Skater Squad

Chapter 20

Evan
"Ah! You've finally told your mom about us. It's about time, I thought you were going to keep it all to yourself forever," David laughs, skimming through the racks of striped shirts and medieval cloaks.

I wasn't planning too, she just caught me in the act after sneaking back home and ordered details.

"You know, when you said date, I thought we'd do something... y'know... romantic. But instead we're looking at Halloween consumes in Target for a high school party," I say, inspecting a poorly made pirate hat.

"This is an important task babe, Janice Tanderz takes her Halloween parties very  seriously and if you don't dress you might as well not show your face. But can't go overboard, we're not freshmen."

I sigh, I enjoy my time spent with David but the days we are together feel more like we're buddies rather than boyfriends.

"Can I admit something?"

David quirks a brow. "What's up?"

"I- I never actually been to a high school party. Is it like in the movies? The drugs, the alcohol abuse and some dramatic scene where the cops show and join in?"

David chuckles. "I don't know about all that, mostly just underaged kids getting drunk, dancing until ours hearts explode or someone puking on the DJ's equipment- which I witnessed first hand once!"

"Oh, how nice. I'll have to watch out for puke then."

"Damn, how about this?" David displays a short cut sexy bunny costume and a pair of white bunny ears.

"You want to look like one of the Means Girls?" I chuckle.

"It's not for me! I would look ridiculous. You on the other hand would look extremely sexy," David flirts and I redden.

"Don't be silly," I stammer, burying my face in the costume rack. David made me blush more and more everyday and I don't think my poor little heart can keep up. But he makes me smile afterwards, no matter how flustered I get.

At the moment, David has his chin rested on my shoulder with a flirty smirk and whispering how me and Regina George could look similar with enough foundation and mascara.

"Enough!" I laugh, shoving him off to show him a cute costume.

"Ahh! Boring! Everyone goes as either an Angel or the devil. And fairies are so mainstream," David complains and searches the rack again, pulling out a sleek black cloth.

I blush and whack him over the head. "I'm not dressing as a erotic cat, David!"

-•-

After many hours of debating, I decided to go metro and show up as Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games. I even have a bow and a quiver of arrows to shoot anyone who appears they might throw up on me.

David exits the car and checks his white and black face makeup one last time. After all his boasting, the guy decided a vampire was the best option, one with fake teeth and ketchup packets for fake blood. He calls his get-up an 'oldie but a goodie'.

"Shall we go inside and experience your first ever party, darling?" David coaxes in his best Dracula voice.

"Are the vampire dentures really needed?"

David's spits out the sharp cuspid dentures into his palm and hovered it to my face. "You want to try it on?"

"Ew David, you're so gross!" I shove his shoulder and he giggles.

David takes me by the hand (the hand he didn't use for his salivary dentures) and leads me down the road. The salty sea is strong in my nose and the break of the waves shimmer like glitter under the moonlight. The waves crashing and sloshing forwards sound like they're cheering me one.

They cheer gleefully:
You can do this!
You're gonna have so much fun!
Don't eat a cake then chug a bottle of beer, you'll regret it!

The night gale is chilly and I huddle into David's fluffy Dracula costume for warmth. I wrap my hand around his in anxiety as we pad up the stairs to a raving beach house, the walls bumping and threatening to collapse with each bass drop from inside.

David notices my sudden hesitation and he smiles comfortingly. His lips peck my cheek and he ties a hand around my waist.

"You'll be fine. I'll be with you as much as I can. And if you want to ditch, I'll drive us home no questions asked."

I heat up at his sudden benevolent voice. I squeeze his palm and nod because I know he's telling the truth. Yet I hope it doesn't come down to me needing to leave because I know how excited he was for this crazy party.

I'm hit with the stench of vodka and humus as we enter. Kids are screaming like they're being murdered and the music is adequate - it needs more bass and kicks.

I almost keel over when David releases his grip on my hand as Luke ushers his way to him, offering a cup of beer. I hate we couldn't be ourselves when our squad friends were around, it eats me alive.

Luke looks through me and makes sure not to acknowledge my existence and swiftly drag David away like a dog on a leash.

I gulp and pad into the living room trashed with red cups, popcorn and wrappers. Shoulders bump and people compliment my costume before I find a familiar face.

"Hello Jaren!" I greet the white headed boy seated on the stairs. His eyes glimmer in joy but his face is nonchalant.

"Hey babe, nice costume. Catpiss Everdeen, haha!" He chuckles and I blush. Only David calls me babe but I'm convinced Jaren calls everyone baby or hottie, he seems like that kind of guy.

"Thank you! And you two... your costume is... yourself?"

"I don't need a costume when I'm already a clown," Jaren chuckles deeply, his voice soft yet gruff. "Did you just arrive?"

I nod and Jaren throws his cup over his shoulder. "I'll get you something to drink, you don't seemed like the guy who drinks much. I'll get you something spicy."

Before I could tell him I don't drink at all, he's blended into the crowd of drowsy and pretending to be drunk teens.

I stand awkwardly, suddenly feeling alone in a room full of people. I sit down in Jarens seat and watch as pumpkin decorations fly off the walls from the thudding rhythm of the speakers and wonder why Stacy Emins has her shirt off and swinging it in the air like a flag.

Jaren returns with two red cups and hands one to me which I hold onto while Jaren chugs his own.

"You here alone?" He quizzes.

I open my mouth but don't speak. I can't say I was with David even if he wasn't part of the squads, he was friends with Craig and I fear he might tattle.

I quickly nod before averting my gaze to my boots. "Yeah, I'm alone."

Jarens is oblivious to my little lie and smiles. "Well, I'm sure Craig and your little skater buddies are here somewhere. Let's find them, I got nothing better to do, and I think Janice knows I'm here."

Jaren takes my hand without hesitation, his fingers sticky with beer and lures me away with eagerness. His hand are like David's, engulfing my tiny palm in his large one like two Russian dolls fitting into each other.

I stiffen when Jaren hugs me close as he ushers through the crowds. I know he's holding me tight to his chest so I don't get lost but I hope he doesn't keep his close contact habit up as David might get the wrong idea.