad to buy me a suit that made me look like a walking box of crayons."
"It was cool!" Olivia defends as Bree laughs lightly.
"Sure it was," I roll my eyes and we continue. As we arrive at the only store in town that sells good clothing, I can see the dresses and suits in the window. We go inside and the bell rings as the door opens and closes. We split up to find our clothing. I'm looking through the racks when I bump into a familiar friend. "Shit, sorry, Dani."
"It's cool, you here because of that party thing too?" she asks.
"Yeah, I don't have any clothes nice enough for it," I shrug and keep looking.
"Me neither, mom gave me some cash to get a dress," she rolls her eyes. "I'm just gonna find some good pants, a shirt, and a tie. Whatever I can get cheap and not have to wear a dress."
"I'm looking for anything that will fit and not make me look like a total moron," we both shift through the racks. "How many people do you think will show up?"
"I know that the guys and Lizzy are. Riley's trying to get Jack into something besides jeans and a white shirt," she nods over the rack where the dressing rooms are.
"Is that even possible?" we both chuckle lightly.
"I don't think so."
"Travis!" Olivia's voice booms through the store. "Where'd you go!?"
"Duty calls," I turn as Dani nods.
"Trav-"
"I'm here, stop yelling," I stop her.
"Go put this on," she shoves an outfit in my hands and pushes me towards the dressing area.
"Hey TJ," Jack says as Olivia pushes me past him, Riley and Lizzy.
"No talking. Just put it on." I'm shoved into the small changing area and close the door.
"You need to relax."
"Just put it on." I look at the clothes. A bright yellow outfit that clearly won't fit me.
"Dude, you're trying to make me a walking yellow crayon!" I yell as I come out of the room. "And these things wouldn't fit me."
"Oh come on," Olivia protests as Bree finds us. "Please? How do you know they won't fit if you don't try them?"
"I'm pretty sure I know that I'm not an extra small."
"Fine, but I'll get you one day," she slowly backs into the clothing behind her until she's gone.
"Hey, guys," I nod to my friends. We all talk for a few minutes before looking for clothes and start trying them on. It takes a while but I manage to find something I like and decide not to show my friends until later. I sit with Lizzy, Riley, Jack, and Dani as they, Bree, and Olivia try stuff on. After Bree and Olivia find what they want we pay for it and say goodbye to my friends before leaving. We keep our clothes in the back seat of Bree's truck while we get some food.
"It's already four-thirty. We can go home and change but we'll have to be quick," Olivia says as we're finishing our food.
"Okay, let's go." We make it home around five. Dad and Pops are already home when we get inside.
"We have an hour to be ready for this thing," Dad says as soon as we get our shoes off.
"Get goin' guys. You wanna show up that Leo Gale or what?" Pops claps his hands together as we all run to our rooms to get ready. Sarah follows me into my room as I start changing. She takes my shirt out of my hand as I grab the new one.
"Thanks," I smile and pet her a little before going back to getting ready. As I put the vest on Sarah brings me my tie. I take it from her and wipe it off before putting it around my neck. I pet Sarah on the way out of my room. I go into the bathroom, leaving the door open, so I can tie my tie in the mirror.
"You look nice," Olivia says as she comes in with earrings and a necklace in her hand.
"So do you," I nearly finish the tie as Bree joins us to mess with her hair. Olivia has a black dress on with a green ribbon around her waist. The earrings she has are simple silver studs with her favorite chain necklace with a dagger on it. Her hair is slightly curled as it falls to her shoulders. Bree is wearing a dark green suit with a black bow tie. Her hair is combed slightly up, bringing out her eyes and freckles. I'm in black pants and a white, long-sleeve button-down shirt with my black vest and tie. I mess with my hair a little and make sure my tie is straight before leaving Olivia and Bree to their outfits.
"Travis, can you tie this damn thing?" Pops asks as he lets go of Dad's tie.
"Yeah," I nod and help Dad tie his tie.
"Thanks, kiddo," Dad smiles. "You look nice."
"Agreed," Pops nods.
"Thanks, you guys look good too." Dad's wearing a dark blue suit while Pops is in a simple black suit but without a tie. They both have their hair neat and none of our shoes have holes or dirt on them.
"You guys ready?" Olivia and Bree come out of the bathroom, putting shoes on as they walk.
"Yeah," Pops looks at his watch. "We have half an hour before we're late."
"Are we taking one car?" Dad asks.
"I think this time we can take one," Pops nods. "If anyone wants to leave early, just say so and come back to get the rest of us when we call."
"Sounds good to me, who's driving?" I ask.
"I will," Dad volunteers. We all nod and head out after giving Sarah food, water, and some pets. Olivia, Bree, and I sit in the back seat. Olivia sits in the middle while Bree and I sit by the windows. After a while, we reach the Gales' house. A big, fancy, white house with two stories, a basement, three bathrooms, and a whole bunch of yard space. A big house for a family of big douchebags. The driveway is filled with cars as Dad parks. There are some small groups of people dressed nicely around the area as we get out.
