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“So, how are you feeling about going to your first senior party?”, Derek asked as he and Ed arrived at the house of another boy from Dereks school. Derek went to Monroe public Highschool, while Ed went to Saint Augustines, a private catholic boys school. The two had met through their jobs as ushers at the local movie theater.
“I’m feeling pretty good about it”, Ed chuckled softly as the two walked in. It wasn’t a huge party, but there was about twenty five teens there, a decent mixture of genders,” Seems like it’ll be fun”
“Oh I’m sure. Kyle throws the best parties-“, Derek was interrupted by another guy running up to them.
“Dude, dude, dude, guess what?”, he asked, trying to hold back laughs.
“What?”
“Cindy jokingly invited the freak and she actually showed up! She’s here!”, he cackled, sending Derek into a fit of laughs as well.
“No way dude, this is gonna be too fun”, Derek said.
“The freak?”, Ed questioned, not joining in on the laughter. If the said person was a freak or not, Ed wasn’t the type to bully.
“Yeah, she’s totally crazy bro. We call her ghost girl, cause she’s always claiming to see demons or some shit. It’s all bullshit, but it’s entertainment, especially considering she’s supposed to be catholic”, Derek chuckled.
“Oh. Why do you guys bully her then? She’s obviously got problems to work through”, Ed said.
“Cause it’s fun”, Derek said like it was obvious. Ed didn’t say anything, just quietly nodded. The two walked through the house and into the kitchen to grab some punch, and that’s when Ed saw her. Standing alone in the corner was the most beautiful girl he had ever laid eyes on.
“Derek, who is that?”, he asked, his jaw dropped a bit.
“Which one?”
“Brunette in the corner”, Ed responded.
“Ohh that’s the freaky ghost girl”, Derek laughed,” Out of place, isn’t she?”
Ed opened his mouth to say something, when a small group of girls came up to her.
“Lorraine, we’re so glad you came”, one, who Ed would find out was named Cindy, said,” we’re all about to play truth or dare, you should def come play!”
“Oh, I’m not sure-“, Lorraine started.
“Oh come on, it’s like the only party we’ve ever seen you at! You’ve gotta play a few rounds!”, Cindy smiled fakely.
“Alright, I will”, Lorraine murmured with a small nod. She walked into the main room where the girls had pointed, while Cindy came up to Ed and Derek.
“I bet the little catholic freak hasn’t even held hands with a guy yet, so make sure you aim all the naughty questions at her”, Cindy winked at Derek before looking at Ed,” Who’s this?”
“This is my friend Ed, from Saint Augustines”
“Oh, well, Ed, we’ll make sure you have some female interaction tonight”, she giggled obnoxiously before going into the room.
“Come on Ed, let’s go play”, Derek said, pulling him along before Ed could get a word in.
Fast forward a few minutes later, and most everyone at the party was sat in a big circle in the living room. Cindy had passed around the tips about what to ask Lorraine, which Lorraine definitely wasn’t oblivious to, and the game began. There were a few straggler questions aimed at others, but mostly everyone was asking Lorraine the questions.
“So, you’re catholic, right?”
“Yeah, I am”, Lorraine nodded softly.
“So like, have you ever even kissed a boy?”, Cindy asked, her and her friends giggling quietly.
“No, but that has nothing to do with me being catholic and has everything to do with the fact that I haven’t found one worth my time”, Lorraine answered. Cindy was slightly taken aback by the fact she didn’t seem to be backing down.
“Are you sure it isn’t just cause no boys ever found you attractive?”, she shot back.
Lorraine merely shrugged,” Wether they have or they haven’t, I still haven’t found one mildly attractive”
“So you’ve never done anything with any boy?”
“Nope”
“Do you even know what there is other than kissing?”, Cindy asked with a raised brow, some other laughing a bit,” Or are you too catholic for that?”
“Y’know, Cindy, I’m not an idiot”, Lorraine sighed,” I do know things about sex, and hand stuff and oral, which I’m guessing by the fact you have such a big mouth is your favorite, I just haven’t done any of it. Don’t care to until I find someone worth my time”
Cindy was pissed now,” you’re gonna end up alone because no one wants to fuck the lying bitch who says she sees demons”, she spat.
Lorraine remained quiet for a second before softly speaking,” If I end up alone, then I end up alone. At least I won’t be remembered as the easy one in Highschool”
Cindy stopped for a moment before laughing. She looked at Derek,” Y’know, Ed is new to the friend group, I think he’s in need of a little hazing”
“Hazing?”, Ed and Derek questioned at the same time.
“Yeah, hazing”, Cindy looked back at Lorraine with a wicked smirk, then back at Ed,” Since the freak is claiming she has the knowledge of some sexual maverick, then I dare you to test her. I dare you both to play seven minutes in heaven in that closet over there”
Everyone went quiet, pretty intrigued as to what the two would say.
“I’m not gonna play a game like that with someone who clearly uncomfortable and just being made the punch line”, Ed said, looking at Cindy.
“So you’re both too chicken for the dare?”, she asked innocently.
“I’m not-“, Ed started before Lorraine spoke up.
“Let’s just get the dare over with so I can leave”, she sighed as she stood up.
“Of course you’d jump at the chance”, Cindy scoffed at Lorraine.
