Heart of Eagles part 4

  Emmy shrugged off her jacket and shook snowflakes out of her hair, feeling the warmth of the crowed house hit her cold face like a wall. The scent of vanilla and gingerbread wafted through the hot, dense air. Emmy’s heart pounded as she slipped through the hallway, maneuvering through the pile of wraps and gloves, jackets and scarves.  

The living room was packed completely with people, most of them a few years older than Emmy. Music blared, and the din was deafening. Emmy set her things gingerly down on the hall table, and looked around the room for a familiar face. She felt a bit lost in such a crowd, and anxious to find a place to blend in.

  “Emmy!” Allison Redford called exuberantly from the lap of a rather thick looking senior. She laughed loudly and waved both arms, beckoning her friend. Emmy smiled wanly, feeling her stomach writhe uncomfortably inside her.

  “Hey Allison.” She walked over, eyeing the boy whom Allison was sitting on nervously. As soon as she got close to him she could smell smoke and some other scent she couldn’t place. Allison outstretched her arms and embraced her friend, still giggling vaguely. She pulled Emmy down onto the floor beside the easy chair instantly launching into a steady stream of gossip. As her friend prattled loudly, Emmy looked shyly about the room. There were no adults there, something she had not expected when Allison had said that one of her friends was giving a party. Parents were always at parties to keep…things from happening. Suddenly Emmy was much more uncomfortable than she wanted to admit.

Chad, the boy Allison quickly introduced as her boyfriend, opened a can of something and tossed it recklessly down his throat. He handed one to Allison who smiled coyly and guzzled the drink even faster than he had. Chad’s friends from the football team crowded around them, flirting with Emmy until they grew tired of her pallid replies.

  Allison’s endless barrage of vivacious chatter grated on Emmy’s nerves, and the cold, prying stare of a boy in a letterman jacket made her feel sick.

  “Drink some punch Emmy! You haven’t had anything!” Allison gasped between giggles, sloshing a glass of punch into Emmy’s hand, her blonde curls bouncing against her shoulder. Emmy set the glass down on the coffee table, untouched. She glanced up and felt her heart stop beating altogether. Pushing the nagging of her conscience aside, Emmy lowered her gaze demurely. Timothy Park was walking across the crowded room towards her.