One Stupid Thing

2:4:52

Our little soirée is in full swing. The six of us, in our swimsuits, in the backyard of the Chateau drinking beer and smoking weed—except for me of course—and I wouldn't have it any other way.

The boys shotgun beers that we bought from the convenience store earlier. I lounge in the hottub, soaking in all the happiness that is flowing from my friends. I don't think l have ever been so happy.

"Yo, yo, Pope! I've heard a rumor that you are secretly really good at free-styling," I ask him, taking a sip of my lemonade. "Care to demonstrate?"

"Yeah, Pope!" John B encourages him. Pope rolls his eyes.

"Okay, okay. JJ, give me a beat." Pope clears his throat and goes along with JJ's beatboxing.

"I never made good grades in school. When I get out, I act like a fool. They say I come in the party and cause a commotion. I'm smooth, yeah, call me lotion." Pope giggles. We all burst into laughter.

"Do it, Pope! Just like the good Lord intended," JJ leans back in the hottub smoking a joint. I sit beside him on the edge, only dipping my feet into the steaming water.

"It was way too genuine!" Sarah criticizes lightheartedly. We all laugh it off. The others are too high or drunk to take anything seriously.

Later, around the fire pit, JJ and Pope spar. They both try to knock the other off their feet. Pope manages to sweep JJ off of his feet and pins him to the ground victoriously. Pope stands up and hollers in celebration.

"When did you start wrestling?" John B asks him.

"I dunno." He shrugs and starts the walk towards the house. "I'm done. I'm out of here."

"Did you have too many beers?" JJ asks him in a funny accent. He walks over to the bonfire and takes a seat next to me on the log. "You want a round two?"

"Yeah, I think I'll take my losses."

Kiara not-so-subtly stands up from her chair and follows Pope into the house without a word.

"Go get him, girl!" I shout, cupping my hands over my mouth to amplify the sound. Kiara glances back and shakes her head with a smirk.

"Really?" Sarah smiles.

"Way to be discreet!" JJ calls after her.

"I leave, and this is what happens," John B remarks sarcastically, shaking his head at his friend.

"Are you blaming me?"

"Just a little bit. Uh-oh. Your boy's out. Beer time." John B stands up and walks over to the cooler beside the oak tree.

"You guys are the ones that died, okay? Like that was..." JJ begins

"Literally one job, JJ," Sarah continues to pick on him. "No Pogue-on-Pogue macking!"

"One job?"

"One job."

"I've got to agree with her, Jay. You failed miserably," I tease.

"Oh, I failed miserably? If I failed then you did too Stella Cameron," JJ shoots back. Catching me by surprise, JJ wraps his arms around me and tickles me mercilessly.

"JJ!" I manage to say between laughs. I kick my feet out, desperate to get out of his grasp, but then he stops. I look up and Sarah is looking at the two of us knowingly.

"Yeah. One job," she says.

"Sarah, one job? Okay... who got you the Phantom? Huh? You ever think about that?" JJ jumps right back into the conversation without letting me out of his grasp. I just remain seated comfortably in his strong arms. Completely content.