Two Birds [Twin Sized Mattress Prequel]

[Chapter 4] wish u were sober

The party pt2: Jerome's POV

(This one was going to be last but I feel like I should save the original part two for last >:))

"Jerome, I don't say this to be a dick, but I think you should stop drinking." Buggs lightly put a hand on the taller boy's shoulder in concern.

Jerome drunkenly rolled his eyes and stumbled to the drinks counter. "This *HIC* is my last one."

"If you say so..."

A little after that 'last drink' Monty came through the front door with a box of old computer parts and metal pieces. Jerome noticed and yelled at the freckled boy,

"T, I know damn well *HIC* that you're not working on that project tonight!" the drunken boy tripped while walking towards him.

Monty dodged him, letting Jerome fall face-first on the tiled floor. He rolled his eyes sarcastically.

"Oh no, missing out on a party I didn't even want to go to," he opened the door to the garage. "The horror." the door clicked closed.

"What a dork." Buggs took a swig of tap water from a red solo cup.

To say the party got out of hand... was an understatement.

Out of the four Monty and Buggs were the only ones sober. Monty, working on an overdue assignment, and Buggs refused to drink after he found out who his dad was and what happened to him.

Cindy was drunk. But definitely not as drunk as Jerome. She was busy drunkenly dancing in the living room to notice Jerome drinking himself into a coma while waiting for Diana to show up.

It was at this point in the night that Jerome was regretting how much he drank.

The room was spinning, he could barely stand, and the girl of his dreams was nowhere to be found. He couldn't tell if it was the alcohol rushing to his brain or the creeping fear that he would embarrass himself in front of his near lifelong crush, he felt like throwing up.

Caught too deep inside the inner shame spiral in his mind he didn't seem to notice the small footsteps that approached him from behind.

Jerome felt a tap on his shoulder.

He turned around and all the self-hating thoughts in his mind dissipated as he looked into her eyes.

She was wearing high-waisted brown pants and a cropped forest green collared shirt. The simple outfit was tied together by platformed Doc-Martens.

He was mesmerized. And no it wasn't the alcohol, or the loud, over stimulating, music, it was just her.

She waved 'hello' and cutely grabbed the beer bottle in his hand and took a small sip. He could tell when the bitter liquid hit her tongue as she cringed and struggled to keep it down.

She signed to him after handing him his bottle back. 'How can you drink this stuff?'

He giggled back. As he was about to sign back he noticed small pink devices in her ears.

"It keeps the bad thoughts away!" the taller boy laughed at his joke. Diana cringed at the sudden spike of noise in her hearing aids.

Jerome didn't seem to notice.

And if he did he was too drunk to care.

"You know, I'm really glad you came out tonight!" Jerome yelled way too loudly at the shorter girl. More so to hear himself than for her to hear him.

"Maddie and Alice said you weren't feeling too good so if you don't feel like drinking tonight I could totally stop with you..." Diana tried to keep up with what he was saying, even trying to chime in by signing to him.