Fighting to Be Free (Fighting to Be Free 1)

Apparently, this was my last duty as head cheerleader, then I would happily hand the title off to Marie, my successor. I was actually pretty happy to give it away to be honest.

The plan was to only stay at the party for an hour, but I’d already been there for almost two. It seemed like everybody wanted to talk to me about my trip that started tomorrow. There were way too many people to say goodbye to. It didn’t help that Stacey was hanging all over me, blubbing about how much she was going to miss me.

I was flying solo tonight too, I had no boyfriend to get me through the night and keep me sane.

Jamie and I were spending the night apart tonight. After I managed to escape Stacey’s clutches, I was going to go home and spend some time with my family - and catch an early night. But Jamie, well, Jamie was going something more…. risky.

Last week he’d finished his agreed time with Brett, but somehow he’s been roped - or maybe forced, because he didn’t look happy about it in the slightest - into doing one last job. He was going out about eleven o’clock to do some car boost, well, that’s what I assume he would be doing, I didn’t ask.

Since he was working all night, that meant that he’d be seriously tired tomorrow and no doubt would sleep the entire plane ride to Rome. That meant I wouldn’t be joining the mile high club.

Well, not tomorrow anyway, there would be plenty of opportunities for that; we had lots of plane rides planned.

A sloppy kiss on my cheek and a squeeze to my shoulder brought me out of my reverie. “Not fair. I hate it I tell you,” Stacey slurred, nuzzling her face against the side of mine.

I smiled, supporting most of her weight as she swayed. It was only seven thirty but she was wasted already, probably due to the fact that she’s started drinking at five. “I’ll email all the time, and post cards, lots and lots of post cards,” I assured her for the hundredth time.

She pouted. “But what am I gonna do without my bestie? For a whole year too! You’re gonna forget all about little old Stacey Gordon.” She hiccupped as she spoke, her blue watery eyes locked onto mine.

I’d been trying to leave the house forever, I was almost there too, the door was in sight now, just twenty more steps and I was home free. But Stacey was freaking out…. again. I cupped her face in my hands, looking at her sternly. “Stace, I couldn’t forget about you even if I tried,” I promised.

She seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. While she was temporarily placated I decided it was time to go. I’d already said bye to everyone, done my duty and passed the cheerleader torch to another girl.

Now I wanted egg rolls and an early night! “I’m going. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?” I kissed her forehead before stepping back and nodding to Paul who was watching the scene. Stacey sniffed and turned to him, immediately crying into his chest that her ‘bestest friend in the world was abandoning her’.

I winced, wondering if I should take her home. She was an emotional drunk, she wouldn’t remember half of this in the morning when she came over to my place we said our real goodbye before I left for the airport.

Paul waved at the door, smiling as he patted Stacey’s back, soothing her like a hysterical child.

I took a deep breath, taking one last glance at the people around me. Most of them were fake friends and popularity seekers; to be honest I wasn’t going to miss this scene much at all. My high school career was over, but I was moving on to more exciting things so there was no nostalgia at all.

Making a swift exit through the front - only getting caught by a couple more huggers on the way out - I finally stepped out into the fresh air. Closing the door behind me, I leant against it and felt the smile creep onto my face. Tonight was the start of the rest of my life. I practically skipped towards my beloved beetle.

About thirty steps from freedom someone called my name behind me. I looked over my shoulder to see Mark. I suppressed a groan and waved, trying to be friendly. “Can’t stop, I was due home thirty minutes ago,” I called as I continued my escape.

“Ellie, I need to talk to you.”

I shook my head, turning to face him but walking backwards towards my car as I held my hands up innocently. I knew what this would be about and I didn’t want to hear it. I’d had plenty of lectures off of him the last two months about how much of a ‘huge mistake’ I was making by travelling instead of going to school this year. I think in his mind he saw us both going to the same school, and that he’d have more chances to win me back. Jamie had certainly thrown a spanner into the works there!

“Gotta go. Go have a drink and enjoy your night,” I suggested. I reached the car then and jammed my key into the driver’s side, opening it preparing to get it.

“Ellie, I need to talk to you, can you just stop for a minute?” Mark asked, frowning as I continued to try and escape into my car.

I sighed and turned to face him, already expecting this to be something along the lines of a last-ditch attempt to get me back with him. He knew I was going away tomorrow with Jamie, so this was probably the last big push to put a stop to that. “What is it, Mark?” I threw my purse into the car. I really needed to get home and get the last of my packing done, I hated leaving things to the last minute - plus, my parents were buying takeout tonight, our last family meal together for a while.

Mark stopped in front of me, his eyes searching mine. “I know you’re gonna think I’m making this up in an effort to get you to stay,” he started. Bull’s-eye! I put my hands on my hips, waiting. “Well I’m not, honestly, I’m just telling you this because it needs to be said. I’m actually not allowed to tell you, my dad made me promise because technically I’m breaking some sort of law right now.”