Free Taking Chances by Deanna Frances

almost noisy enough to hurt my ears, I wondered how anyone could like that.
    “You’ll have fun sooner or later. This is just the beginning. The pizza hasn’t even come yet. Everyone here loves pizza.” She saw the nervousness in my eyes. “Syd,” she said. “Don’t worry. It’ll be fun. There’s no alcohol or anything, just pizza and pop. I promise. My parents take all the alcohol with them when they go. Don’t get worried, okay?”
    “Okay.” I sighed.
    “I’m surprised at you, Syd.”
    “Why?” I asked.
    “You’d think that since you’re from Chicago, you’d be used to big parties.” She opened a two-liter of Pepsi and poured herself a glass.
    “I’ve never been to one,” I admitted.
    “Really?” Her eyes widened. “Wow. If I were in your place, I’d be at all the big parties.”
    “I’m more of a quiet person,” I told her.
    “I know.” She smiled. “But I just figured…Well, that doesn’t matter. The real fun will be when everyone is gone and it’s only Annie, you and me having a sleepover!” She sounded super excited.
    I nodded. The sleepover would be more fun than being around a bunch of people I didn’t even know. I was used to being alone, and I didn’t really like big crowds. Sometimes I’d be afraid of getting claustrophobic.
    Jacquie took a sip of her pop, and said, “Now, go have some fun, girly! I’ll be out there in a bit.”
    “Okay,” I said as I walked out of the kitchen.
    I walked back into the living room, where everyone was dancing to the loud music.
    “Sydney?” Matt called my name through the crowd.
    “Matt?” I asked.
    “Yeah. Hey!” He came over to me and put his arm around my waist.
    “What’s up?” he asked me.
    “Not much. What are you doing here?”
    “Jacquie invited me. I used to go to school here, remember?”
    “Yeah,” I mused.
    “Here.” He began to lead me into one of the smaller rooms. “I can barely hear a thing.”
    We entered a small family room, and sat down on a couch.
    “There, that’s better.” He sighed. “How are you feeling?”
    “I’m fine. Just a little sore.”
    He nodded. “I’m glad you’re okay. I was worried about you,”
    “I’m okay, thanks. You didn’t need to worry.”
    He smiled. “I’m glad. So, what’s up down in Shabbona?”
    “Not much.” I shrugged. “Just same old Shabbona.”
    Matt laughed. “Yeah, I remember those days. DeKalb’s a little better, but not by much.”
    “Yeah,” I muttered, unsure what to say.
    “Oh!” Matt exclaimed. “I talked to my manager, and you should be receiving a call soon about your application.” He smiled proudly.
    “Are you serious? Thank you so much!” I leaned forward and hugged him.
    “No problem.” He chuckled, adjusting his black square glasses, and baseball cap like the one Spencer usually wore. “I think it should be fun working together.”
    “Yeah,” I replied.
    “Sydney?” I turned around to see Spencer walking through the doorway of the room.
    “Oh, hey Spence.” I stood, and he wrapped his arm around my waist. “Matt,” he said tensely as he saw him. Matt nodded in acknowledgement.
    “Did you find Jacquie?” he asked me, again stealing a glance at Matt quickly.
    “Yeah, she was in the kitchen.”
    “Okay, I found Jeremy. Mike, Dean, and Annie are here, too.”
    “Cool,” I replied.
     “Well, Sydney, I’m going to go meet up with some friends. I’ll see you later.” Matt smiled before walking away. “Hopefully soon.”
    “What’s Matt so anxious about?” Spencer asked angrily as Matt left.
    “He got me a job at Lakeview.”
    “Oh.” He looked back to where Matt had just been standing.
    “What’s wrong?” I asked.
    “I don’t like that guy at all.” He shook his head angrily.
    “Why?” I asked. “It seems as if everyone knows but me.”
    “Bad memories, that’s all.” He didn’t look at me.
    “Don’t worry,” I told him. “ You’re my boyfriend. Not him.” He smiled and calmness came