Kyle and Jess arrived at the party, still in their casual clothes from earlier, the thumping bass of the music was almost deafening as they swam their way through the ocean of people.

"You know where your friends are?" She asked him.

"Here, there and everywhere by the looks of things," He answered. "You?"

"I'm sure I'll find them," Jess said, failing to spot anyone in the darkened room.

"Want me to help you look?"

"It's fine, really" She replied. "We've already spent most of the day together. Wouldn't want anyone getting any ideas now would we?"

"Fair point," He admitted. "I'll catch up with you later though?"

"Sure" Jess smiled at him, her large eyes glowing in the flickering light.

The two went their separate ways with Jess finding her friends in the kitchen, while Kyle found Zach in the living room. When his best friend asked him where he'd been, Kyle simply shrugged.

"I just had some stuff to do!" He called over either Nikki Minaj or Zara Larsson or whatever music was playing. Kyle couldn't keep up with modern music and he was pretty sure that there wouldn't be any Kiss getting played at this party.

"Hey, you've been pretty distracted lately," Zach commented. "Something going on?"

"No" Kyle shushed him, sounding more defensive than he'd intended. "Just tell me what I've missed so far"

"Well not much. Coach Chalmers chucked this one kid out for being an asshole and you know that guy Jack Booth? I caught him making out with Tracy Prescott in the back yard!"

"Fascinating" Kyle laughed.

"Hey whatever man, I'm just glad that somebody is getting some. What about you? You see any honeys that you like?" Zach smirked.

Zach had always claimed that Kyle would use his looks to draw girls in, and he would take over to then use his "incredible personality" to convince the girls to make out with them. To Kyle's knowledge this strategy had only ever worked once but Zach still swore by it at every party they attended together. However, what Zach lacked in womanising, he more than made up for with his almost supernatural timing.

Just as he'd asked the question, Jess and her friends appeared, hovering in the dining space that separated the kitchen and living room. Looking over, Jess once again smiled at Kyle.

Although he'd had a crush on her when he was younger, Kyle knew he was past it now. They hadn't spoken until this week and he knew nothing about her anymore. He still thought she was cute of course, but that was as far as it went. Unfortunately, he knew that Zach wouldn't believe that.

"Say no more my friend," Zach teased.

"It's not like that," Kyle assured him. "We're just . . . neighbours".

"Neighbours with benefits?"

"That's not even a thing!" He laughed. "And besides, she just broke up with Duncan Riley. I don't think she's looking for anything right now."

"That dude is fucking massive," Zach stated, for the first time sounding as though he'd tried some of the alcohol that someone had inevitably snuck in. "And she's so tiny."

"Are you ok?" Kyle chuckled.

"I'm great! But you need a girl in your life ok! You've been so tightly wound since you broke up with that Lisa chick."

"I have not. I'm just focusing on school. We can't play soccer forever you know?"

"You are officially the worst party attendee ever," Sighed Zach.

With another laugh, Kyle looked over at Jess to see that she was deep in conversation with one of her friends.

Hopefully a better one than he was having.

*

"So are you two a thing?" The girl asked Jess with a giggle.

"No, Kara, we are not a thing!" Jess cried. "I told you, we just came the same way because we live on the same street, that's all". She knew these sorts of questions would be coming her way but she would never get used to it.

Kara was one of Jess' closest friends, but unlike her, she was still dating one of the football players, and completely happy to do so. Jess had explained to her all of her reasons for breaking up with Duncan, including the reasons she was yet to tell Kyle (despite his constant asking) but it hadn't made an impression on her. Of course, Jess wasn't trying to sway her friends' decisions at all. She just wanted to find someone who'd understand her point of view for a change, instead of someone telling her she was making a mistake. So far her search had been in vain.

"I suppose you could do much worse," Kara was now checking Kyle out, while seemingly ignoring Jess. "The soccer team don't win as much, but it's still better then the basketball team"

"Maybe you should go over and talk to him?" Jess suggested, rolling her eyes.

"There's no need to get jealous, Jess. I'm just saying he's pretty cute. I am perfectly happy with Eric," The blonde, make up clad girl winked. "Speaking of which, here he comes now."

Jess sighed and closed her eyes. She could hear Eric coming without even seeing him, and she knew that wherever he went, Duncan wouldn't be far behind.

"Hey girls!" Kara's boyfriend called before planting a kiss on the blonde. "You enjoying the party?"

