Go here to read the previous chapter in Jade's 2008 diary.

The party went off without a glitch. Our parents showed up for a bit to bless our place with love. After they left things really got popping. I made my famous sangria, apple martinis, and Jell-O shots. We also made baked ziti, garden salad, and tons of appetizers. People were getting ripped and so was I. The DJ was on point and although everyone was getting quite inebriated nothing had been broken and the cops hadn’t been called. Someone decided to bring their own weed, and I participated in my first cipher. I can never let my parents know about that.

A lot of the guests were friends from grammar and high school. These people saw me grow up from a girl to a young woman, and although we haven’t been around each other in while, we are still very comfortable with each other. I have been slow in making friends on my new campus. My ability to trust or be as outgoing as I used to be has been damaged. I am still trying to heal from what happened last summer and I’m not ready to open up to people as easily as I use to. If you want to get to know me you have to work for it now.

I figured things might get a little crazy so I decided not to invite anyone from my job. One rule that I have developed is never, never let the people you work with know about your private life; they can use it against you professionally. I thought about inviting some of the other members of the Magnificent Seven, but ultimately decided against it. We haven’t kept in touch. I have gone my own way. I had to if I was ever going to heal the way I wanted to. I don’t want friends with divided loyalties. I want them to ride or die for me the way Denise and I do for each other. And speaking of the past, what was I thinking inviting Ty to the party? I actually believe that was the first time I ever thought with my vagina. Thank God he had other plans.

The party was in full swing and Greg still hadn’t shown up yet. I was glad about that too. As tipsy as I was he might have actually got some, and I was sooooo tipsy. I was cuddling with Lee when the doorbell rang. Lee was my first crush and boyfriend. I shared my first kiss with him. He was also the first boy I ever saw nude. I didn’t lose my virginity with him, but I had it bad for him. Our legs were tangled and he was hovering in my ear saying things like, “Why did we ever break up?” Why did we? Who knows? It was a million years ago and we were kids. All I know was that he grew up to be handsome, but I always knew he would. His butter pecan arms were melting all over me. I felt like I was in junior high all over again. I was feeling giddy off of his hugs, the warm touch of his body, and his breath lingering over my ear. Hmmm…that was how Ty use to make me feel.

I was wrapped in the feeling I was experiencing and had no clue who showed up at the door. To be frank, I didn’t care. My eyes were closed and I was living in the moment until I heard, “Nice place Jade.” OH MY GOD! That voice. I didn’t think I would hear it again, especially not tonight. I tried not to make my eyes bug from excitement, but it was too late. The sound of his voice made my eyes pop out of my head like Bugs Bunny in a Warner’s Bros. cartoon. I looked up and saw Ty. And he saw me – all tangled up in some other dude’s arms and legs. We looked like we were practicing for a Twister tournament. How freakin’ embarrassing.

Ty played it cool though, but really there was no other way for him to play it. He and I was never officially a couple. At best we were sex buddies, but in some odd way we were much more than that. We both knew it too. He looked down at me and his eyes squinted. Then he gave me a look as if to say, “You are cold busted!” I could do nothing. I felt my mouth hang open for a moment. Lee just looked and I could tell by the look on his face he couldn’t understand why the moment had become so awkward. Really how could Lee understand--just a couple of minutes ago we were making out.

I got myself together and spoke. “Hey Ty! I’m really glad you could make it.” My face was all smiles. I untangled myself from Lee and rose to give him a hug. When he wrapped his arms around me my body let out the biggest exhale. It was as if my body said, “Ahhhh…now that is what I’ve been missing.” Truth is that my body had been missing him, desperately. I grabbed him by the arm and took off with him. I looked back and Lee had the WTF look on his face. I decided I would give Ty the grand tour of our new place. He told me that he liked the place and I knew that he would; Denise and I have excellent taste. All was going well; we were make small chit chat and had a couple of drinks. He even fed me the fruit out of his sangria glass. Then he hit me with it.

“Jade, I bought you a housewarming gift, but I left it at my house. I didn’t go home…I just came straight from where I was. I would really like to give it to you tonight. Feel like taking a ride with me?”

A loaded questioned delivered with a loaded face. We both know what could possibly happen if we are alone together. I know he felt the same energy I did when we hugged and I showed him the house. “What did you get me”, I asked looking as coy as I possibly could.

“It is a surprise, but I think you will like it. C’mon Jade I really want to give it to you tonight.”

“You want me to leave my own party.”

“We are gonna come right back. If this party is anything like the ones we used to have, this party will be going on until the next day. Like I said…I really wanted you to have it tonight since this is your housewarming party. But…I guess I understand if you don’t want to leave. After all you are one of the hostesses. ”

I saw the look in his eyes. I have seen it many times before and have fallen prey to it many times before. I couldn’t resist it then and I suddenly realized that my level of resistance hadn’t gotten any higher since the last time I saw that look. I was the moth and the light in his eyes was so seductive that I had no choice but to float to it. I’m not a gambling woman by nature, but I decided to put all my chips on number seven – hoping that I didn’t crap out. I looked him in both eyes and said, “If it is that important to you, then I will go with you to get the gift.”

A smile came over his face. I told Denise I was stepping out for a minute and then we left. I’m about the roll the dice again going back to the serpent’s lair. I don’t want to see snake eyes…..