Back in the Saddle

It Was a Bad Idea

Karl's POV:

The party is already going on when we arrive, which makes sense because we're about an hour late. Empty plastic cups and toilet paper are scattered throughout the yard and the smell of beer is in the air. I scrunch up my nose at it. Loud music is blaring through the open front door, and even from here it is deafening.

Schlatt must be able to sense that I'm about to turn around because he sets a firm hand on my shoulder, guiding me inside the crowded house. People are everywhere, talking and laughing in every spot that they can find. Dancing bodies are taking up any free space, so we have to squeeze between them to get into the kitchen, which is surprisingly empty. Other than the few people getting refills on their drinks, no one is occupying the kitchen.

Schlatt opens the fridge, taking a second to look through it before grabbing two bottles of beer. He hands one to me and takes his over to the bottle opener, using it to pop the lid off. He then gives it to me, indicating that I should do the same. After my lid is off, I hesitantly place the bottle to my lips, screwing my eyes shut as I dump some in. It burns as it goes down my throat and I shiver. I can't help but gag.

Schlatt laughs at me again before taking a long drink from his bottle and walking outside. I follow him, afraid to be left alone in this house full of unknown people. Somehow, outside seems to be more crowded than inside, with people laying on the outdoor furniture and in the grass. There are a few people in the pool, but not many because it's filthy.

Schlatt goes straight to one dude who's lounging on a pool chair, surrounded by people who are all doing some kind of substance. He and the dude "bro-hug", as Schlatt calls it, and then he starts to lead him away, back in the house. I try to follow them in, but there are so many people inside that I get swept up in the current of partying people. I call out to him, but my voice is drowned out in the music and talking and laughing.

I get pulled so far in that I can't even make it back outside, I'm just dragged further and further away from the door. I can feel the panic set in as the bodies get closer and closer and the voices get louder and louder. I'm disgustingly hot, being surrounded by so many sweaty bodies. I'm still shaking from when we first got here, and my knees are threatening to buckle, though I don't know that I would actually fall. There are so many bodies that I doubt that they wouldn't be able to hold me.

That does nothing to put my hysteric mind at ease; if anything, it worsens it. The room begins to spin and the dim lights become overbearingly bright as everything serges in and out of focus and I pray that Schlatt will come back for me. Please let him come back here and get me out of this-

I feel an arm go around me. It starts to pull me through the people, clearing a path that I can easily follow. The person taking me keeps me closely behind him so the others can't get too close, and soon we're free and back in the kitchen.

I collapse into a nearby chair, my head falling weakly into my hands as I try and get my breathing back on track. Since my eyes are shut, the room has stopped spinning and the lights are no longer bright, so my headache lessens slightly. I use the back of my hand to wipe sweat from my forehead, grimacing at how gross I feel.

A hand rests on my shoulder, its partner offering me a cold glass of water, which I gladly take and gulp down. I can feel as it goes through my chest and down to my stomach, immediately making me feel cooler. I look up to see my savior, who is staring down at me with worry in his eyes. He's shorter than me with black hair and tan skin, a beanie sat snugly on his head. He's wearing a blue t-shirt that shows off his toned arms, as well as black sweats and tennis shoes. He clearly doesn't care about appearances.

"You alright, amigo?" he asks, his hispanic accent audible.

I nod slightly before downing the rest of the water. "I'm okay. How did you know to grab me?"

"Anyone who's sober would be able to tell you were uncomfortable," he chuckles, though it holds little humor. "I've had my fair share of panic attacks in situations like that and would not wish them upon anyone."

"Well, thank you. I really appreciate it...?"

"Alex. And you are?"

"Karl. With a k."

"Well, Karl with a k, would you like to accompany me tonight? I was just about to venture upstairs with the more tame and sober kids to play some harmless party games, and I would love it if you would join me."

I smile up at him, standing up from the chair. I wobble slightly, causing him to give me a worried look, but I quickly regain my balance and follow him up the stairs, which are luckily out of the way of the dancing people so we don't have to go back through them. Upstairs is much quieter, with only the muffled music from the lower level and whispers floating around. Much more enjoyable for me.

In the center are two couches and two chairs surrounding a small ottoman, where four kids are clustered around a bottle. Alex leads me over to them, letting me take the open chair before he sits next to a girl on one of the couches. The other players don't seem too annoyed that we joined, so I relax marginally and watch as one of the girls spins the bottle.

It lands on a boy who looks around twenty, sitting directly across from her. He gets a shy expression as the older girl leans forward to kiss him, but doesn't hesitate to meet her in the middle. His face is beat red when they part and the girl chuckles at him before going back to talking with her friend.

After two more people go, the bottle gets to Alex, who eagerly grabs it and spins just as the other's had. It goes around a couple times before slowing to a stop, looking like it's about to land on the friend of the first girl. But it keeps going, and eventually stops on me. I freeze a bit, knowing this would inevitably happen but dreading having to do it. I look to Alex, who gives me an apologetic smile.

"You don't have to do this if you don't want to, Karlos," he murmurs to me comfortingly.

"Of course he does! It's the rules of the game!" one of the other dudes says. Alex glares at him. "If he doesn't do it he's homophobic."

Alex scoffs, rolling his eyes at the guy. "Thomas, why don't you shut up and-"

"It's okay, I'll do it," I say, making Alex look at me with a shocked expression.

"Woo! That's how you do it, ladies and gentlemen!" Thomas calls, leaning across the table to give me a high five.

"You sure?" Alex whispers.

I nod, leaning forward slowly. Alex takes only a second to lean in as well, pausing in the middle but growing impatient at how long it's taking me and going the last distance on his own. Our lips connect and bolts of electricity shoot up my spine. It lasts for a fraction of a second before I pull away quickly, leaving a stunned Alex staring up at me with big brown eyes.

"Sorry, I just-"

"Don't apologize, hombre. It's all good," he interrupts with a goofy grin. The others have quickly moved on, already back to spinning again, but Alex and I are in our own little world. "Do you wanna go somewhere? Somewhere quiet where we can just talk?"

I nod again and he takes my hand, beginning to lead me back downstairs and out the front door. I'm aware of the fact that he grabs a pack of beer on our way out, but I don't care enough to comment on it: I suppose I can try and drive if he gets too drunk.

"Any ideas on where to go?" he asks me.

I think for a second before blurting out an answer, "that one hill overlooking the city."

"Thanks, that is very descriptive. To that one hill it is!"

Word Count- 1436

a/n- seeeeee, it picks up a little bit here! we get to meet alex, or quackity. yeah its still kind of boring but im telling you it does get better lmao.