"It's great!" Kara answered, full of enthusiasm. Jess didn't answer, hoping that he wouldn't press her for an answer. Unfortunately, he did.

"Yeah, it's awesome," She smiled awkwardly.

"Are you alright?" Eric asked.

"She's fine, she's just stressing about her newest boy drama" Kara answered before her friend could.

This time, Jess was fast as lightening with her response. "I already told you, there's nothing going on with me and Kyle!"

"What's this about Kyle?" Duncan asked the small group, finally caught up with his friend Eric.

"Nothing!" Jess' sigh was almost deafening.

"It's so obvious with the way that he's looking at you!" Kara argued.

"Well I guess that explains why he went nuts at me the other day. Is he the reason you broke up with me?" Duncan asked his ex-girlfriend. Instead of answering verbally, Jess raised both her hands up in frustration.

"You know what? I'm out of here," She said before storming out of the room.

"Jess wait!" Duncan cried, but Jess ignored both him, and Kyle, who'd watched the entire scene unfold.

Jess knew him well enough now to know that he would be the only one to come after her.

*

As she predicted, Jess heard Kyle's footsteps running down the road.

"Wait up!" He called to her.

"Just go back and enjoy the party, Kyle!" She responded in a warning tone.

"What happened?" Kyle asked when he caught up to her, ignoring her last order. He stood in front of her, blocking the path. "You can talk to me" He assured her, watching carefully.

Jess wasn't sure why, but this time she did feel like opening up to her neighbour. Something about his face, lit up in the orange glow of the streetlights made it impossible to keep her true feelings inside any longer.

"I'm just sick of everyone!" She yelled, echoing what she'd already told him. "Why is everyone obsessed with me having a boyfriend or going out with someone?"

"Just ignore those guys in there. They're just trying to get to you because they don't have anything better to do".

"It's not just them! It's everyone!" Jess snapped. "Everyone seems to think I should be happy dating the football player. Just wait for him to make it to the big time and spend the rest of my days as a rich housewife or something. Why do I need someone else to get me anywhere? What's wrong with getting there on my own?"

"There's nothing wrong with that!"

"Then why do I feel like I can't be somebody without having a boyfriend? That's the way everyone in this stupid place seems to be thinking anyway," Jess sighed.

"Jess, you can be whoever you want to be!"

"Thanks, but you don't know me, Kyle" She laughed.

"I know that you're someone who isn't afraid to stand up for them self. Someone who tells people exactly what they're thinking and isn't afraid of the consequences. You're smart, cool and . . . not a drama queen!" Kyle laughed. "And that's all from just the last few days!" He added.

"You really think so?"

"Trust me Jess; you have more personality than most people around here. I know you've got a big life ahead of you outside of this hole we call a town. Just don't let it drag you down before you make it out".

"You know Kyle, that's actually really sweet of you," Jess smiled.

"I know right? What's up with that?" He laughed. Thankfully, Jess joined in. "Come on, let's get outta here. I'll walk you home".

"We live in the same street. You have to walk me home" She snorted.

"Chivalry's not dead," He grinned as they took off home.

*

The following morning looked as if the sun had failed to rise, perfectly capturing the mood of the entire Maguire family.

As expected, the three of them were receiving nervous stares and could hear people murmuring, sounding like a foreshock before it erupted into one big seismic blast.

"Are you alright?" Matt whispered to his tearful mother. He already knew the answer but he needed to say something. For lack of a better phrase, the silence was killing him.

"This was a mistake," Mrs Maguire sobbed, being consoled by her husband.

"Come on darling. Let's just get through this," He suggested, attempting to lead his family into the inner sanctum of the church, literally praying that it would bring them salvation.

If the Maguire's had believed that only God could judge them, then what happened next certainly convinced them otherwise.

"You shouldn't be here!" Cried a large woman who was waving her fist around at them, a gesture that Matt had only ever seen on television. "You devil woman! You're son is the devil!" The lady cried at Matt's mom before being dragged to a faraway pew by her husband.

"I think we should just get out of here," Matt suggested to his parents. Apparently three months wasn't long enough for people to forgive. Was that in the bible somewhere?

"You can't leave! I thought we were all about to get churchy up in this bitch?" A familiar voice laughed from behind them.

The Maguire family turned round to see Katie standing before them, but in a way that Matt had never seen before.

She was dressed nicely.

