New Boy | Miguel Diaz

Second Choice

After prom, there was a party held at Chubs' house which caught me by surprise when I realized Chubs came back... or Stingray?

Eli and I were sitting on the couch while Demetri and Yasmine were making out next to us.

"Come on, let's check out the rest of the house." Yasmine got up and pulled Demetri by his tie.

I became thirsty and got up from the couch. "I'm gonna get a drink, you want anything?"

"Root beer, please."

I was oddly surprised when he didn't ask for a regular beer, but that didn't stop me from getting my own.

I left the couch and towards the kitchen counter filled with snacks and drinks. I grabbed a red cup for Eli's root beer and reached out for the gallon.

"So, how you liking prom?" Miguel asked as I poured the soda.

"It's definitely something I'm glad I didn't miss out on. Uh— I saw you and Sam, you guys look nice together." I twisted the cap back on, oddly surprised at how honest I was being.

"Yeah, thanks. So... you and Eli, huh?"

"Oh— no, just two friends dancing together because neither came with dates."

"You guys seemed oddly close in some way."

"Is that a problem?"

"No, no— it's just different."

I wonder what he meant by different. Maybe different because Eli and I look more than friends. Or different because Miguel wasn't the one I was dancing with. Different because we saw each other with someone else and not each other.

We looked at each other, then Miguel looked behind me. Robby had entered the kitchen area and gave a dirty look towards Miguel.

I grabbed Eli's soda and tapped his shoulder. When I gave him the cup, I went out into the backyard and waited in line for the keg.

A couple in front of me had left, but while I stepped up front, Sam had turned around with a cup filled with beer in her hand.

"There sure is a lot in that cup... Haven't you learned your lesson from last time?"

I referred back to when Robby was knocking on our door because Sam was drunk and couldn't be at home.

She chuckled, "Ya know, it seems like you're always behind me in line. There's Miguel, the
keg— I have a half eaten cupcake in there if you want some."

"I'd kick your ass, but this dress was too expensive to ruin. And I don't think Mommy and Daddy would like to see their little girl get hurt... again."

She rolled her eyes and slowly turned back around. I noticed she set her cup down and when she turned around, she kicked me in the gut.

She tried to kick me multiple times, but I blocked each one. She wrapped her arm around my waist, pulling me down but before she could hit me, Miguel ran up and pulled her off.

"What are you doing!"

"I'm doing what Johnny said— I'm not taking her shit anymore!"

I got up and tried to hit her while her back was turned— yes, pussy move, but Miguel ran towards me and picked me up.

"Get off of me!" I struggled against Miguel's hold, and we soon stumbled back, falling into each other.

His arm tightened around my waist, and I grabbed his wrist. Our eyes locked and for a second, I completely forgot I was fighting Sam. I could only focus on Miguel.

I blinked and started tugging against Miguel's strength. Robby ran up, and pulled Miguel up by his arm. They started fighting, but when Sam came back in and grabbed Robby, she locked her arm in his and looked at him.

"You think I broke your heart— you broke mine too!"

I glanced at Miguel as I was still on the floor and I could see the hurt in his eyes. Tory was somewhere in the crowd, but I knew what came out of Sam's mouth pissed her off.

So I got up, and I swept Sam off the floor. Robby and I fought against Sam and Miguel, and that's when I stepped off one foot and swung at the both of them.

They were knocked down, but quickly got up. I watched as Miguel and Robby fought and then I also fought with Sam.

I blocked her punch, but she got ahold of my arm and twisted it back.

"Miguel never loved you. He always came back to me whenever some bullshit happened between you two."

I grabbed her wrist, pulling it off my arm, "Exactly... you were always second choice."

Before she could process what I said, I flipped her over and her body hit the ground.

As she got up, Miguel's body was thrown into her's and they both fell into the pool.

Suddenly, Chubs had jumped in along with many other people. By now the party had turned into a pool party.

Tory came up and asked if we were okay... mainly Robby. But I had Eli come over and check on me for any scratches which was kind of sweet.

"I think I wanna go home."

"Yeah, I'll walk you." He held my hand and walked us out from the backyard.

I turned my head, watching Sam and Miguel argue as they got out of the pool.

When Eli dropped me off, I checked on Mom before I went to bed. She was still sleeping, but I'm glad she had eaten before because there was still a piece of her sandwich by the bed.

I turned off her lamp, and went into my room. I was still unpacking everything, but the room almost looked like I'd been living here since forever.

As I changed out of my dress, I noticed something had poked me in the back while taking it off.

When I held the dress in my hand— the price tag was still very much attached and not cut off.