Arrogance: Volume One of Ebb & Flow

Chapter 4 - The Party Part One

My phone chimes, a message from the groupchat. "Looks like we can't finish the movie."

"Ugghhh. But I'm so cozy," she whined.

"Up, up, up. Let's not keep them waiting."

I yank the covers off her and slowly pull her off the bed. She begrudgingly follows me downstairs and outside. "Do you mind if we take your car? It's the only one big enough for the five of us."

"Not at all, are you stuck being DD again?"

"It's not 'stuck' if I choose not to drink. You know I'm not too fond of the taste of it. I'm happy as long as you and the others have fun."

Early on in high school, I decided I wouldn't drink. Everything I've seen about alcohol and its effects made me realize it wouldn't be good. Given my peculiarities, there's no way of telling how it would affect me. What if I mouthed off and ruined all my hard work?

Jean-Luc, Marcus, and Aubrey are leaning against my truck, waiting for us. My friends are always dressed like they're all going to different places. Aubrey's hair is up in a ponytail, and wearing some kind of streetwear fashion I don't understand. Lots of belts and buckles, and the fabric is both tight and billowy. Jean-Luc wears black dress pants and a blue button-down dress shirt, while Marcus looks like a typical jock. Complete with a letterman jacket. Marcus' unwillingness to relinquish his past glory is almost cute. He still has the jacket despite the fact he'll never compete again. We exchange our pleasantries and greetings and hop into Maria's SUV.

"Look what I brought," Aubrey said, pulling a bottle from her bag.

"Ayye is that Dicerno? How'd you get a hold of that?" Marcus asked.

"My parents got it a couple of months ago. I've been 'borrowing' it for weeks now, figured I should share with you guys."

"Hey! Put that away until we get there. The last thing we need is to get pulled over by a cop and not even make it to Jake's." I yelled.

"Okay, daaaaad. We'll wait to pregame until we get there," Aubrey replied.

"Fuck you, Aubrey." I laughed. Tonight I would be upbeat and cheerful. It would hopefully be my last outing with any of my classmates. The final memory they'd have of Eryk Blakely. Because after this school year ends, I'm immediately moving to Quinstin to start fresh. They'll understand; I'm a driven, dedicated student. It's obvious I'd try and get an early start to my university career.

The ride to Jake's house is a long one. His family home is out in the wilderness, a mansion that's been in the family for generations. A 7,500-square-foot complex complete with an indoor and outdoor pool. Only one road goes out to the Deckler abode, and it doesn't have a single streetlight, just beautiful pine trees on either side for miles. Jean-Luc and Marcus argue over college basketball players while Maria and Aubrey discuss the party. I roll the window down and let the rushing wind drown them out. The quiet stillness accompanies the fading May sun in a way only nature can provide.

Thirty minutes pass quickly, the drive ending as we pull into Jake's driveway. The sounds of the party drown out the crunch of pinecones beneath the slowing tires of the SUV. There are at least thirty cars parked, and the party is in full swing. I pull into an open spot, narrowly avoiding hitting some drunk idiot.

"GET OUT OF THE WAY, FRESHIE!" Marcus bellows from the back.

"Typical freshman, you have to pace yourself at a Deckler rager," said Aubrey.

"Yeah, or you end up like fucking Jean-Luc. Crossfaded, pissing all over yourself in a bush while carolers sing holiday songs."

"Fuck off, Marcus. It was my first high school party, okay. I learned my lesson about mixing psychedelics, and I'm never touching that shit again," Jean-Luc responded.