Let's Party
"Pro tip sis, you want Anne to be your girlfriend then maybe tell her the truth about your gender preferences and stop hiding behind your fake feelings for Thomas," Anna whispered in her sister's ear, coming up behind her and making Cathy jump and whirl around to shush her sister. She'd been watching the new girl, Bridget, flirt with Anne who was blushing and flirting back as they stood in front of the library, where Anne had been waiting for Cathy. It was so unfair because they were supposed to be hanging out today, instead, Cathy had to watch as Anne got herself a date right in front of her.
"I don't even know what you're talking about Anna. " Cathy lied adamantly as she glared pointedly at her older sister.
"Really because I think you do, you gotta step your game up unless you wanna lose her." Anna persisted as she gave Cathy a pointed glance.
"Well, you're wrong okay just stop bothering me!" Cathy protested feeling embarrassed as she glared down at her sneakers.
"Nah Anna's right you really got to step up your game or Anne's gonna move on," Kitty whispered coming up next to her as she placed her hand on Cathy's shoulder and gave her a sympathetic smile as Cathy once again jumped in surprise.
"Where did you even come from!?" Cathy spluttered indignantly and Kitty shrugged.
"I'm meeting up with some guys Maddox, Francis, and Tommy, we met online playing video games," she whispered fondly and Cathy looked over where Kitty had gestured only to see some of Henry's buddies leaning against the lion statues in front of the library with leering smirks, they were like nineteen, or early twenties. She looked down at Anne's fourteen-year-old sister and shook her head.
" Yeah Kitty I don't think that's such a good idea. "She deadpanned, making the younger girl pout in protest, and Anna followed her sister's gaze and scowled darkly at the older guys.
"Come on Kit-Kat I'll buy you a smoothie instead." Anna offered as she protectively wrapped her arm around the girl and subtly flipped the boys off before she tilted her head in Anne's direction and gave Cathy another pointed look. Then she successfully steered Kitty to the safety of her big red truck.
Cathy vaguely registered Kitty and her sister's fading conversation, as she stumbled towards Anne feeling like she was going to be physically sick at the sight of Anne and Bridget flirting.
"Ah, there's my favorite bookworm." Anne greeted brightly after catching Cathy's eye, Bridget turned towards her giving a faux polite smile, Cathy forced one of her own in return. "Bridget this is my best friend Cathy, Cathy this is the fantastic Bridget York." Anne introduced exuberantly.
"It's nice to meet you, Bridget," Cathy said almost robotically and Bridget smirked slightly, borderline almost smug. She simply hummed in response to Cathy's greeting before she turned to Anne, running a finger down the girl's arm making Anne blush heavily.
"So Anne before we were interrupted I believe you were inviting me to a little party tonight at your friend's house?" Bridget whispered seductively and Cathy felt her eye twitch slightly because Anne asked Bridget on a date?
"Ah yeah, Maggie knows how to throw a party let me tell you!" Anne exclaimed brightly as her face lit up like a Christmas tree. Cathy smacked her lips, her mouth suddenly tasted bitter.
"Great so we should totally go together." Bridget insisted and Cathy frowned at being ignored.
"I like parties too." She lied and instantly had Anne's attention, and unfortunately Bridget's. Anne chuckled good-naturedly as she tilted her head in amusement.
"No you don't silly, you hate being around large crowds, and you can't stand the smell of alcohol. You're a little homebody." Anne teased giggling and of course, all that Anne said was the absolute truth but still the thought of Anne going alone with Bridget sent her stomach in knots of jealous rage.
"Well I've never been to one so I wanna try it." Another lie, and by Anne's confused expressions and Bridget's narrowed eyes, Cathy could deduce that her lie wasn't all too convincing. Anne reached forward grabbing her hand.
"One second Bridget," she exclaimed before pulling Cathy a bit away from the obnoxiously flirty girl. "Cath what's going on? You hate parties." Anne's genuine concern made Cathy feel worse as she avoided Anne's shining green eyes, and in the process, she spotted Thomas Somerset walking from the ice cream shop across the street laughing and flirting with Anna's friend Maria. Was everybody getting dates around here except Cathy?
Anne followed her gaze and scowled darkly mistaking Cathy's silence and sudden change in personality due to Thomas and his new girlfriend. Anne gently placed her hand on Cathy's shoulder and dipped her head to meet Cathy's gaze.
