Telegraph Ave (Author's Edition)

Chapter 7: Family

There was no cooldown, for the past hour and a half that I've been here.

Usually, when you attend a party or a get-together in general, you'd expect things to slow down a bit after a while. But here, it was the exact opposite.

Everyone continued to flow with the same energy that they arrived with, having fun with the ones they know and the people they're close to. Nobody was too shy to hit the floor, dancing as if it's the last night of their lives. From the smell of the searing BBQ cooking on the grill to the warm nostalgic evening temperature that drowned the atmosphere. After dancing to at least 8 songs on the dance floor with the rest of my friends, I was once again marveling on my own. I stood near the food table, sipping on a cup of homemade punch, that tasted like the nectar from God himself. Many had come up to me personally, wondering who I was and where I had come from. No longer petrified I was able to express who I am, however still nervous.

That's natural though, not a big deal.

"Yo, you Xavier?"

I heard a girl's voice from behind, and strangely she knew my name. Freezing before swallowing the swig of punch that sat in my mouth, I turned to see who it was. It was the same chick from earlier that waved at me from across the pool, standing one foot shorter than I am. Same Baby curly fro, curves below the waist, and the angel tattoo that favored her complexion.

"The new guy everybody's been talking about?" She asked. "I saw you glance at me earlier, and wanted to see if it's actually you?"

I swallow the punch in one gulp, feeling awkward from the way I glanced at her earlier. She probably thinks I'm weird or is feeling a stalker vibe from me.

"Well..." I clear my throat, throwing my cup into the trash can. She giggles staring into my eyes, as I get ready to speak. "...I wouldn't have guessed that people were passing words about who I am... But... Yeah, I'm he."

She chuckled, motioning her eyes towards my halfway buttoned-down shirt, then back up to me. "You're cute... I'm Angel." She holds her hand out.

Angel... I spoke within my thoughts. Her name was ironic due to the fact she has an angel tattoo that favors her face-It made sense. She has another tattoo on her shoulder, a silver piercing in the middle of her tongue, and a glamorous smile. I pace my nerves, flattered she didn't find me strange from when we locked eyes earlier.

I shook her hand, and her palm was soft. "I'm very delighted... to meet you."

"Same..." Angel responds, positioning her hand onto my upper shoulder."...how old are you?"

"...16"

"Hm, I thought you were older... but we're the same age. So it's all good." She shifts her hand to my lower tricep, and temptation confines me.

I ignore it. Rejecting the urge to stare at her body, keeping my eyes on her face. I don't make it a big deal, she's just probably a very touchy person or flirts without trying to flirt. I've encountered females like that before, and it was all just friendly gestures. Something like me.

Besides she has a boyfriend... I think...

So I continue to act like my normal self, removing my arm now sitting on the edge of the table that held the glass container of punch.

"You must have a thing for older boys." I make conversation.

Stacy POV...

Standing against the wall of the house, I gossip along with Tiffany and Claudia. The speakers stood to our right-faded as it was facing towards the people of the party. Our laughs were inaudible to everyone else, as Tiffany continued to explain how she was able to make it official between her and Markus. While talking, I looked out the left side of my peripheral vision and saw X. Only this time he wasn't alone, he had company alongside him at the punch table.