The Kiss Of Midnight

Chapter Sixteen;

Being back on the South Side of the island is a grand gesture to our teenage selfs as we pull up at a tree line, seeing multiple cars lined up and the darkness consuming everything in its path. As we all fall out of the two cars we had agree to take we see a small lite up path way leading into woods. The place looks familiar as we walk up the trees, each following the other as we make our way down the lighten up walk way. Joseph and Chloe leads the pack, Thomas is in the middle and Theo and I are at the rear. I feel Theo take my hand and intertwine our fingers as the path way begins to widen and open to a large field, music can be heard as lights and tiki torches are scattered throughout the area. Kegs and small tables of liquor can be seen as people stand around them.

We walk until we hear Joseph call to someone and then stop as they walk over to us. This person has dark hair with a bandana hanging from his neck and a blunt in his hand while the other holds a bud light. There are maybe close to eighty people here all off in their own little groups and doing their own things. Some faces I almost recognize and others that I don't. Theo pulls on my hand and I follow him to a table.

"Wanna drink?" Theo ask as he lets go of my hand.

"Uh, yeah sure." I say as I watch Theo make our drinks and hand mine to me when he is done. It isn't cold, but it isn't warm either as I take a sip. The mixture of liquor and cola is perfect as Theo fills his cup full of beer, taking my hand when he is done. The song changes over the speakers as I see Chloe in my peripheral.

"You guys." Chloe draws out the last word as she steps beside us, a tone of happiness in her voice as she links arms with me. "This party isn't too bad."

"I agree." Theo says before taking a sip from his red solo cup.

"And the liquor isn't half bad." I chim in as Thomas approaches the table we are standing near.

"How's the beer Theo?" Thomas asks his brother as he grabs a solo cup and begins to fill it.

"Pretty good. Got to be the same stuff we got a few days ago." Theo says.

"That's a relief." Thomas takes a sip and lets out a sigh. "Yeah. That's good."

Chloe and I let out a chuckle as we look towards one another. "Where's Joseph?" I ask as I look around.

"Oh, he'll be back in a moment." Chloe says as she brings her cup to her lips.

"I heard my name." I hear from Joseph's voice behind me.

"Just wondering where you went off to is all." Thomas says as Joseph joins us at the table.

"To get this." Joseph holds up a massive cigar.

"That better be what we think it is." Chloe says as we examine the cigar.

"Better." Joseph pulls out a lighter and sets the end aflame, the instant smell of herb filling the air around us. We watch as Joseph takes a puff, then passes it to Thomas and down the line til it gets to me. I hear coughs from all of them and hesitate before taking a small puff. I let the smoke enter my lungs as I breath it in and I hand it to Theo, letting it settle before breathing out. I begin to cough just as they did as it leaves my throat, covering my mouth with my elbow as I do.

"Shit.." I sigh after the small coughing fit stops, breathing in the fresh air to help clear my throat.

"Told you." Joseph says before taking another puff.

"Could have warned us." Chloe has her hand on her chest but a smile on her face as we both chuckle.

The night goes on for a few hours and Theo stops drinking after two beers, but continues making my drinks for me. I am on my fourth drink with I notice people beginning to leave and Chloe has disappeared from beside me. My blue hues search the circle we are in but do not see her red head amongst the group.