Sober

Ch. 1

Throughout grade school, I was one of the kids who would get looks after summer break like, "What? I thought they would've gotten held back."

Sure, I would complete my work, but whenever anyone of worth saw me, I was always off doing some dumb shit. While I never got suspended like a few of my friends, and only got detention for skipping class now and then, I was still sneaking out past curfew, breaking minor laws, and, primarily in high school, was always acting like a fool.

Thanks to my brothers, my looks, and my personality, I was the middle schooler who would get invited to high school parties and eventually became the high schooler who got invited to ones residing on college campuses.

As a kid, it seemed like a flex, whereas now it was a regular occurrence in my schedule.

Despite being a junior in college and having practical ways to kill time on the weekends, I always chose to spend my Friday and Saturday evenings at various frat houses and brothels.

I would still show up to work on time and make sure to cram in some studying and well-needed sleep, but these were my definition of catching up with friends. Hell, they were my stress relief and had become a primary hobby of mine. I was passing my classes, so who cares what else I spent my time doing?

Given that it was another Friday of the first semester, everyone knew where to find me.

I glance at the clock, and despite the party only having started an hour ago, I could already count at least three kids who blacked out and many others who were so shitfaced that it wouldn't be long until they joined the group.

And that was only in the living room.

I sit on the couch surrounded by chicks which is a norm for me, along with my best friend, who, despite knowing them like the back of her hand, stood out like a sore thumb.

A few guys I recognize cheer her on as she chugs each beer they hand her, and as she slams her third bottle down, I laugh while watching her crop-top creep up her stomach. Though, as she catches my gaze, she sticks her tongue out, flashing the small gem that resided in the area. It always looks like she has glitter in her mouth because of it.

"Hey, Kyler!" Deja beams and reaches out to hand me a bottle. "Why don't you join me?"

I politely decline, which only makes her more eager to recruit me.

"Aw, come on, I noticed you haven't had a single drink." The girl smirks as half of her afro falls into her eyes, though she bats it away like a fly. "What? Are you in AA now or something?"

I snicker while hiding my face a bit. "Fuck no, dude!"

Given Deja is my best friend from grade school and my current roommate, her top priority is embarrassing me or pissing me off since she often thinks I'm cute when I'm mad.

"There's nothing good to drink." I continue. "I understand we're all broke college students, but damn, half of y'all have no taste."

My friend shrugs. "Eh, you know me—I'll pretty much drink whatever." And her posse of frat boys nods in agreement.

"If you're that pressed about options, just bring your own shit." A guy leaning on the doorway adds. That has always been his thing—eavesdropping from across the room and then providing unnecessary comments.

"Shit sounds like a you problem." He rolls his eyes. "It's not our fault your dumb barista jacked up your tastebuds. If you're that rich and cool, why the hell are you here all the time?"

I scoff. "I'm a bartender, Adam, not a barista. I've said it about a hundred times by now. Is your skull really that thick?"

The blond leaves the room in a huff, given that he's the type to start stuff and never finish it.