Her hair had been brushed and was now dangling at her shoulders, toughing her white blouse that bore no sign of her skull necklaces. Also gone were her ripped jeans, replaced by black tights and a smart black skirt.

"Is this a friend of yours Matthew?" Matt's father asked him.

"Matt said it'd be cool if I came along. I hope that's ok?" Katie answered for him, smiling at Matt as she did so, letting him know that she was here to support them.

"Of course!" Mrs Maguire cried ecstatically. She'd never even heard of her son to talk to a girl before.

As Katie introduced herself to his parents, they were all still being shown icy glares from almost everyone who walked in. One particularly ugly sneer filled Katie up to her boiling point.

"What the heck are you all looking at? Jesus is that way!" She yelled at them, pointing towards the alter that would soon be host to the local reverend for his sermon. The large, cavernous church seemed to carry her voice, allowing it to be spread far and wide, allowing it to be heard by everyone. The word of God didn't even travel that fast.

It seemed to work wonders though, as all of the worshippers turned away and seated themselves in silence.

As his family took their inconspicuous seats in the furthest back corner, Matt smiled at Katie, thanking his own personal messiah.

*

The Maguire's were the first ones out of the church at the end of the service, wanting to avoid a repeat of their entrance. Despite the offer from Matt's parents to drive the two teenagers' home, Matt and Katie decided to walk, despite the dull day.

"Thanks for doing that. I really appreciate it. You didn't have to do that for us, you know," He said.

"What are you talking about? I didn't do it for you; I love all this Jesus stuff!" Katie smirked.

"Yeah right! Name any of Jesus' disciples?"

"That's easy! John, Paul, George and Ringo," Katie shrugged.

"Those are the names of The Beetles!" Matt couldn't stop himself from becoming hysterical.

"Whatever dude, it's basically the same thing," She muttered.

"Ok seriously though, why did you come today?" Matt asked after his giggle fit had subsided.

"I don't know," She shrugged again. I just hate how judgey people can be, you know? I saw how that cop spoke to you last night and I just felt bad for you. No offence,"

"None taken. I feel bad for me!" He admitted. "But it was really nice of you. Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"

"Just don't get me killed in the forest and we'll call it even," She said in a calming voice. "Besides, we've all gotta do a good deed every now and again right?" She was now averting her gaze, feeling slightly embarrassed at her own generosity.

"You guys have all been nice to me lately actually. It feels weird having friends!" Matt chuckled.

"Don't let Kyle hear you say that!"

"I might not be his friend, but he's my friend," Matt declared, unafraid of what anyone thought about it. "And so are you," He added in for extra measure, forcing another stifled laugh out of Katie.

"Boy. You sure know how to show a girl a good time," She grinned.

*

As the body washed up onto the shore, the now soaking sheet somehow staying on, it came to an absolute halt at the water's edge.

The fall had been a big one, and a fast one too. Had the heart still been beating, it would probably have stopped on the way down anyway. Either way it would have ended up like this.

One good thing (if you could call it that) was that a lot of the blood had been washed out of the sheet, despite its tightness wrapped around the body.

There was no way of knowing if the former occupant of the body would have been happy to lie here for all of eternity, but just like the ending of its life, it had no choice in the matter.

It wouldn't get the chance to stay.

The bushes on the riverbank shook as the creature made its way through them, fighting off the tough branches. Almost at the edge, it sniffed a few times; making sure it smelt what it thought it did.

Once satisfied, it let out a yearning growl, loud enough to drown out the sound of the stream, yet low enough not to attract any curious attention. Now, sure that it was alone, it stretched out it's thin claws, impaling the prone carcass before dragging it into the wild with it, ready for its next meal.

________________________________________________________________________________________

Oooooooooh exciting!

So we know a bit more about Jess real feelings in life now and I'm sure there are a lot of people sympathising with her!  God knows that some people really do have that sort of attitude.

Other than that, there isn't a whole lot of character development or anything in this chapter but with the whole party scene, I feel like it's one of the most important chapters.

And here's why:

In loads of these kinds of stories, I feel like the author sometimes forgets that their characters are just kids. The party was a way for me to let the characters just be normal for a little while and blow off from steam. The thing is, when you're that age everything is a teen drama so despite the rather dark nature of the rest of the story, it was a great change to lighten up things a bit.

Do you agree with me? Or do you think I'm talking nonsense? Haha

Let me know!