"Hey if you want we can skip the party and just watch RWBY or something at one of our houses." She offered sincerely and as much as Cathy wanted to keep Anne away from Bridget, it felt wrong to deny Anne her parties, she loved to attend, so she shook her head.
"Can I just come with you to the party?" She mumbled twisting the sleeves of her jacket between her fingers. Anne sighed at Cathy's avoidance of the topic but nodded fondly.
"Of course you can Cathy-Cath." She whispered sweetly before skipping back to Bridget.
Cathy really hated parties, large crowds in particular, and sweaty drunk teenagers, but most definitely she really, really, really hated Bridget York. As she stood in the middle of the raging party lost amongst a mob of her peers after Bridget had taken Anne's hand and dragged her away from Cathy the instant they walked through the front door, she felt more like an outsider than ever before. So when some random person handed her a cup of some unknown substance and told her it was Sprite she didn't ask questions she just tipped the contents down her throat.
It was getting really late and Anne could not find Cathy anywhere, and she was starting to panic. The only reason her mum even allowed her to come to this party at all was that she had to come home before one in the morning and not be intoxicated. Of course Anne wasn't going anywhere without Cathy, even if it meant her mum grounding her from parties for the rest of her life. It certainly didn't help that Bridget was starting to really piss her off, and kept trying to get her to ditch Cathy. So Anne pawned Bridget off to Maggie then immediately escaped to ask whomever she came in contact with it they'd seen her best friend. But after twenty minutes or more of searching and finding Cathy nowhere, Anne finally got the idea to call Cathy's phone and listen for her ringtone. The music was blaring and it was hard to hear any distinct sounds, Anne was weaving around hammered teens and stepping over red cups when she heard her ringtone blaring throughout the room she'd just stepped into, it appeared to be a living room.
“Lean on me, when you're not strong/ And I'll be your friend/ I'll help you carry on/ For it won't be long/ 'Til I'm gonna need/ Somebody to lean on...”
Following the sound Anne found Cathy straddling some girl and giggling softly as she whispered to her while the girl kissed up her arm. Anne was beyond shocked but hardened her resolve and tugged her obviously wasted friend off the completely other wasted, girl, who barely even registered Cathy's absence.
"Heeeeeeeeeeeeey Annie baby how you doing?" She giggled obviously pleased by her own antics as she wrapped her arms around Anne's waist. Though Anne was amused she was also slightly angry.
"Cathy, how much have you drank?" Anne demanded sharply and Cathy stepped back, swaying on her feet slightly as she continued to giggle, and Anne got a look at how hazy her usually bright brown eyes were.
"Like two or seven or ten something I don't know! It was great though!" She exclaimed brightly and a few wasted dudes cheered their agreement making Anne huff irritably. "Hey, Annie Banannnie guess what? Guess what?" Cathy whispered pressing her mouth against Anne's shoulder making said girl shiver.
"W-what?" Anne stuttered trying to keep her feelings in check.
"Yo C-DAWG COME CHUG THIS!" Someone yelled from the kitchen, distracting the drunken girl.
"Okay!" Cathy giggled stumbling away, however, Anne grabbed her wrist and pulled her backward before she could get too far.
"Alright that's it I'm taking you home." Anne insisted wrapping an arm across Cathy's shoulders, trying to steer her towards the front door. Suddenly Cathy went boneless and sank to the floor, sitting cross-legged as she crossed her arms and glared defiantly up at her best friend.
"No, I'm staying here!" Cathy proclaimed and Anne scowled, talk about role reversal.
"Cathy you're drunk as hell, let's go." She tried to grab her arm and hoist her up but Cathy was dead weight.
"Nooooooooo!" She whined flopping onto her side and pouted heavily. "Go away, play with Bridget the bitch!" She exclaimed waving her arms then seemed to realize what she said and burst into giggles. "Haha Bridget the Bitch, it's true!"
"Cathy your mama's gonna kill me now come on!" Anne hissed, deciding to avoid the topic of Bridget until Cathy was more sober. Cathy kicked her feet at her friend in a half-hearted tantrum.
"Noooooooooooooo mean lady leave me lonely, I sleeping!" She exclaimed covering her eyes with her hands as she slurred and Anne groaned trying to think of something to get Cathy home as she glanced around the room for some sort of bribe. However when she looked down Cathy was gone.
