House Party Read Online Free PDF Page A

room.
    The doorbell rang again. I raced for the door. My heart was pounding. I reached the door as the bell rang again. This was bizarre. I was feeling excited and scared to answer my own front door. I took a deep breath, and then I threw it open.
    There were four boys standing there. I didn’t know any of them. I wasn’t surprised because Jen did most of the inviting and knew most of the people.
    â€œIs this the place where the party’s taking place?” one of them asked.
    â€œThis is it,” I said. “I’m Casey. This is my house.”
    â€œHey, Casey. I’m Mike and this is Steve, Mo and Malik.”
    â€œCome in,” I said and gestured for them to enter. “It’s still early, so not many people have arrived yet,” I tried to explain.
    â€œNothing wrong with being early,” one of them said.
    â€œYeah, that’s cool.”
    â€œJen’s upstairs.”
    â€œCool.”
    â€œAnd there’s punch in the kitchen…it’s in a bowl…and there’s alcohol…we put alcohol in it…vodka and whiskey and gin,” I stammered. “So help yourself.”
    â€œI think we’ve already taken care of that part,” one of them said—I think it was Mo, but I really couldn’t keep track of all the names.
    He opened up his coat, reached inside a pocket and pulled out a bottle. It was like a magic trick as this gigantic bottle of vodka just appeared.
    â€œPlus we have beer,” one of the others said.
    He pulled off a backpack, and I heard bottles clinking together.
    â€œThere are plastic cups in the kitchen by the punch bowl. Just help yourselves.”
    â€œWe will, thanks for having us,” Mike said.
    â€œThanks for coming and—”
    The doorbell rang again, cutting me off.
    â€œYou better get that,” Mike said.
    They went upstairs, and I went to grab the door. Two guys and a girl walked in. I didn’t know the guys but I knew the girl—Ashley from my law class.
    â€œHey, Casey,” Ashley said. “These are my friends, Brian and Ryan. They’re such good friends they even rhyme.”
    They nodded at me, and I nodded back.
    â€œThere’s punch upstairs,” I said, “but be careful. It’s spiked with alcohol.”
    â€œI’m going to stick with wine,” Ashley said. She pulled a bottle out from under her jacket.
    â€œFancy-looking bottle,” Brian said. “But look, it’s got a cork. Why didn’t you get something with a screw cap?”
    â€œMy father doesn’t buy wine with screw caps,” she said. “He only buys the good stuff.”
    â€œYour father bought that for you?” I gasped.
    They laughed and I realized that was a pretty dumb question.
    â€œThis isn’t like a bush party,” Ashley said. “I’m sure that Casey has a corkscrew.”
    â€œOf course. Up in the kitchen. The drawer just to the right of the fridge.”
    Brian and Ryan headed up the stairs. Ashley started after them, stopped and turned around.
    â€œThanks for hosting the party,” Ashley said.
    â€œThanks for coming…it didn’t take much effort.”
    â€œIt’s just that it’s pretty brave of you to do, that’s all.”
    â€œBrave? What do you mean?” I asked.
    â€œAshley!” Ryan bellowed from the kitchen. “You’re slowing down our drinking time! Come on!”
    â€œI’m coming!” she yelled back. “Talk to you later.”
    I guess she must have meant it was brave because my parents would kill me if they found out. They actually wouldn’t kill me. I’d be grounded, but if that happened it happened. Sometimes you had to be prepared to pay the price to get what you wanted.
    There was a pounding on the door. Startled, I almost screamed. I recoveredand scrambled over to the door. It was four—no, five people. Three girls and two guys. I recognized them from around