"I hate this place, even more, the more I come here," I mutter.
"Relax," Olivia and Bree put their hands on each of my shoulders. "Just go find your friends."
"That was the plan," I nod. "That and take some fancy food home with me."
"That's a good plan." We all make our way inside and split to do whatever we can at these kinds of parties. I dodge people as I move through the crowd in search of the food table. The music isn't very loud and it's all classical. Everyone's talking in small groups. I recognize most of them. Some dress in expensive clothes all the time but I know a lot of them only have one outfit for the Gale parties in this town. When I find the food I also find Jack.
"Hey, Riley managed to get you into some nice clothes," he's wearing black pants with a white button-down shirt and red tie. He's shoving food into his mouth.
"Yeah, I don't hate it but I don't like it," he shrugs and sets his food down.
"Well, you look good. You come with your family?"
"Yeah, we got Dani on the way. You?"
"They're around here somewhere," I nod. "You know if Riley and Lizzy are here yet?"
"I think Riley's with Dani but I haven't seen Lizzy since the store." We talk for a few minutes before I go outside. This place smells like cologne and perfume you would only wear once a year. Grabbing a glass of water on the way out, as I step outside a car pulls into the area behind Dad's car. It's a fancy black four-door car. I have no idea what it's called but it looks expensive as hell. When I see Shawn Categore stepping out of the driver's seat I nearly drop my glass. He's dressed in a fancy, dark red tuxedo. He's even wearing sunglasses. The sun is setting! You won't need them!
As he steps around the car Lizzy opens the back door to let her and Caleb out. She's wearing a beautiful, pastel pink, single strap dress that reaches just above her knees. She's also wearing black high tops that look new, too. Her hair is wavier as it falls nicely over her shoulders. Caleb is in a nice black outfit. Dress pants with clean shoes and even a black vest and blazer. And his hair is neatly combed. His bow tie looks a little tight as he scratches at it though. Ms. James seems to scold him as Shawn takes her hand and she steps out in a lovely, dark red, wrap dress with a pretty necklace and high heels. Her hair is pulled into a neat bun. When Shawn goes to take Lizzy's arm as he does her mother's she pulls away quickly and accepts Caleb's instead. They start walking my way and I take a drink of my water.
"Travis!" Caleb smiles as he notices me.
"Hey, Caleb, you clean up well," I smile in return as they come closer.
"Thanks, you look good too."
"Hi, Travis," Lizzy smiles.
"You look nice, and so do you, Ms. James," I smile and Lizzy gives me a side-eye.
"Thank you, Travis," Ms. James smiles. "Have you met Shawn?"
"I don't think I have," I lie as I shake his hand. "Travis Jackson."
"Shawn Categore," I hate his smug smiling face.
"Is there food here?" Caleb asks.
"Yeah, I'll show you where it is," he takes my hand with his free one and drags Lizzy away as we move through the crowd.
"I like your high tops," I say as Caleb gets his food.
"Thanks, Shawn tried making me wear heels. Never. Happening," she emphasizes that fact.
"I will never try to make you wear heels," I put my hands up in surrender. "How do you know Shawn?"
"He's Mom's boyfriend."
"I don't like him," Caleb says before grabbing more crackers.
"Why not?" I already know why. He's a prick.
"He's mean when Mom isn't around. And creepy," he answers.
"Yeah, I caught him going through my phone as if there's anything besides a few contacts on it," Lizzy adds.
"Why is the music so boring?" Caleb changes the topic.
"Because the hosts are boring," Dani says as she, Jack, and Riley join us. Dani's in a dark blue blazer and dress pants with a white button-down shirt while Riley is in a grey suit with a bow tie.
"Dani!" Caleb turns around to face her.
"Hey, dude." I look around as the group talks. Where did Shawn go? I can't let anything happen in this place. Oh, there he is. Arguing with Leo? Why would he be arguing with Leo? As Leo storms off in his fancy outfit, Shawn rolls his eyes and walks away.
"Travis!" Everyone's snapping their fingers at me.
"Hm? What?" I ask as I turn back to them.
"Why were you just watching them?" Riley asks.
"I wasn't watching anyone. Just thinking," I lie.
"Sure," Jack eyes me. "I'm going to find the bathroom," he walks away with one last side-eye in my direction.
"Where's Caleb?" I ask. He isn't talking to anyone or grabbing food.
"Mom wanted to spend some time with him," Lizzy explains.
"Excuse me!" A voice calls over the house as Mr. Gale stands on his stage. Yes, they have a stage. "I would like to thank you all for coming tonight," he's in a fancy suit that has one of those clip things instead of a tie. How am I supposed to know what they're called?! "I know this was a last-minute thing but I'm very glad that you all could make it," he smiles as Mrs. Gale joins him with Leo. They all look nice but they're still assholes. "I've invited you all here to announce that we are expanding our business to making more than just plastic bags. We will also be making straws and paper plates!"
Everyone claps while my friends slowly clap and look at each other slightly confused. He says it like he organized this whole party to announce that he's won a Grammy or something.