Just Love

Grimace

Grimace- A facial expression, often twisted or contorted that indicates disapproval; scowl; sneer; frown.

MACY'S POV

When we arrive at the party the front lawn is littered with red solo cups. Beer bottles are strewn across the lawn, and a white boy is vomiting on a rose bush. I swear...

Why do I get myself in these situations?

I follow Alex up the sidewalk leading to the house, cringing at the "barf" boy who has collapsed into the now ruined vegetation.

The house looks massive, as does the inside. Every room is filled with sweaty bodies dancing along with horrible dubstep music and party remixes.

Alex practically pushes me through the crowd, eventually finding ourselves in the kitchen. A boy with disheveled dark hair hands us both a plastic cup that reek of the strong smell of alcohol. I cringe involuntarily.

"It's beer." He slurs, answering the questions formulating in my mind.

I grimace down at the disgusting brown substance concealed in the cheap cup. I look up in search of Alex's blonde and pink hair, but I can't find her. She's gone.

Of course she would invite me to party and leave me. I should've known.

The room feels hot and sticky, so I slide the screen door leading the backyard in hopes to breath in some fresh air.

The cool breeze feels cold against my me, making goosebumps ripple across my skin.

The loud music is a mere echo in the open-air and the dark night's sky blankets the wood patio, with a vanished backlight flickering. The outside is unsurprising empty, due to the frosty like weather.

"Macy?" A rich starchy voice calls, breaking me out of my languid trance.

I whip my head around seeing a tall shadow standing behind me. I watch as the silhouette slowly draws closer into the light near me.

"Dan...?" I allege with my head tilted to the side.

I recognized his bronze hair and glassy mahogany eyes from the math competition. I recollect Marcus telling me he was a "partyer", but converging with him here never crossed my mind.

Dan clears the scratchiness out of his throat. "What are you doing here? I never would have pegged you as the party type." A ghost of a smirk grazes over his features.

"One of my old friends dragged me here, I didn't want to come." I affirm with a short head shake.

A light chuckle tumbles out his lips. "Ha I bet Marcus wishes he was here."

I ignore the sting that arises with the word Marcus. The emotional attachment that clings to that name is still burdensome.

I look down at my shoes, shuffling my feet. "Actually Marcus and I aren't together anymore.

I watch the creases form in Dan's feature, as a frown settles on his lips. "What?" He said, running a hand through his brown tangled hair. "But how?" Bewilderment clear in his tone.

"Um he got a job offer that required a majority of his time and he decided it was best if we just ended it. It's wasn't anything dramatic or anything." I sigh while the throbbing ache of his memory claws at my emotions.

"Aw that's too bad." He divulges, sympathy radiating in his voice.

"I'm okay, really." Giving him a small smile.

He reaches into his pockets pulling out a cigarette, he places it in his mouth while he takes hold of a lighter. Pressing it so the bright orange flame licks the nicotine stick until an unfluctuating blaze is settled.

I grimace as he exhales a large puff of smoke.

"Smoking bad." I say, waving the white smoke exhaust away from me.

He takes another deep drag of his cigarette, smoke pouring out of his lips like lava. "I don't smoke all the time, just when people give them to me at parties." He says, tobacco strong on his breath.

"Want one?" He offers, a smirk pulls on his features.

"No thanks you." I say, not amused by his joking. "Why do you even smoke anyways?"

He raises a brow at me. "Because it's relaxing, doesn't matter how shit of a day your having, cigarettes are there." He pauses to inhale, exhaling a perfect ring of smoke. "It feels like your lungs are wrapped in a warm blanket, clearing your mind of any worry. It's relaxing."

"I'll agree to disagree." I scrunch my nose up as he flicks his cigarette, spurting loose ashes to the ground.

"So, what's your occupation?" I curiously query.

"I'm a mechanic. I fix cars." He says slowly. "How about you?" He gestures towards me.

"I'm a executive director at Diamond publishing. I oversee employees who edit and read manuscripts." I tuck a loose strain of hair behind my ears, remembering all the stuff I need to do when I get home.

"Ugh, gross." He scowls. "I hate reading." He says while taking another slow drag of his cigarette.

"Reading is amazing." I attempt to
sway his unloved opinion. "It can take you where ever you want to go."

He shake his head as if I'm ridiculous. "Cars. Cars are amazing, they can take you where ever you want to go."

"Speaking of cars. I'm actually looking into purchasing a car, and I guess it would be nice if I had someone there to help me pick one out. Especially since I know nothing about them and you seem to know plenty."

Despite some of our contrasting views, Dan seems okay. I think it would be nice to have him help me pick out a car, since he's a mechanic.

I see a wavering grin tugging at his lips. "Yeah, I'd love to help you out. I'm not working tomorrow. Does Tomorrow morning work for you?"

"Yes, that's prefect thank you so much." I sigh out relief, knowing I'll be able to cross something off that's been on my list for what seems like ages.

"Listen." Dan takes his cigarette out of his mouth, throwing it on the ground and smashing it with his sneaker. "Alex tends to stay at this stuff all night so I can take you home if you'd like?"

I stare at him for a little, confused as to how he knew I came with Alex. "How did you know I came with Alex?"

"I actually invited Alex to this party and she asked if she could bring you." He pauses. "So are you coming or what?" He begins to turn around and walk to his car.