The next night, Ricki felt nervous as she and Zac approached the house that was having the party. She clung close to him, as if to hide from the people that already filled the booming house.
"You'll be fine." He said as he opened the door. THey walked in, and Ricki scanned the room.
"How can you be sure?"
"It's a party. You're supposed to have fun." Zac said to her.
Ricki spotted a few girls from her life science class that she recognized. She gave them a wave when she saw them, and they waved back from across the room.
"See? You've already seen someone you know."
"Yeah but-"
"Here. Go talk. Mingle. Make friends." Zac said, handing her a beer. He gave her a gentle shove in the direction of the girls, and Ricki watched as he wandered off towards another group of girls. She sighed and continued to walk over to the group of girls she knew.
"Hey guys." She said.
"Hey Ricki." Stacey said.
"Did you come with Zac?" Kimberly asked.
"Uh, I guess." Ricki said, glancing around at the girls. All five of them were from her life science class; Kimberly, or Kim, Stacey, Elizabeth, Colleen, and Erin.
"He's soooo hot!" Colleen said, glancing over at Zac, who was busy mingling with a group of girls.
Ricki laughed at Colleen. She was a cute girl, kind of overweight, and was always smiling. She was very smart, but boys were her hobby.
"You're so lucky." Elizabeth sighed. "I bet he's intelectual. He sure looks like it."
"Well...not really." Ricki said with a laugh.
"Nah, watch him turn out to be a jerk. Like most guys." Erin said, sipping her beer.
"Oh Erin. Such a cynic." Kim said with a laugh.
"Well, I'm guessing he's been around the block and back, and after guys get around once, they just want to keep going and going and going and going and-"
She stopped, and the group of girls burst out laughing. Ricki was glad she came. Maybe this making new friends thing wouldn't be so hard.
They had been standing there for at least half an hour when two girls walked up to them.
"Um, hi." One said.
"Hi." The group of girls greeted them.
They both turned to Ricki. Oh no...here it comes... She thought.
"Did you come here with Zac Hanson?" One asked.
"Y-yes." She stuttered.
"Are you the one who lives with him?" The other asked.
"Yeah." Ricki answered.
"Oh. By the way, I'm Ann, and this is my friend Susan."
"Hi." Ricki said, shaking their hands.
"We were kinda wondering if you could tell us some things about him." Susan said.
"I suppose." Ricki said slowly.
"Cool." Susuan said. "Well, first of all, how did you get to room with him?" She asked.
"Uhm, it was a mistake." Ricki said.
"Oh." Susan said flatly. "Well, is he nice?"
"Sometimes." Ricki answered. She could tell these girls wanted more in-depth answers, but for some reason, she just couldn't bring herself to answer them.
"Is he single?" Ann asked.
"Yes."
"Does he date?"
"No." Ricki said.
"Oh." Ann said. She looked at Susan, then the both shrugged. "Well, thanks for your help." They said, and walked away.
Ricki watched them, and her eyes narrowed. Those girls had just wanted to know about Zac and his personal life. She hated to admit it, but it angered her.
"How rude." Erin said, watching as the girls walked up to Zac.
"Hopefully he'll see around them." Elizabeth quipped.
Ricki watched as Zac's face lit up as he talked to the two girls. "Yeah." She said softly. "Hopefully."
"Don't let them bother you, Ricki. After talking to them, I'm sure he'll see what bitches they are." Colleen said cheerfully.
Ricki couldn't help but smile. "Thanks, Colleen."
"That's really really sickening." Kim commented.
"I know." They all mused.
"They already sound like stalkers." Elizabeth chuckled.
"Really." Kim said.
"They probabally are." Colleen said.
"I can see that."
"Me too."
"Uh huh."
"I feel sorry for Zac." Erin said.
"I do too." Ricki said, glancing over at Zac, who was busy chatting away.
"I mean, his whole life, people have just wanted to get to know him just because he's this big, rich star. What about Zac? It's hard to make friends being a normal person, but how is it for him?" Erin mused.
"I think you're right." Ricki said. "But I don't think he would ever admit it."