IN TIME~Vinnie x Kio

XIII

TW: Bullying

It was New Years Eve and every year there is a huge party at Michael Avery's house.

In reality, he was a little like Gatsby, minus the bitter unrequited love.  He would only invite a few friends but nearly half the school would show up.  In his case though, his parents owned a few of the hotel chains around the city, so he had a stereotypical teenage party house.

Being surrounded by people with their tongues down each other's throat didn't ever seem like an appealing thing to partake in, so I never went.

That is, until Hanna texted me,

"I'm outside, picking up Kio after you.  We are going to that party."

I rolled my eyes, somewhat dreading the awkwardness I'd only come up with in my head.  I came up with the best I could.

"Did you warn Kio?"  I asked., not wanting Hanna to overwhelm Kio with a crowded and smelly house of drunk teenagers.

"Yes, your boyfriend said he's excited."  I shook my head laughing, then running out to her car.  It was an older car, and it rumbled a bit, so with the heater going and everything it looked sketchy.

But I saw an excited Hanna in the front seat.  It was the one time of year she wore a dress; to Michael Avery's party, hoping she would get that special new years kiss.  Which she was only successful with two or three times.  Which I give her major props for the confidence. 

"Not my boyfriend, Hanna."

I said as I entered the passenger seat of her car.  She looked down at my outfit and raised her eyebrows.  I was wearing a maroon sweatshirt and black jeans, pretty much my everyday attire at this point.

"Okay you know what." I laugh. "You're lucky I came outside."

I've seen them in movies, the high school party.  You know where everyone's blackout drunk, no parents are anywhere to be found and something eventful happens, I know it all.  However tonight I expected nothing more than being socially exhausted by the end of the night and wanting to go home.

When we pull up to Kio's house I smile sympathetically and open the door for Kio and hop in the backseat with him. He wore a long sleeve dark blue shirt and black jeans, actually pretty similar to my outfit. Upon his lips was some pink lip gloss, but you had to be close to him to fully see it. He looked beautiful as always. Hanna gave me a look that resembled her saying,

"Come on, tell me that wasn't the cutest thing," face.  I just laugh and look at Kio.   He smiles at me and pokes my side awkwardly. The rest of the car ride is a blur, but next thing I know we are at Michael's house.

I'd only met him one time at one of my games, he wasn't a man of many words, but his friends sure as hell were. Somewhat of the stereotypical football jocks if t you bumped up the cockiness ten levels. I whisper a small,

"You ready?" To which Kio nods. Just as I thought, as we walk in there is a pungent smell of alcohol, mainly cheap beer and wine coolers they probably stole from their parents. I see Kio grimace at the strong scent and somewhat cower his nose into my shoulder without being too obvious.

I smile at him as I look around the room. They weren't lying when they said his house was huge. Among the familiar faces looking plastered as ever, with glossy eyes and dilated pupils, there was a huge living room where about seven people were sat on one couch.

It wasn't even ten thirty.

Suddenly I'm in a conversation with three other people, I didn't know them that well. I wasn't even sure of their names, but I was in a full blown conversation about some random thing that was happening at the party. In truth, I didn't pay that much attention.