"The hell?" Anne grumbled scanning the area for the shorter girl irritably. While she also contemplated how in the bloody world Cathy disappeared so fast.
"Who wants to see a show!" Cathy cheered standing up on the nearest table. Many people cheered and Anne rushed to her friend's side, elbowing her way to the front.
"This song is ...medicated for...Anne my bestest friend forever! Whooo!" She slurred downing whatever drink was in her hand.
"Cathy get down!" Anne hissed lowly as she looked at the leering audience Cathy had accumulated.
"Nooooo way, I'm having fun...show you who doesn't like parties!" She garbled not making a lick of sense and Anne was getting annoyed. Then Cathy took her shirt off and Anne's brain short-circuited. The crowd roared with appreciation and Anne yanked the girl off the table. "Wait... wait... beautiful... I didn't… I did..didn't... sing yet!" Cathy complained as Anne bridal carried the squirming girl to the door.
"I think you've shown them enough Cath," Anne grumbled as she slid outside and Cathy shivered.
"Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnie it's cold out here!" Cathy complained burying her face against Anne's neck. Anne sighed sitting the girl on the curb by her little green car. "Now you're leaving me!" Cathy began to sob and Anne quickly removed her plaid shirt so she was simply in a black tank top and carefully slipped it onto the intoxicated teen before her.
"I'm not going anywhere silly, I'm just giving you my shirt so you're not cold." Anne reasoned gently as she carefully buttoned the shirt up then coaxed Cathy towards her car.
"Anne don't leave me!" Cathy whimpered latching onto her friend once Anne got her into the passenger seat.
"Ugh cuddle bug stop latching onto me, at this rate we'll never get home!" Anne complained trying to pry Cathy's fingers from her tank top.
"No I just wanna hold you!" Cathy whispered clinging tighter to Anne as she locked her hands behind the designated driver's neck so she could hold her close.
"Alright Cuddle-me-Cathy, you have to let go now love, so I can drive us home." Anne reasoned gently.
"Noooooooo." Cathy pouted burying her face against Anne's shoulder.
"Why not cuddle monster?" Anne chuckled goodnaturedly.
"Cause, cause then you'll leave me to go find Bridget...and I'll be a lonely..."she sniffed rubbing her face against Anne's shoulder and neck. Anne's heart broke for her best friend and she dropped a kiss to the top of Cathy's curly hair.
"Bridget can stay here and rot for all I care because you're all that matters right now." Anne soothed gently and when Cathy slackened her grip she pulled away and quickly shut the door. This was certainly not helping Anne with her crush problem. Cathy was being so adorable, but Anne didn't want to take advantage especially because Cathy wasn't in her right state of mind. "Just get her home Anne." She whispered sternly to herself before taking a deep breath and climbing into the passenger seat of her car.
"Where you go? I was a lonely!" Cathy wailed frantically trying to pull Anne over to her across the gear shift.
"Cathy, I can't drive with you clinging to me, I need you to let go okay?" She stated firmly but not unkindly. Cathy shook her head adamantly and tears started spilling down her face, Anne felt awful for making her cry.
"I don't never ever wanna let you go Annie." She blubbered sadly and so with a resigned sigh Anne put her car in gear and tried to drive the best she could with one hand. She quickly glanced at the clock and groaned tiredly.
1:54 in the morning glared mockingly back at her and she knew her mum was going to kill her.
"It was never bout Thomas, " Cathy slurred softly after a good ten minutes of silent driving possibly twelve minutes of silent driving. Anne turned towards her slightly confusion masking her whole face.
"Cathy what?" She questioned trying to turn the wheel with her free hand, the other was still in Cathy's iron grip.
"It was bout you, always been a bout you Annie. " Cathy reasoned slurring her words as her eyes fluttered in and out of consciousness.
"What does that mean?" Anne demanded sharply but when she turned towards her passenger Cathy was sound asleep leaning against Anne's shoulder.
Anne sighed as she tried to remove her stubborn and drunk friend from her car. It had already taken her a good twenty-five minutes to get Cathy to release her arm.
