The Cool Kids - JJ Maybank

The Kegger

Sarah’s currently helping me get ready for a kegger hosted by the Pogues because I got a little dirty when cleaning up after Agatha and Tasha would have found going to any party - especially a kegger - in my normal clothes as bad as committing arson on someone’s home (who didn’t deserve it). Sarah holds out a new outfit and grins at me, looking between me and the red in her hands.

“Hell yes,” I state, grabbing it from her.

She laughs and jumps up. “You’re gonna look even better than usual. Maybe you’ll get the girls instead of Dean for once,” she says with a wink.

“Already got one on my arm,” I reply as I switch my current bra with a black one that works with the vibe. I put the loose, dark red, see-through, shirt over and tuck it into my black shorts in the front.

Once I’m done, she loops her arm with mine. “Yes, you do.” We both laugh to ourselves before she excitedly says, “Come on!”

. the cool kids .

I notice the groups sticking to their own as clear as day as the party starts up. Sarah and Topper are drinking the shit that Rafe somehow got a hold of - not the Milwaukee beverages JJ and John B are handing out - as well as the majority of the other Kooks. Just not the ones who aren’t rich enough to be on Rafe or Topper’s list of interesting people and Sarah doesn’t have that much control over who makes that short mental list.

Kiara is hanging around other environment-loving activists, a group of people I could totally get along with. Pope looks like he’s drunk flirting with one of the poor Tourons, or maybe that’s a Kook who mistook him for one of us and is regretting her life choices. Taylor is listening to Kiara talk, barely drinking from her red solo cup, completely focused on the brunette’s every word. John B is flirting with some Tourons. And JJ has taken over for John B’s responsibilities as the person giving out beers even if it seems like everyone has one.

And then I make the mistake of looking over at the group of - I will totally say - gorgeous Touron girls. While they flirt with the one and only Dean Vallejo. I scoff to myself as he sways behind one of them, his hand going down her chest. He’s allowed to literally be grinding on a girl he’ll never see again but as soon as I look in the direction of another boy, I’m marked as the enemy by the public and my parents. Because he’s the perfect boy. Why would I ever want someone else other than the wonderful Dean Vallejo? Is my ego really that big?

My ego is bigger than his dick, I can tell you that much; those girls would be better off flirting with someone who can actually get them to the finish line (me). I don’t need a man to prove how perfect I am. Clearly, I’m not perfect. I’m less perfect than the fact that I’m not in love with Dean. But I'm perfectly fine without the one and only Dean Vallejo.

I glance at Kiara who is glaring daggers at Sarah. I frown to myself, swirling the fancy - and weird tasting - liquid in my cup. Would things have been different if Kiara had been the one to help me out of that hole? Would I be a Pogue instead of a Kook? Would I be crossed off Topper’s list, Rafe’s list; off of Dean’s radar if I had been saved by the brunette instead of the blonde? Do I want that?

“Hey, Princess,” a familiar voice says.

I push off the side of the tree I’m leaning on and focus my attention on the one and only JJ Maybank. “Hey, blonde,” I reply.

He nods to my cup which is pretty full. “Is your rich girl juice not strong enough?”

“It tastes weird,” I answer honestly.

“Did someone drug it?” He seems to be making a joke but the idea crosses my mind and I look at the cup worriedly before I set it down, trying to hide my discomfort. “Shit,” he says, “I didn’t- yeah, bad one. I shouldn’t have even made a joke like that.”