Keep Love Around

One

Who needs parties? That's the question. Apparently, the answer according to my friend, was that I did. I respectfully disagreed, but yet, he decided to drag me along anyway.

To tell the truth, they were right to bring up that I hadn't left my dorm except for class in neigh on a month, as I was swamped with schoolwork and trying to get over what had been the most terrible cold I think I've ever had.

"Charlie, man, come on! You've had this damn cold for like three weeks... I think it's just a cop out to hide the fact that you can't dance for shit."

My friend Julian was my roommate, and ever since we'd met on the first day of Freshman year, we'd been pretty much best friends.

"Jules, listen... Just 'cause you've been to every party on campus this year doesn't mean I have to. You have just as much fun without me as you do when I'm there."

"Yeah, but haven't you ever heard of a wing man? It's cooler when you have friends!"

Julian had this knack of talking with his hands, especially when he was trying to make a point. Sadly, in this instance, his hand knocked over the Algebra work I had on my desk. Which, as I'd tried to tell him about twenty times already, was due tomorrow.

His comeback was to insist that it wasn't due until we walked into class at four in the afternoon, to which I implored that he wouldn't want to do it if he was hungover, which was undoubtedly going to be the case.

The party he spoke so highly of was a party thrown by the biggest fraternity on campus, and, according to him, promised to be the biggest of the year.

"Dude, why would I want to go to some frat party anyway? There's too much drinking, everyone'll be grinding on each other and shit, there'll be people making out everywhere, and I don't feel like punching people in the mouth tonight, I'm sorry."

"What if you meet the man of your dreams tonight, huh? Have you ever thought about that? There's nothing wrong with a bunch of people making out with each other if you're one of the ones doing it." Jules laughed. He then reached over to pick up my homework, which had fallen into my dirty clothes hamper. Thank god he decided to retrieve it, because I probably would've forgotten about it and been screwed when I went to class.

"Man, that is never gonna happen. This isn't some movie. I don't wanna go." I was a little frustrated with him at this point, scowling at him for effect hoping that he'd leave me alone.

"If you come with me, I promise, I will help you find the hottest boy in the place," he paused dramatically, before waving his finger and continuing, "But wait! There's more! I'll correct that awful Math work you're doing. I only glanced at it sideways and I could tell you had so much stuff wrong. Dear god."

This was getting ridiculous. Not only were my versions of "hot" two completely different things entirely, but he was also putting my Math skills to shame. But it was time to put a stop to this, one way or another.

"Okay, okay, okay! I'll go. But I'm holding you to you to your promise, Billy Mays. Both your promises."

"That's my boy!" Jules smiled, putting a fist out for me to bump it. I spent the next two hours getting ready, once again holding him up, but I had leverage in the fact that he was the one who dragged me to the thing. He and his happy ass could be patient.

So here I was, in the corner of a room full of sweaty people, with dance music blasting through every speaker in the house. Tell me again why I did this? So far, Julian was not holding up his end of the bargain, instead dancing with some girl named Natasha who I realized was in my literature class.

I continued to watch them for about five minutes, when a couple came up beside me and decided to get all gropey and sloppy with each other. This was a disaster. I knew I shouldn't have come.