I Think I Just Legalized Love

Chapter 5

5

I start walking to their car hoping that Ryan won’t bother doing anything. Once I get to the car, I hear it unlock. I open the backseat door, and just as I’m about to get in, someone grabs my arm, and pulls me back. “Sorry, miss,” Ryan says to Rochelle. “Jason must have forgotten he was coming with me today.” He pulls me in his direction and I walk in front of him, not even trying, or thinking of trying, to get away.

            What’s the point?

            I turn and see Abby and Miles. They’re looking at me, and then I see something like an agreement, and then Miles looks like he’s getting ready for something. I turn forward, and walk. “I love how you seem to give in to everything,” Ryan says. I hear other footsteps. “Why not try to run away? You already know fighting back is useless, so why not run?” The footsteps are louder. “Scared?” The footsteps stop, but then Ryan is spun around, and he cries in pain. Ryan shakes his head, and then swings his fist at Miles’s face, but he dodges.

            I rub my eyes, sigh, and push Ryan then kick him in the nuts. I pull Miles away and don’t say anything and just ignore him on the way to the car. “Dude,” he says and stops half way to the car. “Do you need a chill pill?”

            “Yeah, sure,” I say kind of annoyed.

            “Well then I’m taking you to this cool looking place I heard about today. It sounds fun.”

            “What’s the cool place?”

            “It’s just a party. Anyone’s invited apprently, but there are restrictions when you get there.”

            “Yeah. Watch it be no homos.”

            “You never know. I heard it’s discrimination free.” I just give Miles a look, trying to indicate I’m not a socialist. “Let’s at least try, Jason.”

            “Ugh. Fine…” I agree. Miles starts running in the opposite direction of the car, and passed Ryan, who is just lying on the ground but obviously conscience and breathing evenly. I quickly start running after Miles, jumping over Ryan’s body. I catch up to him easily, and slow a bit. After about five minutes of running, Miles stops outside a huge house with a guy by the door.

            “Have anything against nationality, race, sexual orientation, and etcetera?”

            “Nope,” Miles says.

            “Orientation?”

            “Both gay.” I hit Miles in the arm with the back of my hand and give him a look. “Does it seem like he cares?” Miles asks. I sigh and just stuff my hands in my pocket.

            The guy smiles, and then hands us orange wrist bands. “The hostess, Melody, is waiting upstairs to the left.” The guy opens the door and lets us in. I follow Miles inside, and the first thing we see is a set of stairs. He starts running upstairs and I continue to follow. There’s the faint sound of music to our left, like the guy said the party was at.

            A girl, brunet and about average height, comes over and says, “Hi, I’m Melody.”

            Miles introduces himself, and then looks at me. “I’m Jason,” I say.

            Melody keeps smiling, which I find weird. I don’t really mind, it’s a nice smile, but it’s weird. “The party is this way,” – she points behind her – “don’t be afraid to show your true self. It’ll be fun.” We follow her to the party.