The Way It Could've Been

Chapter 9, Mark...

I watched Julian's back as he walked down the stairs. I felt a little disappointed since we were having a conversation... Even if we don't like each other. I'm trying to get used to being with him since I have to see him for tutoring, and at his own house for a project.

I sigh and shuffle back to the rail where both of us were talking. I looked over the party, it was a full swing and full of people, but I still felt a little lonely. I looked down at my hands. The loud booming music started to hurt my head and make me feel slightly dizzy. I played with his fingernails slightly before I grabbed my crutches and struggled down the stairs. Even though there was an elevator. Stupid.

"Mark! Where the fuck were you? We're going to play beer pong!" Simon stumbles to me. Having that grin on his face. I could tell he was drunk. I smelt it in his breath. I grimaced at the smell of his breath and slightly leaned away as Simon dragged him into the kitchen, where people were gathered, and there were already four people playing. Two on both ends of the table. Chanting at both teams and when that white ball makes it into any cup, the whole crowd of underaged drinkers cheers for that person. Everyone was having a good time except for me. But I had a convincing smile on my face either way.

I looked around and my eyes looked for someone. I didn't know who. Or why. But then my eyes stopped looking when I saw Julian sitting on the counter with his friend, Melissa sitting beside him. I cracked a slight smile as my attention quickly averted from the people playing beer pong and looked at Julian. It felt like we were the only ones there. Everyone else disappeared except him. I have a feeling in my stomach that feels very strange. But it's always when I'm with him. Why?

Our eyes locked for a second and my heart dropped slightly. The people came back. And Simon was shaking my shoulder aggressively.

"We should play" I didn't even have time to answer when Simon helped me get to the table. Tugging on my shoulder slightly as if I wasn't crippled.I never actually liked being drunk. Or when Simon was drunk. Nothing good happened when both of us were drunk. And right now, only he was. Not for long.

A girl I recognized as Ashley and her boyfriend Zachary (Zach) walked up to the other end of the table. Zach had an arm around her. They were slightly smiling as all four of us started playing.

. . .

I had the white ping-pong ball in my hand. Holding it with my thumb, index, and middle finger. An eye closed as I aimed at the last cup remaining. Both teams have one cup left. And if I missed, that was another chance of losing, and I didn't like losing. Everyone was oddly quiet which added to the suspense of this.

I waited a little longer before I pulled back slightly and let it fly. It felt as if it were going in slow motion as it flew and flew until it landed in the cup. I grinned smugly and laughed. I had both fists up in the air as I yelled.

"Yeaaahhhh!" I chuckled as Simon jumped up and down. Yelling with me. I looked at the counter and saw Julian smiling at me. Our eyes locked again. And again, everything fell silent and everyone and everything disappeared. I smiled back slightly before looking away.

Ashley groans and Zach rolls his eyes as they walk away. Simon and I played against more people and always won. It was until Julian and his friend walked up to the other end of the table, that I felt a little small. I watch as Julian's eyes meet mine and grins at me. The game begins.

For a nerd, he was no lightweight in drinking. Chugging the drinks with barely any reaction. We were slightly losing by one cup, and I kept getting nervous and shy when Julian looked at me. My sweaty palms that I kept rubbing against my jeans. His concentrated face as he tossed the ping-pong balls into cups. He was also good at aiming. I keep on getting distracted and missing.