“No, Cindy, I’m just not gonna let another person be subject to your bullying. It’s not like I’m gonna make him do anything with me, I just want this over with”, she huffed. She then looked at Ed,” Are you coming or not?”
Ed thought for a moment before nodding. He got up and the two walked to the closet, everyone whooping and whistling, cheering Ed on. Once inside, Ed closed the door. Two stood in silence for a minute.
“I’m Ed Warren”, Ed introduced with a little chuckle.
“Lorraine Moran”, she smiled softly,” Otherwise know as ‘freak’ and ‘ghost girl’”
“Why do they call you that?”, Ed asked softly.
“I’m sure you’ve already heard-“
“I want to hear it from you. The truth”
Lorraine was quiet for a moment before speaking,” I have visions and can see and sense spirits and entities, whatever you want to call them, I see them. It’s been that way ever since I was a little girl. A clairvoyant medium, that’s the defined term for what I am”, she murmured,” I didn’t ask for this. The only way people found out was when I passed out one day from quite an intense vision, and when I was telling the nurse what happened, someone overheard. It spread like wildfire. But, it is what it is. They all think I’m crazy and you probably do too”
Now it was Ed’s turn to be quiet for a moment,” When I was a little boy, I had a… something, under my bed. One night, something grabbed my hand and yanked me right to the floor. It was too dark to see under there, but let me tell you, I ran out of there so fast. You know what my dad did? He dragged me right back into the room and told me I had to face my fears. And I was scared to death. But then I remembered what this nun had told me in catechism. “God will be there for all who need." So, I grabbed my crucifix out from my nightstand, right? And I tell whatever's under there that it better leave, or God was gonna kick its butt. Best thing my dad ever did for me. Of course he only did it because he really didn't believe me”
“I believe you”, Lorraine said softly.
“And I believe you”, Ed murmured. The two shared a soft smile,” You don’t deserve to have to put up with how they treat you, y’know”
“It is what it is”, Lorraine sighed,” They’re gonna do what they want to do”
“Well, you don’t deserve it”, Ed reiterated,” Anyways, we’re supposed to be playing a game in here, and I’m fine if you don’t want to, but, if you’re fine with it, I would like to kiss you, because from the second I saw you, I thought you were the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. Still think that”, he chuckled. Even in the darkness of the closet, Ed could see the blush on Lorraines cheeks.
“Well, since we’re playing a game”, she giggled softly. He pulled her close by her hips and leaned down, gently pressing their lips together. The kiss only lasted a few seconds, but it was beyond amazing for both of them. The connection was there.
Lorraine was the first to pull away. She smiled shyly, looking down a bit. Ed lifted her head with two of his fingers.
“Y’know, we still have some time if you-“, Lorraine didn’t let him finish before she was kissing him again with a smile. Ed let out a chuckle as he immediately kissed her back, pressing her against the wall. The two made out slowly for a good couple minutes, playful kisses and small smiles shared between them.
Everything was g rated for a decent amount of time, before Lorraine pulled him a little closer, winding her fingers into his hair with a little tug that had Ed letting out an involuntary groan. Upon hearing his reaction, Lorraine repeated the motion, kissing him a little harder. Ed immediately responded to the kiss with more heat, gripping her waist tightly, causing her shirt to ride up just a bit.
He nipped and sucked at her bottom lip, praising himself at the small moan be evicted from her. He was just about to move his assault of kisses down to her neck, when there was a loud knock on the door.
“Eddie! Did she kill you in there? It’s been fifteen minutes”, Derek called,” We just wanted to see how long it’d take for your to question, but now we’re scared for you bro”
“I’m alive and I’ll be out in a second”, Ed called back with a roll of his eyes. He leaned down and kissed Lorraine one more time,” Between you and me, this was my first kiss too”, he whispered. Lorraine blushed hard as he pulled away and opened the door, walking out, Lorraine following.
When the two came out looking slightly disheveled, everyone was very confused for sure.
“Did you two fight in there or something?”, one of the guys asked with a laugh.
“No, we played the game”, Ed said simply. Everyone stared blankly for a minute, not quite understanding, before Ed smirked slightly and all their jaws dropped.
“You mean you actually kissed the freak?”, Cindy asked.
“Kissed her and liked it”, Ed corrected before looking at Lorraine with a playful smile,” Are you done here?”
“Very”, Lorraine smiled back. It was the first time anyone there had really seen her smile, and it was a very beautiful smile at that. Ed reached out and took her hand.
“Great, I’ll walk you home”, he smiled, Lorraine nodding. Ed looked over his shoulder at Derek,” Thanks for inviting me. I’ll see you at work”
Without waiting for a response, the two left. The walk to Lorraines house was full of smiles and shared laughs, and honestly something magical. When they arrived at her doorstep, neither wanted to part.
“This is me. Thank you for tonight”, she smiled shyly, looking down at their hands for a minute.
“No, thank you, you made the party worth coming to”, Ed chuckled. He cupped her cheek before leaning in and kissing her forehead gently,” Hey, would you maybe like to go out on an actual date with me? Say, tomorrow night around five? I could pick you up for dinner”
“I’d be honored”, Lorraine smiled,” I’ll see you then, though, if you get bored, I’ll be ready by three”
“Oh I’ll be bored, I’ll make sure of it”, Ed laughed, making Lorraine let out a giggle.
“Goodnight, Ed”
“Goodnight, Lorraine”