"Cathy I'm already so late can't you just cooperate?!" Anne huffed as she unlocked the door once more, only for Cathy to reach up and lock it immediately. Anne groaned this had been the longest night of her entire life! "I'm going to get your mama!" Anne hissed and Cathy giggled pressing her face against the glass.
"No you won't, my mama scares you!" She sang tauntingly through the glass and still so damn drunk. Anne could cry she was so freaking frustrated.
"Damn you, come on Catherine Parr Aragon get out of my car this instant or I'll leave you here till morning!" Anne threatened, man now she really wished she had had at least one drink. But her mum was like a damn bloodhound when it came to Anne and drinking, she could smell alcohol on her even if it was a sip.
"No you won't, you love me tooooooooooo much!" Cathy whispered knowingly her eyes still unfocused.
"Ugh Cathy please I'm begging here," Anne huffed pleadingly. She looked up at the squeak of her front door, meeting her mum's frantic eyes Anne felt like bursting into tears.
"We were pose to hang out t'day." Cathy whispered her voice heartbroken and sad. Anne leaned down pressing her hand against the window. Suddenly she understood she'd promised to hang out with her best friend and she ditched her for Bridget. However, before Anne could voice her apologies her mum appeared by her side.
"What's going on? Anne Boleyn Seymour are you drunk? Did you drive home inebriated?" Jane demanded and Anne adamantly shook her head.
"No mum but I'm afraid Cathy's had too much to drink." She grumbled bitterly and Jane looked to the young girl who looked half asleep against the window.
"Well open the door then and we'll walk her home." Jane reasoned slightly relieved that Anne hadn't been drinking, and the mother thanked God that her daughter had broken things off with that Henry.
"I can't open the door!" Anne hissed and Cathy giggled slightly at Anne's exasperation.
"You have the keys in your hands, girl just unlock the door!" Jane exasperated curiously and Anne gave her mum a dry look as she hit unlock and almost instantly Cathy slapped her hand over the lock. "I'll just go get Catherine.." her mum whispered kissing Anne's face, " I'll be right back." She promised as if Anne was six.
"Love you, Anne," Cathy whispered and Anne sighed glaring tiredly at her stupidly adorable friend.
"Yeah well, I'm not very fond of you right now." She mumbled sitting down on the grass as she contemplated how to process everything Cathy was bombarding her with tonight. Suddenly the door pushed open and Cathy tumbled into her lap.
"Nooo you have to love me too, or I'll cry forever!" She exclaimed tearfully as if she'd hadn't been sobbing half the night already. Anne sighed rubbing up and down Cathy's back.
"Of course I love you too, Cuddle monster, I'm just…" overwhelmed, exasperated, confused, "tired." She whispered softly and Cathy curled closer to her pressing her face against her neck.
"You're so pretty, I love you. So pretty and hot..not temperature…" she was rambling again and Anne really wished her mum would hurry up.
"There they are!" Her mum exclaimed and Anne groaned wishing this night would just end already. Then Cathy leaned up and pressed her lips to Anne's before she passed out for good this time.
Cathy groaned her head felt like her brain was seven times too big for her skull and was trying to beat it's way out of her head with a hammer. She groaned trying to sit up but her pain almost made it impossible.
"Hey there Cuddles, I got you some aspirin. " a familiar voice, Cathy couldn't decipher because her head was too fuzzy and her eyelids too heavy to look. "Cath you got to sit up for me." The soothing voice gently explained before helping her sit up. Cathy opened her mouth and drank the water and downed the pills.
"Drank too much." Was all Cathy could state before she buried her face in her pillow.
"Yeah I know, I'm the one who had to deal with your drunken shenanigans. " the voice grew less fuzzy and more distinct at the statement. Cautiously Cathy squinted her eyes open and took in Anne's face. Why'd Anne look so good this morning? As if reading her thoughts Anne giggled and whispered. "I didn't drink last night. This is what staying sober will do for you. " she teased with a wink, but Cathy couldn't help but agree because Anne looked great.
"You suck." She groaned and Anne smirked in amusement.
"Yeah well so do you, your drunkenness almost drove me to drink!" Anne exclaimed goodnaturedly as she gently scooted her chair closer to Cathy's bedside and carefully began softly humming as she stroked through Cathy's hair. "But we'll talk about it after your hangover wears off." She whispered fondly as Cathy's eyes fluttered shut. Anne sighed boy did she have like a thousand questions.