The Angel Trumpet

2.

Getting to Steph and Basil's house (the girls Leo and Tobias met) was packed and swarming with people our age and not middle aged people like on the island back home. 

Pito replaces the cigarette he had smoke earlier with another one behind his ear examining the area closely.

Leo already finds Steph while Tobias linked his arm with Basil getting a drink inside.

I walk in afterwards spotting the party favor table with chips, drinks and a small bag filled with crazy looking gifts.

I skip over them just grabbing a cup filling it with the Bourbon hidden in the glass cabinet.

Once I finished taking some a guy eyes me seeing what I just did.

Trying not to incriminate myself some more I go and find Pito not amused in the back corner of the house.

"For a man who's in his twenties you sure seem like an old man with that look on your face." I sit passing him my cup letting him take a sip. "Twenty-four. Not that old." He hands the cup back watching the boys sneak up to the girls room with the girls leading them up towards it.

"I know, I'm around people my age for once and I don't feel like socializing."

Pito chuckles grabbing the cup this time drinking more.

"The way your life is set up you can't afford a "social life" it's just not in the books."

I nod, "Just like you not getting laid?" I hold back my laughter as he raises his eyebrow at me. I raise my hands up in a  defense position motioning my lips to be sealed. "Me and my personal life is not in this conversation. Plus you know the rules, no falling in love." I grab the glass finishing what's left placing it down on the table.

"You have to learn how to separate love and lust Pito. When it's lust it's nothing more but foreplay. Love? Love is messy, complicated and intoxicating, certain toxins are not worth it." 

Pito nods amazed a twenty-one year old would be as smart as I am. I shock myself sometimes too but remember I've been all grown up since the age of twelve.

In the corner of my eye I see the guy that caught me stealing the good stuff stalking me from a good distance.

"Is it just me or am I being followed?" I ask Pito.

Pito moves to the side seeing and stands about to handle the stranger but I stop him.

"I got it. Think of this as you're one and only night off." I tap his shoulder standing walking over to the guy.

Without a second thought I drag him into the bathroom by the back of his neck pushing him into the bathroom mirror. "Who are you? And why are you watching me?" I ask waiting for him to say something but he just groans in pain. "Name. Now." I say taking a shard of glass that broke from the mirror holding it to his neck. He raises his hands up in fear. "Conor! Conor Philips! I just wanted to tell you I think you're beautiful and that we should hang out sometime!" I remove the shard inches away from his neck tossing it into the garbage can.

"Thank you but I'm not interested."

I swing the bathroom door open ripping part of the towel hanging to wrap my now bleeding hand.

"What's your name?" The stranger with a name says holding the back of his head that might need stitches.

I keep walking away ignoring him seeing Pito trail us cutting him off and backing me up.

"She's not interested. I think she already made herself clear."

Conor looks past Pito looking at me directly saying, "If you ever change your mind I work at this renovation site. Here," he hands me a small index card, "There's the address and my number." Pito grabs it pushing him away. "Off you go." I follow him with my eyes seeing him leave wincing touching the back of his head.

"He thought using a cliché pick up line would work on me."

I pulled Pito away getting the feeling he wanted to finish the poor stranger. I make him help me look for the boys. "Leo! Tobias! Let's go!" I shouted up the stairs holding onto Pito's hand making sure he didn't go anywhere. A few seconds go by and the both of them rush down the stairs fixing their zippers and shirt.

"Glad you two had fun. It's time to go." I say walking down the stairs shaking my hand that's wrapped feeling it sting.

"What happened to your hand?" Leo asks stopping me taking a look at it.

I take hold of my hand getting us out of the house and into the car.

The drive back to grandpa Louie's house was quiet. Pito was bothered, Leo was worried about me and Tobias was daydreaming. I was just focused on cleaning my hand and going to bed. I park the car in the driveway and since Tobias is in his head he forgets there's a covering hitting his head. "When did that get there?" He rubs the top of his head squinting his eyes in pain. Leo shoots him a look helping me inside like I was seriously injured. "I got it Leo." I say as he opens the door letting me through. Pito goes into the towel closet getting the first-aid kit having me sit on a wooden stool.

While cleaning my hand after taking my makeshift wrap off a knock is sounded at the front door.